Art goes green – the Grand Rapids Art Museum

Posted on by farlane

GRAM, photo by numstead

View this photo larger right here and see many more in Nathan’s architectural photography set (slideshow). The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) was the world’s first LEED gold certified art museum complex. The case study of the museum from GreenSource Magazine observes:

This handsome temple of art is, in many respects, a myth-buster. Art museums are widely believed to be “sustainability-proof” because they expend enormous amounts of energy maintaining constant temperature and humidity levels to protect their precious contents. Yet this building reveals that a balance between art and environmentalism is possible if architects, clients, and contractors pursue an integrated approach and factor energy savings into every aspect of the design equation. Sometimes that means borrowing green strategies from conventional structures; sometimes it means using new techniques to satisfy the needs of this demanding building type.

“Typical green solutions are often not best,” says a LEED case study of the museum, prepared by the design and construction team and submitted to the U.S. Green Building Council as part of the museum’s LEED submission.

Designed by Thai-born architect Kulapat Yantrasast of Los Angeles-based wHY Architecture and open since last October, the $75 million, 125,000-square-foot museum fronts on a vibrant, Maya Lin-designed public plaza in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, western Michigan’s largest city. Home to renowned furniture makers Steelcase, Herman Miller, Knoll, and Haworth, the region already has a rich lode of LEED projects. This one owes its green streak to former Steelcase executive Peter Wege. In 2001, he pledged $20 million, with one string attached: The building would have to be LEED-certified.

The Christian Science Monitor notes that there’s a trend for museums across the country to use green design & construction practices. Also check out this feature from the New York Times about the construction of the museum, the excellent Grand Rapids Art Museum: LEED Gold Certified / wHY Architecture in Arch Daily and this article on the GRAM from Greenline blog (who uses Nathan’s photo).

Here’s a slideshow of views of the GRAM on Flickr and some photography by Kevin Beswick on YouTube.

Tornado over Black Lake from The Weather Underground

Posted on by farlane

Black Lake, Michigan tornado, photo by Nathan Krinsky

About this tornado that was part of the October 18, 2007 tornado outbreak, Jeff Masters, Senior Meteorologist and founder of Michigan-based weather super-site The Weather Underground writes:

This tornado was rated EF1 with winds up to 94 mph. Damage consisted of a barn destroyed just north of M-68. The sporadic damage path up through Black Lake was 1/8 mile wide and around 10 miles long. Some tree damage was seen around Black Lake. The photo taken by Nathan Krinsky from the back deck of his home on Black Lake in northern Michigan, 15 miles southeast of Cheboygan. The sun was setting at 5:25 pm EDT when this photo was taken, and if you look closely, you can see a rainbow, thanks to the spray kicked up by the tornado.

You can click through to see a few more awe-inspiring tornado photos such as this one and see some more great pics of the Black Lake tornado that show the rainbow even better from another photographer.

wunderground.com offers many more cool Michigan weather-related photos too – currently fall color is the theme!

Yellow & Green

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Yellow & Green

Yellow & Green, photo by nasunto.

Mulberry Grove, Greenfield Village. This is part of Nina’s Greenfield Village set (slideshow).

She also has a cool blog about camping, hiking, nature and Michigan that I think you’ll enjoy.

A walk in the Park

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

A walk in the Park

A walk in the Park, photo by Hooks Pix.

Riverside Park in Grand Rapids that is.

More fall wallpaper on Michigan in Pictures

The cities we love

Posted on by farlane

The Water Board, photo by Allan M

The Water Board, photo by Allan M

“The cities we love we cannot build anymore.”
– City philosopher Charles Landry

Landry was one of the keynote speakers at the Creative Cities Summit in Detroit and he wondered why we usually build monolithic and ugly boxes when that’s not the architecture we say we love. Here’s a look at some of the amazing architecture of Michigan’s cities courtesy the Absolute Michigan pool.

