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The LED Architectural Lighting Revolution Is Gaining Pace

Among businesses, LED is fast proving to be the in-thing. The reason for this is that LEDs have numerous advantages over traditional lights. This is more pronounced in the architectural sector where LED architectural lighting have taken over. The majority of designers have now ditched the traditional lighting methods for LEDs. Here, we are going to look at ways in which LEDs can be utilised as eco-friendly lights for any architectural lighting scheme.

One of the most attractive things with using LEDs is their lifespan. As a business owner, with a specific lighting scheme in mind, you will regularly have to replace your light bulbs if you opt for traditional bulbs. When put in perspective, this can cost you a reasonable amount of money that you could have saved if you had chosen LEDs.

It Could Be Time For A New Office Design

Think about how much time you spend considering home improvements. If you are like many other people in the UK, then it's likely that thinking about new additions to your home is a very common activity. It could be said that we are more addicted to such thoughts than people of other nationalities.

Why is it that we consider adding a conservatory, or converting some loft space? It's often as a result of changing requirements, which result in the need for more space. There are also occasions where we wish that we could have a different style of living.

With this background in mind, it's also worth thinking about the role of interior design. It's clear that we think that the appearance of a home is important. There can be no doubt that we feel that a home that doesn't look right has something of a negative energy associated with it. As a result, we may find that it leaves us feeling rather down. We want to make improvements, as we believe that they could change the way in which we lead our lives.

What Are Various Types of Treatments for Float Glass and Why We Need Them

Most of the glass used in our modern building and construction industry is float or sheet glass. It is used for exterior windows and cladding panels, and in the interiors, for partitions and wall cladding.

Since it is optically clear, almost distortion and defect free, it allows in maximum light into our interior spaces, which is not only an energy-saving device, but allows us to enjoy external views and serves to 'open' up otherwise enclosed spaces as well. Glass is able to refract, reflect, and transmit light without scattering it.

Let me get into the types of treatments that adapt standard glass for use according to various purposes and in a variety of industries. The sheets used in building facades is usually tempered or laminated and is classified as safety glass.

Why Is Glass Green and How Many Types of Glass Are There?

Modern day glass as compared to the glass manufactured in the past is considered optically clear even though it has a distinct green hue which varies from each batch made.

Standard glass is manufactured from high-grade silica sand in furnaces using such high temperatures that most plants run them non-stop.

There are really only two types of standard glass. The first is plate-glass, which is high-end architectural glass used for premium glazing applications in the building and construction industry.

The second type is float or sheet glass; which provides the same quality as plate-glass but has a measurably lower production cost. As a result it is now the most commonly used on modern high-rise building exteriors.

What Do Running a Decorative Glass Business and American Idol Have in Common?

Since American Idol hit the small screen, I have been an off and on fan. The pressures the contestants face as they battle it out week after week under the spotlight make me sympathize with them as it is like running a business. My favorite idols include the very first Idol, the amazing Kelly Clarkson, and then, Carrie Underwood, both of whom display a clear-cut individuality and won the crown as a result. However, what about my Idol favorites who did not win; contestants like Chris Daughtry, Elliot Yamin, David Archuleta, and Adam Lambert; but who have gone on and achieved sizable success nevertheless?

What makes these guys stand out for me is that they all used the stage to establish themselves as a memorable brand. They consistently projected their personality, never compromising on their individuality, or self-image.

Ways to Finance Your Commercial HVAC Installations

Maintaining the right temperatures in the workplace is key to ensuring good productivity and safety. When the office is cool in the summertime and warm in the winter, employees can work in comfort and get the job done. Ultimately, though, you will need to consider upgrades to your HVAC system and repairs, especially if you expand your business or suffer a bad storm that affects your building. Fixes aren't cheap, so you have to budget well.

If you find business has taken a dip in the economy, you may be more inclined to save your money for more important expenses. Then again, if the workplace becomes too uncomfortable and poses a danger to your employees you risk losing business when people call in sick and productivity decreases. HVAC plays as important a role in your company as anything else, and if you find funds are low you should research ways to make affordable fixes.

