NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Global Residential Digital Faucets Market 2020-2024 The analyst has been monitoring the residential digital faucets market and it is poised to grow by $ 1.88 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 7% during the forecast period. Our reports on the residential digital faucets market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05192437/?utm_source=PRN

The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by the increasing consumer expenditure on bathroom and kitchen remodeling, flourishing residential construction industry, and technological advancements in residential digital faucets. In addition, increasing consumer expenditure on bathroom and kitchen remodelling is anticipated to boost the growth of the market as well. The residential digital faucets market analysis includes type segment and geographical landscapes.

The residential digital faucets market is segmented as below: By Type Automated Manual

By Geographical landscapes North America Europe APAC South America MEA

This study identifies the strong distribution network between manufacturers and retailers as one of the prime reasons driving the residential digital faucets market growth during the next few years. Also, new product innovations and the growing popularity of smart bathrooms will lead to sizable demand in the market.

The analyst presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters. Our residential digital faucets market covers the following areas: Residential digital faucets market sizing Residential digital faucets market forecast Residential digital faucets market industry analysis

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05192437/?utm_source=PRN

About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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The Global Residential Digital Faucets Market is expected to grow by $ 1.88 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 7% during the forecast...

Union, N.J. Bed Bath & Beyond has put together a three-year plan as part of its transformation strategy. Full details will be announced at the companys Investor Day event on Oct. 28, but during this mornings second quarter analyst call, executives previewed some of the changes.

Sourcing: A newly formed procurement organization will crated a centralized spending control and vendor management process to deliver substantial savings. BBB had previously announced that it plans to develop more house brands, cull duplicative skus and pare its supplier roster.

Product priorities: The retailer plans to expand and double down on private label brands in bedding, bath, kitchen and storage/organization, said Tritton.

Physical stores: The plan includes what president and CEO Mark Tritton intimated will be a broad store remodeling program launching next year. In the meantime, one-third of the 200 stores slated to close permanently will go dark by the end of this year. The company expects to transition 15% to 20% of the sales generated by those locations to digital or other nearby company stores.

New customers: BBB gained roughly 2 million new online customers during the second quarter 40% of them new to the brand. The latter are six years younger than established customers and less likely to use coupons, which have long been a drag on the retailers bottom line. Coupons arent going away, but in the future coupon offers will be more curated, Tritton said.

In another plus, new customers are buying from higher margin categories, specifically bedding, bath, kitchen, food prep, cleaning and home maintenance, he added.

The second quarter ended Aug. 29 generated healthy results for Bed Bath & Beyond, including its first positive quarterly comp since Q4 2016 and strongest adjusted earnings per share in more than two years. We bel this was a pivotal quarter for our organization, said Tritton.

Q2 net sales slipped 1% to $2.7, driven in part by the sale of the One Kings Lane division. Digital sales jumped 88%, while net sales from stores fell 18%. Total comp rose 6%.

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BBB: Strategic sourcing, store remodel initiative on the agenda - Home Textiles Today

Debbie and Greg May

SAN JOSE, Calif. (PRWEB) October 01, 2020

Greg and Debbie May, co-owners of May Construction, a Santa Clara Valley residential remodeling firm, have recently seen a surge in new business as a direct result of changes made to their customer service model, which they attribute to their status as a married couple working in business together.

The success of May Construction, Inc. has occurred despite the challenges residential remodelers have faced over the past six months. Through careful planning and adapting their business approach to a new reality, the Mays have brought in 12 new design/build projects over the past several months an unprecedented leap in growth for their business.

"It is not altogether uncommon for residential contracting firms to have a family-owned business with married couples working together," Debbie explained. "But a shift in our communication has led to tremendous growth that would not have been possible had we not been a couple in business together."

"We would not have seen this type of growth even during normal times," Debbie went on We continue to receive referrals from satisfied clients, but this positive shift is something else entirely.

"As a married couple who own a business together you develop special tools to draw on," Greg added, "especially what I believe is the most important tool of all -- clear communication. It has helped us withstand some hard times in the past and right now has catapulted us forward.

