-- @landarchitects need you to share photos of your favorite green spaces #WLAM2015

WASHINGTON, March 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Landscape architects are the people responsible for designing the parks, plazas, bike trails and other green spaces that make the outdoors fun, healthy, and sustainable. If you had to pick a favorite designed green space to photograph, which would you pick? That's the question asked by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) as it launches World Landscape Architecture Month in April.

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7474051-asla-world-landscape-architecture-month/

Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140325/DC90161LOGO-b

ASLA is unveiling the eventformerly National Landscape Architecture Monthin collaboration with the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA). Participants will celebrate landscape architecture by engaging their communities through the #WLAM2015 social media campaign. ASLA's chapters will also introduce the profession to schools and connect with IFLA member organizations in other countries via Skype and social media.

"We're excited to celebrate landscape architecture on a global level," said Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA, executive vice president and CEO of ASLA. "We look forward to working with IFLA member organizations around the world and helping to develop the next generation of landscape architects."

"At a time when the globe faces major challenges caused by industrialization, urbanization, climate changes and the depletion of natural resources, World Landscape Architecture Month shines a light on our progressive profession," said Professor Kathryn Moore, IFLA president. "We are pleased that international collaboration such as this will illuminate the solutions landscape architecture offers."

Celebrate #WLAM2015 and help us go viral: asla.org/wlam

How to share your photo for #WLAM2015:

- Download the wallet-sized card that reads "Designed by a Landscape Architect" here: http://asla.org/uploadedFiles/CMS/Events/WLAMcard8.5x11.pdf

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Landscape architects are diversifying their efforts and need your help for World Landscape Architecture Month in April

Union Stations entrance, normally snarled with personal vehicles and taxis, could become an open plaza with fountains and caf seating, across Union Avenue from a demolished or rebuilt Church Street South housing complex.

That vision emerged at a charette, or brainstorming design session, about how to improve the train station, New Havens gateway to much of the outside world.

Participants envisioned car traffic minimized by lower speed limits, and taxis lining up behind the station rather than out on the street.

As they dreamed up a new vision at the session, which took place Friday, engineers and architects invoked the names of early 20th century urban planners Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. and Cass Gilbert, and the comprehensive plan they drew up in 1910 for the city, which would have connected the station with downtown. (Click here for a story on that plan.) They spoke of restoring he grandeur that Olmstead and Gilbert had envisioned for the city.

David Panagore, executive director of Park New Haven (pictured), said Fridays workshop was a visioning process, including ideas New Haven might want to pursue before the state builds a promised second parking garage.

Were not headed from here to construction, he said. It is important to start feeding ideas now.

Divided into three teams, the architects and engineers were tasked with ways to better organize Union Avenue, enhance the visitor experience to the station, and promote transit, walking and cycling.

Architect Howard Hebel of Newman Architects (pictured) and his group tackled the design of Union Avenue and providing elbow room for all the current forms of transit at the train station as well as increased numbers of people walking and biking to the station. Their plan called for keeping the drop/off and arrivals out front and having the taxi line at a different end of the station. Instead of valet parking out front, they would relegate it to one of the parking garages. A potential traffic-calming idea would be to create an island much like the one in the Broadway district for Union Avenue. The group envisioned the front of the station connecting to the future Union Square envisioned for the Hill-to-Downtown project.

Before tackling the visitors experience outside Union Station, architect Patrick Pinnells group could not resist addressing the inside, which he described a big space that is not coherent. The group would start with an information kiosk with a person inside to help people get their bearings and information.

Originally posted here:
Architects, Engineers Reimagine The Train Station

Retailers go west to get in on the ground level of the newest Collins Street office tower.

A "grid" of retail shops on the ground floor of Melbourne's newest Collins Street office tower is almost fully leased as retailers take advantage of the fast evolving western end of the city.

Owned by Investa Office Fund and Investa Commercial Property Fund, the premium 26-level commercial tower at 567 Collins developed by Leighton Properties has secured tenants for most of the 13 spaces available.

The speedy take-up reflects the growing popularity and development of the western end of Collins Street as a viable retail precinct, agents said.

An impression of the "grid" of retail shops on the ground floor of 567 Collins Street.

Tenants who have signed on to the ground-floor forecourt include the boutique barista kiosk of local restaurateur Sargon Beteramia, national Japanese food vendor Sushia, Mexican fast-food Guzman Y Gomez and locally founded Earl Canteen, Spudbar and Jaffle Jaffle, Colliers International's Ben Tremellen and Georgie Cichy said.

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Retailers were accrediting stronger trading conditions at the western end of Collins Street withthe drag effect of the ongoing expansion of Docklands and large numbers of residential developments in the area, CBRE's Zelman Ainsworth said.

