Peeking into the toolkit of a digital designer you’ll find an unruly mess of apps and code, a reflection of the rapid changes now taking place in the field. From the beginning of the digital boom SOM, the architecture firm, has witnessed this development, not as a mere bystander, but as a creative partner. As early as the 1980s, the firm has been collaborating with digital specialists like IBM; back then, info modeling options were sparse and keeping up-to-date with innovations typically involved updating your AutoCAD. Fast-forward to the present, and the floodgates have been released.

Kids are now writing their own code for school projects and the position of ‘programmer’ in archi-firms has been virtually absorbed by the designers themselves. In essence, the barrier for entry into developer circles is almost zero. SOM, now in collaboration with CASE (a building information modeling consultancy based in New York City), are now faced with the question: “Why are we inventing tools that already exist?”

This collaboration has given birth to a new interface, AEC-APPS, described as “part Wikipedia, part GitHub,” which will create a library of digital tools for both users and makers alike. Additionally, there is also a strong social component that makes it easier to find the perfect tool, and begins to outline the collaborative mentality among the BIM community, much like that of contemporary programmers. Through crowd sourcing from members, users not only stay informed but also feed a community voice that, if loud enough, could sway software vendors to the demand of the users.

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On May 17, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that Chinese solar cells and panels imported into this country will now face tariffs of more than 31 percent. The ruling is a result of petitions filed by German-owned solar cell manufacturer, SolarWorld Industries America, demanding that Commerce conduct antidumping and countervailing duty investigations into Chinese solar imports. Supported by a small coalition of other solar cell manufacturers, the petitions allege Chinese producers have been selling products in the United States for far less than their true value. They accuse the Chinese government of giving manufacturers subsidies that are illegal under World Trade Organization (WTO) practices including huge cash grants and tax breaks, and greatly discounted raw materials, land, and utilities. Earlier this year, Commerce imposed anti-subsidy duties ranging from 2.9 percent to 4.73 percent on Chinese solar cell imports.

The Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) fears new tariffs will cost some U.S. solar workers their jobs. Image via coalition4affordablesolar.org

The latest ruling is not a surprise. SolarWorld’s majority market share grants its petitions great weight under current trade laws with which Commerce must operate. But the verdict does call into question the efficacy of the laws. “This is 1930s trade law being practiced by a German who wants to begin a trade war between the U.S. and China,” said Jigar Shah, president of the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE), an advocacy group representing almost 200 companies opposed to the tariffs. Some accuse SolarWorld of trying to undermine its competitors. “It’s literally like the last X-Men movie,” said Shah.

Top solar producers in the United States spoke out aggressively against the tariffs last week, arguing the measure will send an already struggling solar industry into chaos and cost workers their jobs while projects are stalled. “There are a number of projects in North Carolina and California that have been delayed until they can nail down what price they are paying for solar modules,” said Shah.

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