Allan (an architectural student) says that one of his favorite buildings downtown is the often overlooked Water Board Building. This photo is part of his Downtown Motown set, which is best seen as a slideshow I think.

houston we have liftoff

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

houston we have liftoff

houston we have liftoff, photo by suesue2.

OnSunday night I had the very great honor and pleasure of spending the evening with some folks from the Flickr based photo group Exposure.Detroit.

After dinner at Slows BBQ (three words: “baby back ribs”) we went downtown and enjoyed shooting Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza on a beautiful October evening.

Sue’s photo of the Dodge Fountain is just one of many that you can check out in this nifty slideshow.

fall images

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

fall images

fall images, photo by buckshot.jones.

This photo of the reflected and swirling color on the Manistee River is part of Scott’s Fall color 2008 set (slideshow). He writes:

For some reason this year the colors seem particularly robust. Maybe it is the weather, warm days, cool nights and not much heavy rain, or maybe I’m just more in tune this year. Either way, I am diggin’ it.

Fall in Michigan, my idea of paradise. No other place I’d rather be.

After a drive from northwest to southeast, I can deliver a 10-4 on the color this year along with a hearty “me too” on the no place I’d rather be.

…and yes, they are available at “biggie-size” – get much more autumn awesome on the Michigan fall wallpaper page!

Fall color from the top of Michigan

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Fall color from summit peak

Fall color from summit peak, photo by mtsn.

Well, Summit Peak in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park isn’t the highest point in Michigan. However, as the very detailed article on the Porcupine Mountains at climbing, mountaineering, hiking site SummitPost explains:

The Porcupine Mountains rise from the shore of Lake Superior in the far western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They are not remarkably high by some standards but for this part of the midwest they represent some of the most rugged terrain around. The “Porkies,” as they are known by locals, are actually a series of three ridges that lie parallel to the shoreline. The mountains are preserved within the borders of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

The first ridge rises 1000 feet directly from Lake Superior to a maximum elevation of around 1600 feet. The lake-side of the escarpment rises steeply but gradually while the south side is a 300-500 foot cliff overlooking the Big Carp River valley and the famous Lake of the Clouds.

The second ridge is a bit higher, reaching an elevation of 1850 feet at Government Peak. Again, the north slope of this ridge is gradual but steep. The south side however does not drop off like its neighboring ridge to the north. the two Mirror Lake sit in this high valley at about 1500 feet in elevation.

The third, and southernmost, ridge is the highest. The height of land is known as Summit Peak and it is the 3rd highest point in Michigan at 1958 feet. Climb the 50 foot observation tower at the summit, however, and you will be standing higher than even Michigan highpoint Mt. Arvon. Summit Peak does command an impressive view but does not rise from its surroundings as drastically as the ridges to the north because the terrain here averages around 1500 feet in elevation.

Read on for lots more information about hiking in the Porkies, links and photos. For some reason their map didn’t work for me, so here’s Summit Peak on the Absolute Michigan Map!

Speaking of photos, the one above was taken on Tuesday (Oct 7) and is wallpapery fresh for all your computer background needs. Kiyo has plenty more in her Porcupine Mountains State Park set (slideshow). She also operates a Japanese language site with Michigan tourism information.

More fall wallpaper on Michigan in Pictures

bridge lights

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

bridge lights

bridge lights, photo by neubauerphotography.

Sometimes, it’s just a photo.

(OK, here’s Mike’s Flickriver too)

Michigan grapes, ready for the harvest

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Fenn Valley Winery-5

Fenn Valley Winery-5, photo by Mi Bob.

Bob took this photo of grapes awaiting harvest at Fenn Valley Winery in Fennville, Michigan. He’s uploaded it “background big” and has more luscious grape photos (slideshow).

Fall is a great time to visit Michigan’s wine country. Check out this slideshow of recent photos from vineyards in the Absolute Michigan group and learn much more about Michigan’s wineries and wine trails from Michigan Wines.

More fall wallpaper on Michigan in Pictures!