Topeka Refits Traffic Lights With LEDs
NEW YORK,
NY -- (MARKET WIRE) Light Waves Concept, Inc., a New York-based manufacturer and retailer of light emitting diode (LED) bulbs and fixtures, has developed a custom LED bulb to be used in retrofitting all the walk signals in the city of
Topeka, KS. The project, financed by federal funds, is indicative of a nationwide push toward energy conservation through the use of LED light sources. The Head of Topeka's Traffic Engineering Department worked closely with Light Waves Concept's design team to create the new bulb, which has a medium base capable of fitting into any standard
Edison light fixture. The bulb uses an innovative design to evenly space the light behind the signals while using only 10% of the energy previously expended by them.
- Market Wire
Architalx Lectures to Feature Leading DesignersThe Architalx lecture series resumes at the Portland Museum of Art this week with a focus on contributionsthat architects, landscapearchitects and engineerscan make toward reducing the increasing stresson the earth's resources.A leading environmental designer, Stefan Behnisch, a principal with the German firm that bears his name, will kick off the series with a lecture titled "Living Globally: Examining Sustainability Part 2." Other series speakers will include: · April 21: Guy Battlefrom the firm Battle McCarthyof London, England.Battle McCarthy are consultingengineers who specializein the integrationof sustainable designwith renewable energy solutions. Current projectsinclude the
FreedomTowerin
New York City, whichincorporates the firsturban vertical wind farm.
· April 28: David
Lake of
Lake/Flato, of
San Antonio,
Texas.
Lake/Flato designs energy-conservingbuildings thatrange from unpretentiousrural houses to large-scaleurban revitalization projects. American Instituteof Architects honoredLake/Flato as Firm ofthe Year in 2004.
· May 5: Shlomo Aronsonof Shlomo Aronson & Associates,
Jerusalem. Aronson's35-year career in landscapearchitecture hasfocused on the pragmaticand aesthetic possibilitiesof working with ecologicallystressed and historicallyrich landscapes. -
Portland Press Herald
Koolhaas Wins EU Architecture PrizeRem Koolhaas of the
Netherlands has won the European Union's prestigious Mies van der Rohe architecture prize for his design of the Dutch embassy in
Berlin. The €50,000 ($65,000) prize is awarded every two years for architecture that shows "excellence and innovation in the conceptual, technical and constructional qualities of European works." Koolhaas was selectedby an internationalpanel of nine judges headedby Zaha Hadid, the Baghdad-bornarchitect whowon the 2003 prize for herstreetcar terminal in
Strasbourg,
France.This year's shortlist also includedSwiss Re headquartersin
London; the Selfridges& Co department store in
Birmingham,
England;
Barcelona'sForum 2004 esplanadeand the
Braga municipalstadium in
Portugal. The €10,000($13,000) prize forup-and-coming architects wasawarded to Pieter Bannenberg,Walter van Dijk,Kamiel Klaasse and MarkLinnemann for their BasketBar,combining a cafe and rooftopbasketball court in
Utrecht.
- The Associated Press 
