2025 Group B | Committee Action Hearing #1 | Starts April 27, 1 PM
“In a world of infinite information,
the scarce resource is attention.”
By design, we do not provide a SEARCH function. We are a niche practice in a subtle, time-sensitive domain with over 30 years of case history. We were the first movers in the largest building construction market in the world. We are happy to answer all questions but place priority on collaborations. We provide links to the most accessed topics in recent days. All queries presented during our “Open Office Hours” every work day, or via email, are gratefully received and prompt a near-immediate response.
Alexis de Tocqueville on the Foundations of American Democracy
Standard for Interactions Between Medical Examiner, Coroner and Death Investigation Agencies
Acceptable Performance Standard for District Cooling Systems
As part of its ongoing, exhaustive effort to continually promote campus safety, the University of Georgia announced today several additional measures, totaling more than $7.3 million, to further strengthen campus security on its Athens campus. https://t.co/bTg6b4DLUX
— UGA (@universityofga) February 27, 2024
@rmayMVS here ya go! From Kruger National Park South Africa #mvinterim #mvinterinterim2southafrica24 pic.twitter.com/QU0rUuGJgg
— Dr. Kelli Bynum (@kellimccbynum) March 3, 2024
Stacks of fun at @OrielOxford‘s annual #ShroveTuesday race 🥞#PancakeDay pic.twitter.com/nTXOpkR1zO
— University of Oxford (@UniofOxford) February 13, 2024
Electrical heat tracing: international harmonization-now and in the future
Electrical heat tracing: international harmonization-now and in the future
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession
of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
— Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A flag stands for a set of principles; the reach for the ideals of a civilization–
not for the lapses of adherence to them.
Flag Day in the United States, observed on June 14th, commemorates the adoption of the American flag by the Second Continental Congress in 1777. It’s a day to honor the symbol of the nation’s unity, freedom, and democracy. The flag represents the ideals and principles upon which the country was founded, including liberty, justice, and equality.
On Flag Day, Americans typically display the flag at their homes and businesses, participate in patriotic ceremonies, and reflect on the significance of the flag in American history and culture. It’s also a time to remember the sacrifices made by those who have served and continue to serve in defense of the nation. Flag Day serves as a reminder of the values that bind Americans together as one nation, under the banner of the stars and stripes.
There are no rigorous standard heights for flagpoles displaying the American flag in educational settlements but there are general guidelines and recommendations.
Commercial Use: In commercial settings, flagpoles can vary widely depending on the size of the building and the surrounding landscape. They can range from 20 feet for smaller businesses to over 100 feet for large corporate buildings.
Government Buildings: Flagpoles at government buildings or public spaces often range from 30 to 60 feet or more, depending on the size and prominence of the building.
Proportions: A general guideline for the American flag is that the length of the flag should be about one-quarter to one-third the height of the flagpole.
Regulations: Some local ordinances or homeowner associations may have specific guidelines regarding flagpole height, so it’s a good idea to check local regulations before installing one.
Ultimately, the height of a flagpole for the American flag depends on the context and purpose of display, as well as practical considerations such as the size of the flag itself and local regulations.
It’s a perfect day for school in @DGDistrict58! Such a fun morning visiting with the Lester students, staff, and families. It’s great to be in 58! #dg58pride pic.twitter.com/bwHlROpbMw
— Dr. Kevin B. Russell (@drkevinbrussell) August 30, 2023
NB: “The flag stands for a set of principles, not the lack of adherence to them.” ― Craig D. Lounsbrough. We are not sure about this source; nor the author. We have adapted the sentiment for our home page excerpt.
Standards Wales | British Standards Institution | ISO Coffee Standards
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024
Take the next step in your career and join one of the UK’s most innovative and successful universities.
💷 Competitive salaries
🧳 Generous leave entitlement
🏠 Hybrid working
🏦 Staff pension
📚 Development opportunities. pic.twitter.com/ePIomFWxS6— Cardiff University (@cardiffuni) October 3, 2024
International Code Council: Current Code Development Cycle 2024-2026
International Building Code: Chapter 1 Scope and Administration
Today at the usual hour we examine a few representative contracts:
University of Michigan Standard General Conditions
Wayne State University Supplementary Conditions of Construction
Princeton University: General Terms & Conditions for Construction Contracts
Universities Wisconsin: General Conditions of the Contract for Construction
The cost of compliance with general conditions in a typical construction project can vary widely depending on factors like project size, complexity, location, and specific requirements. General conditions refer to the indirect costs that support the project—things like project management, temporary facilities, safety measures, and administrative expenses—not the direct costs of labor, materials, or equipment tied to physical construction.
