Businessman and philanthropist Chuck Feeney passed away on October 9th. He was best known for co-founding Duty-Free Shoppers (DFS) with Robert Miller in 1960. DFS grew to be one of the world's largest luxury retailers, catering primarily to travelers and making Feeney a billionaire in the process. However, what made him particularly notable and admired was not his business success but his unique approach to philanthropy.
Congratulations to Katalin Karikó, PhD, and Drew Weissman, MD, PhD, for receiving the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine! Their revolutionary work has paved the way for the development of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, showcasing the significant strides science can achieve. Their research, carried out at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, has changed the course of global health.
I often post about the Cloud, and people ask me, “What is it?” While I could explain that the energy that powers our technology comprises over half a million miles of undersea cables, hundreds of exchange points, around 8,000 data centers, and more, it may be easier to show you.
The most remarkable projects are developed through strategic partnerships that achieve exceptional results. Clayco prides itself on partnering with the best in business to embody the Art & Science of Building, and KONE is a great example of how our extended team of subcontractors helps us accomplish that. KONE is a proven global technology leader in the elevator and escalator industry. The company provides elevators, escalators, automatic building doors, and solutions for maintenance and modernization and aims to improve the flow of urban life. Clayco and KONE are devoted to safety, diversity, strong company cultures, and expertise that brings the most powerful projects to life.
Constructing spaces that foster community growth and connection is crucial to creating a sense of belonging that leads to stronger, more resilient communities. Clayco’s partner company, Lamar Johnson Collaborative, has done an excellent job building beyond these walls into the neighborhoods where we operate to deliver PopCourts! – a “small plaza that turned into a movement” – which won an Honor Award in Urban Design from the 2023 ASLA Professional Awards.
Jean Nouvel is one of the most important architects of the past 50 years. His style fuses innovation, contextual awareness, and a willingness to defy conventions. I admire his work because it reflects a deep understanding of the relationship between architecture and its environment while embracing the possibilities offered by modern technology and materials. Nouvel’s personal story began in Fumel, France. He was raised in a family of teachers and creatives. He studied philosophy at the Sorbonne but later focused on architecture, attending the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
What causes me to get out of bed every morning is driven by inspiration. Ever since I was a little boy, I was inspired by my insatiable curiosity, which caused me to be a reader, a thinker, and a dreamer.
I can remember being inspired by seeing Bobby Kennedy on TV and watching videotapes of Martin Luther King Jr., and being deeply saddened by their assassination even though I was only 10 years old when I experienced all of this.
As a little boy, rocket flight was a big thing. I remember being fascinated by the moon and the stars and the astronauts exploring them.As humans we are achieving remarkable things that only a handful of years before were just in the imagination.