The total number of construction starts increased by 5% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.2 trillion. According to Dodge Construction Network, nonresidential building starts grew by 2%, nonbuilding starts were 16% high, and residential starts fell by 1%.For the 12 months ending November 2024, total construction starts were up 4% from the 12 months ending November 2023. Residential starts were up 7%, nonresidential starts were up 2%, and nonbuilding starts rose 4% over the same period. The number of manufacturing starts was down 52%."Construction starts continue to move sideways as the market waits for further rate cuts," Richard Branch, the chief economist of Dodge Construction Network, stated. "Elevated interest rates, labor shortages, and strict lending standards will continue to constrain construction activity in the near term."Related: Architecture Business Metrics Begin To Turn Positive: Archinects State of AEC November 2024The largest nonbuilding proj...

This week's edition of our curated career roundup from the Archinect Job board features 13 architecture and design firms in the San Francisco Bay Area currently offering a range of exciting opportunities.For helpful guidance on how to get that next job, make sure to check out Archinect's Guide to Job Titles series and our Archinect Tips collection.Sand Harbor Visitor Center by Bull Stockwell Allen.Bull Stockwell Allen seeks a Designer, a Job Captain, a Project Architect, and a Senior Project Architect in San FranciscoDesigner details: "The Designer will play a key role in supporting the design and production process throughout all project phases. Working closely with the Senior Designer and Job Captain, you will help create visual presentations and communicate design objectives using various methods of representation. Additionally, you will assist with project management tasks such as client meetings, contractor coordination, and ensuring that all project deliverables meet contra...

The 13th A+Awards invites firms to submit a range of timely new categories, emphasizing architecture that balances local innovation with global vision. Your projects deserve the spotlight, so start your submission today!In South Korea, there is a word on everyones lips: honjok. A combination of the Korean words for by myself and tribe, honjok literally translates to the tribe of one and is a way of life that celebrates solitude and autonomy. People who follow a honjok lifestyle will go about their days engaging in many activities alone and, notably, without fear of judgment. They take themselves for dinner, go to the movies solo, and even buy a home alone.For many young Koreans, honjok is a reaction to the relentless pace and pressures of modern life. Competitive workplaces leave little room for traditional relationship milestones such as dating, marriage or even living together. At the same time, a growing desire to push back against strict family expectations that often demand conformity, career success and parenthood play a role, too. In this environment, choosing to live alone becomes an act of rebellion as well as self-care.While the word honjok may belong on the Korean Peninsula, the trend is far from unique to South Korea. Across the globe, solo living is becoming more desirable. In Europe, almost 40% of homes are single-occupancy, while in the US and UK, one-person households make up approximately 30% of the population a figure that has more than doubled in the last 50 years.Jackie XU Private Residence I A Love Letter to My Dogs by Office of Goldchild, Shanghai, China | Photos by Jian XUSolo living is increasing for many reasons. In the UK, single women are one of the fastest-growing groups of homebuyers as financial independence and the ability to purchase and maintain a home alone has become a symbol of empowerment, a way of breaking from traditional domestic roles or expectations and a way to ensure personal and financial security. Even within traditional relationships, the notion of cohabiting is changing.Increasingly, couples are choosing to live apart while maintaining romantic partnerships a dynamic known as living apart together (LAT). For some, its about preserving individuality and prioritizing personal space. For others, the demands of dual-career households, often spread across different cities, make separate homes a practical solution. In other cases, blended and unique family units have required rethinking the family living arrangements most would regard as traditional.Meanwhile, in countries where familial duty typically dictates that aging parents live with their children Japan, for instance smaller families and shifting cultural expectations have led to an unprecedented rise in one-person households among older generations. For these individuals, solo living is often about dignity, control and maintaining autonomy in later life.Clearwater Lake Retreat by Wheeler Kearns Architects, Clearwater Lake, Wisconsin| Photos by Steve HallFor much of our history, homes were designed for families and