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    Plan For WTC Site Selected

    March 26, 2003
    A complex of angular buildings and a 1,776-foot spire designed by architect Daniel Libeskind was chosen as the plan for the World Trade Center site by the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. (LMDC).Libeskind’s design beat the THINK team’s “World Cultural Center” plan, which envisioned two 1,665-foot latticework towers straddling the footprints of the original towers.The new building is planned to be taller than the Trade Center towers, which briefly stood as the world’s tallest at 1,350 feet. Libeskind’s tower also would surpass Malaysia’s 1,483-foot Petronas Twin Towers, currently the tallest buildings in the world.The choice was made by a committee with representatives of the LMDC, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, New York Governor George Pataki, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.The Libeskind design is daringly imaginative and inspiring, honoring those who were lost, while affirming the triumph of life and signaling the rebirth of Lower Manhattan and its iconic skyline. Libeskind opens a portion of the “bathtub” of the World Trade Center site and exposes the great slurry walls that survived 9-11, creating a sacred place and site for the memorial celebrating the resilience of the slurry wall. A museum sits at the epicenter of Ground Zero.Planned Merger Creates Global Market LeaderCB Richard Ellis announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Insignia Financial Group Inc. for $11 per share of common stock in cash, plus the potential for incremental consideration. The transaction creates a real estate services company with revenues exceeding $1.8 billion, 16,000 employees in 47 countries, and market leadership positions in major business centers, including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Paris, and Hong Kong. The all-cash transaction is valued at approximately $415 million, including repayment of net debt and redemption of preferred stock, and is subject to Insignia shareholder approval and other conditions.“Insignia is the perfect, hand-in-glove complement for our global platform,” says Ray Wirta, CB Richard Ellis CEO. “The new entity will offer clients the optimal balance of worldwide reach and specialized services.”And The Winner is …Glistening, bright porcelain; flattering lights; oh-so-tasteful tiles: Let’s face it, we are all impressed by a really cool restroom. If you believe your company’s bathroom should be on a best-dressed list, there is finally a contest to recognize this under-appreciated corner of commercial spaces. Kimberly-Clark Professional, Roswell, GA, a leading provider of tissue and towel products, skin care products, and industrial wipes, is sponsoring The Best Office Building Bathroom Contest. “This contest gives us the opportunity to honor the office buildings that go the extra mile to make restrooms a special place for the people who work in these buildings,” says Amy Walker Barrs, office building marketing manager, Kimberly-Clark Professional. The first-place winner will receive a 15-inch LCD flat panel desktop TV, while second- and third-place winners will receive a Bose Wave radio/CD player. In addition, the winning office facilities will receive a supply of toilet paper, towels, and facial tissue.Considering that the average end-user spends the equivalent of three workdays a year in the restroom, an attractive bathroom is important to tenants’ perception of a building’s facility management, according to Walker Barrs. Restrooms count as the source of two out of three tenant complaints. Adds Walker Barrs, “In survey after survey, office workers have told us that they want a clean restroom more than anything else.”Entries are due by April 30, 2003. For complete details, visit (www.kcprofessional.com/bestofficebathroom).Knock, Knock, The New Standard is HereThe Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA), New York City, has announced the newly revised ANSI/BHMA A156.16-2002 American National Standard for Auxiliary Hardware. Covering 21 different hardware products, this standard includes doorstops, door holders, knockers, garment hooks, shelf brackets, shower curtain and rod assemblies, towel bars, and more.Performance testing methods and criteria are given for each product. The new ANSI/BHMA standard is an indispensable reference for facilities professionals.Building owners, for example, can protect themselves against inferior workmanship by specifying products that perform in accordance with this industry-approved standard.Approved by the American National Standard Institute, the standard was developed by the BHMA. For a closer look at the standard, visit (www.buildershardware.com).Delicious Design Takes a Café From Tired to TrendyMinneapolis’ KKE Architects Inc. blends together European style, functional dining workflow, and a sublime restaurant experience at the newly renovated Café and Bar Lurcat in Minneapolis. The combined efforts of Richard D’Amico, a veteran restaurateur, and architect Michelle Piontek, led to a fast-track enjoyable and entertaining environment.Inspired by the lush murals of French artist Jean Lurçat, the bar’s walls are adorned with artwork from Minneapolis artist Wayne Grimsrud. The modernized dining space serves up art; live entertainment; and funky, globally inspired cuisine. D’Amico selected the facility’s specialty finishes, Venetian plaster, and furniture, and worked closely with Piontek to complete the challenging project. Located at the historic Loring Park amidst art galleries, theaters, and bookshops, the 9,000-square-foot café/bar features a contemporary yet comfortable interior.“We wanted to take advantage of the uniqueness of the site by making a space that is welcoming and inviting,” says Michelle Piontek, architect, KKE Architects, Inc., Minneapolis. Piontek redesigned the existing kitchens to improve workflow and to allow increased visibility by diners – a new trend in upscale eateries. A private dining room takes advantage of the spectacular park view.Office Space is Shrinking, Says IFMA Benchmark StudyU.S. workers continue to find themselves working in increasingly closer proximity to their co-workers, according to a recent study by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Houston.IFMA recently released its 23rd research report, Project Management Benchmarks, which reveals that the number of square feet of office space per person has shrunk from 355 square feet in 2001 to 347 in 2002.The amount of office space per type of worker has been shrinking steadily since 1997. The IFMA study reveals that the most dramatic drop in measured space has been in upper management spaces. Those occupying corner offices have found their average space decreasing from 280 to 239 square feet, while senior management offices have shrunk from 193 to 169 square feet.When examining space standards and the average square footage per workstation, office sizes have decreased an overall average of 13 percent since IFMA’s last report.The new study also shows the ratio of open offices to enclosed spaces continues to increase. Since 1997, the percentage of private offices has dropped three percent. In contrast, the use of open plan offices has increased by the same percentage.$45.5 Million Mississippi Shopping Center Acquired
    Cleveland-based Developers Diversified Realty recently acquired acquisition of a 540,000-square-foot shopping center in Gulfport, MS, from a private investor for approximately $45.5 million.Crossroads Center, which is located at the intersection of I-10 and Highway 49 in Gulfport, is the dominant shopping center in its market area, drawing shoppers from as far as lower Alabama and the panhandle of Florida. Anchored by Belk Department Stores, which will open this summer, the center also features a 16-screen, stadium-style Cinemark Theater; Circuit City; T.J. Maxx; Office Depot; Barnes & Noble; Academy Sports; PetsMart; Kirchman’s Furniture; Bed Bath & Beyond; and Goody’s. Development of three outparcels and a 9,000-square-foot, freestanding restaurant building are in the works. The property will be wholly owned by Developers Diversified, which will finance the acquisition using its unsecured line of credit.Developers Diversified, a self-administered and managed real estate investment trust (REIT), currently owns and manages approximately 300 retail properties, totaling over 60 million square feet in 43 states.CPFilms Inc. Introduces New Commercial Shade LineMartinsville, VA-based CPFilms Inc. has launched its own branded shade division, Haylcyon™ Shades.Using the company’s proprietary film technology, Halcyon Shades are pull-down, interior transparent window shades designed to reduce energy costs, eliminate glare, protect against ultraviolet (UV) rays, provide interior fade protection of furnishings, preserve privacy, and maintain an outside view.Initially targeting the commercial, small business, retail, and office markets, the new division is expected to eventually expand into the institutional, hospitality, and residential markets.Ken Vickers, president of CPFilms Inc., says the company started planning to build its value-added chain with Halcyon Shades about a year ago.

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