International Committee

 
Mexico's Infrastructure Opportunities 2013-2018 

 Upcoming webinars by the U.S. Commercial Services:

- Mexico's Infrastructure Opportunities 2013-2018 - Thursday, June 27 - 2PM, EST

- The Demand for Information and Telecommunication Technologies in Mexico - Thursday, July 25 - 2PM, EST

- Future Transportation Investment Plans in Mexico - Thursday, August 22 - 2PM, EST

- Mexico: A Market for Water and Environ-mental Technologies - Climate Change & Legislation -Thursday, September 5 - 2PM, EST

- Mexico's 6 year Energy Plan: Opportunities in Oil & Gas, Electric Power and Renewables - Thursday, October 24 - 2PM, EST

- New Airport Projects In Mexico - Thursday,

November 21 - 2 PM, EST

Mexico: Building a World-Class Infrastructure

While Mexico has matured as the #1 global manufacturing hub offering world-class facilities, Mexico's government is focused on improving its infrastructure in many fronts. Transportation routes will continue to improve as Mexico invests heavily in new container ports and the modernization of airports and railroads. Many infrastructure opportunities exist in Mexico, primarily in power and road networks. Consumption of natural gas and electricity is forecast to increase thus allowing for opportunities to build infrastructure such as pipelines, power generation and transmission grids. Vehicle sales are also forecast to increase, consequently raising demand for road net-works. President Enrique Peña Nieto, will boost investment in infrastructure projects and will soon announce the 2013-2018 National Infrastructure Program (NIP), designed to address current transport bottlenecks.

Many Infrastructure Opportunities Await You!

The Secretariat of Communications and Transport (SCT) has proposed several airports, ports, roads and rail projects, such as the high-speed rail link that would transport pas-sengers from Mexico City to Guadalajara, Jalisco. Even though Mexico has an extensive network of modern airports, there are some important expansions being planned. With respect to the area of telecommunications, President Peña's admin-istration has announced that their efforts will concentrate on closing the wide digital gap among the county's population. Out of the 109 projects the SCT will contribute to the 2013-2018 NIP, 2 will focus on communications and enabling universal access to broadband. Once announced, the NIP will explain in more detail where the challenges lie and where the government will be spending its estimated US$ 400 billion dollars for investment in infrastructure.

According to industry experts, investment in the renewable energy industry -on a glob-al scale- is estimated to attract US$ 450 billion dollars a year by 2012, and US$ 600 billion dollars by 2020, compared to about US$120 billion dollars in 2008. Since Mexico is yet to reach its capacity for wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and biomass power, there is a lot of potential for the renewable energy sector. For example, the govern-ment plans to invest approximately US$ 2.5 billion dollars in developing wind farms and hopes to have 2,000MW of wind power capacity by 2012. Many opportunities for water and energy projects are expected, especially as energy efficiency projects reduce energy and water costs. If you want to take advantage of any of these opportunities.

Mexico's top infrastructure sectors are:

• Energy - Electrical Power Generation and Transmission; Oil & Gas Production; Refinery, Gas & Petrochemicals; Geothermal and Biomass
• Telecommunications - Broadband internet, closing the digital gap
• Transportation Infrastructure - Toll Roads, Port Infrastructure, Railways and Public Transportation
• Aviation - Airports, Ground Support and Logistics
• Environmental Technology - Water Supply and Sanitation; Water Resource Man-agement and Pollution/Disposal Technologies

 

Space is Limited.

Register Today!

https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=3Q63

Date: Thursday, June 27, 2013 at 2PM Eastern

Venue: Your Computer

Cost: $40 per participant. Payable by credit card.

For more information:

Mr. Adrián Orta

adrian.orta@trade.gov

+52 55-5140-2619

Mr. Diego Gattesco

diego.gattesco@trade.gov

(304) 243-5493

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Derek Washam
Manager, Federal & International Programs
AIA Government Advocacy
Washington DC
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This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Committee on Design and International Committee .
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CIO HEADQUARTERS' EXTENSION: CALL FOR CANDIDATURES

The international Olympic Committee (IOC) announces an international architectural competition for the extension of its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland and invites architects worldwide to submit a candidature with a view to participating in the competition. 12 teams will be invited to participate in the  competition.

 

In conformity with the UNESCO-UIA regulations for international architecture and town planning competitions, it has been approved by the UIA.