"Greg and I have distinct roles in the company," Debbie elaborated, As a licensed contractor Greg handles anything directly related to design and/or construction. I do the initial evaluation with clients, as well has oversee business development, do the bookkeeping and manage the office staff."

"In a way it's like a well-timed baton transfer in a relay race," Greg went on. "Everything is planned out well in advance to ensure success. Debbie makes the initial contact with a client, and it's important for her to gather information and see if the project is a good fit. From there, after Debbie's careful screening, I speak to the client in more detail about their remodeling needs."

Greg May is an expert builder, providing the highest standards for superior customer service and backed by integrity, dedication, and commitment to superior craftsmanship.

This important but subtle change in understanding, the Mays believe, could only have come about by being wedded in marriage and in business. "There was an ah-ha couple-type of moment," Greg said. "Debbie and I shared a knowing glance and knew right away we were onto something that would benefit our customers."

That's something we would not have realized had we not been a couple in business together," Debbie affirmed.

"We found a silver lining," Greg added. "We will continue to use this approach. We feel pretty optimistic about where May Construction is headed.

Greg May was trained in construction by his father, and has continued his family's tradition of excellence since 1977. May Construction. Inc. specializes in design-build, whole house remodels, additions, kitchen, and bathroom remodels throughout the Santa Clara Valley.

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Wedded in Marriage and Work: Greg and Debbie May's Construction Business Thrives During These Challenging Times - PR Web

Tim Griffin is leaving The Kitchen after nearly a decade as the director and chief curator of the experimental New York art space. During his tenure, Griffin continued and expanded the storied institutions focus on interdisciplinarity and oversaw a program featuring Chantal Akerman, ANOHNI, Charles Atlas, Gretchen Bender, Abraham Cruzvillegas, Ralph Lemon, Aki Sasamoto, and Tyshawn Sorey, among others. His term also led to new initiatives including the hybrid talks series The Kitchen L.A.B. and electronic music series Synth Nights. Griffinwho began helming the nonprofit in 2011 after a seven-year run as the editor-in-chief of Artforum, where he is currently a contributing editorwill shift into an advisory role at The Kitchen by years end; he has accepted a visiting professorship in the art history and English departments at Ohio State University in Columbus, where his wife, Johanna Burton, directs The Wexner Center for the Arts.

I cant imagine a more inspiring or humbling experience among artists than what The Kitchen, and its dedicated staff and board, has offered me over the years, said Griffin. Few places have such a history, decade after decade, of presenting the unexpected. Even fewer have people so deeply committed every day to supporting artists innovative work, and who, time and again, manage to pull it off whatever the challenges.

In addition to organizing exhibitions and performances, Griffin has spent the last two years fundraising in anticipation of The Kitchens fiftieth anniversary in 2021 and the renovation of its building at West Nineteenth Street in Chelsea. The organization has raised $11 million ahead of its special benefit show, Ice and Fire, curated by Kitchen board members Wade Guyton and Jacqueline Humphries opening with online viewing October 8. In the last few months, the venue has also adapted to pandemic-induced lockdown, introducing The Kitchen Broadcast and revising its residencies to include a TV studio model. A search for a new director is being conducted by Isaacson Miller.

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Tim Griffin to Depart The Kitchen After Nine Years as Director - Artforum

Asia Pietrzyk

It has come to my attention that my apartment sucks. Objectively, that might be too harsh an assessment, but it certainly feels true right now. Dont get me wrong: It has big, sunny windows; appliances that are functional, albeit old and ugly; and an amount of closet space that I would describe as enough. But the many things the apartment leaves to be desiredcheap fixtures, landlord-beige walls, and an ancient tile kitchen floor that never quite looks cleanhave become unavoidably obvious to me as Ive sat inside of it for the better part of this year.

The longer I sit, the more the flaws taunt me. The shallow kitchen sink, combined with the low slope of its faucet, makes it impossible to fill a pitcher straight from the tap, but most of my daily drinking water used to come from a machine at the office. The back wall of my kitchen, swathed in white paint, has borne the brunt of gurgling vats of spaghetti sauce and sputtering pans of fried-chicken grease, but I failed to notice the unscrubbable spots when I wasnt standing in front of the stove preparing three meals a day, every day. The dusty ledges and shelves, unsightly window-unit air conditioners, and scuffed, jaundiced paint job werent so irritating when they werent my whole world.