Directly opposite Investa's building, Hickory Group is finalising construction of a 65-level tower at 568 Collins for the Stamoulis Property Group.

The compact 30 by 40-metre site will have a total of 588 apartments when complete.

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Tower 'grid' latest Collin Street addition to west end retail space

A 48 acre development is set to break ground this year.

It's easily the largest project ever to be built in the small town of Belfield.

It's a multi-use development with hotels, restaurants, travel centers, convenience stores, and several retail outlets.

Belfield Crossing will be located just North of Interstate 94 along Highway 85.

Managing Partner Mitch Beckstead of American Landmark Group says they'll begin construction of the basic infrastructure this year with total completion of the project in three to four years.

The Northern-most part of the development will consist of retail, restaurants, and a truck stop.

The largest retail space will be 30,000 square feet.

A little farther South will be two hotels, each with 98 rooms.

And then to the West, office and warehouse space and more retail.

Beckstead says Highway 85 is a crossroad for transportation.

Link:
Large Project in the Works for Belfield

NEW YORK, March 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The DisruptCRE: New York Conference will take place March 26th, 2015, from 12:00-7:00 PM, in New York City's Financial District. The event will include networking with world class technology innovators, educational and topical discussions, exhibitor showcase, and a unique pitch segment, where tech companies are challenged to present and debate the merits of their technologies.

Attendees will include thought leaders from corporate real estate, development, architectural design, property management, property services, engineering, venture capital, PR, construction, tech enthusiasts, and many others.

"What makes DisruptCRE the conference of CRE tech conferences," according to John J. Cona, Founder and CEO of F9Analytics, "is the diversity of innovations, the accessibility to the visionaries, and the ability of early adopters to communicate, learn, and explore how these technologies can advance their business."

The Programming consists of 6 disruptive panels/topics. Moderators and Panelists are curated by the DisruptCRE team and content is driven by new innovation, industry trends, and disruptive technologies.

Stephen Hopkins, Organizer of the DisruptCRE events says, "The way the CRE industry currently operates is antiquated. Our presenters will explore how technology is facilitating transformative changes in the future of developing, managing, buying, selling, and financing commercial properties."

The conference closes with a casual "cocktails and nosh" networking event where attendees can re-visit the showcase for networking and demos in a casual atmosphere to engage tech companies, sponsors, VC's, and other real estate industry leaders.

For event information including tickets, visit http://www.disruptcre.com.

To learn more about F9Analytics prior to the event, visit http://www.f9analytics.com.

Panel Sessions include:

Notable Panelists include:

Link:
Technology, Venture Capital & Commercial Real Estate Collide in NYC

Washington, DC (PRWEB) March 17, 2015

Savills Studley, the leading commercial real estate services firm specializing in tenant representation, has relocated its Downtown Washington office to 1201 F Street, NW. To welcome clients and friends to the firms new space, Savills Studley hosted nearly 300 employees and guests at their new 25,000 square foot class-A office space on March 12, 2015.

Savills Studley has earned an outstanding reputation over the course of our nearly 50 years history in Washington and the design of our new space was focused on making sure we continue to deliver exceptional results for every client. From our location at Metro Center which gives us quick access to locations around the city to the mix of collaborative and private spaces that encourage creativity while protecting our clients confidentiality, every decision was about making us better, said Executive Vice President and Co-Regional Branch Manager Tom Fulcher. According to Fulcher, Savills Studley was located in its previous location across the street at 555 13th Street, NW, for 28 years. In that time, the firm has more than doubled its personnel and now employs over 70 people in its downtown DC office and approximately 20 professionals in its Suburban Washington office in Tysons, VA.

The offices were designed by architectural firm Gensler in collaboration with the Savills Studley DC management team.

Savills Studley has represented many of the areas most important organizations in their real estate decisions and is growing in new areas such as structured finance and capital markets to better serve the needs of the firms clients.

The firm is highly regarded in the DC region and supports numerous community organizations on both an individual and corporate level. In 2015, Savills Studley was recognized by The Washington Business Journal as a Best Place to Work for the 11th consecutive year.

About Savills Studley

Savills Studley is the leading commercial real estate services firm specializing in tenant representation. Founded in 1954, the firm pioneered the conflict-free business model of representing only tenants in their commercial real estate transactions. Today, supported by high quality market research and in-depth analysis, Savills Studley provides strategic real estate solutions to organizations across all industries. The firms comprehensive commercial real estate platform includes brokerage, project management, capital markets, consulting and corporate services. With 26 offices in the U.S. and a heritage of innovation, Savills Studley is well known for tenacious client advocacy and exceptional service.

