Publicación de Grupo ACS

Matt Elliott's article in the Star mentions the costs of maintaining other Ontario institutions of a similar vintage to the Science Centre to make the argument that the Science Centre closure isn't really a necessity, but a choice (whether or not you agree with that choice is another question). I found this article interesting as I had not seen any others which compare the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of similarly-aged buildings (and, like Mr. Elliott, approaching the same age myself... it hits a little different to think that some people believe 50 years is a relic!) An excerpt - "Consider this: in quick succession between 1969 and 1975, Toronto saw the openings of the Science Centre (1969), Ontario Place (1971) and the Toronto Zoo (1974), and the topping off of the CN Tower (1975). It was a burst of civic investment that’s kind of hard to imagine ever happening again. Since then, the two attractions run by the province — the Science Centre and Ontario Place — have fallen into disrepair and become part of the narrative that 50 is a reasonable retirement age. But the zoo, run by city hall, and the CN Tower, owned and operated by the federal government through the Canada Lands Company, are marking their 50th birthdays not with shutdowns, demolitions and relocation plans, but with celebrations and reinvestment. Yes, all four attractions are unique and have different sets of problems to deal with, but all have faced and will face the same basic reality that buildings and structures of this vintage require some maintenance to keep going. The zoo, according to its latest capital budget, will spend $64 million over the next 10 years to address aging infrastructure and build its new welcome centre. And there’s another $105 million that will be spent to refurbish exhibits, make visitor improvements and ensure the entire zoo is accessible. The CN Tower, meanwhile, announced a $16-million renovation to fix the observation level in 2018, then a $21-million renovation in 2021 to do things like modernize the outdoor terrace level and install a new, larger, more-terrifying glass floor. These kinds of cost figures are in the same ballpark as what the Ford government’s own engineering report forecast for the cost of fixing the Science Centre’s roof panels. That report lays out a decade-long plan to replace the panels at risk of falling that could cost around $25 million. Other sections of the building could even remain open, with smaller sections closed off to complete the repairs. It’s fair to assume those costs would go up if the government pursued the repair — government projects tend to do that — but even if you double the cost estimate, you’re still within the same range as the kind of costs the government owners of the zoo and the tower have accepted as the reality of owning, and keeping, a 50-year-old asset."

While the NZ Government appears to move away from policies to improve walkability in our towns and cities - prioritising private car infrastructure instead - research by Auckland University of Technology Master of Architecture students has found Aucklanders want better footpaths and pedestrian crossings in their neighbourhoods.     Earlier this year, students from our lab undertook a survey to understand what people thought about the part of Tāmaki Makaurau they lived in. They distributed more than 2000 invitations to mailboxes in selected areas and received 200 responses from eight different neighbourhoods.     The survey included the question "What are some things that you would like to improve in your neighbourhood?” and the top priority selected by residents across all areas was “the quality of footpaths and pedestrian crossings.” This highlights the value Aucklanders place on improvements to pedestrian infrastructure to make walking safer and more enjoyable.    Though the survey was small, the ongoing project is a great way for students to better understand the priorities of residents across neighbourhoods, which will help inform their thesis projects. Keep an eye out for more info from the survey and the thesis projects coming soon! Thanks to AUT School of Future Environments staff and students who worked on this @ Andrew Burgess, Stacy Vallis, Stefan Marks #LiveableNeighbourhoods #WalkableCities #HealthyCities #SustainableNeighbourhoods #FutureCities

