Tuesday, July 28, 2009

SierraPine - Sustainable MDF!

SUSTAINABLE MDF
Found this via the last article no idea if its available in Aust but looks like its worth chasing up further info.
SierraPine - Composite Solutions
Just did a bit of checkng and these guys seem to be the exclusive Aust. stockists: Simmonds Lumber (Melb, Syd, Bris) however they only carry the Arreis version & it looks like it's imported from the States!!! Needs further research but looks very interesting.
http://www.sierrapine.com/Media/arreis2.jpg
  • Formaldehyde free adhesive system
  • Physical properties similar to, or better than standard MDF
  • 100% recycled wood fiber
  • FSC mixed credit certified - available option
  • LEED® credit support: MRc 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 7 & EQc 4.4
  • Meets CARB ATCM Phase 2 emission limits - CARB NAF Exempt
  • Third party certification - SCS & EPP
  • CHPS compliant - California section 01350 approved
  • Developed and manufactured with pride in Medford, OR

Design Blog | “Green” Exhibition�Design | Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum


An appraisal of an exhibit designed by Pentagram for Cooper Hewitt, worth a read with some practicle info...
from the site:
The photos are printed on aluminum panels that magically reflect light. Museums usually print photographic enlargements on paper or vinyl and mount them to foamcore or Sintra (a hard plastic). These materials are not biodegradable, and they can’t be recycled or reused. Pentagram used a process called direct-to-substrate dye-sublimation printing: when the ink is heated and transferred to the material, the ink embeds into the surface of the metal. The resulting print is durable and scratch-resistant, and each panel can be recycled (like a soda can).
Design Blog | “Green” Exhibition�Design | Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum:

Green museums & green exhibits: Communicating sustainability through content and design

Haven't read this yet but will when I get a chance...
Byers_fall2008_project.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Green Benchmarks | Event Design Magazine

A self initiated checklist, standards and rating system developed by Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) to allow the design team to track and score the greening of their exhibits. This is a great initiative! It would be good to incorporate consideration for various multimedia, technology, lighting etc etc too.. Broaden the focus to consider ongoing "running" energy consumption... (tricky)
from Event Design Mag:
Green Benchmarks
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
When Oregon Museum of Science and Industry creative director Jessica Willcox was working on an exhibit built exclusively with sustainable materials a few years back, she realized her team had no means to compare future projects to the green standards they were achieving.
Now, the OMSI has created a set of green criteria for exhibit design based on the architecture world’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program—but streamlined for ease-of-use.
The checklist consists of eight categories, and exhibit projects receive a score between one and four based on how well they have addressed the issues. A project that receives six to 10 points is deemed Green Certified; 11 to 18 is Silver; 19 to 26 is Gold; 27 to 32 is Platinum.

“It’s pretty simplistic by design, because we have a lot on our plates. We have our design manager, production manager, lead designer, and lead production representative walk through the exhibit and score it. It takes us 25 minutes and we’re done—it’s designed to be fast and efficient,” Willcox says.

The eight categories
Renewable Resources.
Resource Reuse.
Recycled Content.
End-Life Assessment.
Low-Emitting Materials.
Certified Wood.
Conservation.
Regional Materials.

Full article here:
Green Benchmarks | Event Design Magazine

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

LiteSteel Beam


Ok here's one I've used before but slipped my mind until I saw a post on a US site... couldn't find any sustainable info on the site which is generally not a good sign, however this product has some great credentials in terms of ease and speed of working, good range of standardised components, and minimised weight/material + developed in Australia and I'm pretty sure its locally produced (need to check this). The weight advantage becomes really important when considering structural members for touring exhibits. I've used it for a raised public platform/ramped area and though still heavy, it was easily managable, constructed, happily signed off by the engineers and had the durability to stand up to touring... worth further investigation.
From the site....

LiteSteel beam was developed in response to demand for a light structural beam with the strength of steel and the ease of use afforded by timber. Its approx 40% lighter than the equivalent rated hot rolled beam. LSB delivers the same load-carrying capacity as hot-rolled steel, and it can be worked like engineered wood (cuts, nails, and can be integrated with wood framing with standard connectors)


LiteSteel Beam

Friday, July 17, 2009

This may interest the lighting buffs...

VLX Luminaire
The VARI❋LITE® VLXTM Wash luminaire is the next
generation of solid-state lighting from the company
that helped start the revolution in automated lighting.
The VLX gives you all the benefits of LED technology
and the best visual performance characteristics of a
tungsten source. VLX offers stunning colors and
intensity, multi-year source life and high reliability.
Combined with low energy consumption and
maintenance costs, the Vari-Lite VLX resets the bar for
all other LED fixtures
Vari-Lite - Express Yourself. - Vari-Lite - Express Yourself.

Friday, July 10, 2009

A checklist for sustainability

dr_200911_front_large1.jpg
A checklist for sustainability
The Sustainable wheel
Just had a quick flick through and these two look interesting. Not exhibition focussed but general approach and summary.... + lots of pictures!