communities. Shared functionality shaped everything from floor plans to furniture choices. Dining rooms, for instance, were a must for family meals, while multiple bedrooms and bathrooms to accommodate children, extended relatives and guests were a top priority. By the motor boom in the mid-20th century, the two-car garage became a staple of suburban family homes, and as family dynamics changed, open-plan living encouraged interaction and togetherness. Homes were designed to prioritize collective needs over individual expression. Privacy and personalization were secondary concerns, and compromises kept everyone happy.However, the rise of solo living has turned things upside down. Architects, designers and even urban planners are being required to rethink the function of the home and consider how spaces designed to serve one rather than many can, like their occupiers, break from tradition and push boundaries.Designing for a single occupant comes with a unique set of challenges. Unlike multi-occupant homes, which must often balance competing tastes and needs, solo living demands a space that aligns wholly with its inhabitant and their unique circumstances. For single dwellers, priorities vary and shift dramatically. Social spaces like dining rooms or expansive living areas might be necessary for someone who hosts a lot of social gatherings but not so much for someone in a location simply for work. Similarly, drastic career and lifestyle changes are more common in the life of a single dweller. When designing within these parameters, functionality becomes hyper-specific, becoming tailored to hobbies and routines. Pull up bar in the kitchen? Sure, why not? Standing desk in the bedroom? Go right ahead. But always consider the need for change and adaptability. Traditional boundaries and expectations can be thrown out the window to make way for complete personalization. The possibilities for interior designers and architects are intriguing and vast.Tahanan Supportive Housing by David Baker Architects, San Francisco, California | Photos by Bruce DamonteHowever, as much as solo living celebrates individuality, it also raises questions about connection and community. For many, living alone doesnt mean a desire to actually be alone. With this in mind architects and planners are responding with co-living developments. These projects feature smaller, private units while making way for additional communal amenities like co-working areas, coffee shops, gyms and gardens.By focusing on shared amenities and reducing the footprint of individual apartments, many co-living developments can offer lower prices for those joining the property market as single renters or buyers. Additionally, the reduction in space within the home makes areas outside the apartment, like rooftop gardens and shared courtyards, more valuable to the owner and encourages interaction with neighbors.There is still a long way to go. Many traditional social housing models prioritize larger family homes, and governments and planners must address the lack of affordable, well-designed units for single occupants. A shortfall is commonly experienced by young professionals and lower-income individuals, for whom living alone remains an aspirational yet often unattainable goal.Apartment House Koya by OOS, Andermatt, Switzerland | Photos by OOSLike most societal shifts, solo living is coming under scrutiny. The decline of traditional family structures has raised concerns by some about the breakdown of informal care networks and cultural continuity. Families once functioned as economic units, pooling resources and providing support across generations. Without these structures, some policymakers worry about economic strain as individuals reject or are unable to bear the burden of additional dependents in the home. In countries with low birth rates, solo living has been blamedthough not provenfor contributing to demographic challenges like population decline.However, despite this, many cities are beginning to adopt promising models. By including affordable one-bedroom flats and studios in their public housing developments, they are ensuring that solo living can be both accessible and dignified. Elsewhere, modular housing and subsidized co-living spaces are emerging as scalable solutions.As solo living expands, architects and designers face both challenges and opportunities. How do you create spaces that are deeply personal yet highly adaptable? How can homes for one address and not exacerbate the burgeoning loneliness crisis? And how can the choice of living alone be available and affordable for anyone who wishes to? These questions demand a rethinking of the homenot only as a physical structure but also as a societal structure.The 13th A+Awards invites firms to submit a range of timely new categories, emphasizing architecture that balances local innovation with global vision. Your projects deserve the spotlight, so start your submission today!The post Home Alone: Exploring the Architecture of Solo Living appeared first on Journal.

