Conventions

Vancouver, BC is a world class city, tucked into the far West region of Canada. Long a gateway to the travelers going to Japan, Singapore & China, Vancouver sports a cosmopolitan lifestyle with old world influences. The variety of architecture ranges from totems by indigenous peoples who once thrived on what is now canyons of brick, steel & stone to Art Deco of the 1920′s to today current trend to build mix use buildings for an urban work, live, play lifestyle.

The Beach + Howe Building is just that. The triangular base is reset from the street and includes office & retail space. As the building rises, offsets are made to maximize both city views and limiting the amount of exhaust that travels upward from the Granville bridge. The Beach + Howe Building is designed by copenhagen-based studio BIG architects.

Once it opens, the Beach + Howe building will be Vanouver’s 4th tallest and largest residential complex. To read more about it, here is the Arch Daily, an online ezine for architects complete with specs and Design Boom with more renderings and perspective.

Apr. 22-26, 2012. KBIS is the Kitchen and Bathroom Industry Show, and it was your invitation to “touch the future”.  Meaning what, exactly?  ”Each generation has different needs for self-expression, security and connection”, we heard. “Meeting their physical requirements and understanding the emotional benefits that drive and influence product purchases for each will help them to improve their lives and will expand your business”.  To prove it, the so-called UNcontained exhibit, anchoring the center of the KBIS show floor, was a journey through the lifestyle stories of five unique consumers. “You will recognize them”, we were told. “You will relate to them. The containers are not a room in their homes but rather a creative perspective on the attributes and values that have changed the rules of design. All the rules are broken”.  Except the one that water flows down-hill, of course…

Apr. 30 – May 3, 2012. Founded in 1969, the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) claims to be the world’s foremost event for the development of offshore resources in the fields of oil and gas drilling, exploration, production, and environmental protection. OTC is organized and operated to promote and further the advance of scientific and technical knowledge of offshore resources.  There were more than 70,000 attendees and 2,000 exhibiting companies representing more than 110 countries.  OTC invited 100 Houston-area classroom teachers to attend a free one-day energy education workshop.  Delegates could also join fellow attendees for the OTC Night at the Ballpark, and enjoy an evening of Major League Baseball, as the Houston Astros took on the New York Mets at Minute Maid Park.  Which was just about the only place where no-one was being encouraged to “drill, baby, drill…”

May 1-3, 2012. Coal Prep is the Annual Coal Processing Exhibition and Conference.  Industry professionals came from all over the world to share the latest ideas and most effective techniques on coal preparation and aggregate processing plant technologies. These professionals homed in on Lexington to purchase and preview the latest equipment and services in order to increase coal plant productivity and reduce costs.  Coal Prep provided a comprehensive educational program on coal preparation technology, geared to the needs of operators.  Indeed, the show made a concerted effort to “Get Back To The Operators” and provide in-depth coverage of the topics that are particularly vital to them.  Topics discussed included crushers and pulverizers, plant automation, conveying and feeding equipment, dust suppression…  Operator, you still there…?