In May, when the novelty of quarantine baking began to wear offone can make only so many galettes out of frozen fruit originally bought for smoothiesmy idle hands turned to the problems around me. Armed with my pathetic beginners tool kit, I started small. I raised and releveled a shelf that had been crooked for, by my estimation, at least two years. I ordered frames for prints that had been stashed in my closet and charged my long-dead drill battery to hang them. I scrubbed my tiny kitchen with Ajax from top to bottom, and in the process realized that some of my stoves components werent supposed to be the color theyd been since I moved in. I sharpened my chefs knife. I flipped and rotated my couch cushions. I ordered and assembled a new shoe rack, even though my feet dont go very far these days.

[From the July/August 2020 issue: Amanda Mull on the end of minimalism]

The sense of satisfaction I got from these projects grew as the weekends went by, along with my belief that I could do pretty much anything after watching a couple of instructional videos on YouTube. I couldnt control much in the pandemic, but I could control what happened in my own 450 square feet. As summer began to creep toward fall, my ambitions expanded: Install a new showerhead? Paint my cabinets? Put up a peel-and-stick tile backsplash? What couldnt I do with Google, a Home Depot credit card, and a total willingness to lose my security deposit?

I was stymied only by the popularity of my impulses. As I looked for cabinet paint, backsplash tiles, and even a new kitchen faucet, out of stock warnings abounded. Gathered around a firepit in a Brooklyn backyard, a friend of a friend complained that the citys home-improvement stores appeared to be out of lumber, one of the many effects of skyrocketing demand atop shaky supply chains. Millions of Americans had simultaneously decided the same thing: If were going to be inside, it might as well be the inside we want.

Gretchen Schauffler had been through this before. In 2008, she and her husband were running a business called Devine Color, which she started by selling customized paint shades to her Portland, Oregon, interior-design clients out of the trunk of her car. The couple was in the midst of selling the brand to Sherwin-Williams, she told me, when the economy collapsed, and with it, all talk of a deal. The market crashed, and we were buried, Schauffler said. Homes were being foreclosed upon, not freshly repainted.

In 2018, out of the paint business for years, Schauffler started Design Is Personal. The company makes products for the do-it-yourself projects that you might be inspired to undertake after an HGTV bingesticky-back wallpaper in fun prints, easy-to-install carpet squares, and wall planks that give you the fixer-upperlook, no nail gun required. In early March, as the United States first pandemic hot spot blazed in neighboring Washington, Schauffler was terrified that the same thing was happening againdisaster had come, and it might take her company with it.

But in April, she realized that she had the opposite problem: Orders had started pouring in. Schauffler told me the companys sales are up 400 percent over last year, and her best sellerssheets of peel-and-stick white subway tiles and metallic mosaicshad completely sold out twice already. Everyone was at home, they had time, they looked at their environment, and they went online, she said. They started watching tutorials and ordering supplies.

Home Depot and Lowes registered monster sales increases not long after the pandemic began, both on the internet and in their brick-and-mortar storeswhich Home Depot lobbied local governments to label essential businesses. Thats in spite of interruptions in residential construction and professional remodeling in many areas of the country.

At Apartment Therapy, a website about home improvement and design, editor in chief Laura Schocker viewed the countrys pandemic anxieties through the prism of her readership, which is 60 percent larger than last year compared with the same period in 2019. Home, if were lucky, is our safe place, she told me. Customizing it to reflect back who you are as a person is something positive we can do right now. Early how-to-sanitize traffic gave way to people looking for tips on setting up home offices and workout nooks, then to those in search of ways to maximize tiny yards and balconies as summer set in. Now, as temperatures cool, people are settling in for the long haul, looking for more complicated DIY projects.