Careers in Landscape Architecture

From city council rooms to lecture halls, there is an increasing demand today for landscape architecture jobs. More than any of the other major environmental design professions, landscape design architecture is a profession that is on the move. Landscape design architecture by definition is no less than the art and science of analysis, planning design, management, preservation and rehabilitation of the land. In providing well-managed design and development plans, landscape architects offer an essential array of services and expertise that reduces costs and adds long-term value to a project.

Landscape designers the built environment of neighborhoods, towns and cities while also protecting and managing the natural environment, from its forests and fields to rivers and coasts. Those who chose landscape design careers are members of the profession have a special commitment to improving the quality of life through the best design of places for people and other living things.

How to Become a Landscape Architect: Tips and Advice

Landscape Architecture is a commonly misunderstood profession. One might think that a landscape architect is someone who puts together lush colors of flowers and trees, putting their fullest creatively to work every hour of the day. Although to a certain extent this is a creative profession, it is typically creative because of the cost-effective design solutions you come up with to meet your clients' strict needs. By following these tips on how to become a landscape architect, you will quickly find yourself on the right path to starting an exciting and prosperous career!

Obtaining a landscape architecture degree it is a requirement for entering the profession. To make sure that you apply to the best landscape design schools, by ensuring that they school meets the accreditation requirement for you to receive your license in order to practice your craft.

Landscape architect tip number two, is choosing the right field. There are several specific fields within the world of landscape architecture careers.

Four Factors in Choosing the Best Hotel

As outsiders (or foreigners) to the places we will travel, we will surely know no one, and the imperative is to live in a rented lodging, whether it's a hotel or an apartment. If you want to be pampered with the best services, I suggest you should stay at a hotel. What are the factors in looking for the best hotel to live?

When searching for the best hotels, you have to consider these following factors.

Convenience

After airports, it is the hotels that will give travellers (or tourists) the impression of what it is to live in the country or city. In many ways, hotels could be in contrast with its surroundings (as I had been to a hotel that is located near the slums) but it should never to ashamed to give its visitors a taste of culture and a sense of home. It is their duty to make sure you have a wonderful stay not in the establishment but in their city or country.

What Is Urban Planning?

What is urban planning? Urban planning is an aspect of landscape architecture that is concerned with the control of the use of land and design of the urban environment, including transortation networks, to guide and ensure the orderly development of communities. It concerns itself with the potentials and problems of urban areas relate to the built environment and its underlying social, economic, political, and legal structure and related public policies. Research and analysis, strategic thinking, urban design, policy recommendations, implementation and management are expected within this field.

The modern origins of urban planning lie in the movement for urban reform that arose as a reaction against the disorder of the industrial city in the mid-19th century. Urban planning can include urban renewal, by adapting urban planning methods to existing cities suffering from decline. In the late-20th century the term sustainable development has come to represent an ideal outcome in the sum of all planning goals. It concerns itself with research and analysis, strategic thinking, urban design, public consultation, policy recommendations, implementation and management.

Logo Water Fountains

If you've got your own business, then you may want to consider getting logo water features as part of your headquarters or office. Logo fountains can be a stunning display piece especially in the customer waiting area for many offices and businesses. You will be able to create a relaxing environment for your clients to wait in for services or products you provide and at the same time raise brand awareness for your business. People will instinctively remember the beautiful fountain that you had set up in your lobby area and then also associate it with your logo and your business.

This can be a great word of mouth marketing tool for your business as well, because people will naturally talk about something as unique and special as an indoor fountain with your logo on it. If you have a bit of extra money for your advertising budget, then a logo water fountain is a great idea for any business.

Different Styles of Logo Water Fountains

Logo water fountains can come in many different styles, sizes, colors and designs. The logo is usually added at the end of the process, so it makes complete sense to choose your type of fountain first, to make sure it matches up well with your logo and the style of your business. Rest assured that there are many different styles which will go well with any business, but even if you are unable to find something that is good for you, then you will always have the option of having a custom logo fountain created just for your unique needs.

Simple logo water fountains for your wall

One of the simplest types of logo fountains that you can have installed for your business are the ones with two panels holding together a vertical glass tank. You hang this on your wall with access to municipal water in the back.

Spicing Up Your Outdoor Canvas Art

If you are using some sort of a tarpaulin or other covering then you may want to consider outdoor canvas art as a way to make it look more attractive. Not only this, but if you have some sort of a business, then you might even want to have your company logo or other advertising material painted onto your outdoor canvas art.

