Experts question whether New York architecture is past its prime

on Thursday,October 28,2010 18:10

A piece titled the Liquid Wall has attracted attention at the Center for Architecture in New York for more than its architectural design. The Liquid Wall, which is slated to be on display until January, has many people wondering whether New York City architecture is past its prime.

The Liquid Wall is made by fortified concrete that allows it to maintain its strength while appearing dangerously thin, according to Capital New York. Water runs through hoses in the prototype, creating a passive solar collector in the structure itself to generate heat.

The Liquid Wall won the title of most "innovative" design in the exhibit. Other notable projects, such as Yankee Stadium's building information modeling and the Barclay Center's 4-D visualization, were honorable mentions. However, American Institute of Architects president of the New York branch, Anthony Schirripa, says that the Liquid Wall's win is a sign of the times. Architects, engineers and designers must now work together in the digital age to create more revolutionary structures.

Architecture jobs are predicted to increase by 16 percent over the next eight years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.