🎓 UniSC Opens New $100M Mass Timber-Rich Campus Extension! 🏗️ The University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) is expanding education opportunities in Moreton Bay, unveiling three new timber-rich buildings at its rapidly growing campus. This $100 million project, part of a broader $300 million development strategy, aims to host over 10,000 students by 2030, leveraging sustainable construction practices to create a modern learning environment. 🔍 Highlights of the Expansion: 1️⃣ Sustainable Construction: Embracing mass timber construction, the campus showcases environmental stewardship using renewable resources. Integrating prefabricated mass timber superstructures in the new buildings underscores a commitment to reducing carbon footprint and enhancing the campus's functional appeal. 2️⃣ Boosting Local Education: With an eye on tackling the educational inequality in Moreton Bay, the expansion aims to increase higher education participation rates in the region. The campus offers various programs, including Nursing Science, Primary Education, and Social Work, tailored to meet the community's needs and aspirations. 3️⃣ Community and Economic Impact: Beyond its educational mandate, the UniSC Moreton Bay campus is a hub for innovation and community engagement. Collaborations with local councils and businesses foster a vibrant ecosystem, linking education, research, and industry for regional development. 🗣️ #questionforgroup: How can other regions leverage sustainable construction and educational infrastructure to address inequality and foster community development? 💬 Let’s discuss the transformative potential of integrating green building practices with educational expansion. Share your insights on how campuses like UniSC Moreton Bay can serve as models for future developments. 🔗 For more details on UniSC’s visionary campus development and its impact on the Moreton Bay region, explore the full story: https://lnkd.in/gW3k8XUk #construction #timber #masstimber #masstimberconstruction #building #unisc #woodsolutions #greenstar #xlam #construction #hesstimber #australia #woodsolutions #woodcentral #qld #moretonbay #seq #development #education #university #woodcentralau1 #theultimaterenewable #plywood #engineering #architecture #timberconstruction #timberengineering

📣 Project Spotlight: Old Quadrangle Redevelopment | University of Melbourne The #OldQuad redevelopment at the University of Melbourne was the first in Australia to target the adaptive reuse model Passivhaus EnerPHit certification. The redevelopment required major upgrades to building services and extensive work to achieve airtightness around the building envelope. Learn more about this project here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gfvE56SJ #Changemakers #LivingSystems #Passivhaus #EnerPHit 📷 Lovell Chen

🏙 💡 Yesterday, the Group of Urban Studies held one more meeting at the Arq.Futuro Cities Lab, Insper Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa. Two brilliant presentations were made! 🚌 First, it is imperative to change our bus fleet, which is currently dependent on fossil fuel, to cleaner and more sustainable ones. For this reason, Sergio Avelleda, Ariane Wady, and Camilla Perotto presented the "Guide to electrifying the bus fleet in Brazilian cities." We discussed a lot of challenges that need to be addressed, like regulatory and technical ones. 🏚 The other presentation was a study derived from the master's thesis of Pedro Tranquez, MSc, PMP. which investigated three case studies of social housing provision, and he found that PPPs in social housing were the best option to be chosen when duration (time delivery of social housing construction) is considered. However, when it comes to price, it was not as good as expected, indicating that we only sometimes achieve Value for Money as PPPs aim. #ArqFuturo #Insper #WeAreInsper #UrbanStudies #PublicAdministration #PublicPrivatePartnerships #PPPs #ValueForMoney #CleanerProduction #Sustainability #UrbanMobility

Our new #BSBCity #MainCampus in #Barcelona has been featured as a #sustainable school by Ciencias Ambientales, the web portal of environmental sciences for professionals in the academic and scientific fields. The article highlights how the entire building has been redesigned taking into consideration #acoustic, #lighting and #thermal quality criteria, as well as the latest technology in each of these areas, such as automatic air renewal, air conditioning, renewable energies and soundproofing of the educational spaces. As for the façade, the use of glass and vegetation stands out, maximising the amount of natural light and the presence of nature as factors that have a direct impact on the students’ #comfort. In terms of #energyefficiency, this includes the installation of 91 #solarpanels and an underground 50,000-litre tank on the playground that collects rainwater, a particularly crucial solution to save water and #reuse natural energy resources. #Sustainability #SustainableArchitecture #SustainableSchools https://lnkd.in/dc6Nb2fp