Of all the things that Ive done to better my apartment, soothe my anxieties, or occupy my time during the pandemic, nothing has worked quite as well as replacing my kitchen faucet. The project cost $75 and took about an hourit would have been even faster if I hadnt needed to learn some tricks for removing bolt covers with needle-nose pliers and loosening a seized nut with a lighter. But those roadblocks made it all the more satisfying. Not only does the more functional faucet make my now-constant dishwashing less of a slog, but installing it was a reminder that there are still some problems that can be solved by one person wielding the right toolor even the wrong one, if you can figure out the magic combination of search terms to punch into Google.

Humans have a need to be competent, to feel like they have some control over their existence, says Sally Augustin, an environmental psychologist, especially when theyre feeling emotionally tender and isolated. Nesting is another way to describe the impulse that is likely driving many of the newly minted DIYers, she told me. Its a desire to eliminate your homes nuisances and aggravations in order to maximize comfort. One way thats done, Augustin said, is by moderating the complexity of your space. We dont realize were doing it, but were always sweeping our environment, visually, and when you have a lot going on, when there are many objects and colors and shapes in view, it makes you stressed. The same thing can happen when an environment is too spare. Humans tend to like soft lines, colors, and textures.

DIYing, as a pursuit, has some baked-in advantages in these bizarre times. Namely, its just you, doing things by yourself in the safety of your own home, without the intervention of outside disease vectorser, professionalsunless you screw something up. New technology has met the moment. Both Schauffler and Schocker told me that DIY-friendly products have improved substantially in recent years, with adhesives and finishes that are more durable and affordable and less amateur-looking, which might make a weekend project more attractive to people who never would have done home repairs themselves in the past. Then, too, if youre one of the millions of newly unemployed Americans, finding a way to feel useful might help combat the depressing aimlessness of being out of workand the internet is teeming with guides for free or low-cost home-improvement projects.

When it comes to the mostly young, mostly female consumers who buy renter-friendly home-upgrade products and read articles about how to make a some-assembly-required dresser look like a million bucks, theres probably an even simpler explanation for why theyre investing in their environs this year: What else is there to do? The (somewhat shaky) conventional wisdom is that Millennials, who range in age from their early 20s to nearly 40, prefer to buy experiences instead of things. They supposedly rent in exciting cities, travel, go out to dinner, and spend money gallivanting. In a world in which almost all experiences have been precluded by a global disaster and an American passport is basically uselessand in which many of those young adults were striving for a lifestyle that their bank accounts could only occasionally support, anywaymaybe notions about what constitutes an experience will change. You can learn to do anything on YouTube.

This article appears in the November 2020 print edition with the headline Fluffing Your Own Nest.

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The Higher Purpose of Home Improvement - msnNOW

Many of us are spending more time at home in 2020, which could mean having more time to take on home improvement projects. But home renovations arent just a way to fill time; you want the results to be worth the hard work. The key to any successful project lies in careful planning including financial strategizing long before the power tools come out.

Roughly 3 in 5 American homeowners (61 percent) have taken on home improvement projects since March 1, spending $6,438, on average, according to an Aug. 18-20 NerdWallet survey conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,414 homeowners.

Whether youre outfitting your home with a new office or classroom, or taking on long-intended improvements such as painting or installing new flooring, here are six tips to help you make sure youre heading into the right project, the right way.

Any project may be worth your time if doing it makes you happy, but if you plan to sell your home soon, make sure you focus on projects that give a good return on your money. Many renovations cost thousands of dollars but wont increase the value of your home by the same amount.

For example, it costs about $50,000 to add a new bathroom, but homeowners typically recoup only about 54 percent of the cost in increased home value, according to Remodeling Magazines 2020 Cost vs. Value Report. A minor kitchen remodel, on the other hand, returns about 78 percent of its cost, so that type of project might make more sense.

Consider calling local real estate agents to ask them about the return you might receive from a home renovation project. Some local markets or neighborhoods may reward certain upgrades more than others.

You dont want to run out of cash in the middle of a home remodeling project. But unless youre careful, your project may get more expensive while its underway. That nicer tile may add only $7 per square foot, but if your kitchen has 100 square feet of floor space, watch out! To avoid running short on cash, add up your expenses before you start the project. Then add 10 percent or 20 percent to the total to allow for cost overruns.