Regardless of the reason why you need it, you should look for a company that creates or deals in outdoor canvas art so you can have the best quality for the best price.

Advertising your own business with outdoor canvas art

The trick to anything outdoor is that it is made sun and water proof. Canvas is a very sturdy and durable material and not only this, there are many synthetic materials nowadays which are also called "canvas" just out of convenience.

Ventless Fireplaces for Your Restaurant

If you are in the hospitality business and own a hotel with a restaurant, a diner or any other public catering place, then you might want to consider ventless fireplaces in your buildings. They are often a great alternative to traditional fireplaces because they do not really require any special maintenance. Even if you can't get a permit from the fire department for a traditional fireplace, you can get around this by using a safe and efficient ventless fireplace instead.

These fireplaces can be installed just about anywhere and as an appliance, all they need is a wall outlet and the refills to keep them burning.

What's the difference between ventless fireplaces and traditional ones?

The main difference between the two types is the source of fuel. Traditional fireplaces burn wood to produce heat and light while ventless fireplaces use electricity and a gas or a gel which can easily be refilled. These fireplaces also produce no smoke at all and can be installed anywhere in the building.

Architectural Glass Projects Around the World

Glass has always fascinated architects and designers as a medium for construction. Contemporary designers have pushed avant-garde to the extremes by using glass in ways that have never been imagined before. There are many examples around the world that exhibit the use of architectural glass in impressive commercial and residential projects.

National Grande Theater of China
In Beijing, China, this easily recognizable dome was designed by Paul Andreu and completed in 2007. Glass panes are combined with titanium to produce extra-strong glass for the large dome shape that can withstand weathering. The final prnduct of this massive dome has stirred controversy in China with the ultra-modern design contrasting against the traditional Chinese architecture of the nearby Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.

Burj Tower
Completed in 2009, Burj Khalifa is located in downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Following its inauguration to the public in 2010, Burj Tower officially became the world's tallest building.

Tinted Windows for Commercial Savings

Tinted windows create a more comfortable, safe, and efficient building environment. Each of these stand-alone benefits, however, can mean commercial savings in ways that will come up annually as well as an insurance against expensive mishaps.

Keep it Cool

One of the most obvious benefits to tinted windows is keeping summertime cooling costs at a minimum. This helps out not only you but the environment, saving energy as well as money, and will be a cost cutting move you will feel annually.

Keep Out UV Rays

An issue that might not be as obvious on an annual basis is the slow creeping damage the UV rays can cause to merchandise.

Increasing Productivity Through Smart Office Design

As businesses everywhere are tightening their belts, optimizing productivity among employees is becoming increasingly important. In addition to obvious factors like efficient management and employee incentives, the design of office space is a significant factor in increasing workplace productivity.

Architects and interior designers take many factors into consideration when designing interior spaces. They are well aware that the physical work environment has a direct psychological impact on people, affecting their behavior, emotions and thoughts. Creating a well-designed environment is just as important as building a functional one, since good design boosts creativity and productivity.

There are numerous factors that come into play when considering good office design: lighting, temperature, color, noise levels, furniture, space layout, among others. Here are a few key considerations.

Style and Home, Furnishing Your Workspace

After determining the space you have to work with in your office, and considering its decor, it is time to think about adding the furniture you will use to get your work done.

Take a look at your needs for your home office.

Do you need...

    A flat work station with large surface area?
    Storage for paperwork or products?
    A place to house a desktop computer?
    Seating for visitors or clients?
    Space for a phone, fax machine, printer, scanner, or other such item?

Easy and Practical Home Modifications

When home modification is being talked about, what comes to mind for most people is that it is hard to do and it would cost a lot to get the design that you want for your property. While there are indeed a lot of home designs which requires a lot of modification to the structure of your home, there are actually a lot of home ideas as well which are easier to accomplish and are more practical. With all the financial crises affecting almost all people from all over the globe, we are almost forced to be practical with everything. But as long as you have the right resources and the right idea, you can still do some things which are commonly thought to be expensive or impractical. Home modifications are no exception as you can still have it done even if you are not willing to spend a lot. You may even be surprised that you can do a big change in your house without causing you to overspend or go over your allotted budget.

