Architect and friend Andrew Raimist will speak on the “Architecture of the Sun” on Sunday, June 24, 11 am at the Ethical Society of Saint Louis, 9001 Clayton Road. He’ll address climate, sustainability, and solar issues as they relate to the architectural designs of Saint Louis modern architect Harris Armstrong.

The presentation also will kick off an ongoing exhibit of color and black & white architectural photography by Raimist, presenting interpretations of the work of Harris Armstrong, other modernist architects, and selected examples of architectural excellence from the Midwest. The exhibit will be on display through August 15 - don’t miss it! And check out Raimist’ blog, Architectural Ruminations, to soak up more of his passion for Harris Armstrong’s architecture.

High demand for highway construction means many contractors are carefully choosing the projects they bid, and state transportation departments are reporting a nearly 50% decrease in the number of bidders per project over the last four years, according to an article in this week’s Engineering News Record.

The trick for contractors is getting current projets to completion, given rising costs for asphalt, cement and labor. Asphalt prices are up 5% over last year, according to McGraw-Hill Construction Analytics/ENR, following a 42% increase in 2006 and a 10% hike in 2005. Likewise, concrete prices have been rising about 6% a year since 2005.

Suppliers who once offered 100-day price quotes on prices for cement and asphalt now will only commit to 30- or 60-day quotes. In an effort to keep projects moving along, state transportation departments are accepting fuel price escalation clauses and flexible start dates. Many, including the Missouri Department of Transportation, are turning to design-build delivery as a solution to cost volatility.

Wellspring Development Company has announced Rock Hill Trails, a new sustainable 170 acre residential development in Madison County, Illinois near Edwardsville and Wood River. All homes in the development will conform to the “Green Building Guidelines” of the National Association of Home Builders and will be eligible for LEED certification.

According to Wellspring, the development will feature “high performance homes,” open spaces with trails and nature corridors, and neighborhood amenities. The homes will be built in clusters that offer privacy as well as open space, interconnected walking paths and trails, community gardens, a community center and common space where neighbors can gather.

Lots will be designed to allow homeowners to add energy-saving and conservation features such as geothermal heating and cooling systems, cisterns to capture rainwater for irrigation and solar voltaic panels.

The lead builder is Belcher Homes, engineer is SMS Engineers and the architectural consultant is Answers Inc. Architects.