To get an idea of how much youll have to spend on a specific project, look at what others have spent on comparable projects using a project estimate calculator or perusing sites like HomeAdvisor or Remodeling Magazine.

Since March 1, 34 percent of homeowners who undertook home improvement projects used cash on hand to fund those projects, 25 percent used money they had saved for those projects specifically and 14 percent used money from their economic stimulus check, according to the NerdWallet survey. As long as these projects arent being funded to the detriment of more important expenses, using available cash or savings can be a good way to keep from paying interest on your home improvement project.

If you have to finance your project, explore your funding options carefully. Among them are a home equity line of credit, a personal loan, a cash-out refinance or even credit cards. But they come at varying costs depending on the interest rate and how long it will take you to pay off the loan. A home improvement financing calculator can help you weigh these costs and make a savvy decision.

If youve decided to hire a professional, get written estimates from different contractors. As those estimates roll in, check their references and ask about their credentials. At a minimum, make sure each contractor is properly licensed to do the work on your home. You can also ask about their membership in trade associations. Many reputable contractors belong to professional trade groups such as the National Association of the Remodeling Industry or the National Association of Home Builders.

A good contractor will guarantee the work and offer a warranty. You can check Better Business Bureau ratings to see if others have had complaints about companies youre evaluating. If there have been complaints, check to see how they were resolved.

When you select a contractor, make sure you get your agreement in writing.

Permits help protect your home and your safety. Without the necessary approvals to perform work on your property, theres a chance the renovation wont meet local building codes. It could even affect your ability to sell your home in the future. Contact your municipality for details about what permits you must have for your renovation project. And follow up to make sure your contractor has permits in hand before beginning the work.

Youre probably planning to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars on a remodeling project. Its understandable to look for ways to save money, but dont automatically cut corners by using the cheapest materials.

Talk to your contractor about the trade-offs between quality and price for your project. Youll probably be better off selecting the best-quality products that fit your budget. Otherwise, you could be stuck with having to make costly repairs after a few months because you skimped on quality.

A home remodeling project can give a big boost to your homes aesthetics and market value if you avoid costly mistakes. By setting a budget, researching contractors and making sure your improvements use quality materials, you can help avoid expensive pitfalls and enjoy your homes new design.

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of NerdWallet from Aug. 18-20 among 1,414 U.S. homeowners ages 18 and older, among whom 883 have done home improvement projects since March 1. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Anna Palagi at apalagi@nerdwallet.com.

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6 ways to avoid costly home renovation mistakes - Tampa Bay Times

When we are cooped up at home, the walls begin to close in. Suddenly, that creaky stair becomes really annoying. That window, always cranky, is sticking even more. Blinds close only halfway, and the patio door jumps its track. Outside, the soffit on one side is hanging loose.

Then theres the kitchen -- instead of dealing with a recalcitrant oven, weve been ordering meals to be delivered. And the bath -- the walls are losing tiles, and the hot water comes in a puny dribble. Repairs and renovations in both the bathroom and the kitchen are overdue.

Its time to tackle problems. Before winter sets in, hire some experts. They have the tools and the experience to fix and change all those months of neglect. Procrastination be gone. Get it done.

Since the establishment of the business, the guiding principle has always been complete customer satisfaction, says Gary Shiman. All three generations of owners have lived, worked, and raised families in New Jersey. This is our home too!

Gary is one of the owners of Bellari, one of New Jerseys premier remodelers of homes and other structures. The company is based in Branchburg and it serves communities from the Hudson River to the Delaware River.

Bellari offers a wide variety of design and craftsmanship. This company offers windows, doors, siding, roofing, decking, sunrooms, awnings, basements and additions -- just about anything your home might need. Experts can help you plan and remodel kitchens and baths, including electrical and plumbing needs. And they handle all the permits required.

We specialize in sourcing products that have years of life, adds Gary. Many of their customers are homeowners whose parents contracted with the original company.

Bellari is a third generation business that traces its beginning back to 1950. That was when Max Gropper began selling aluminum storm windows in downtown Somerville. He called the company Somerville Aluminum.

The operation has grown substantially over the intervening years. In 2013, the company moved into a larger 15,000-square-foot showroom and design center in Branchburg.

