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BIG and ICON break ground on the world’s largest 3D-printed community in Texas.
“Texas-based 3D technology company ICON has broken ground on what will become the world’s largest 3D-printed community. The neighborhood, located North of Austin in Georgetown, Texas, will consist of 100 3D-printed homes codesigned by Bjarke Ingels Group and implemented by Lennar, a large construction company based out of Florida, which was first announced in 2021. Eight unique floor plans ranging from 1,500 to 2,100 square feet of living space, with three to four bedrooms and two to three bathrooms are available with prices starting at $400,000. The homes will feature rooftop solar panels, Ring video doorbells, and wifi-enabled locks and thermostats.” [H/T The Architect’s Newspaper]
With the resignation of Jarvis Sam, Nike loses its third diversity chief in two years.
“Jarvis Sam, Nike’s chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, has left the company after just five months in the newly created post. Sam is the third diversity head to exit the brand in three years. In June, he replaced Felicia Mayo, who served as Nike’s chief talent, diversity, and culture officer for just two years. Treasure Heinle, vice president of HR Global Consumer & Marketplace, and Bernard Bedon, vice president and lead HR business partner, will manage the company’s DE&I portfolio until a successor is named. Sam joined Nike as director of diversity, and sourcing programs in 2018 and was promoted several times before becoming vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion in July 2020.” [H/T Business of Fashion]
Illinois Institute of Technology dorm. Photography by Tom Harris…
Dirk Denison revamps Mies-designed dorms at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
“Buildings by Mies van der Rohe have reached an age where they may require rehabilitation. In Chicago, for the $70 million makeover of three dormitories at the Mies-designed campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), architect Dirk Denison took a different approach by completely rebuilding the exterior envelope. He replaced the outer wythe of brick, matching the color closely while adding insulation and moisture management behind. New windows look much like the originals, but with insulating glass and thermally broken aluminum frames in a clear anodized finish. On the ground level, floor-to-ceiling glass enclosures now have double glazing. To accommodate its additional thickness, the architects had to beef up the storefront-style framing, but they diminished its visual impact, ironically, by adding a signature Mies detail that had not been there: the re-entrant corner.” [H/T Architectural Record]
Foster + Partners wins the competition to design Poland’s CPK Airport near Warsaw.
“A Foster + Partners and Buro Happold consortium has been announced as the winners of the competition to design the new CPK airport, situated between Warsaw and Łódź, in Poland. The project is envisioned as a 21st-century transport interchange, bringing together air, rail, and road. The design seeks to strike a balance between operational efficiency, environmental responsibility, and a symbolic expression that reflects the country’s national identity. Initially, the airport will serve up to 40 million passengers but is planned to easily expand to meet the 65 million passengers target in 2060.” [H/T ArchDaily]
The artist Paul Rucker plans to open a museum about the U.S.’s history of racism.
“For the last 10 years, Paul Rucker has been obsessively collecting artifacts that illustrate the systemic racism that lies at the foundations of U.S. society, sustaining racial inequity into the present day. Now, he is the recipient of $2 million in grant money from the Mellon Foundation and the Art for Justice Fund and plans to use the money to open an art space and lending library in Richmond, Virginia, to house, display, and share this archive. Called Cary Forward, it is set to open in the fall of 2024. In addition to displaying artifacts, Cary Forward will also give artists the opportunity to create work responding to challenging material, such as Ku Klux Klan robes, lynching postcards mailed to commemorate the public murder of Black men, and knickknacks depicting Black people as garish caricatures.” [H/T Artnet News]
Image courtesy of Marriott International…
Marriott will bring an extended-stay apartment brand offering to the U.S. and Canada.
“Marriott International is debuting an extended-stay brand offering serviced apartment stays in the U.S. and Canada. The Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy product will play in the premium and luxury segments, syncing with Marriott’s overall portfolio—which is in the upper half of lodging categories. It’s not the first time the world’s largest hotelier has played in the branded serviced apartment space with upscale residential extended-stay units. One of its brands, Marriott Executive Apartments, has been doing that for more than two decades with a product currently in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Yet the pandemic’s boom in remote and hybrid working styles prompted a greater demand for home-like amenities and experiences as travelers mix work and leisure in the same trips.” [H/T Skift]
WeWork will close 40 locations across the U.S. after reporting nine-figure losses.
“WeWork said Thursday that it was going to close roughly 40 ‘underperforming’ locations in the U.S. and tempered its revenue forecast for the year, highlighting challenges the company still faces after its near collapse and bailout in 2019. For the third quarter, WeWork lost $568 million, an improvement from the same period last year, when it lost $802 million. Revenue of $817 million in the latest quarter was more than 20 percent higher than the $661 million reported a year earlier. WeWork does not own its buildings but leases office space and parcels it out to its customers, which include individuals, small businesses, and larger companies. One factor leading to the pared-back forecast was slower than expected growth in its operations in the United States, Canada, and Japan.” [H/T The New York Times]
Image courtesy @kimkardashian/Instagram…
Today’s attractive distractions:
Would you have a slice of this sprawling, 1,200-pound pink cherry cake?