Mae angen dirfawr gwella stoc tai Cymru - ymhlith y lleia effeithlon yn Ewrop. Mae pobl Cymru'n haeddu tai clyd a chyfforddus. Mae hefyd angen gwella ein dealltwriaeth o ôl-osod gan ystyried hinsawdd Cymru, a'r math o dai sydd gennym. Does dim un datrysiad sydd am weithio i bob tŷ. Da iawn gweld gwaith yn digwydd yn y maes hwn - mae wastad angen mwy! // There is a great need to improve Wales' housing stock - amongst the least efficient in Europe. The Welsh people deserve to have comfortable and cosy homes. There's also need to develop our understanding of retrofit within the context of that varied housing stock and our climate in Wales. There isn't a one size fits all approach. Good to see work happening in this field - there always needs to be more!

Knowledge economy in the Netherlands has great appeal to young professionals around the world. While the country succeeds in building an international pluralistic community, building inclusive residential cultures is not its strong suit; homes are still designed according to a Dutch standard and living habits.   A quarter of the Dutch population holds a migration background. That's more than 4 million residents who may prefer to take off their shoes when visiting someone's home. In a diverse society, designers and architects must accommodate diverse dwelling patterns.   However, year 2023 marks a period of Dutch housing crisis. Housing has become an industrial product, made fast and affordable to provide temporary roof over the growing international community of the Netherlands. Such approach overlooks international cultural factors, leaving many residents feel poorly integrated and distant from their neighbours.   Out of 72 applications, #Woonstroom by Studio Stad is one of 15 approved projects for tackling housing challenges in the Netherlands. As a pilot project for Wonen Limburg and Jan van Eyck Academie, the project responds to the call for Different Approach to Housing is part of the Spatial Design Action Programme 2021-2024, an incentive aimed at strengthening the engagement of spatial design in confronting persistent housing concerns. Made possible thanks to the generous support of Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie.   •https://lnkd.in/gZHEgqYJ Image: Woonstroom survey report

The establishment of a new state-of-the-art science and technology facility can significantly impact housing needs in various ways. As the facility attracts skilled professionals, researchers, and #students , there is a surge in demand for nearby #housing options. This influx of individuals seeking proximity to the sci-tech hub creates a heightened demand for both rental and #residential #properties . Additionally, the facility's presence often stimulates economic growth in the surrounding area, leading to job opportunities and further driving the need for housing. Local businesses, services, and infrastructure may experience expansion, contributing to a thriving community that requires additional housing to accommodate the growing population associated with the sci-tech facility. #adventumwealth #investment #advisory

My second takeaway from last week's LD Events Student Housing Conference is the increasing popularity of repurposing existing stock. This is driven by ESG commitments, as well as financial incentives. However, this does come with challenges: 🏢 Building safety- golden thread, gateways, second staircases etc mean that some investors may find it less risky to build from scratch. Of course it can be done, but you'll need a committed (read Brave) buyer and a strong technical team. 🏢 CapEx and OpEx- existing stock is expensive. From refurbishment costs to the operational costs of running less energy efficient buildings, especially where utilities are part of an all-inclusive rent.  🏢 Amenity space- first generation PBSA is now 20 years old, and these buildings were driven by maximising beds in a new undersupplied market. They don't have the amenities which current students might expect, which affects rent and value for money. However, a really engaging talk from Nick Riley (Whittam Cox Architects) highlighted how retrofitting is an opportunity to bridge the gap between HMOs and PBSA. Some of the potential upsides include: 🏢 Choice- retrofitted buildings create different price points and ultimately more options for students. 🏢 ESG- retrofitting energy-inefficient buildings will reduce energy consumption and, ultimately, operational carbon emissions. In PBSA there is an added financial incentive considering the all inclusive rents.   🏢 Planning- local authority reluctance to knock down and rebuild could mean a preference for retrofit projects. #OutWithTheNew #InWithTheOld #LDEstudent #Mobie #StudentAccommodation