WATERTOWN, Mass., May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ --BlueMetal Architects, a leading technology architecture and interactive design firm, announced today that Anthony Gonsalez has joined the company as Technology Director Architect in BlueMetal's Chicago office.

In this role, Mr. Gonsalez will provide architectural guidance and ensure technical excellence across the technical community, as well as assist in building and managing BlueMetal's presence in Chicago and across the Midwest.BlueMetal Architects works with top-tier clients to imagine, define and build innovative technology solutions which positively impact how they run their business with a focus on user experience, big data, application modernization and social platforms.

With 20+ years of IT experience in architectural strategy, program management and software development, Anthony's leadership and cross-team collaboration skills have helped champion new approaches and methods that assure high quality, on-time solution delivery across the organization.

"Tony brings an enormous wealth of technical and delivery skills to establish a strong foundation for our Chicago office", said Todd Bremner, President & Chief Technology Officer for BlueMetal. "Tony is going to have an enormous impact in building a strong delivery team in Chicago and professionalize our delivery capability across all offices."

Prior to joining BlueMetal, Anthony spent 14 years working for Microsoft Corporation. During his tenure he has successfully led several large teams in architecting, designing and implementing some of Microsoft's largest commercial software solutions for many Fortune 50 customers. Most recently Anthony served as Director of Technical Quality Assurance (TQA) focused on improving global services delivery and technical quality across the solution development lifecycle. His team was responsible for providing architectural guidance, delivery methodologies and technical strategies to Microsoft's services organization worldwide.

"The addition of Tony to our Chicago team really showcases the type of world-class technical and business staff we are attracting," said Matt Kestian, Consulting Director for BlueMetal Chicago. "Tony's technical expertise combined with his customer centric approach are both key components of the BlueMetal advantage, and his passion and understanding of the Chicago market is a huge asset to BlueMetal and our customers."

Previously Anthony has held positions at IBM, where he was responsible for the development of NASA's Onboard Shuttle Systems (OSS), and United Airlines as the Lead Architect for a Smithsonian / Computerworld award nominated personal reservation system that later became known as United.com.

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BlueMetal Architects Announces Addition of Anthony Gonsalez in Newly Opened Chicago Office

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Fueled by luxury retailers and discount retailers such as dollar stores, the retail real estate sector is poised to experience increased leasing and improving fundamentals in the second half of 2012.

Thats the take of Hartman Simons, an Atlanta-based national commercial real estate law firm that represents both tenants and landlords in retail leases as well as developers in retail developments. The firms attorneys provided their analysis of the sector as the 2012 ICSC RECon convention got underway in Las Vegas. The convention runs from May 20 through May 23.

The amount of leasing activity were involved in is 10 times what it was a year ago, said Peter Hartman, a partner with the firm. Of course, its all relative. Its not yet close to where it was in 2006 or 07.

Retail real estate is certainly healthier and moving in the right direction, Hartman said. There have been fits and starts, but overall the entire sector from our perspective is greatly improved.

The return of some large and important retailers such as Target to new developments and the growth of discount retailers like Dollar General are two of the trends fueling the sectors increased development and leasing activity, according to Hartman. The firm has recently represented developers in the development of Target-anchored centers in the Southeast.

As for store performance, luxury and discount retailers are thriving, Hartman said. Its the mid-level space that seems to be pretty flat, he added.

Retail developers have grown selectively aggressive in pursuing new opportunities in part because financing has become easier to obtain, Hartman said. And those new opportunities usually incorporate residential and sometimes office uses, he said.

Hartman Simons is representing North American Properties in its development of Avalon, a $600 million, mixed-use project in suburban Atlanta.

About Hartman Simons

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Retail Real Estate Set for Rebound

Last Updated: May 21, 2012 04:12pm ET

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Trademark will work with Victory Park owners to reposition the CRE project's retail component.

DALLAS-Victory Park UST Joint Venture I LP has partnered with Fort Worth-based Trademark Property Co. to freshen up the retail component of the 75-acre, mixed-use Victory Park. VPUST owner Estein & Associates USA Ltd. tapped Trademark to plan and execute the repositioning and redevelopment of its retail holdings in the southern district of Victory Park, located at the edge of Dallas' CBD.