Branchburg-based Bellari is ranked among the top 100 remodeling firms in the nation by Qualified Remodeler.Courtesy Belari

Our organization is extremely appreciative to all those hometown heroes who have always worked hard to help our community and keep us all safe, especially during the pandemic, explains Gary. People are working on the front lines to take care of us, and we are honored to help with needed repairs at their homes to help take care of them.

The company has pledged to help one deserving local hero every month with a project at home. The initiative kicked off in April when Bellari replaced the back steps for Jennifer and David Smith, a Branchburg couple. The two of them work in healthcare and law enforcement, and both of them experienced increased intensity in their professions during the pandemic, according to Gary.

Bellari also proudly supports Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, in its Healing Homes initiative, explains Gary. The Healing Homes initiative offers housing for up to 24 months for an individual or family in Somerset County who has a chronic or acute health condition that causes financial hardship and leaves them unable to afford housing and/or the basic cost of living.

Windows and doors are our roots and will always be the backbone of our business, Gary continues. And we have grown our breadth of offerings to provide everything a homeowner could possibly need. And we continue to take pride in providing the exceptional service and premium products, across the board, that our customers have come to expect.

Bellari is celebrating 70 years in business. For more information, call 908-300-3670 and visit the website at BellariNJ.com. Also, see Facebook, Instagram and other social media. Company headquarters and showrooms are located at 20 County Line Road, Branchburg. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturdays by appointment.

Before embarking on a major renovation, it can be useful to see how a contractor performs on a smaller job. A worker repairing the soffit hanging loose under the eave can give you the confidence to hire the firm for that larger renovation you have in mind.

Mark Schneider has many years experience helping homeowners with jobs both small and large. He operates Handyman On Call.

I specialize in small jobs, and Ive found that these can lead to larger jobs, Mark says.

He will repair doors, replace moldings, clean gutters, repair decks, touch up painting and repair the treads and risers on those squeaky stairs. If you like, he will even hang pictures and change out light bulbs. How about adding shelving in the basement or garage?

For these smaller jobs, hell travel about 7 miles from his base in Annandale. Estimates are free and flexible--according to materials and scheduling.

Hes been in the business for some 35 years, he explains. So theres not much he hasnt seen, repaired, replaced, or otherwise put back in shape--or renovated. He will also work with homeowners to remodel kitchens, baths, and basements.

Mark posts some free Do-It-Yourself Tips on his website, HandymanOnCallNJ.com. Or, call him at 908-437-8856.

Al Warr may be reached at 610-253-0432 or AlWarr16@gmail.com.

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Procrastination be gone ... its time to tackle home repairs - nj.com

NEWTOWN, Conn. (PRWEB) September 21, 2020

The Taunton Press announced today that Kiley Jacques will take the reins at Green Building Advisor, a sister website to Fine Homebuilding that is more narrowly focused on sharing complete and accurate information about designing, building, and remodeling high-performance homes.

Jacques joined Fine Homebuilding two years ago as Design Editor, where she drove all the architecture, home design, kitchen, and bath-related content. But her interest in green building and high-performance homes was strong enough that it was not long into her time at Fine Homebuilding that she found a regular spot on Green Building Advisors calendar for her popular Green Advocate blog.

Before coming to Fine Homebuilding, Jacques spent 22 years working as a professional gardener in the climate-minded mecca of Seattle. Shortly after changing careers to focus on writing and journalism, Jacques was hired to research and write an article for the very first issue of the United States Green Building Councils member magazine, USGBC+, to which she continues to contribute today.

Ive been preparing for this in one way or another most of my life, says Jacques. Im thrilled to combine my commitment to ecological stewardship with my passion for quality journalism. It is with great satisfaction that I am finally able to call myself an environmental journalist, and I take the responsibility that comes with it seriously.

Green Building Advisor is a deep well of conceptual and technical information covering all aspects of green building, including environmentally sensitive design, innovative materials, energy-efficient construction techniques, must-know building science, and information on relevant building codes. With a combination of experts contributing regular and guest blogs, Green Building Advisor is the go-to source to for news on environmental issues and policy discussions.

