The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) has named OSRAM SYLVANIA as an EnergyStar Partner of the Year for its outstanding effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by making and promoting energy-efficient products.A partner in the program since 1999, the company is being honored for its leadership in manufacturing and promoting products that earn the EnergyStar label, the mark of environmental protection through energy efficiency. This is the second year in a row that SYLVANIA has been recognized.“The EnergyStar program couldn’t be such a success without the commitment of partners like SYLVANIA,” says Kathleen Hogan, director of EPA’s Climate Protection Partnerships Division. For more information, visit (www.energystar.gov).Demolition work has already started at Greenwood Park Mall in Greenwood, IN, and the multi-million dollar renovation is scheduled for completion just in time for the 2003 holiday season. Simon Property Group, the owner and manager of the mall, revealed plans that will not only give the 38-year-old mall a new look but also enhance the overall ambience of the shopping center. Highlights of the project include:New porcelain tile floors.New ceilings.New interior and exterior lighting.Additional skylights allowing more natural light.“Soft” seating areas.A neutral color scheme.A completely rebuilt Food Court.Major Makeover Planned for Indiana MallAccording to Washington, D.C.-based Urban Land Institute (ULI), from its beginnings as a successful seaport in the 18th century to its current role as an emblem of urban renewal in the 21st century, Baltimore, MD, has had its ups and downs.During the suburban flight of the 1950s and 1960s, urban decay gripped Baltimore. Now, the city’s reputation is based on the story of its renewal.The city implemented the very first plan in the United States that called for the redevelopment of a downtown core: Baltimore’s Charles Center. Bolstered by the success of this project, city planners turned to the blighted waterfront and transformed the Inner Harbor.Baltimore’s success story has inspired other cities to turn to their neglected waterfronts. In New Jersey, state and local officials are hoping the reclamation of a 150-acre brownfield site on the Delaware River will spark urban revitalization for Camden, its poorest city.Throughout the mid-Atlantic, developers are discovering that linking commercial and residential space makes sense.Developers and environmentalists are collaborating to ensure the responsible development of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. “Strengthening existing cities and inner suburbs with new and more compact growth, and improving the mix of homes, jobs, and daily activities, are among the best ways to counter uncontrolled sprawl and improve environmental quality,” says Lee Epstein, director, lands program, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Annapolis, MD. For additional information, visit the Urban Land Institute website (www.uli.org).Disinfectant Leader Launches SARS websiteJohnsonDiversey Inc., based in Racine, WI, has just launched a website containing information on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, commonly known as SARS. With the goal of combating the spread of the SARS virus, the company used its expertise in developing cleaning and disinfectant products and procedures for facilities to help educate individuals about appropriate actions to take. “Both personal hygiene and facility hygiene are critical factors to stopping the spread of SARS,” says Greg Lawton, president and CEO, JohnsonDiversey Inc. To learn more about products and procedures that you can implement, visit the SARS Control Center website (www.johsondiversey.com).DuPont™ Antron® Announces Design AwardsThe DuPont Antron Design Awards, an annual competition for professional architects and interior designers in the United States and Canada, honors those who are setting new standards of creativity and originality in commercial interior design through the innovative use of carpet.Awards were given in the following categories: Large Office, Small Office, Retail/ Showroom, Institutional/Public Spaces, Hospitality, and Healthcare. Grand Prize and Institutional/Public Spaces category winner was C&R/Rizvi Inc., for its original use of carpet in the Reebok Childcare Center (at right) for Reebok International Limited’s headquarters in Canton, MA.Other winners included VOA Associates; Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum Inc.; STUDIOS Architecture; Gary Lee Partners; Carrier Johnson; HNTB; Trellage-Ferrill Architecture and Art; Hammel, Green and Abrahamson Inc.; Gensler; Clive Wilkinson Architects; and SmithGroup.New York City Learning Space Takes AIA/HUD honorAn innovative “outdoor classroom” in Staten Island, NY, recently received the Community Building award in the 2003 AIA/HUD Secretary’s Housing and Design Awards. The joint program was created by the American Institute of Architects’ Center for Livable Communities and the AIA Housing Professional Interest Area in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.Designed by Marpillero Pollak Architects of New York City, the Outdoor Classroom at Eibs Pond Park in Staten Island, NY, is an open structure – complete with a pier and a variety of seating options – on a 17-acre freshwater wetland park adjacent to a low-income community. It offers many ecology-teaching opportunities to Staten Island’s PS 57 students, who can reach the structure via a five-minute walk on the project’s accessible path. The structure’s flexible layout means it can be enjoyed by more than one group at a time. Architects and planners worked with a tenant group, an elementary school, and other local constituencies to ensure that the design would be meaningful to a broad user base, including other nearby schools, Audubon Society workshops, casual park visitors, and picnickers, not to mention the local bird population.AmeriCorps volunteers built the space out of recycled plastic lumber and redwood from a sustainable forest. Award-winning Class A Office Building