Winter offers photographers unique opportunities to capture wildlife in a setting that emphasizes the stark beauty and resilience of nature. Snow-covered landscapes, frosty mornings, and the quiet calm of winter months provide a stunning backdrop for animals in their natural habitat. Heres how to approach winter wildlife photography with a professional touch, focusing on advanced techniques for lighting, composition, and patience.Using light to enhance winter wildlifeThe lighting in winter is often softer and lower, casting a gentle glow over the landscape. Understanding how to harness this light can bring out the best in your wildlife photos. Utilize soft, diffused light for detailThe low winter sun provides a gentle, diffused light that enhances the natural textures of animal fur and feathers. This lighting is perfect for highlighting details without harsh shadows, giving your images a soft, balanced look. Shooting in the morning or late afternoon will add a warm tone to your subjects, which contrasts beautifully with the cooler winter environment. Backlight for a dramatic silhouetteWinters low sun makes backlighting more accessible throughout the day. When positioned carefully, it can create a glowing outline around your subject, adding drama and depth to the shot. To prevent overexposure, meter for the highlights on the animal or use exposure compensation to maintain detail in the background.Capturing wildlife behaviorOne of the best aspects of wildlife photography is observing animals in their natural routines. Winter provides a unique opportunity to capture behaviors such as foraging, hunting, and interaction with the environment.Be patient and observePatience is crucial in winter wildlife photography. Animals tend to conserve energy during colder months, making them less active. By observing quietly, you can anticipate movements and be ready to capture subtle behaviors that convey the essence of the season. Allowing animals to come closer rather than approaching them directly often results in more intimate and authentic images. Look for animal tracks and signsSnow-covered landscapes highlight animal tracks, which can tell a story about where animals have been and what theyve been doing. Use these tracks as visual cues to find your subjects or incorporate them into the composition for a storytelling element.Composition techniques for winter wildlifeThe winter environment allows for minimalist compositions that focus attention on the subject without distractions. Use these techniques to frame your wildlife subjects effectively.Frame with the natural environmentUse trees, branches, or snowdrifts as natural framing elements to focus attention on your subject. For example, framing a fox against a backdrop of bare trees or snow-capped rocks creates depth and adds context, showing the animals relationship with its environment. Include negative space for isolationSnowy landscapes often create a natural negative space that emphasizes the subject. By placing your subject within a vast, open space, you can create a sense of isolation or solitude, which is powerful in winter scenes. This technique works particularly well when photographing solitary animals like deer or foxes. Get low for an immersive perspectiveShooting from a lower angle places the viewer at eye level with the animal, creating an immersive experience. This perspective not only brings out details in the subject but also allows the viewer to connect with the animal on a more personal level. In snowy environments, getting low can also let you capture the texture of the snow and add dimension to your images.Practical tips for winter wildlife photographyCamouflage and quiet gearIn winter, animals are highly aware of their surroundings. Dress in neutral colors and use silent gear to avoid startling your subjects. Many professional wildlife photographers invest in camouflage covers for their equipment to help them blend into the environment.Capture breath and frost for effectOn particularly cold days, you may notice animals breath creating small clouds or frost forming on their fur. Capture these elements to add a sense of realism and atmosphere to your photos. Timing is keywatch for when an animal pauses to breathe, creating an opportunity for a shot that conveys the chill of winter. Adapt your shutter speed to movementWhen photographing animals in motion, use a faster shutter speed to freeze the action, especially in snowy conditions where even a small movement can stir up snow. Conversely, a slower shutter speed can blur background snow, adding a sense of movement and dynamism to a stationary subject.Winter wildlife photography offers the chance to capture animals in a world transformed by cold and snow. By carefully considering lighting, composition, and environmental elements, you can create images that highlight the resilience and beauty of wildlife during this challenging season. Embrace the quiet, be patient, and let winters natural rhythm guide you to capturing these captivating moments.Not on 500px yet? Click here to learn about Licensing with 500px.The post Techniques for capturing wildlife in winter appeared first on 500px.

Back beforethe firstSonicmovie had released and we were in the midst of the controversy surrounding the iconic Blue Blurs original movie design, this scenario would have been hard to predict, but theSonicmovie series is continuing to grow from strength to strength. In fact, ahead of the imminent theatrical release ofSonic the Hedgehog 3, a sequel has also been formally announced.Reported by Variety, Paramount Pictures and Sega have announced that theyre working onSonic the Hedgehog 4.The movie is currently targeting a spring 2027 theatrical release, so well be waiting for it a while. Presumably, we can expect the majority of the main cast to reprise their roles (hopefully including Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog, who makes his debut in the imminent third movie), though it should be interesting whether that also applies toJim Carrie (Dr. Robotnik), who came out of retirement to star inSonic 3.Sonic the Hedgehog 3, meanwhile, is releasing imminently. Out in theaters worldwide on Friday, December 20, its enjoying strong critical reception, holding a RottenTomatoes score of 87 percent after 63 reviews at the time of writing.