 

The programme concerns the extension of the headquarters for 450 staff members with a ground surface area of 18 000 m2 and a plan for the development of an "Olympic Campus" housing administrative buildings, dwellings, accommodation and services. The surface area of the plot available to the IOC is 24 000 m2 on a high quality natural site in the  immediate vicinity of Vidy castle.

 

PARTICIPATION PROCEDURE

Candidates may download the documents and the terms of submission on the IOC site at the following address:

http://www.olympic.org/concours-architecture?tab=Documents-a-telecharger

 

The candidature file (CF), duly completed and signed must reach the following address in both hard copy form (bound and with numbered pages), in 3 copies, and electronic form (CD ROM or USB stick), no later than 15 May 2013 by 11:00:

 

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE Château de Vidy

CH-1007 Lausanne

Mme Marie Sallois Dembreville

 

JURY

Presided by Jacques Rogge, IOC President, the jury will be composed of members of the IOC, representatives of Lausanne City Council and the following architects: Alejandro Aravena, Chile, Kengo Kuma,  Japan, UIA representative; Inès Lamuniere, Switzerland; Dominique Perrault, France; Brigitte Shim, Canada; Craig  Verzone, USA.

 

MAIN DATES

Deadline for submission of candidature files: 15 May 2013,  at 11am at the  IOC, Lausanne

Announcement of the results of the pre-selection: 17 June 2013

Deadline for submission of entries by the selected competitors: 1 November 2013

 

Information:

http://www.olympic.org/concours-architecture?tab=Documents-a-telecharger

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Theresa Fulginiti
Director, International Relations
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Historic Resources Committee and International Committee .
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The U.S. Commercial Service-Moscow has been approached by the Director of the State Russian Museum regarding their interest in increasing public accessibility for the handicapped. This may be a significant opportunity -- the Russian Museum, which is the premier museum in St. Petersburg dedicated to Russian art, occupies five historic buildings in the center of the city: the Mikhailovsky Palace, the Marble Palace, the Stroganov Palace, the Ethnographic Museum and St. Michael's (or Engineer's) Castle. On a related note, the Museum will be hosting an exhibit (co-sponsored by the Consulate) in September by disabled artists.

The Director is interested in equipment and technology to renovate and update their sites to be handicap accessible. While the actual procurement opportunities are still to be determined, there is an immediate first step which is outlined below.

The Director is specifically interested in obtaining expertise from a U.S. consultant/organization that has the required knowledge and experience to advise the Museum on how to approach this transformation. Of particular note is the need for expertise in renovating historic buildings. The U.S. Commercial Service is looking for someone that could consult with the Russian Museum on designing a plan to reconfigure/retrofit the museum -- someone who can visit the museum, talk with the historic preservationists, etc. and give an overview of what can be done to increase accessibility. Ideally, someone who can look at the buildings from both a design and technological perspective and who can make recommendations for technologies or design changes that could be incorporated into the buildings to make the Museum more accessible.

For more information, please contact:
Robyn Kessler
Commercial Attaché
U.S. Commercial Service - Moscow
Robyn.Kessler@trade.gov
Phone: +7 (495) 728-5306


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Derek Washam
Manager, Federal & International Programs
AIA Government Advocacy
Washington DC
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Jerry Roller AIA
Firm Owner/Architect
JKR Partners
Philadelphia PA
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We have been asked to design a project in Panama, working for an American Company in the US

Does anyone have local contacts or experience with a Panamanian architect who could act as the architect of record?

Please find attached a tender (in French) from the Gabonese Agency for Spatial Studies and Observation (AGEOS). They are looking for a company that can very quickly mobilize to build their new headquarters in Nkok, the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Libreville. They are hoping to find an American company that can begin construction in May.
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Derek Washam
Manager, Federal & International Programs
AIA Government Advocacy
Washington DC
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This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: International Committee and Committee on Design .
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The Department of State Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) seeks to commission our nation's designers to create facilities of outstanding quality and value. To that end, OBO is seeking a qualified architectural/engineering firm (A/E), joint venture, or other such licensed professional, to provide comprehensive A/E design services for a New Embassy Compound (NEC) in Beirut, Lebanon. The project shall demonstrate true integrated design that balances aesthetics, cost, constructability, sustainability and reliability, following the Guiding Principles of Design Excellence in Diplomatic Facilities (http://www.state.gov/obo ). This is a classified project. A security clearance is required.