As part of the plan, Trademark will develop and implement a merchandising and leasing strategy for the ground floor retail space and undeveloped land along Victory Park Lane, and the ground floor retail space in The Cirque and One Victory Park. Trademark will also identify and attract key destination retail, restaurant and entertainment tenants to Victory Park that fit the leasing strategy.

Estein & Associates affiliates manage the German real estate investment fund that took over the stake of Victory Park developer Hillwood in 2009. Since becoming sole owner of VPUST and the Victory Park buildings in 2009, we have been working closely with key stakeholders including the City of Dallas, the local retail community, and our other tenants and operators in the district to plan the future of Victory Park and how best to move it forward, said Lance Fair, COO of Orlando, FL-based Estein & Associates and vice president of Victory Park in a press release.

More here:
Victory Park Owner Partners with Trademark for Retail Reposition

By Kelvin Wong - 2012-05-21T16:01:00Z

Pedestrians walk past advertising billboards for watches and jewelry in Russell Street in the shopping district of Causeway Bay in Hong Kong, China.

Pedestrians walk past advertising billboards for watches and jewelry in Russell Street in the shopping district of Causeway Bay in Hong Kong, China. Photographer: Jerome Favre/Bloomberg

Wharf, which runs the 1 million-square-foot Times Square shopping mall opposite Soundwill Plaza, has gained 106 percent since early 2009.

Wharf, which runs the 1 million-square-foot Times Square shopping mall opposite Soundwill Plaza, has gained 106 percent since early 2009. Photographer: Jerome Favre/Bloomberg

The logo of a Hennes & Mauritz AB store is reflected on the hood of a vehicle on Queen's Road in Central district in Hong Kong, China.

The logo of a Hennes & Mauritz AB store is reflected on the hood of a vehicle on Queen's Road in Central district in Hong Kong, China. Photographer: Jerome Favre/Bloomberg

Rent from Soundwill Plaza -- whose ground-floor tenants include watch-sellers Omega and Tag Heuer, and crystal-ornament maker Swarovski, while on the upper floors are high-end spa salons and a yoga studio -- accounted for a quarter of the companys earnings in 2011, said Victor Chan.

Rent from Soundwill Plaza -- whose ground-floor tenants include watch-sellers Omega and Tag Heuer, and crystal-ornament maker Swarovski, while on the upper floors are high-end spa salons and a yoga studio -- accounted for a quarter of the companys earnings in 2011, said Victor Chan. Photographer: Jerome Favre/Bloomberg

Construction work takes place at Hysan Development Co.'s Hysan Place in the shopping district of Causeway Bay in Hong Kong, China. Hysan Development Co., the biggest landlord in Causeway Bay, has risen 168 percent in the period.

View original post here:
Gucci-Crazy Chinese Fuel Soaring Shop Rents in Hong Kong

New speculative retail construction has been virtually nonexistent in the market for the last five years.

It has been too risky.

Developers by and large have shied away from breaking ground on new projects without confirmed tenants, especially when so many retail companies have dramatically slowed or even halted expansion plans.

Instead, national retailers and restaurants that have been expanding have done so in free-standing buildings specifically constructed to match others in their chains.

Think Dollar General and Cheddar's Casual Cafe.

Or, new local businesses have taken advantage of existing, immediately available, and often-discounted space at commercial plazas. There still seems to be plenty of available storefronts.

But Holladay Properties, of South Bend, has taken a leap of faith, so to speak.

It is among the first area developers to construct a completely speculative retail building in quite some time. The building is located immediately south of Heritage Square in Mishawaka.

Holladay doesn't have any signed leases for the 10,000-square-foot building that will expand the Martin's-anchored shopping center near Cleveland and Gumwood roads.

But that does not scare Holladay, or Garrison Investments of New York, the joint owner of the Mishawaka center. Holladay is responsible for leasing, property, construction and asset management.