Even in a year as overflowing with excellent RPGs as 2024 has been,Unicorn Overlordstands as one of the genres best outings for the year, but though the demand for more of the same will be high given the heights that Vanillawares tactical RPG scaled, the studio says it doesnt have any current plans for future content to follow-up on the title.Speaking with GamesRadar, game director Takafumi Noma thanked fans for their strong reception forUnicorn Overlord,before stating that currently, Vanillaware doesnt have DLC or sequels planned. Noma went on to add, however, that he personally hopes to make moreUnicorn Overlordcontent at some point in the future, whatever form that ends up taking.We are profoundly grateful for the sheer number of players who have embraced our vision for a new strategy RPG, the director said. Many of these players have expressed a wish for DLC or a sequel to the game. While there are currently no plans for further development of this nature, I definitely wouldnt say no if it were up to me. It would be great if we could make this happen sometime down the line.Publisher Atlus announced earlier this year thatUnicorn Overlordhad sold over 1 million units, while critical reception for the title has also been nearly universally positive, so theres certainly a chance that Vanillaware decides to capitalize on that success, even if the developer hasnt traditionally been known to do sequels.Meanwhile, during the interview, Noma also reiterated that there are no current plans to bring the game to PC.Unicorn Overlordis available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.

Microsoft has several first-party titles lined up for release in 2025, but few of them are going to turn as many heads asDOOM: The Dark Ageswill. Announced earlier this year, the first-person shooter is one of next years most prominent releases, and we might soon be about to see more of it in action, with a closer-than-anticipated release date also seemingly set to be announced.Thats as per extas1s, a known Xbox leaker, who has claimed in a video that at Microsofts strongly rumoured upcoming annual Xbox Developer Direct presentation in January, DOOM: The Dark Ageswill be one of the main courses that the company will be showcasing. Interestingly, the leaker has also claimed that the game is scheduled for a May 2025 release, though adds that that is subject to change, so take that as you will.Either way, 2025 is shaping up to be a strong year for Xbox, with the likes ofAvowed, The Outer Worlds 2, South of Midnight,andFablealso due out next year. As per extas1s,the rumouredElder Scrolls 4: Oblivionremake is also releasing in 2025 and could be announced at the Xbox Developer Direct presentation next month. Read more on that through here.

A woman waits outside the new temporary pop-up Ontario Science Centre located in Sherway Gardens mall in Toronto, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteThe timeline for opening a permanent newOntarioScienceCentreappears to have been delayed, with infrastructure officials telling the auditor generals office thecentreis expected to be up and running in 2029.When Premier Doug Ford announced last year the planned move for the attraction, from its east Toronto location to a redevelopedOntarioPlace on the citys waterfront, thesciencecentresaid the new facility would open in 2028.In June, when the government announced the abrupt closure of thesciencecentreover structural concerns with the roof, its press release said theOntarioPlace facility would open as early as 2028.Now, according to a report earlier this month from Ontarios auditor general Shelley Spence on theOntarioPlace redevelopment, the new building is expected to open in 2029.That information was provided to the auditor generals office by InfrastructureOntario, a spokesperson for the auditor said.Jason Ash, co-chair of the group Save OntariosScienceCentre, said its a shame that there will be no permanentOntarioScienceCentrefor at least an extra year.Its really a whole generation ofOntariochildren who are not going to have access to world-classscienceeducation that theOntarioScienceCentrehas provided for 55 years, he said.Simply put, theOntarioScienceCentrewas unique in that the majority of its business actually came from Ontarians, with tourism coming in second place. SoOntariokids arent being served and tourists are not going to get a great experience either in the meantime.Two requests for comment from Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma went unanswered, with a spokesperson ultimately replying to a third by saying she would not be responding.Due to the request submitted by the Leader of the Official Opposition to the Integrity Commissioner on October 16th, 2024, Minister Kinga Surma has been asked not to comment and will respect the process at this time, Ash Milton wrote.Miltons reply came after Surma answered at least a dozen questions in question period on the auditor generalsOntarioPlace redevelopment findings.NDP Leader Marit Stiles integrity complaint focused largely on terms and negotiations that led to a 95-year lease for Therme to build and operate a spa and waterpark atOntarioPlace, but also alleges irregularities with the plan to relocate thesciencecentre.Stiles suggests, based on information previously uncovered last year by the auditor general, that the government wanted to have thesciencecentreatOntarioPlace and integrate