Link to the solicitation with more information below:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=b6ebd5601bf467f1b7836de74988fec0&tab=core&_cview=0

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Tamzin Howerton
Manager, Knowledge Communities
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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Overview
The State of Ceará's economy is the third largest in Brazil's Northeast region, with a GDP that nearly doubled between 2002 and 2008. The state has over eight million inhabitants with 2.5 million people living in the capital of Fortaleza. The total amount of agricultural cargo alone reached close to 300,000 tons in 2009 and is expected to reach 558,279 tons by 2015. The existing infrastructure in Ceará is not able to meet the state's growing cargo demand. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has provided a grant in the amount of $480,000 to the Agency for Development of the State of Ceará (ADECE) to fund the costs of a feasibility study for the Ceará New Airport Project.

Project Description
The runway at the Pinto Martins International Airport is not long enough to support cargo flights and there is no room to add cargo capability. Additionally, the airport has limited connectivity with Ceará's main
port, Port of Pecém. Brazil's two main cargo airports are located in the southeast of the country. As such, most air cargo traffic in the Northeast is rerouted through Sao Paulo in the
Southeast, which is a 3.5 hour flight from Fortaleza. This not only increases transportation costs for most goods but also increases risk for perishable products. The objective of the project is to establish an implementation plan for a new airport facility that would serve both cargo and passenger traffic and would
complement the expansion currently underway at the port and increase the efficiency of cargo.

For more information on this project and how you can participate please see the attached file.
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Derek Washam
Manager, Federal & International Programs
AIA Government Advocacy
Washington DC
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This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: International Committee and Committee on Design .
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The Department of State's Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has selected five design firms for the Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Worldwide New Construction Architecture/Engineering (A/E) Design Services solicitation. 

The selected firms are:
Ennead Architects
Miller Hull Partnership
Richard + Bauer Architecture
Shop Architects
Skidmore Owings & Merrill

These firms were selected from a very talented shortlist of eleven architecture/engineering teams that were advanced to a final round of presentations and interviews.  The selected firms offer a strong architectural team and innovative design philosophy that demonstrates a commitment to thoughtful, integrated design and effective management.

 

This IDIQ was solicited under OBO's Design Excellence initiative, which seeks to utilize the best methods and technologies to produce facilities that are outstanding in all respects. 

 

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The Department of State's Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has selected five design teams for the Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Worldwide Major Rehabilitation/Renovation Architecture/Engineering Design Services solicitation. 

The selected firms are:
Beyer Blinder Belle Architects
BNIM Architects
Krueck & Sexton Architects
Weiss/Manfredi Architects
Zimmer Gunsul Frasca

These firms were selected from a very talented shortlist of nine architectural/engineering teams that were advanced to a final round of presentations and interviews.  The selected firms offer a strong architectural team with extensive renovation and restoration experience.  Each firm's portfolio demonstrates a history of respecting the original character and significance of buildings and structures, and responds accordingly with innovative and efficient solutions that enhance the existing architecture.

 

This IDIQ was solicited under OBO's Design Excellence initiative, which seeks to utilize the best methods and technologies to produce facilities that are outstanding in all respects. 

 

OBO's mission is to provide safe, secure and functional facilities that represent the U.S. Government to the host nation and support our staff in the achievement of U.S. foreign policy objectives. These facilities should represent American values and the best in American architecture, engineering, technology, sustainability, maintainability, art, culture, and construction execution.

 For further information, please contact Christine Foushee at FousheeCT@state.gov or (703) 875-4131, or visit www.state.gov/obo.

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Tamzin Howerton
Manager, Knowledge Communities
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Committee on the Environment and International Committee .
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I am looking for case studies of commercial (office, industrial, educational, multi-family, government)  buildings that have rainwater collection systems that bring water into the buildings for any use, such as toilet flushing, laundry, fire suppression, make - up water or even drinking water. I would like to use examples from all over the world for my book to be published by Wiley.  Please contact me at celestenov@aol.com if you have examples data, and images on the systems that you would like to share with me. 
Many thanks
celeste

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Celeste Allen Novak AIA
Celeste Allen Novak Architect, PLLC
Ann Arbor MI
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Derek Washam
Manager, Federal & International Programs
AIA Government Advocacy
Washington DC
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