Connect: May 2017

Places to go, things to do and see, and people who are leaving their mark on the world of style.

By Melissa Mauzy

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Urban Harvest, St. Louis, MO
Photography by Urban Harvest STL
Urban Harvest STL is inspiring communities to develop access to healthy, sustainably grown food to enhance biodiversity in cities. Their site includes the FOOD ROOF Farm, the first rooftop farm in St. Louis, that models sustainable building, storm water management, community development and urban agriculture. Elements of the roof include a shaded community hub space, state-of-the-art greenhouse, chicken house, living wall and hydroponic towers.

Urban farmers experiment with growing techniques to enhance best urban agriculture practices. The community comes together on the FOOD ROOF to grow, harvest and donate organic produce to St. Louis residents in need. The FOOD ROOF Farm is a replicable platform inspiring local food systems.

The Shops at Crystals, Las Vegas, NV
Photography by CityCenter Land LLC
The Shops at Crystals is the retail heart of the MGM Mirage CityCenter project. The 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment space serves as the connector of the otherwise vertical “city within a city.” Crystalline stainless steel-clad structures house the flagship retailers along The Strip. The dramatic form and skylights of the spiraling roof soar over retail and dining space. A public space features a water feature at the entry and grand staircase that leads to the adjoining casino.

The design by Adamson Associates Architects was achieved by environmentally conscious practices and materials and achieved LEED Gold Core & Shell certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Sustainable highlights include: radiant floor cooling that uses less energy for air conditioning; wood products that are Forest Stewardship Council certified, highly efficient water fixtures and skylights that allow for abundant natural light to illuminate the space.

Green Lighthouse, Copenhagen, Denmark
Photography by Adam Mork
Green Lighthouse is Denmark’s first CO2-neutral public building and is home to the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen. The sun being the predominant source of energy is the overriding design concept by Christensen & Co. Architects. The building’s circular shape and the adjustable louvers of the façade mirror the course of the sun. Seventy-five percent of the reduction of the energy consumption is the direct consequence of the architectural design.  Being a green-colored building, the Green Lighthouse will serve as a visible and recognizable center for the area providing identity to the entire North Campus area.