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Market Basket:New building constructed before tenants are signed

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Development of the long-vacant two-acre property at the southeast corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Vermont Avenue will begin this week with the groundbreaking of The Vermont, a 464-unit high-rise apartment complex with retail space and dedicated public open space along Wilshire Boulevard. The project is the largest residential development to be built in Los Angeles since the beginning of the latest real estate downturn.

The partnership of Jerome Snyder, Michael Wise and Lew Geyser comprises the backbone of the J.H. Snyder Development Company. Having long believed in this location and the project, they have persisted through the last two years of challenges and hurdles to entitle the project, assemble a nearly $200 million capital stack and now to pull their building permit and proceed to construction.

Given the economic challenges of the past several years, we are thrilled to begin construction on a mixed-use community of this scale and quality, said Jerry Snyder, Senior Partner at J.H. Snyder Company. This is a significant investment that will transform the long vacant two-acre dirt lot into the new heart of one of LAs most energetic neighborhoods. It feels great to move a significant, job-creating project forward at a time when new construction activity of this scale is rare.

Washington Capital Management, which manages investments for union pension funds in Washington State, is the lead equity investor in the $200 million project. Snyder, one of Southern Californias most prolific residential and retail builders, also infused equity into the project. At the end of 2011, JP Morgan closed on a construction loan and Bentall Kennedy closed on a mezzanine loan, clearing the way for the development team to break ground on the project.

We are excited to see The Vermont move forward, especially in light of the difficult lending environment we face today, said Kacy Keys, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at J.H. Snyder Company. It took a very complex financial structure, the ongoing support of Councilman Herb Wesson and the backing of our great partners Washington Capital Management, JP Morgan and Bentall Kennedy to make The Vermont a reality. Their willingness to be a part of The Vermont through the ups and downs of the past year speaks to the quality of this project and the confidence they all have in J.H. Snyder as a developer.

The development team plans to begin construction this week, with an estimated completion date in 2014. When complete, the LEED-certified project will be comprised of a mix of residential, retail and recreational uses. Features will include two high-rise towers surrounding a quarter-acre central courtyard; approximately 40,000 square feet for ground floor retailers including restaurants, a grocer, bank, dry cleaner and coffee house; as well as public underground parking. Residents of The Vermont will also have access to a full-service concierge, shared lounge-style workspace, a pool, high-end gym and spa exclusively for their use.

There is a strong and growing need for high-quality apartment homes and retail in the Mid-Wilshire area, and we hope to be able to meet some of that pent up demand with The Vermont, said Michael Wise, Senior Partner, J.H. Snyder Company. This project has been a long time coming, so we are excited to be moving to the next stage in the development process and to be that much closer to injecting new life into this already vibrant community.

The groundbreaking comes a year after the Los Angeles City Council and Community Redevelopment Committee voted unanimously to approve The Vermont, praising the project teams outstanding effort to incorporate the local community into the planning process and deliver a generous community benefits package.

The investment is expected to create more than 1,800 union construction jobs at a time when the industry is hurting. As part of the project build-out, J.H. Snyder Company will make a $1 million contribution to help fund a community center in the area and contribute efforts towards the creation of 96 affordable housing units elsewhere in Koreatown. The firm has partnered with Korean Churches for Community Development and AMCAL housing to begin identifying sites for affordable housing. The Vermont will also feature 77 non-reserved public parking spaces in the garage as well as 12,000 square feet of public open space along Wilshire Boulevard.

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J.H. Snyder Company Breaks Ground on The Vermont, a $200 Million Mixed-Use Destination in Mid-Wilshire District

PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division and a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services, announces a new community college best practice program to enhance the effort to revitalize manufacturing throughout the United States. The program, developed in conjunction with Iowa Western Community College (IWCC), provides resources to interested community colleges and local manufacturers including a recommended associates degree curriculum, a guide for obtaining in-kind software grants to provide the technology needed for implementation, and a detailed white paper, titled Community Colleges Revitalize Manufacturing, outlining the process for building a successful academic, government and business partnership for the programs execution.

