Landscape Architect Articles

Decorative Surface Solutions Offering Class01-27-16 | Education

Decorative Surface Solutions Offering Class
Basic Finishing Techniques

Decorative Surface Solutions Group is planning to offer a new class to teach people about the many aspects of decorative concrete finishes.

Decorative Surface Solutions Group will soon be offering a class to teach students about the many applications of decorative concrete finishes for interior and exterior use.

Instructors will talk about the design options that are available and the proper solutions for differing surface requirements and environments. Teachers will also cover finishing techniques, systems and materials, and the benefits compared to alternative solutions.

Participants will learn about environmental and project planning impacts of various concrete solutions and safety assurances. Students will study examples that demonstrate the versatility in colors, textures, aggregate exposure, levels of diamond polishing, decorative inlays and architectural saw cuts. They will also be taught solutions in graphic etching and design in concrete surfaces.

Learning objectives:

Participants will be able to select decorative concrete systems and solutions for interior versus exterior application.

Students will be able to specify the proper decorative concrete finish techniques and use.

Participants will be able to assess general costs and impacts of architectural concrete solutions.

Students will be able to define the benefits of utilizing concrete over other flooring/paving options.

"This new course will be taught by DSSG contractor members that go through our instructor training course and demonstrate that they can deliver the course up to AIA standards," said Curt Thompson, chief executive officer of Decorative Surface Solutions Group.

"This course and other courses to follow will all be available as tools our members can use to help educate the market on the latest materials, technologies and methods to deliver high quality decorative flooring solutions to the market," Thompson said.

For more details about the class, call Thompson at (925) 964-6377, or email him at ct@dssgteam.com.

For Construction Pros:
https://tinyurl.com/z5yvtju

Texas A & M Bridge Design Contest Starting
Landscape architecture students at Texas A & M University will have say in how a pedestrian-bicycle bridge is designed and built across Interstate 10 in Houston.

Students may take part in a design contest, either individually or in groups, for the pathway scheduled for construction in the Energy Corridor District.

The corridor is a suburban area approximately 17 miles west of downtown Houston that hosts many of the region's multinational energy companies.

"Contest organizers are looking for an iconic bridge design to connect a future transit center north of I-10 to an entertainment and residential hub across the interstate," a news release from Texas A & M said. "Organizers also want the structure to contribute to the district's overall branding and messaging efforts."

The design contest is being hosted by the district and Jun-Hyun Kim, assistant professor of landscape architecture at Texas A&M.

Kim and ECD officials will judge all submissions using the following criteria: a clearly documented analysis and design process; consistency with the district's master plan principles; effective production of place-making measures to create a gateway and landmark; and effectiveness in communicating graphic concepts.

Students in the College of Architecture can submit a registration form to Kim by 5 p.m. Feb. 2, 2016. Contest designs are due at 11:59 p.m. April 22.

Texas A & M:
https://tinyurl.com/zepe2tf