The Georgia Lake House is under construction! The views to the lake through the glassy wall will be spectacular. Stay tuned for updated construction progress images.
Madison Livery Stable Renovation Wins Georgia Trust Award
April 16, 2019
April 16, 2019
Arcollab is pleased to share the news that Principal Joe Smith’s design work for the Madison Livery Stable was honored with a Georgia Trust Excellence in Rehabilitation Award. The old livery stable, which sits across from the Madison Town Park in downtown Madison, Georgia, is now home to Amici.
Read an overview of the history of the building and the transformation. See more images of the final rehabilitation.
Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Excellence in Rehabilitation Awards recognize projects that make compatible use of a building through repair, alterations or additions while preserving features of the property that convey its historic value.
Milledgeville Library Annex Nearing Completion
March 25, 2019
March 25, 2019
The Annex to the Mary Vinson Memorial Library in Milledgeville, Georgia, is nearing completion. The historic Fowler Motors Building has been transformed and will offer the Library administration new office space as well as multi-purpose meeting space and other library services for the community.
The thermally-modified ash used on the front awning and the new side entrance and the custom-made steel planters and benches all look beautiful!
Steel railings are going in. Interior treatments include nickel-gap pine on the walls in the stair and riser-seating area.
The murals were installed by local artist, Elise Williams, and look fantastic!
Enjoy a few more shots of the construction in progress.
An Introduction to Embodied Carbon
March 19, 2019
March 19, 2019
“Between now and 2060, the buildings industry is poised to add a whopping 230 billion m2 of new construction worldwide. That means we will double the amount of buildings we currently have on the planet over the next four decades. To put this into perspective, we are constructing the equivalent of an entire New York City every month for the next 40 years. Let that sink in.”
Thus opens a fantastic article by Anthony Pak explaining the concept of Embodied Carbon and what that means for the built environment, in particular, what that means for those who design the built environment. Pak continues, “Given the sheer volume and speed of new construction, it is critical that we design all of these buildings as sustainably as possible. But what do we mean when we say sustainable? When you hear the term ‘green buildings’, what comes to mind?”
Check out the link to his article (above) and learn all about Embodied Carbon. The best technical article written for a broad audience that I’ve come across. And if you get hooked and want to dive deeper, check out the Embodied Carbon Network hosted out of the University of Washington. Great stuff!
We may not yet have all of the answers regarding stabilizing atmospheric CO2 levels, but the questions are certainly valid. It’s heartening and inspiring to see how architecture, construction, and yes even policy are evolving and slowly but surely embracing a low(er)-carbon future.
Fairview School – Project Update
February 5, 2019
February 5, 2019
Arcollab Principal, Joe Smith, and several community members associated with the Fairview School preservation project in Cave Spring, GA were interviewed yesterday by Atlanta’s WSB-TB Channel 2. The historic African-American school house has been restored and will soon be full of life again as young people (young in age and young at heart!) from the community come together to share and learn. Updated images of the restored building can be seen in this news clip and will be posted to our website soon.
The Fairview School, pre-restoration.
Interior of the original Fairview School House.
Phase 1 rehabilitation.
Phase 2 rehabilitation progress.
The New Carbon Architecture
September 5, 2018
September 5, 2018
In an interview with the AIA’s Committee on the Environment (AIA COTE), when asked about innovation in the profession of architecture and whether architects are helping to address the challenges faced by global warming, author Paul Hawken summed it up: “This is the design opportunity before us. Architects must explore how to design in alignment with life and living systems. Never has there been a better time to be an architect.”
We agree!
We’re inspired by Bruce King’s book, The New Carbon Architecture: Building to Cool the Climate. King has edited and co-authored chapters in this fascinating look at how we can design and build buildings that help to take carbon out of the atmosphere.
Check out this book, and learn more about green building through sources like the Ecological Building Network (“Ecological Building Network is an open group of engineers, builders, and architects developing and disseminating best technologies for the built environment.”), the Southface Energy Institute in Atlanta, and the US Green Building Council.
Groundbreaking in Social Circle
August 8, 2018
August 8, 2018
Arcollab principals Joe Smith and Lori Bork Newcomer and senior designer Alia Griffith recently attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the W.H. Stanton Memorial Library in Social Circle. This exciting project helped the library board and community members to re-envision their public library. We’ve loved being part of this project to help modernize such a critical community resource. Stay tuned for construction updates!