It is estimated that within five to 15 years the retirement of skilled baby boomers will create a workforce shortage of 10 million additional workers by 2020. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) job growth is projected to rise at twice the rate of the economy by 2018. The shortage of engineers in 2010 totaled 750,000 worldwide. With this in mind, manufacturers are finding it increasingly difficult to fill open positions with individuals who have advanced technology skills.

Jane Oates, assistant secretary for employment and training at the U.S. Department of Labor, stressed the importance of partnerships and the critical need for STEM education in her keynote address at the 2012 Siemens PLM Connection Americas User Conference earlier this month.

Strong partnerships between employers, training providers, and all levels of government are crucial to ensure our workforce has the skills and experience to remain a global manufacturing leader, said Oates. By focusing attention on specific training needs in areas like data management and high-tech manufacturing, these partnerships are helping community colleges expand into community career centers -- places that teach people skills that businesses are looking for right now -- and thats a model the President and I fully support. (President Obama referenced this topic during his 2012 State of the Union address.)

Siemens PLM Software and Iowa Western Community College

In February 2011, Siemens PLM Software announced the largest in-kind corporate contribution ever received by IWCC that enabled the college to successfully launch a design technology program. The program prepares graduates to enter the workforce in a high-demand career field or transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelors degree.

Through the successful IWCC and Siemens PLM Software partnership, the new community college best practice program has been implemented. The program provides a two-year, fast-track curriculum, developed by an advisory board of academia and industry, with an emphasis on upgrading incumbent worker skills as well as training dislocated and minority-categorized workers. The curriculum introduces individuals to product design and development software technology used by many of the worlds leading manufacturing, architectural and construction companies.

Now community colleges around the nation have a proven blueprint to meet the needs of local employers and prepare local students for high-paying careers in design technology, said Dr. Dan Kinney, president, IWCC.

As the baby boom generation retires and product complexity continues to grow, students who are able to use PLM technology are expected to be highly recruited, said Bill Boswell, senior director, Partner Strategy, Siemens PLM Software. We are delighted to have had Assistant Secretary Oates present with us at our Americas User Conference to reinforce the need for STEM education and the importance of practical industry, academic, government partnerships.

See the rest here:
Siemens PLM Software Launches New Community College Best Practice Program to Revitalize U.S. Manufacturing

GREENSBORO, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Varrow announced today that it is the recipient of a Cisco Partner Summit theater award for Architectural Excellence - Data Center: South Region. Cisco unveiled the winners April 17 at its annual channel partner conference in San Diego, Calif.

Cisco is proud to partner with so many well-respected and industry-leading organizations, and it is an honor to recognize Varrow as a Cisco Partner Summit theater award winner, said Jim Sherriff, senior vice president, Americas Partner Organization at Cisco. The Cisco Architectural Excellence - Data Center: South Region Award presented to Varrow recognizes its performance and expertise as a Cisco channel partner the South Region in 2011.

Being honored by Cisco in this way is appreciated and a testament to our teams focus on a goal and Ciscos investment in their growth partners, said Dan Weiss, CEO and Co-founder of Varrow.

Cisco Partner Summit awards are presented at three levels: global, geo, and theater. Cisco Partner Summit U.S. and Canada theater awards reflect a partners performance in a given geographic region of the United States or Canada.

About Varrow

Varrow provides world-class technology solutions through advanced consulting, design, and managed services from the industrys most talented engineers. Our solution focus includes data storage management, virtualization, and disaster recovery. Varrow is certified at the highest datacenter level with Cisco, EMC and VMware. Varrow is vBlock certified, a certified Cisco Datacenter Networking and Storage partner and UCS Advanced Technology Partner, a Premier VMware partner, and was named EMCs Commercial partner of the year in 2009 and 2010. In 2010 and 2011 Varrow was recognized with the VAR 500 award. Varrow was recognized for CRN Tech Elite 250 list, Inc. 500 for 2010, 2011, and 2012. Varrow was #1 on the Triad Fast 50 for 2010 and 2011. In 2012 Varrow was ranked in the CRN Tech elite 250, was one of only 10 VMware Partners in the world to achieve Virtualizing Business Critical Applications (VBCA) Competency and named Varrow the Architectural Excellence - Data Center Partner: South Region by Cisco. Varrow was also selected as one of 12 VMware Partners in North America to participate in the VMware View Focus Partner Program in 2012. Learn more about Varrow by visiting http://www.varrow.com

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries.