In percentage terms, general conditions typically account for 5% to 15% of the total project cost, with most projects falling in the 5% to 10% range for standard residential or commercial builds. Smaller projects might see percentages closer to or exceeding 10% because fixed costs (like a site trailer or a project manager’s time) don’t scale down as much as direct costs. Larger, more complex projects—like industrial or infrastructure work—might trend toward the lower end (5% or less) since direct costs dominate, diluting the relative impact of general conditions. For example, a $300,000 residential project might allocate $15,000 to $30,000 (5% to 10%) for general conditions, while a $10 million commercial project could see $500,000 or less (5%) if efficiencies kick in.
Related:
Global Consistency in Presenting Construction & Life Cycle Costs
Readings:
Coop: A Family, a Farm, and the Pursuit of One Good Egg (Michael Perry)
The Land Remembers (Ben Logan)
State of Wisconsin: Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Midwesterners: bring salad to the Labor Day BBQ
The salad: pic.twitter.com/WHNTelL51e
— Midwest vs. Everybody (@midwestern_ope) September 1, 2024
University of Miami: Condensed Statement of Financial Position 2023 ($7.02B)
Florida: Municipal Securities Issuers
The Border, DEI, Trump, Islam, BLM & the Misinterpretation of Data
Good luck on finals, Canes! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/mZb2Pfynra
— University of Miami (@univmiami) April 30, 2025
2024 GROUP A PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE I-CODES
When is it ever NOT storm season somewhere in the United States; with several hundred schools, colleges and universities in the path of them? Hurricanes also spawn tornadoes. This title sets the standard of care for safety, resilience and recovery when education community structures are used for shelter and recovery. The most recently published edition of the joint work results of the International Code Council and the ASCE Structural Engineering Institute SEI-7 is linked below:
2020 ICC/NSSA 500 Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters.
Given the historic tornados in the American Midwest this weekend, its relevance is plain. From the project prospectus:
The objective of this Standard is to provide technical design and performance criteria that will facilitate and promote the design, construction, and installation of safe, reliable, and economical storm shelters to protect the public. It is intended that this Standard be used by design professionals; storm shelter designers, manufacturers, and constructors; building officials; and emergency management personnel and government officials to ensure that storm shelters provide a consistently high level of protection to the sheltered public.
This project runs roughly in tandem with the ASCE Structural Engineering Institute SEI-17 which has recently updated its content management system and presented challenges to anyone who attempts to find the content where it used to be before the website overhaul. In the intervening time, we direct stakeholders to the link to actual text (above) and remind education facility managers and their architectural/engineering consultants that the ICC Code Development process is open to everyone.
The ICC receives public response to proposed changes to titles in its catalog at the link below:
2024/2025/2026 ICC CODE DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE
You are encouraged to communicate with Kimberly Paarlberg (kpaarlberg@iccsafe.org) for detailed, up to the moment information. When the content is curated by ICC staff it is made available at the link below:
We maintain this title on the agenda of our periodic Disaster colloquia which approach this title from the point of view of education community facility managers who collaborate with structual engineers, architects and emergency management functionaries.. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting, open to everyone.
Readings:
FEMA: Highlights of ICC 500-2020
ICC 500-2020 Standard and Commentary: ICC/NSSA Design and Construction of Storm Shelters
Students presenting posters on how to be prepared for natural disasters and emergencies #onedistrictoneteam #D59learns @CCSD59 @D59Byrd pic.twitter.com/NOsa3ekkTD
— Mrs. Darga (@MrsDarga) September 19, 2023
Architectural Record April 2025
Selecting architects for designing large educational campus buildings typically involves a structured process that ensures the chosen architect meets the project’s functional, aesthetic, and budgetary requirements. Here’s an overview of the typical steps involved:
1. Defining Project Goals and Requirements
2. Public Announcement or Invitations
3. Initial Submissions
4. Shortlisting Candidates
5. Interviews and Presentations
6. Evaluation of Proposals
7. Final Selection
8. Community and Stakeholder Engagement
9. Formal Approval
This process ensures transparency, accountability, and the selection of the most qualified architect for the project.
Related:
Society for College and University Planning
Higher Education Facilities Act of 1963
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New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwB pic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
— USPTO (@uspto) July 13, 2023
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