NEW YORK, NY.- This fall, the Center for Architecture opened its first exhibition to focus on building technology. It explores new technology and techniques that are rapidly transforming the built environment in New York and around the globe. These innovations in construction and design will help architects reach the environmental and economic goals needed to make a sustainable built environment for the 21st century. Innovate:Integrate introduces these advancements to the profession and the public both, through full-scale models, videos, technical drawings, and hands-on samples.

AIANY President Anthony Schirripa, FAIA, IIDA, worked with the Center for Architecture’s exhibition team and an advisory committee to develop the exhibition, which explores his presidency’s theme: Architect as Leader. “In searching for the right platform for an exhibition on leadership in the industry, my thoughts turned to the building process,” explained Anthony Schirripa, FAIA. “I have long been a champion of the strong collaborative relationship between architects and the construction teams that build the projects we design. What better way to celebrate the people who lead that process, than to feature their tools and methodologies? The show explores some of the best of today’s innovative design and construction techniques, and the best methods to integrate them into today’s—and tomorrow’s—building processes.”

Innovation
Material advancements, energy harvesting, and daylight optimization are the themes of the “innovation” section of the exhibition. The show will feature the six finalist entries of AIANY’s “Open Call for Innovative Curtain-Wall Design.” The highest honor was presented to Peter Arbour, Assoc. AIA, and RFR Consulting Engineers for their Liquid Wall; for the exhibition a prototype of the wall has been constructed and will be installed in the Center for Architecture’s double-height front window. The Integrated Concentrating Solar Façade System, by HeliOptix and developed by Center for Architecture Science and Ecology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, won the merit award; a portion of the wall will be installed in the Center for Architecture galleries. The other finalists, all featured in the show, are: the Climate Camouflage, also by CASE; F.A.T. (Fluent Adipose Tectonic), by form-ula; the Self-Shading Curtain Wall at Kuwait University’s College of Education by Perkins+Will in joint venture with Dar Al-Handasah; and HelioTrace Façade system, by SOM, Permastellisa, and the Adaptive Building Initiative.

Integration
The “Integration” section of the exhibition takes visitors on a behind-the-scenes tour of project delivery through three related topics: construction technologies, construction management, and construction logistics. By looking at some of the world’s most ambitious projects—from supertall construction in Burj Khalifa, to prefabricated projects like the Cellophane House—the exhibition explores the possibilities of parametric design tools and computer controlled fabrication, when used by the world’s leading contractors. Alongside images and videos, the exhibition transforms the Center for Architecture’s Geothermal Gallery into an interactive BIM (Building Information Modeling) room, where visitors tour Yankee Stadium.

Exhibition on View
The exhibition is on view from October 6, 2010 – January 15, 2011. The Center for Architecture is open Monday- Friday, 9am – 8pm, Saturday 11am – 5 pm, and select Sundays through the fall.