Recently honored by the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), 4100 North Fairfax Drive, a 13-story Class A office building in the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington, VA, features a striking contemporary design, convenient location (access to Metrorail one block away), and 440 parking spaces. At 265,000 square feet, the building contains 25,000 square feet of office space, 10,000 square feet of retail space, and five below-grade levels of parking. Designed by the Washington, D.C. office of DMJM Design, the building’s exterior is clad in sleek curtainwall, pre-cast panels, and expansive windows. State-of-the-art engineering systems include direct digital HVAC controls, a fiber-optic communications backbone, and up to eight watts per square foot for tenant power. Hines, the Houston-based real estate firm, is the developer of the project.Modern Living Launches Contract Services DivisionBringing highest-quality, aesthetically pleasing European furniture to large-scale audiences has been a longtime dream for Los Angeles-based Modern Living. Now, the dream has turned into reality. The company will supply the Walt Disney Concert Hall Project, Los Angeles, with sofas and armchairs designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and Philippe Starck.With over 25 lines of indoor and outdoor furniture, Modern Living offers products for corporate, hospitality, restaurant, entertainment, institutional, financial, and retail design.“By establishing this contract furniture division, we are bringing progressive fashion and lifestyle into the public arena, which touches the lives of so many people,” says Michael Ladish, co-owner. LEED EB Participants RecognizedAt a congressional luncheon in early May, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recognized the 58 companies (and 76 buildings) that participated in the LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED EB) pilot program. LEED EB will establish a standardized system for upgrading the more than 4.6 million buildings already standing, to improve environmental performance and economic savings. The draft of LEED EB, currently in use for the pilot, is scheduled to be updated this month with pilot participant feedback, with the release of a revised draft distributed during the summer. The final version will be launched in conjunction with a newly developed workshop at the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) World Workplace Convention, October 19-21, 2003. To find out more about LEED, visit the USGBC website (www.usgbc.org).Finance Trends
New construction starts in March slipped one percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $475.2 billion, according to the McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies. Both commercial and residential fell slightly, while non-building construction made a partial rebound from a weak February.The recent trend for the Dodge Index has been downward with first-quarter 2003 averaging three percent less than the previous quarter. Last year, the construction industry leveled off and the early results for 2003 are now pointing toward a mild loss. With the exception of single-family housing, other construction sectors have declined due to the lackluster economy, the dismal fiscal health of federal and state governments, and the war with Iraq. The moderate slowdown experienced by construction during the first quarter is a good indicator for the entire year.Commercial building in March dropped one percent to $140.8 billion: retail, down 12 percent; hotels, down 16 percent; offices, down 24 percent; and warehouses, down 36 percent. The institutional side of the commercial market offset much of the March weakness. Education building grew five percent, and healthcare facilities grew 23 percent.Elevators and Escalators Take Center Stage at National Building MuseumIn today’s “on-the-move” society, it’s only fitting to honor machines that keep people on the go.Elevators, escalators, and moving sidewalks are the building industry’s equivalent to trains, planes, and automobiles. While the impact of the latter three transport modes have been highly documented and celebrated, the former three are unsung heroes. The historical account of elevators, escalators, and moving walkways is incomplete at best.The National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., is filling this void. On September 12, it will open a new exhibition: Up, Down, Across: Elevators, Escalators, and Moving Sidewalks.The exhibition, which also features a comprehensive catalogue, will document the impact of these human conveyance devices on the urban and suburban landscape, individual building types, and culture. It also coincides with the 150th anniversary of the invention of the elevator safety brake by Elisha Otis.