Link:
Varrow Wins Cisco Architectural Excellence - Data Center: South Region at Cisco Partner Summit 2012

The eighth annual Taste of the World fundraising event, hosted by Pearl S. Buck International May 18 at the home of Pulitzer- and Noble Prize-winning author and humanitarian Pearl S. Buck, highlighted the sites on-going restoration efforts.

Located in Hilltown, the Pearl S. Buck House is a National Historic Landmark honoring the life of its former inhabitant. In addition to her accomplishments as a writer, Buck also founded the Welcome House at the site as the first international, inter-racial adoption agency in the United States.

In fact, the current chairman of the board, David Yoder, was the first Welcome House child in 1948 and was in attendance at the event May 18.

Ive watched this annual event grow from just 50 attendees to over 300 people this year, Yoder said. Its incredible the attention the work of Pearl S. Buck, whom I considered a grandmother, is getting.

Attendees of the event, ranging from board members to interested community members, could take tours of the house to view the restoration progress.

The restoration of the Pearl S. Buck House began in 2006, when the structure was considered in disrepair, according to the curator, Donna Rhoads.

Phase one involved sprucing up the envelope of the home, she said. Phase two focused on the structural issues, while the third and final phase focuses on the finishing touches from restoring the outdoor patio to re-painting the walls the exact color they were when Buck lived in the home.

The restoration is expected to be completed next spring, and the Taste of the World event, the largest fundraiser of the year, helps the nonprofit get closer to its goal.

In addition to enjoying international hors doeuvers, entrees and beverages from local restaurants, attendees could participate in live and silent auctions, while enjoying live music by a quartet. Continued...

Before her death in 1973, Buck gave her 68-acre Bucks County estate, Green Hills Farm, to the organization that formed Pearl S. Buck International. Many of the same fixtures that were in the house when she lived there remain today.

See the original post here:
Pearl S. Buck House renovations near completion

The eighth annual Taste of the World fundraising event, hosted by Pearl S. Buck International May 18 at the home of Pulitzer- and Noble Prize-winning author and humanitarian Pearl S. Buck, highlighted the sites on-going restoration efforts.

Located in Hilltown, the Pearl S. Buck House is a National Historic Landmark honoring the life of its former inhabitant. In addition to her accomplishments as a writer, Buck also founded the Welcome House at the site as the first international, inter-racial adoption agency in the United States.

In fact, the current chairman of the board, David Yoder, was the first Welcome House child in 1948 and was in attendance at the event May 18.

Ive watched this annual event grow from just 50 attendees to over 300 people this year, Yoder said. Its incredible the attention the work of Pearl S. Buck, whom I considered a grandmother, is getting.

Attendees of the event, ranging from board members to interested community members, could take tours of the house to view the restoration progress.

The restoration of the Pearl S. Buck House began in 2006, when the structure was considered in disrepair, according to the curator, Donna Rhoads.

Phase one involved sprucing up the envelope of the home, she said. Phase two focused on the structural issues, while the third and final phase focuses on the finishing touches from restoring the outdoor patio to re-painting the walls the exact color they were when Buck lived in the home.

The restoration is expected to be completed next spring, and the Taste of the World event, the largest fundraiser of the year, helps the nonprofit get closer to its goal.

In addition to enjoying international hors doeuvers, entrees and beverages from local restaurants, attendees could participate in live and silent auctions, while enjoying live music by a quartet. Continued...

Before her death in 1973, Buck gave her 68-acre Bucks County estate, Green Hills Farm, to the organization that formed Pearl S. Buck International. Many of the same fixtures that were in the house when she lived there remain today.

See the original post:
VIDEO: Pearl S. Buck House renovations near completion