Architecture
Architectural, Design and Build Projects 2015
Read about AIA Jacksonville’s latest projects:
read moreBuilding for Well-Being
We know that architecture is essential to creating buildings, but what is its role beyond the structures themselves?
read moreCelebrating the Pedestrian
Landscaping Downtown Jacksonville Mother Nature was kind to Jacksonville. With the St. Johns River coursing through Downtown, we have an abundance of riverfront property. But rarely has a major city’s biggest asset been so underutilized. Before Downtown Jacksonville can become a player in the modern world, we must first embrace its natural beauty. The Riverwalk is Downtown’s first true ode to the river, and its popularity is a testament to the lure of pedestrian-friendly public spaces. This may be an intrepid idea, but it certainly isn’t new....
read moreAIA Jacksonville 2015
Mark Macco, AIA, NCARB President, Mark Macco Architects As architects, we are trained to consider design on a macro and micro scale. How a project affects the overall urban landscape is as critical as how that project or development affects the specific site and its immediate surroundings. Therefore, it is incumbent upon architects to consider these many levels, from neighborhood to region and beyond, as they are all interconnected. For example, on an environmental level, the heat island effect is the precept that what we put on a site can...
read moreAIA Jacksonville President’s Message
What an honor and privilege it is to serve as this year’s president of the American Institute of Architects, Jacksonville Chapter. Great things are happening in our wonderful city and it’s an exciting time to be an architect. I always look forward to the architecture issue of Arbus Magazine and this year is no exception. With all of the excitement and anticipation generated by the various Downtown related projects, I am especially interested in this year’s article. How do architects feel about these projects and how do we ensure that...
read moreArchitecture’s Role in Downtown Rejuvenation
New major promises, but can they deliver? We will focus on revitalizing Downtown. We will bring more residents to Downtown. We will move more businesses and their employees to Downtown. We will utilize the Shipyards to the city’s advantage. You’ve heard it all before. These claims have become almost commonplace to long-time Jacksonville residents. Could this time really be different? Recent proposals – like Shad Khan’s monumental plans for the Shipyards, a floating party “BARge” connecting the North and South Banks, and a waterfront aquarium...
read moreThe Color Purple
The global authority on all things color raised more than a few eyebrows when it announced that the color of the year for 2014 would be purple. The specific color, PANTONE 18-3224 Radiant Orchid, was chosen by Pantone LLC, which provides professional color standards for designers in the areas of home, fashion and industry. Orchid is a bright, rich purple color based on the orchidaceae flower and ranges from grayish purple to purplish-pink to strong reddish purple. The first recorded use of orchid as a color name in English was in 1915. On the...
read moreThe Art of the Table
Southerners know hospitality. Gathering friends and family, welcoming newcomers: It’s who we are. Whether an after-church brunch, birthdays, holidays or an impromptu party, Southerners love to get together. And every affair is made to be special. Outdoor settings often call to us because of their ease and abundance of natural light. On the First Coast, blue skies, lush greenery and perhaps even sandy beaches add to the festive atmosphere. But the table setting is central to pulling it all together. “One of life’s most reliable pleasures...
read moreWhy hire an Architect?
Mark Macco, AIA, NCARB President, Mark Macco Architects The metric for any successful project is an outcome that works aesthetically, environmentally and financially. All of these elements can only be orchestrated by a single conductor – the architect: the only professional with the unique skill set to pull it all together, resulting in healthier communities and an overall better quality of life. With every design decision, architects must consider five elements: cost, function, aesthetics, time and sustainability. This is in essence what an...
read morePrescription for a Healthy Place
Prescription for a Healthy Place The Urban Land Institute and AIA Jacksonville apply a health initiative to the Northbank Riverfront District What if someone could write a prescription for the health of Jacksonville’s Northbank Riverfront District? A real Rx, listing specific procedures to follow, additional recommendations and resources for assistance, and expected outcomes to incentivize action, just might inspire new approaches to the redevelopment of an area that is indispensible to the (very) longterm efforts for the city’s Downtown...
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