Craig Dykers says new structure will 'complement' existing building by Mario Botta Image courtesy SFMOMA Click on the slideshow button to see more images. Related Links: SFMOMA Selects Snøhetta for Expansion RECORD Reveals: San Francisco Since the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art opened its distinctive, Mario Botta-designed home in 1995, the size of its collection has more than doubled and the average number of annual visitors has tripled. The institution is now in the midst of raising money for a major expansion conceived by the award-winning Norwegian firm Snøhetta. The museum launched a $480 million capital campaign last year

Richard C. Halpern, a Chicago-based construction manager who oversaw numerous high-profile domestic and international building projects during a 50-year career, died July 3 of complications from cancer treatment in Houston. He was 78. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Halpern Richard Halpern As an executive at former building firm Morse Diesel, Halpern managed the construction of the Sears Tower, the world’s tallest building when it opened in 1974. He was among three executives cited by ENR in 1974 for their roles in the landmark project, which included the industry’s first major effort to recruit minorities into its workforce. In 1976, Halpern co-founded

In May, the Architectural Billings Index hit 47.2, its lowest point since June 2010. Yet in the midst of bleak national appraisals of the industry, Perkins+Will, headquartered in Chicago, seems to be going strong in the Pacific Northwest. This month, its Seattle office announced the acquisition of local firm Hinthorne Mott Architects, founded under the name Ruffcorn Mott Hinthorne Stine in 2004. Photo © Benjamin Benschneider Perkins+Will designed the Lake Union, Phase II Research Complex (2008) at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Related Links Top 250 Firms: Titans Maintain Lead P+W Sells Connecticut Office P+W Expands Again Merger

Teams of budding and seasoned architects faced off last week for the second annual Iron Designer Challenge, where they constructed freestanding “Portals”—structures that mediate two spaces—in less than three hours. Photos © Laura Mirviss The Gensler team after winning the 2011 Iron Designer Challenge. The Turner team members assemble their Portal, which is primarily made out of bamboo. Related Links: Architects, Students Compete in Iron Designer Challenge The Gensler team won the 2010 contest, in which participants built emergency shelters, and once again, it took home the grand prize. Inspired by a metamorphosis theme, the team wrapped a cocoon structure