The firm is part of London-headquartered Savills plc, the premier global real estate service provider with over 27,000 professionals and over 600 locations around the world. Savills plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SVS.L).

For more information, please visit http://www.savills-studley.com and follow us on Twitter @SavillsStudley and LinkedIn.

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Savills Studleys DC Office Celebrates Expansion with Unveiling of New Strategically Designed Office Space

Minneapolis, Minnesota (PRWEB) March 17, 2015

Homes in St. Pauls historic Summit Hill and Crocus Hill neighborhoods offer a unique set of landscaping challenges for even the most experienced landscape designers at Southview Design.

Award-winning landscape designer Tim Johnson rose to the challenge of restoring the backyard and reflecting pool for a late 19th century home on Summit Ave., while Matt Burton is currently creating a landscape design for a new home in the Crocus Hill neighborhood for the spring Luxury Home Tour.

The home at 807 Summit Ave., built in 1898 by the architect Cass Gilbert, is a great example of how an historic home and its landscaping work together in concert. Restoring the homes gardens and landscaping to the way it may have looked over 100 years ago was not an easy task, requiring Johnson to play history detective as well as creative landscape designer.

Commissioned by Jacob Dittenhofer, a partner in the Golden Rule department store in downtown St. Paul, the home housed Dittenhofers son and 17-year-old bride, who hosted dinner parties with guests like F. Scott Fitzgerald. Constructed of Mankato-Kasota stone, the 9,000 square foot mansion used to loom over a reflecting pool in the backyard, which is documented in photos dating back to 1906.

The reflecting pool was filled in by the monks who lived there after Madeline Dittenhofer donated the home to the Christian Brothers. Since it had been buried beneath soil and sod for decades, restoring the pool wasnt an option. So Johnson and his team set out to recreate the pool.

The pools original walls and steps were still visible, but the original pavers were buried under mounds of dirt. During excavation, Johnson and his team uncovered the old pavers, which enabled them to custom match their color and design. The old photos also helped guide them through a maze of other design decisions for the pool and backyard.

The biggest challenge was staying true to the original backyard while using modern-day materials and taking the current homeowners lifestyle into consideration, Johnson said. A lot of work went into making everything look authentic, he said, adding that the Southview Design team worked closely with the Minnesota Historical Society. Johnsons design incorporated hydrangeas, roses, evergreens and colorful perennials and annuals, which were popular in gardens at that time and remain popular today.

For photos of the historic backyard and reflecting pool, go to: http://southviewdesign.com/newsroom/press/summit-avenue-landscape-restoration.html.

While most homes in St. Pauls historic neighborhoods have been carefully renovated, the area is also witnessing new home construction thats congruent with the areas history and character. Working together with Detail Homes, Southview Design landscape designer Matt Burton is currently designing the landscape for the new construction at 700 Osceola Ave., which will be on the spring Luxury Home Tour, taking place June 5-7, 12-14 and 19-21.

Continue reading here:
Southview Design's Landscape Design for St. Paul Home to be Featured in the June Luxury Home Tour

By Kim Cook The Associated Press

This photo provided by Restoration Hardware shows a ping pong table that is a new spring addition to their outdoor collection. Concrete has appeal as both an old-world and contemporary material.

The Pantheon. The Panama Canal. The Hoover Dam.When you think of concrete, you might imagine great feats of engineering, or at least highway overpasses and other sturdy, stolid structures.

But concrete has become a stylish medium in the home, thanks to interior designers and artisans.

Concrete is such an amazing and cheap material. I can get an 80-pound bag from Home Depot and turn it into tables, vases and planters without using power tools, says Boston-based designer Ben Oyeda, who offers instructions for several projects on his website, http://www.homemade-modern.com.

Oyeda uses Lego blocks to make the moulds for his tables; his pendant fixtures start with plastic bottles.

Working with concrete has changed the way I see waste, he says. Every plastic bottle or box has the potential to be used as a mould for making a concrete object.

Eric Boyd of Charlotte, North Carolina, makes creative countertops by mixing concrete with other materials. Aggregate additions such as recycled glass or semi-precious stones give the concrete a terrazzo look, and he hones the slabs to emphasize their geologic characteristics. He has used shells, mother of pearl, tigers eye or bands of copper to create one-of-a-kind slabs for homes and stores.

For one client, his team took inspiration from the homes location: The (kitchen) island has a topographic feature which was taken from a map of their property. There are also various pebbles from the property, and a few fossils that were inlaid as well, he says.

Danish designer Doreen Westphal uses fine Belgian lace to make patterns and moulds for concrete curtains, vases and tables. Theres a yin-yang tension that emerges from the interplay of the delicate lace motifs and the sturdy concrete.

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Home trends: Concrete gains ground as decorative material

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