| August 31, 2009 The 151,000 sf building exemplifies quality corporate-industrial design that is specialized to the end user. The current economy has changed the direction of commercial development. The once speculative development environment has been replaced by an environment driven by end users with developers rushing to meet their unique needs. Cultech's U.S. headquarters is on a breathtaking, fast-tracked schedule. In May 2008 KSS partnered with V.J. Scozzari & Sons, Inc., as the architect of the design-build team. Cultech wanted to--and did--start construction in July 2008. Sixteen months after our team began the project (including 5 months of winter during which work ceased), we expect the project to be substantially complete this September. Read more about Cultech's new headquarters. Photographs courtesy of V.J. Scozzari & Sons, Inc., and AC Photo. |
| August 20, 2009 Habitat for Humanity was developing the site for single-family housing, but students could choose to design single-family housing or a small apartment building. Each home had to be at least 15 ft wide, between 1,000 and 1,070 sf, and include specific program elements. For their final presentations, students had to create a number of requirements, include project schedule and budget, site and building plans, building sections and perspectives, finish boards and sustainable features. From Nov. 2008 to May 2009, the students met with a number of building professionals, including architects, engineers and contractors to design their project. Team 6's mentors included KSS, Langhan Engineering, STV Inc., Davis Langdon, and Wick Fisher White. On May 13, students presented their final project and deliverables to mentors, peers, and guests. Team 6 decided to build a two-family detached home with warm gold and brown interior finishes. After the presentations, ACE handed out a total of $30,000 in scholarships. The ACE Mentor Program plans to expand to Trenton, N.J. KSS' Princeton office is excited for the opportunity to join the Philly office in participating in this great nationwide program this fall. Read about ACE 2007-08 program. Elevation by Christian Deleg. |
| August 12, 2009 Today industrial projects are more about distribution, value-added products, storage and efficiency. They are much cleaner than heavy manufacturing and careless contamination that occurred in decades past, which many people still associate with the meaning of industrial. Industrial projects today undo and improve the mistakes made in the past by cleaning up and transforming formerly developed sites into state-of-the-art, efficient facilities. As a result, the environment, local community and residents, businesses, consumers, and the building industry all benefit. For example, by using the latest technology in energy-efficient lighting, Klimek says, an industrial building may experience up to 30 percent in energy savings--whereas an office building may experience only a 10 percent reduction in energy usage. In the article, Klimek discusses iPort 12 and the Research Collections and Preservation Consortium (ReCAP), two projects KSS and their consultants recently completed that are redefining the meaning of sustainable and industrial. Read "Thinking Beyond the Box" in eco-structure. |
| August 10, 2009 Through his work, Klimek, who leads KSS' commercial and industrial architectural design, has transformed brownfields into productive project sites throughout the state. The warehouses and distribution centers he designs become large-scale architectural icons that reflect the region's heritage, provide job opportunities for residents, and clean up the environment. Outside of work, Klimek is an active volunteer in the community and belongs to a delegation that helps build sustainable communities in developing countries. Currently they are working with a community in Santa Rosa, Guatemala. Congratulations, Ed! Read Real Estate New Jersey's article (p. 18). |
| August 3, 2009 KSS Architects sponsored the race at the Marathon Level, adding to the efforts of many other organizations and individuals to help the Eden Family of Services raise a record $70,000+ after expenses to support Eden's outreach, school, work and residential programs. The year was the most successful in the event's six-year history and "generated a renewed energy for bringing people together to make a difference in the lives of children, adults and families impacted by autism," according to a thank-you e-mail from the Eden Family. KSS has a long, outstanding relationship with the Eden Institute, the founding program of Eden Autism Services, which strives to serve the lifespan needs of people with autism. The institute provides year round educational services for children and adolescents with autism, ages 3-21. They also provide educational and support programs for family members and parents. Currently, KSS is designing a new facility for the Eden Institute, which will be located at Forrestal Village in Princeton, N.J. |