As a media platform featuring industry innovators, professionals, products, and systems, GBA serves not only its readership but also the greater good, says Jacques. The sites users, contributors, and staff share a common goal to protect the natural world while shaping the built environment. It is a space for exploring global issues such as the climate crisis and resource conservation, while gleaning science-backed, hands-on instruction and data. GBA is both the why and the how of green building science.

Thanks to the dedication of the editors, the sites members, and, unfortunately, the climate crisis we are all facing, Green Building Advisor is enjoying a period of substantial growth in audience and memberships. Recognizing the opportunity and potential of Green Building Advisor, The Taunton Press leadership is positioning staff and resources to take the media brand to the next level. Jacques is replacing Brian Pontolilo, who transitioned to the position of Editorial Director overseeing Fine Homebuilding and Green Building Advisor.

When I decided to take a new role that required me to give up the day-to-day editorial duties at GBA, I knew exactly what to do, says Pontolilo. It was clear to me two years ago that Kiley was the right person to lead GBA, the only question was how long would it take us to get her there. Not only is she a top-notch journalist and editor, shes mission-driven, and climate issues are among the most important to her. She also understands that when it comes to sharing information among home-building professionals, the best approach is an ongoing and evolving conversation. I have no doubt that she will moderate that conversation well as GBA grows and high-performance home building evolves.

Ecologically minded, high-performance builders have emerged as the leaders in residential construction as building scienceand its related best practicesmatures. The Taunton Press, Fine Homebuilding, and Green Building Advisor are committed to serving this community with expert-contributed content for anyone interested in increasing their knowledge, developing their skills, and building better homes.

Kileys appointment to lead Green Building Advisor signals our commitment to this community, and to this conversation, adds The Taunton Press CEO Renee Jordan. She and Brian both embody the editorial integrity and passion that is so important within this highly regarded community of building science professionals. Now in its second decade, Green Building Advisor has brought together the leading voices around products, practices, and policies. We are fortunate to have Kiley in our ranks to keep the conversation going and surface the next generation of ideas and strategies for high-performance building.

###

About Green Building AdvisorGreen Building Advisor is a website dedicated to sharing accurate and complete information about designing, building, and remodeling high-performance homes. With clearly presented, professional-level information, our mission is to empower architects and designers, builders and remodelers, engineers, tradespeople, and homeowners to build more durable, energy-efficient, healthy, and climate-friendly homes. With an elite team of advisors and bloggers from all corners of the building industry, Green Building Advisor has earned a reputation as the most reliable place online for accurate building science, proven building assemblies, unbiased product information, and impactful community. Many of Green Building Advisors members are experts in their own right, making our Q&A forums one of our most valuable assets. For more, visit greenbuildingadvisor.com.

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Taunton Press appoints a new lead editorial role at Green Building Advisor - PR Web

Before and After Renovations: Changes in Architectural Plans

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One of Paulo Mendes da Rocha's main design gestures in the Pinacoteca renovation project was to create a new longitudinal axis for circulation, moving its entrance to the south face of the building. Metallic walkways, which cross internal courtyards covered by skylights, enable new dynamics of circulation between the rooms, transforming a neoclassical building into a museum with a contemporary program.

The ability to completely renovate a space by demolishing parts, making additions, altering functionality, and improving ambience is one of the most admired functions of the architect. In housing, thissignificance is even more apparent, since adapting housing to contemporary demands, through a well-thought-out plan, can drastically improve the quality of life of the occupants.

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Due to changes in lifestyles, standard family compositions, construction standards, and market trends, housing has undergone significant changes over time, especially in residential apartments. There exists extensive research on how floorplans have changed over time, identifying patterns and trying to understand the causes of such changes. Some trends are universal. In general, newer residential buildings contain more compact apartments due to the high cost of urban land, and spaces and utilities considered unnecessary have started to disappear, such as laundry. Solutions to land cost such as tiny houses and co-living have opened the door to new possibilities for facilitating adequate housing for everyone in large cities.