Another big misconception regarding house modification is that you need to have a part or several parts of your house destroyed and built again.

Office Storage Ideas For Each Employee's Workstation

When one thinks about office storage, it is often the requirements of the business as a whole that are taken into account, not the needs of each individual employee in their own workstation. Whilst it is one thing to have a few filing cabinets dotted around the workplace, how does that help employees who need access to their files on a regular basis? Instead, you should also be looking at ways that your employees can store the things they need in their own workstations, and here are some helpful ideas:

• Cabinets: Be creative with your office storage ideas - why not use some handy cabinets instead of partitions? This can make accessing files that are shared between employees even easier.

• Desk Trays: Often, the smallest items on our desks are the hardest to find a home for. Desk trays are a great way to increase office storage, as they can be used to keep track of incoming files, as well as to sort stationary.

Style and Home, The Psychology of Color

Once you have considered the space for your home office, determined where your desk and chairs will be and how they will be used, it's time to start incorporating elements of personal style into your office decor. The simplest way to do this is to paint one or more walls. But what color is right for your office?

Red: Red is seen as a power color, but it has been known to impair performance because the color is associated with danger, warnings, and failure. Red is also used in many food advertisements and restaurant signs because it increases appetite. If you have a red office, keep the snacks far away.

Orange: Orange contributes to feelings of enthusiasm and warmth, which may assist if your work involves meetings and you want to give a warm impression to your guests.

Optimizing Layers in CAD Drafting

As an architect in Cincinnati, Ohio, I do a lot of computer-aided-drafting (CAD), and I receive CAD files from other firms as well. I notice a striking difference between the files that I produce and the ones created by others, specifically in the profusion of layers established within the file. This is likely due to a difference in how our respective CAD software functions, but may also simply harken back to limitations imposed in the early days of CAD that have now become engrained work habits.

I use drafting software called Graphite, by Ashlar, which has the feature that line weight, style, and color are independent of layer assignment. In older versions of AutoCad, which most others use, line weight, style, and color were determined by layer. In part, this was tied to how the CAD drawings were printed, using a plotter that selected among several actual pens stored in its carousel to render a particular item; this selection was laxer-based.

Modern Office Design and Office Fit Out Costs

According to a leading specialist office fit out & office refurbishment project management and cost consultancy firm in London, typical 2012 fit-out costs for a modern office design can range from £45.00 psf for an office refurbishment in a logistics warehouse to £75.00 psf for a project that includes a significant upgrade to the building ventilation systems.

A recently completed, high specification project for a leading FTSE 100 company - at £62.50 psf - would have been at a much higher cost, above £100 psf, but the project re-used a considerable amount of fixtures and fittings from existing premises to achieve significant savings.

Certain modern office interior design projects involve a fit-out cost per square foot far higher than the typical range; for example, with fit out costs sometimes in the region of £180 - £200 per square foot.

Commercial Office Space - Office Design Ideas

Commercial Office Space - Office Design Ideas (And why you should always use a specialist Project Manager)

What constitutes Commercial Office Space?

Normally any kind of premises from which you could run a business and where a part is set aside for administration purposes. From small shops, warehouses, supermarkets, factories and office blocks, to leisure facilities such as pubs, restaurants, gyms, etc.

Whereas moving to a new business premises, coming up with innovative and creative office design ideas and fitting out the commercial office space to your company's exact requirements - or even refurbishing existing to make better use of the space - may not be quite as complex as building an Olympic stadium, each task does nevertheless require a similar level of specialised project management expertise to manage it correctly.

Design Your Office With A Commercial Architect

When designing a commerci`l workspace, a lot of people don't put in the same care and thought that they would for the home or other personal space. Considering the average worker puts in 8 hours a day, it doesn't make sense to invest any less into the design of an office when you're bound to end up spending so much time there. If you're working on the design and build of a new office, don't settle for ready-made plans; research and work with experienced commercial architects to create a better place of work for you and your employees.

Why work with an architect?

Plenty of building companies will offer "quick-fix" solutions and standard office plans that can be easily implemented. While this might fit the bill for some, you have to remember that every building is different - making the most of the space you have and creating a better flow is the key to enjoying a more efficient, friendly and effective place of work.