AIA/ALA Library Awards Laud Design ExcellenceToday’s libraries are more than just places to shelve books. Precise planning and design innovation go into the creation of modern library facilities, and the efforts do not go unrecognized.For the past 21 years, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), in conjunction with the American Library Association (ALA), have offered the AIA/ALA Library Building Awards to recognize and encourage excellence in the architectural design and planning of libraries.The 2003 jury included representatives from both the architecture and library fields. This year’s seven recipients will be formally recognized in June at the 2003 ALA Annual Conference in Toronto.“Each of the seven buildings selected uses a different method to achieve success,” says Jury Chair Henry Myerberg. “All, however, share some common elements: a strong aesthetic sensibility that is consistently applied; sensitivity to context; and a conviction about the importance of the Library as an institution and a place.”Award winners include:Lee B. Philmon Branch Library, Riverdale GA (pictured below). Architect: Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects, Atlanta.The Jefferson Library at Monticello, Charlottesville, VA. Architect: Hartman-Cox Architects, Washington, D.C.University of Washington: Suzzallo Library, Seattle. Architect: Mahlum Architects and Cardwell Architects, Seattle.Seattle Public Temporary Central Library, Seattle. Architect: LMN Architects, Seattle.South Court, New York Public Library, New York City. Architect: Davis Brody Bond, LLP, New York City.The Hockaday School Upper and Lower School Library, Dallas. Design Architect: Overland Partners Architects, San Antonio. Architect of Record: Good Fulton + Farrell Architects, Dallas.Shady Hill School Library, Cambridge, MA. Architect: Kennedy and Violich Architecture Ltd., Boston.Plant PowerNew research indicates that the adequate installation of plants can deliver a solid return on investment. Cincinnati, OH-based Plants At Work group believes the latest research clearly shows four bottom line benefits of interior office plants:Plants can improve tenant occupancy and retention by 17 percent. Based on numerous case studies, including a scientific case study on the Opryland Hotel by Michael Evans, former associate professor of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA. Findings also indicate that an adequate plant installation in a modern, sealed office facility could save U.S. companies $129 billion via contributions to improved indoor air quality (IAQ) alone. Researchers William J. Fisk and Arthur H. Rosenfeld, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, found that companies could save $58 billion annually by preventing sick building syndrome and an additional $200 billion in improved performance due to better IAQ. The same study verified that 40 percent of all sick days are IAQ-related. Recent studies have shown that interior plants enhance worker productivity by 12 percent. The research by Dr. Roger S. Ulrich of Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, Helen Surrell, Surrey University, Surrey, England, and Dr. Virginia Lohr, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, showed that proper installation can significantly lower workplace stress, decrease fatigue, and improve productivity. Proper selection and placement of plants can lower heating and cooling costs by as much as 20 percent. According to the International Society of Arboricultural, Champaign, IL, the net cooling effect of one young, healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-size air-conditioners operating 20 hours a day. Plants reduce air temperature through evaporation and transpiration, states the Herndon, VA-based Associated Landscape Contractors of America. Research-related information is available at (www.plantsatwork.org/pdf/economic.pdf), (www.plantsatwork.org/pdf/preception.pdf), (www.wsu.edu/~lohr/hih/air/), and (www.wsu.edu/~lohr/hih/productivity/).
Recently honored by the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), 4100 North Fairfax Drive, a 13-story Class A office building in the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington, VA, features a striking contemporary design, convenient location (access to Metrorail one block away), and 440 parking spaces. At 265,000 square feet, the building contains 25,000 square feet of office space, 10,000 square feet of retail space, and five below-grade levels of parking. Designed by the Washington, D.C. office of DMJM Design, the building’s exterior is clad in sleek curtainwall, pre-cast panels, and expansive windows. State-of-the-art engineering systems include direct digital HVAC controls, a fiber-optic communications backbone, and up to eight watts per square foot for tenant power. Hines, the Houston-based real estate firm, is the developer of the project.Modern Living Launches Contract Services DivisionBringing highest-quality, aesthetically pleasing European furniture to large-scale audiences has been a longtime dream for Los Angeles-based Modern Living. Now, the dream has turned into reality. The company will supply the Walt Disney Concert Hall Project, Los Angeles, with sofas and armchairs designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and Philippe Starck.With over 25 lines of indoor and outdoor furniture, Modern Living offers products for corporate, hospitality, restaurant, entertainment, institutional, financial, and retail design.“By establishing this contract furniture division, we are bringing progressive fashion and lifestyle into the public arena, which touches the lives of so many people,” says Michael Ladish, co-owner. LEED EB Participants RecognizedAt a congressional luncheon in early May, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recognized the 58 companies (and 76 buildings) that participated in the LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED EB) pilot program. LEED EB will establish a standardized system for upgrading the more than 4.6 million buildings already standing, to improve environmental performance and economic savings. The draft of LEED EB, currently in use for the pilot, is scheduled to be updated this month with pilot participant feedback, with the release of a revised draft distributed during the summer. The final version will be launched in conjunction with a newly developed workshop at the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) World Workplace Convention, October 19-21, 2003. To find out more about LEED, visit the USGBC website (www.usgbc.org).Finance Trends
New construction starts in March slipped one percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $475.2 billion, according to the McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies. Both commercial and residential fell slightly, while non-building construction made a partial rebound from a weak February.The recent trend for the Dodge Index has been downward with first-quarter 2003 averaging three percent less than the previous quarter. Last year, the construction industry leveled off and the early results for 2003 are now pointing toward a mild loss. With the exception of single-family housing, other construction sectors have declined due to the lackluster economy, the dismal fiscal health of federal and state governments, and the war with Iraq. The moderate slowdown experienced by construction during the first quarter is a good indicator for the entire year.Commercial building in March dropped one percent to $140.8 billion: retail, down 12 percent; hotels, down 16 percent; offices, down 24 percent; and warehouses, down 36 percent. The institutional side of the commercial market offset much of the March weakness. Education building grew five percent, and healthcare facilities grew 23 percent.Elevators and Escalators Take Center Stage at National Building MuseumIn today’s “on-the-move” society, it’s only fitting to honor machines that keep people on the go.Elevators, escalators, and moving sidewalks are the building industry’s equivalent to trains, planes, and automobiles. While the impact of the latter three transport modes have been highly documented and celebrated, the former three are unsung heroes. The historical account of elevators, escalators, and moving walkways is incomplete at best.The National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., is filling this void. On September 12, it will open a new exhibition: Up, Down, Across: Elevators, Escalators, and Moving Sidewalks.The exhibition, which also features a comprehensive catalogue, will document the impact of these human conveyance devices on the urban and suburban landscape, individual building types, and culture. It also coincides with the 150th anniversary of the invention of the elevator safety brake by Elisha Otis.
