This book presents six case-study buildings, each more than a generation old, that were on the brink of oblivion. In each case, Mitchell Giurgola Architects worked closely with the client to determine how the project could be salvaged by incorporating updated program elements to serve a new generation of users. All six case studies present in detail how each project is analysed, from its energy use and curtain-wall performance to its mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, and structural stability. The results are born-again buildings created for a fraction of the cost and cosuming far fewer materials than a new facility built from scratch. Mitchell Giurgola documents a new, more sustainable approach to design and construction that builds on the past, and makes the old better than new.

Housing preferences of the boomer generation: How they compare to other home buyers is the latest study in NAHB's long history of tracking the evolution of home buyer preferences. How do various designs and features influence the home purchase decision? What influence do life events and people have on the decision to move to another home? Age can play a significant role in what buyers want to see in a potential new home. This study presents findings not just for the average home buyer, but also highlights the housing preferences of Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) and how they compare to buyers of other generations. Housing Preferences of the Boomer Generation: How They Compare to Other Home Buyers discusses the latest data on preferences for home size, central-city versus the suburbs, kitchen, bathroom, and community features, and much more.

The Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, form the single largest demographic spike in American history. Never before or since have birth rates shot up and remained so high so long, with some obvious results: when the Boomers were kids, American culture revolved around families and schools; when they were teenagers, the United States was wracked by rebelliousness; now, as mature adults, the Boomers have led America to become the richest and most powerful country in the history of the world. Boomer Nation will for the first time offer an incisive look into this generation that has redefined America's culture in so many ways, from women's rights and civil rights to religion and politics. Steve Gillon combines firsthand reporting of the lives of six Boomers and their families with a broad look at postwar American history in a fascinating mix of biography and history. His characters, like America itself, reflect a variety of heritages: rich and poor, black and white, immigrant and native born. Their lives take very different paths, yet are shaped by key events and trends in similar ways. They put a human face on the Boomer generation, showing what it means to grow up amid widespread prosperity, with an explosion of democratic autonomy that led to great upheavals but also a renewal from below of our churches, industries, and even the armed forces. The same generation dismissed as pampered and selfish has led a revival of religion in America; the same generation that unleashed the women's movement has also shifted our politics into its most market-oriented, anti-governmental era since Woodrow Wilson. Gillon draws many lessons from this "generational history" -- above all, that the Boomers have transformed America from the security- and authority-seeking culture of their parents to the autonomy- and freedom-rich world of today. When the "greatest generation" was young and not yet at war, it was widely derided as selfish and spoiled. Only in hindsight, long after the sacrifices of World War II, did it gain its sterling reputation. Today, as Boomer America rises to the challenges of the war on terror, we may be on the cusp of a reevaluation of the generation of Presidents Bush and Clinton. That generation has helped make America the richest, strongest nation on the planet, and as Gillon's book proves, it has had more influence on the rest of us than any other group. Boomer Nation is an eye-opening reinterpretation of the past six decades.

Boomer: In the Theater of Fearful Tragedies is a nonfiction account of the life of Colonel George B. Boomer, a little-known bridge builder and combat veteran who served in the Civil War of the United States. He was the son of a Baptist minister from Sutton, Massachusetts, who struggled with his Christian faith while searching for God's plan for his life. While his formal education was limited by a youthful disability of the eyes, he became a self-taught master bridge builder who learned to speak multiple languages while living in the state of Missouri. However, he is most known for his skills as a military commander who received compliments from Ulysses S. Grant. Colonel Boomer was the commander of the Twenty-Sixth Missouri Regiment, and he served in the western theater of the war. He was actively involved in Pope's campaign against Island Number Ten, and he suffered severe wounds at the Battle of Iuka, Mississippi. His greatest military accomplishment occurred during the pivotal battle of Champion's Hill, and it is likely that the actions of his brigade were largely responsible for the Union victory. Boomer endured tragedies in his civilian life and his life in the military at the hands ambitious political figures who brought him great grief. However, he would ultimately find his life's meaning in a peach orchard just outside Vicksburg, Mississippi. His selfless actions saved the lives of many of the men under his command. His veteran sacrifice for his country needs to be remembered.

Design and Build Housing for the Boomer Generation This unique resource provides the latest housing data, options, and trends to help you plan, design, and construct homes and communities to meet the requirements and expectations of aging baby boomers. There are 77 million boomers in the United States alone who continue to set the new, higher standard for product change and innovation as they have been doing for decades. Building for Boomers offers targeted information for architects, builders, engineers, developers, remodelers, and suppliers interested in capitalizing on this exploding market. LEARN HOW TO: Plan neighborhoods based on local and regional factors, including zoning and other regulations Understand different types of neighborhoods, such as age-targeted, mixed generations, transit-oriented design (TOD), traditional neighborhood developments (TNDs), cohousing, and others Integrate aging in place, universal, and green building design concepts Incorporate technology infrastructure into your designs, including communication, entertainment, lighting, environment, protection, and healthcare Design single family homes, townhouses, condos, and apartments Explore various design options for living spaces, bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and storage Stay informed of growing trends such as green construction and smart homes Determine and develop your niche

“Language lovers as well as those who appreciate the artistry of a perfectly compact novella will consider this collection a treasure.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) This bold collection of novellas by Daniel Nayeri features four modern riffs on classic genres that explore universally compelling themes such as identity and belonging, betrayal and friendship, love and mortality. Included are: Straw House: A Western sizzling with suspense, set in a land where a rancher grows soulless humans and a farmer grows living toys. Wood House: A science-fiction tale set in a future where reality and technology blend imperceptibly, and a teenage girl must save the world from a nano-revolution. Brick House: A detective story set in modern New York City, featuring a squad of “wish police” and a team of unlikely detectives. Blow: A comedic love story told by none other than Death himself, portrayed as a handsome and charismatic hero who may steal your heart in more ways than one.

Looks at a decade of the firm's work.

Make Your Green Home a Reality! Building the right-sized green home involves making eco-smart decisions. In Building Today's Green Home, you will learn: • How to choose the correct location of your building lot and what is the optimum placement of your house to take advantage of solar energy • How to design the right-sized home for your needs now and in the future • What are the best sustainable construction materials to use for building your home • About the newest insulation materials and techniques • What HVAC units are the most efficient and are the best at saving energy • How to grade the building lot for natural sustainability The decisions you make today will have a huge impact on your future and the future of your children. And, building the right-sized energy-efficient home will free up investment capital for your retirement years.

Sustainable Preservation takes a nuanced look at the hundreds of choices that adaptive reuse requires architects to make—from ingenious ways to redeploy existing structural elements to time-honored techniques for natural ventilation to creation of wetlands that restore a site's natural biological functions. In addition, Sustainable Preservation presents 50 case studies of projects—schools, houses, offices, stores, museums, and government buildings—that set new standards for holistic approaches to adaptive reuse and sustainability. The author covers design issues, from building location to lighting systems, renewable power options, stormwater handling, and building envelope protection and integrity. The book also reviews operational issues, including materials choices for low lifetime maintenance, green housekeeping, and indoor air quality.