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BUSINESS NEWS JACOBS AWARDED CONTRACT FROM IKEA CENTERS IN ITALY Jacobs En- gineering Group Inc. (Pasedena, CA) announced today that it was selected by IKEA Centers to perform project and construction manage- ment services for a new shopping center in Roncadelle (Brescia), Italy. The project consists of the construction of a two-level shopping center, fully integrated with the existing IKEA store. The Roncadelle Shopping Center is IKEA Center’s second development in Italy. With a gross built area of more than 88,000 square-meters and an overall gross leasable area of 55,000 square-meters, it is on target to be the largest shopping complex in the Brescia region. Plans for the center include a hypermar- ket and 165 shops offering a wide and diverse range of family tailored goods. The center is expected to be one of the first shopping centers in Italy to obtain low environmental impact certification, based on the BREEAM environmental assessment method and rating system. Jacobs’ role on the project includes project control, procurement as- sistance, BREEAM Certification, building information modeling coordina- tion, safety coordination, and pilotage services for the fit-out of the retail units. The new shopping center is scheduled to open in 2016.

the end of a successful first meeting and then ask them to play with it,” he says. “I’d ask them to put some ideas to- gether with it to communicate their ideas because I think they would get a kick out of it. It might spark a memory of when they were kids and used Lincoln Logs or LEGOs to build something, and it would break down any pretenses about using it as a design tool. They could put together an idea, take some pictures, and tear it apart and do another. The flexibility of the blocks allows for endless possibilities, and I’d want them to make as many as they could.” Troxel thinks Arckit would also come in handy for having his clients convey ideas in real-time. He says that this is something they used to do a lot of with cardboard, glue, and sticks but rarely do anymore because of 3-D modeling tools on the computer. “People like to hold things in their hands, so I welcome any physical modeling tools like Arckit,” he says. “It has pieces in the kits that look like roof framing and windows that make it even easier to get straight to the point. Putting pieces to- gether with them would help break down barriers that only the architect is allowed to have ideas. It’s their house and they should be a key part in making it.” Troxel believes that people identify with Arckit. “To put a kit like this in people’s hands only increases their chances of exposure to architecture and design, which is a net-positive overall,” he says. “Is it more for enthusiasts? Maybe, but I don’t think it should be only marketed to en- thusiasts. While architects have access to more sophisticat- ed analog and digital tools (i.e., 3-D printers, laser cutters, and 3-D modeling programs) everyone still likes to build things with their hands and to hold the object up in front of their eyes and imagine themselves inside.” “To put a kit like this in people’s hands only increases their chances of exposure to architecture and design, which is a net-positive overall.” The partners note the transition to an independent practice has provided new creative opportunities in addition to the flexibility to craft a practice with efficient and experienced staff and a real sensitivity to client expec- tations. The firm believes that great design is best approached through a multi-faceted perspective, with careful consideration in utilizing architec- ture, materials, lighting, graphic design, art and furniture. DIMENSION NY’s previous work can be seen around the world, in cities such as Los Angeles, New York, London, Hong Kong and Las Vegas. INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM DIMENSION NEW YORK LAUNCHES IN MANHATTAN Partners Maria Lee, Adrienne D’Agata, and Kate Lindenberg recently launched a new, privately held international design firm DIMENSION New York , based in Manhattan. The firm will maintain a diverse focus on residential, corporate and hospitality projects. “DIMENSION NY delivers a unique range of design services that respond to the growing need for timeless solutions with a simple, refined impact,” the partners said. “This is as true in the corporate realm as it is in the residential and hospitality markets.”

ARCKIT, from page 11

attempt at one-size-fits-all modularity, something that has not fared well in the profession,” he says. However, in lieu of this criticism, he says that Arckit ex- ceeds both LEGOs and SketchUp by ordering itself in a 4-foot module. “This allusion to constructability demonstrates that the kit is firmly founded in architectural design, and would be a great tool to both model enthusiasts and those interested in architecture,” he says. As a professional, Sappington has the need to model in vari- ous scales with many non-standard pieces, of which Arckit has yet to produce. “I won’t be giving up my trusty old 3-D printer or the wood shop, but I might try toying around with Arckit in the stu- dio,” he says. Matthew Erion, associate principal, Cannon Moss Bryg- ger Architects (Sioux City, IA), a 60-person firm, says that clients are constantly asking for quicker and faster turn- arounds on services. So, the thought of changing, ordering, and waiting for updates on a physical model all seem to be counter-intuitive to where the industry is heading. Incom- ing employees are armed with a vast array of skills and are able to build virtually anything in-house, especially with easier access to 3-D tools. Erion says that designers have an infinite library to choose from when it comes to shapes and materials. “The modularity of Arckit, though nice from a modeling and standardization standpoint,” he says, “would likely fall short of meeting the needs of designers.” PUT CLIENTS TO WORK; BREAK DOWN BARRIERS. Evan Troxel, HMC Ar- chitects (Ontario, CA), a 270-person firm, says that while he has not tried the product, what he has read about it leads him to believe that it would definitely be a useful tool. “I would actually want to give unopened kits to clients at

THE ZWEIG LETTER OCTOBER 19, 2015, ISSUE 1124

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