the bank job
Doing commercial work for clients that appreciate high design is a rare treat for 180, and the opportunity to work with Architekton and Chen+Suchart Studio on this downtown Phoenix project has been an enriching experience. Check out the latest mock-up of a prominent wood accent wall, made from Plyboo planks cut on a CNC using a detailed Rhino|Grasshopper model. The clean, simple surfaces of this space will be accented with custom millwork, and the façade facing the street will display a Architekton’s exploration of custom-fritted glass.
Burt Little Remembrance
On Tuesday May 21st, after the services and reception at Mission Community Church we will be gathering at Casey Moore’s in Tempe to celebrate Burt and his life. We hope to see you there.
In lieu of flowers, Nicole has requested donations be made to the Burton James Little Memorial Fund. Donations can be made in person at any Bank of America branch by mentioning the fund by name. An option to donate online will soon be available. If you would like the online donation information, please go to RememberingBurtLittle and send a private message requesting the information.
remembering burt little
It is with great sadness that we wish goodbye to Burt Little who tragically passed away this weekend. Burt had recently moved to Seattle to further his pursuit of architecture, yet he remained a member of the 180 family. We were fortunate enough to spend time with him when our paths crossed in Hawaii not too long ago and during his recent visit back to the valley. We were fortunate to know Burt in many ways but it was his friendship that defined him best.
Services are to be held on May 21st – viewing at 3:30pm and service at 5pm at Mission Community Church at Power Road and Elliot (4450 East Elliot Road in Gilbert). Please visit RememberingBurtLittle on facebook if you would like to leave a message for his family or share your favorite memories of Burt.
Our deepest sympathies go out to Nic, Marlie + Isabella and to the Little family.
3D scanning…get your work done early, then play video games
How do you measure the inside of a vintage VW bus with its complicated curves and intricate detailing? It would be a daunting task with a tape measure, pen, and paper, so we opted for 3D scanning instead. Using the Microsoft XBox Kinect and KScan3D software, we were able to spatially scan the interior of the bus with all of its complexities using the multiple types of sensors built into the Kinect. The scan creates a 3D model of the interior of the bus, giving us a base model with which to work while also getting in a few rounds of Fruit Ninja at the same time!
slabulous!
The mono-pour is complete for the ValiHomes project, and Eric Wolf, one of our own concrete specialists, is shown smoothing out the surface. Since we used a vapor barrier beneath the slab, the chance of cracking was a concern, so we used a welded wire mesh to mitigate the problem and sprayed the slab for 5 hours after the pour to keep it cool. Minimal cracking occurred when the slab hardened.
After the pour, a 1” thick rigid foam insulation was adhered to the stem wall using a low-VOC adhesive by Liquid Nails. The use of low-VOC products helps gain us LEED points and is generally a good idea as it means there will be less chemical off-gassing in the home.
it’s a boy!
Fact: 180 degrees employees reproduce at a higher rate than any other firm in Phoenix…if you look at the past week only. Congratulations to John and Nicki Anderson on the birth of their first son, Hayden George Anderson.
slab prep
We are getting ready to pour the slab for the ValiHomes project and our superintendent, Dusty, is making sure everything is in place. 180 is self-performing a mono-pour, meaning that the turndown and slab will be poured in one go. Since we need a boom to access the site, this reduces the cost of having it travel out to meet us more than once. And, once again, this helps to streamline the building process.
We are using a 15 mil. Stego vapor barrier under the slab to waterproof the foundation, and Eric Wolf, master of camouflage, has dressed to match it.
it’s a girl!
180 degrees would like to present the newest member of its family – Olivia Emily Riggs born on April 23rd, 2013 to Ian and Emily Riggs. Congratulations to the new parents!
modern phoenix 9th annual design expo
Come out to SMOCA’s Center for the Performing Arts this Saturday from 11am to 5pm for the Modern Phoenix 9th Annual Design Expo. This year the Expo will be featuring fine art, modern furniture, real estate, jewelry, vintage fashion, green design, interior design, custom contemporary furniture, design preservation & education. There are some great companies attending this year, and we’d like to thank Modern Phoenix for inviting us back!
BIM and the valihomes prototype house
It’s week two of the prototype build for ValiHomes and things are going to plan, thanks to a tightly designed Revit model to help coordinate trades and materials. The folks here at 180 degrees took our Revit model to the next level within our office by building every detail, plumbing line, and duct in 3D. We have found it to be a useful tool in finding conflicts before building, helping to streamline the process of construction. Also, since we can use Revit to very closely estimate the areas, cut lengths, and quantities of materials, we should be able to reduce waste by ordering only exactly what we need. This will help with LEED accreditation and save the client money, which makes everyone happy.
custom home business update
Learn more about the 180 business philosophy in this Custom Home article.
rebar fencing
Are you looking for an economical way to build fencing with a little architectural flair and not the run of the mill painted tube steel you see in everyone’s back yard? Try using standard reinforcing bar of varying sizes. This fence was made with # 9 vertical bars at 6 feet on center secured into the ground with one 80 lb. bag of concrete. #4 horizontal bars were placed at the top and bottom of the fence and are 20 feet long. They were not trimmed and were allowed to run wild. To minimize labor costs, the vertical #4 pickets at 4 inches on center were cut into 3 equal pieces from a 20-foot-long stick and, based on the undulating topography, the fence varied in height. Add a dash of Flash Forward Design ingenuity and you have a self-closing, self-latching gate that latches on the hinge side! That’s right, the hinged side latches!
So, if you are interested in reducing labor costs, run sticks wild, wire tie it all up, tack weld as quickly as you can, then go swimming.
hotel del coronado, san diego
The summer is almost upon us and we will soon be yearning for cooler weather and the ocean breeze. How about a trip to San Diego and a stay at the historic Hotel Del Coronado? This painting, by 180 cofounder James Trahan, was commissioned through a fund raising auction at Brophy College Prep. It is approximately 18” x 24” and the medium is watercolor with detailed pen and ink work.
breaking ground on valihomes
180 has teamed up with ValiHomes and CoLAB to develop a prototype for true sustainable living in Phoenix. Ground was broken on the first home today, headed by 180’s Dusty Bodrero, and all three entities are excited to begin what will hopefully be a flourishing idea for infill housing around the valley. As the home is seeking LEED Platinum status, one of the first steps taken by all three companies was to tightly coordinate all aspects of design and sequencing of construction. Streamlining the process of building not only keeps costs low, but limits waste of materials. During the grading stages, 180 is ensuring that the site’s topsoil is preserved and redistributed in planting areas on the site, promoting the reemergence of native vegetation. We will keep you posted on the other steps we are taking to achieve LEED Platinum status as we continue the project.
