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24 B U I L D E R BUILDERONLINE.COM

Amazon is getting closer to helping

consumers wipe out their errands list.

Last year, Amazon launched its

Dash buttons that, when pushed,

automatically order a specific product

like laundry detergent. Replenishments

then show up at consumers’ doorsteps,

eliminating the chance they’d forget

to restock when grocery shopping.

GE’s newest dishwasher is one of

the first appliances to integrate with

Amazon’s Dash services. The manu-

facturer’s latest line of appliances is

now Wi-Fi connected, which means

with the simple touch of a button,

users can order more dish detergent

when they notice they’re getting low.

Through GE’s Kitchen app, customers

can link to their Amazon accounts,

select the type of dish detergent

they like to use, and then choose the

amount to order. Each time they press

the button on their dishwasher, the

pre-programmed order will show up on

their doorstep in just a few days—or

hours if Amazon gets its Prime Air

delivery drones working and approved

in the near future.

PULSE /

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Notable news, trends, and data from around the industry

BY BUILDER STAFF

Design Trend

DALLAS HOME WINS STEEL DESIGN AWARD

A five-story residence in Dallas has earned
national recognition in the 2016 Innovative
Design in Engineering and Architecture with
Structural Steel awards program (IDEAS2),
awarded by the American Institute of Steel
Construction. Located on one of the highest
sites in the city, the vertical volume of the
five-story house rises 58 feet above the surround-
ing landscape and is rotated from the adjacent
neighborhood grid to capture views of the
downtown skyline.
The project was entered in the competition
by its Austin-based design team of architect,
Miro Rivera Architects, and structural engi-
neer, Datum Engineers. The compact footprint
of the project is sectionally integrated into the
site via a carved spiraling entry drive that allows
for an almost subterranean experience, while
the verticality of the two exterior screen walls
accents the home’s slenderness and height.
This curvilinear geometry emanates from the

master suite and extends into the landscape.

Visitors arrive at natural grade and then cross

over the excavated area via an internally stabi-

lized architecturally exposed structural steel

footbridge to the front entry.

The 10 IDEAS 2 winners for 2016 were

chosen from nearly 10 0 submissions received

from architectural and engineering and other

project team member firms throughout the U.S.

Each submission is reviewed and award winners

are selected by a nationally recognized panel of

design and construction industry professionals.

“The entire Vertical House project team

has shown how structural steel can be used to

create structures that combine beauty and

practicality,” says Roger E. Ferch, president of

the American Institute of Steel Construction.

“The result is a structure that will serve its resi-

dents extremely well, while providing an example

of what can be achieved when designing and

constructing projects with steel.”

Appliances

GE Dishwasher

Orders Detergent

Via Amazon

UP FRONT

DECEMBER 2016

AISC

(^) IDEAS2
(^) Awar
ds
ph
otos
: Ju
an
Miró