parking promised to Therme with thesciencecentrebuilding in order to dispel public concerns over the project.This is yet another expensive project that nobody asked for with a plan that no one is buying, Stiles wrote in a statement this week.We could have revitalized the existingScienceCentrefor a fraction the cost. Ford and Surma boasted about the newScienceCentreopening in 2028, but that sounds like more false promises from a flailing government.A spokesperson for InfrastructureOntariosaid the procurement process for the newcentrecontinues, with the request for proposals stage expected to wrap up next fall.A firm date for the completion of construction will be posted once a contract is awarded, and the opening date will depend on the centres timeline for moving into the new building, Karen Evans said in an email.The overall plan for delivering the vision remains unchanged, she said.That audit found that it will now cost more for the government to build a newOntarioScienceCentreatOntarioPlace than it would have to maintain the site it abruptly closed earlier this year.The cost estimate for building and maintaining a newsciencecentreatOntarioPlace has increased by nearly $400 million from the governments spring 2023 business case for relocating it, the auditor said, meaning it will cost approximately $1.4 billion higher than the $1.3-billion estimate for maintaining the attraction at its east Toronto location.The increase is due to higher design and construction costs, life cycle and maintenance costs, and ancillary costs that have added up because of changes to the scope of the planned building and about $61 million in cost escalations, Spence wrote.Michael Lindsay, at the time the president and CEO of InfrastructureOntario, said he didnt agree that building a newsciencecentrewill cost more than rehabilitating the old one, noting that project would also be facing inflationary price increases.Lindsay provided some reasoning for possible delays in a briefing on the day thesciencecentrewas closed.The language (of as early as 2028) probably just reflects the realities of procurement and construction, he said.Were going to be talking to our counterparties through the procurement about what it would take to construct a newsciencecentre, how long that might be, and so I think the plan remains the plan. That language probably just points at the reality that further conversation with our market is coming about what its going to take to both procure and then build the newsciencecentre.Ontariois planning to have a temporarysciencecentreopen in the interim, but has not provided any public updates on that process since it issued a request for proposals in June.That RFP showed the province is looking for retail or commercial space of about 50,000 to 100,000 square feet much smaller than the original buildings 568,000 square feet with a start date of no later than Jan. 1, 2026.The RFP also showed that the province wants a lease of up to five years for the temporary space, plus three options to extend the lease for one year each, which would allow the government to operate asciencecentrein a temporary home until 2034, Ash said.Thesciencecentreis currently operating two pop-up exhibits at HarbourfrontCentreand the Sherway Gardens mall in Toronto.The post New Ontario Science Centre at Ontario Place to open in 2029, auditor general says appeared first on Canadian Architect.

Photo credit: Toronto Society of ArchitectsThe Toronto Society of Architects (TSA) is rolling out its popular Gingerbread City showcase for the fifth consecutive year. The TSAs Gingerbread City, which consists of both a virtual and in-person exhibit, invites architects and gingerbread lovers to celebrate architecture and city-building through whimsical and edible creations.CN Tower by The Change Bakers (Photo credit: Gingerbread City 2024)This year, the housing crisis was top of mind as bakers submitted a diverse array of housing solutions from mid-rise cooperative projects of all shapes and sizes, to New York style brownstones and single-family detached homes.There is also a thoughtful reminder of the many Torontonians experiencing homelessness and the importance of building housing for everyone.Ace Hotel by Rob Shostak (Photo credit: Gingerbread City 2024)In addition to housing related submissions, the showcase features some local landmarks including two CN Towers and the recently completed Ace Hotel.Kids Main Street, which is returning as part of this years virtual showcase, is a mixed-used streetscape featuring over 30 faades designed and built by children, ages 2 to 11, and completed during in-person workshops held earlier this month.60 Richmond Co-Op by Jol Len Danis (Photo credit: Gingerbread City 2024)The workshops were an opportunity to learn what makes a vibrant streetscape and have some family fun. The result features everything from a fire station to a costume store, cafes, restaurants, toy stores, and a myriad of ice cream shops.TSA Gingerbread Citys virtual showcase and in-person display opened on December 17, 2024, with an in-person preview happening at The Maker Bean Cafe on December 14.The in-person display will remain available until January 10, 2025, at The Maker Bean Cafe, located at 1052 Bloor Street West, Toronto.To visit the virtual showcase, click here.The post Toronto Society of Architects rolls out fifth annual Gingerbread City appeared first on Canadian Architect.