AIA/ALA Library Awards Laud Design ExcellenceToday’s libraries are more than just places to shelve books. Precise planning and design innovation go into the creation of modern library facilities, and the efforts do not go unrecognized.For the past 21 years, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), in conjunction with the American Library Association (ALA), have offered the AIA/ALA Library Building Awards to recognize and encourage excellence in the architectural design and planning of libraries.The 2003 jury included representatives from both the architecture and library fields. This year’s seven recipients will be formally recognized in June at the 2003 ALA Annual Conference in Toronto.“Each of the seven buildings selected uses a different method to achieve success,” says Jury Chair Henry Myerberg. “All, however, share some common elements: a strong aesthetic sensibility that is consistently applied; sensitivity to context; and a conviction about the importance of the Library as an institution and a place.”Award winners include:Lee B. Philmon Branch Library, Riverdale GA (pictured below). Architect: Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects, Atlanta.The Jefferson Library at Monticello, Charlottesville, VA. Architect: Hartman-Cox Architects, Washington, D.C.University of Washington: Suzzallo Library, Seattle. Architect: Mahlum Architects and Cardwell Architects, Seattle.Seattle Public Temporary Central Library, Seattle. Architect: LMN Architects, Seattle.South Court, New York Public Library, New York City. Architect: Davis Brody Bond, LLP, New York City.The Hockaday School Upper and Lower School Library, Dallas. Design Architect: Overland Partners Architects, San Antonio. Architect of Record: Good Fulton + Farrell Architects, Dallas.Shady Hill School Library, Cambridge, MA. Architect: Kennedy and Violich Architecture Ltd., Boston.Plant PowerNew research indicates that the adequate installation of plants can deliver a solid return on investment. Cincinnati, OH-based Plants At Work group believes the latest research clearly shows four bottom line benefits of interior office plants:Plants can improve tenant occupancy and retention by 17 percent. Based on numerous case studies, including a scientific case study on the Opryland Hotel by Michael Evans, former associate professor of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA. Findings also indicate that an adequate plant installation in a modern, sealed office facility could save U.S. companies $129 billion via contributions to improved indoor air quality (IAQ) alone. Researchers William J. Fisk and Arthur H. Rosenfeld, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, found that companies could save $58 billion annually by preventing sick building syndrome and an additional $200 billion in improved performance due to better IAQ. The same study verified that 40 percent of all sick days are IAQ-related. Recent studies have shown that interior plants enhance worker productivity by 12 percent. The research by Dr. Roger S. Ulrich of Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, Helen Surrell, Surrey University, Surrey, England, and Dr. Virginia Lohr, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, showed that proper installation can significantly lower workplace stress, decrease fatigue, and improve productivity. Proper selection and placement of plants can lower heating and cooling costs by as much as 20 percent. According to the International Society of Arboricultural, Champaign, IL, the net cooling effect of one young, healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-size air-conditioners operating 20 hours a day. Plants reduce air temperature through evaporation and transpiration, states the Herndon, VA-based Associated Landscape Contractors of America. Research-related information is available at (www.plantsatwork.org/pdf/economic.pdf), (www.plantsatwork.org/pdf/preception.pdf), (www.wsu.edu/~lohr/hih/air/), and (www.wsu.edu/~lohr/hih/productivity/).
