Technical Magazines, Part 2
by Ed Buch, CSI, CCS, AIA
This is the second article in a two part series on sources for information on construction materials and technology. In the last issue of the LACSI Newsletter, I reported on six trade magazines I find useful. In this column I will describe eight more. If you know of a magazine that I haven’t included, please let me know and I will include it in a future list. I have limited this selection to those that are available free of charge.

As I noted previously, The Construction Specifier magazine is the most consistent source for a broad range of authoritative articles on recent developments in construction materials and products. The two mainstream architectural journals, “architecture” and “Architectural Record”, for the most part, have not had regular articles on building materials and technology since the mid-1990s. The Construction Specifier and the trade magazines listed here fill this void nicely.

Building Design & Construction. www.bdcmag.com. Published monthly by Reed Business Information. In addition to building industry news and product information, several building projects are highlighted each month demonstrating different approaches to the month’s theme. In recent issues, building security, LEED, and adaptive building reuse have been themes. Articles tend to focus more on the technical aspect of projects rather than architectural design. Useful building cost information is usually included. BD&C also has an annual ranking by size of architectural, engineering, and construction management firms.

Profe ssional Roofing. www.professionalroofing.net. Published monthly by the NRCA, this magazine is aimed at roofing contractors but is also useful for architects and specifiers. Completed projects are used to illustrate different types of roofing ap plications. A recent technical article included a comparison of different types of rigid insulation board.
Stone World. www.stoneworld.com. Published monthly by BNP, it contains stone industry news for stone suppliers and fabricators. Excellent photos and some drawings are used to illustrate recent projects making the magazine useful for architects, interior designers, and specifiers to gain a detailed understanding of the different types of stone and their application. A recent issue had extensive coverage of slate from quarrying to fabrication and installation.

Architectural Lighting. www.lightforum.com . Published seven times a year, this is a great magazine for anyone who wants to understand architectural lighting or who just enjoys photos of interesting lighting projects. This is an excellent source of information on lighting fixtures, the lighting industry, and lighting projects. A well written blend of technical and design articles accompanied by useful advertisements.

Archetype. www.woodworkinstitute.com. The Journal of the Woodwork Institute includes technical and design articles on architectural woodwork, cabinetry, and wood doors for architects, specifiers and millwork professionals. The projects presented in each issue are accompanied by photographs and detailed technical descriptions.

Architectural West. www.architecturalwest.com. Published by Dodson Publications six times a year, it has an emphasis on roofing products and projects. It includes a good legal column each month along with building products advertisements, and building industry news.
Contemporary Stone & Tile Design. www.stoneworld.com. Published quarterly by BNP, this is probab ly the best designed and printed trade magazine in our industry. Beautiful photographs are used to present stone or tile projects in each issue. A recent edition focused on the many uses of limestone for both interior and exterior installations. An interview with a notable architect is often included to describe the approach used for the selection and use of stone on the featured project. The inclusion of advertisements for many types of stone and stone related products makes this magazine an excellent resource for architects, interior designers and specifiers.

Modern Steel Construction. www.modernsteel.com. Published monthly by the American Institute of Steel Construction, this is an excellent source of information on steel used in both structural and architectural applications. Written primarily for structural engineers, each month several projects are presented highlighting innovative or unique uses of steel. In the Nov. 2004 issue, Hodgetts & Fung’s Hollywood Bowl reconstruction was featured. Each month technical articles are included offering authoritative information on a variety of topics. Galvanizing of members and the benefits of various finish coatings are two recent topics of interest to architects and specifiers.

Ed Buch is an architect in the Los Angeles office of Leo A Daly. A Nebraska native, he has worked in Los Angeles since 1988. Prior to that, he worked in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, and 5 years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He has been member since 1981, and is currently an Institute director from the West Region, CSI.