At the same time, most cities have a huge stock of buildings, many ofwhich are designed in ways now consideredoutdated. In Brazil, for example, due to the country'sreliance on slavery and cheap domestic labor in the recent past, it was very common for middle class apartments to have separate service areas with exclusive circulation and access points until the 1990's. Nowadays, with new labor laws and a different economic reality, it is much rarer for domestic workers to sleep in the homes they work in,making a considerable fraction of the remaining housing underutilized.

In addition, the plans of older apartmentscompartmentalized large spaces and utilized large circulation areas, such as corridors. The kitchens were generally separate from other rooms. Concomitantly, the buildings had larger rooms, more ornate covering materials, and more natural light.

Despitepotentially provoking the ire ofneighbors,remodeling these properties through the demolition of walls can transform compartmentalized and disjointed spacesinto rooms that match morecurrent lifestyles, turning them into more comfortable and interesting homes.

Building rehabilitation and renovation is a field that has gained much attention over the past few years. It can now be considered one of the main functions of the architect, especially if we use as reference the enormous amount of projects published on this website.

For example, at Apartamento Simo Alvares by GOAA - Gusmo Otero Arquitetos Associados, the demolition of practically all masonry facilitated the transformation of a traditional 2-bedroom apartment and its accompanying small, sequestered rooms into a contemporary apartment with a more comfortable social area. Changing the bathroom location and laundry layout made it possible to integrate the kitchen into the living room.

Similarly, in the IN Arquitetura project remodeling this apartment, the traditional compartmentalization of the 2-bedroom apartment was abandoned, resulting in a large room with an open kitchen and only one bedroom.

In the case of Lausanne Apartment, another remodeling project by GOAA - Gusmo Otero Arquitetos Associados, the changes were even more extensive, integrating the social and service areas of the original plan. According to the description sent by the architects, The apartments internal organization is clear: the frontal block shelters the social and intimate spaces, while the back quadrant receives the service areas. For the development of this project we made an interpretation of the original design to adapt it to the new residents needs. The service area and bathrooms were fully redone and the kitchen was integrated into the living room, creating a fluid space that is illuminated by the two opposing facades. The original living room partitions, built of wood, were re-made with a structure of steel and fabric, gaining lightness and translucency."

In the Apartment on Avenida da Repblica by Manuel Cacho Tojal, several small floorplan modifications made it possible to make the spacious apartment more suited to the contemporary needs of new residents.

The renovation project developed by Vo for an apartment in the Viadutos Building, designed and built by architect Artacho Jurado in the 1950s, dealt with an extremely challenging floor plan. The solution adopted was to demolish all the internal walls. In the words of the project team: To increase the feeling of amplitude within the 46 m2 of internal area, the division between environments was made through a furniture that floats suspended, without touching the green floor that floods the whole apartment".

At Antonio Bicudo Apartment, developed by the same architects, more walls were added than demolished, unlike the previous examples. By aligning the kitchen to the same height as the bathroom, it was possible to integrate it into the social area and allow the bedroom to be closed in a separate space. A closet built into the bedroom wall plays the role of laundry and storage space.

The possibilities are many, but whatever the solution adopted, it is fascinating to observe how spaces can accommodate new uses and adapt to the demands of its users. It is up to the architect to understand users' needsand expectations and to adapt plans with new axes, dynamics, and spatial configurations.

See other examples of plant changes in this My ArchDaily folder.

See original here:
Before and After Renovations: Changes in Architectural Plans - ArchDaily

September 18, 2020

Students, employees, parents and community members can look forward to new schools and renovated buildings at Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) when schoolhouses reopen for the 2020-2021 school year. These improvements are made possible with the continued implementation of the General Obligation Bond (GOB) to renovate, remodel and replace schools,expand student capacity, enhance safety and provide technology upgrades. That commitment has not wavered in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, District staff and contractors are hard at work accelerating GOB project timelines.

The unprecedented closure of schools was a difficult but necessary transition that ensured the safety of students and their families, as well as employees. However, during this time, theDistrict was able to speed up construction and maintenance projects before students and teachers return to the classroom. The continuous work during this shutdown also assisted contractors in providing stable employment in the community. Between 300 to 530 workers are on M-DCPS construction sites daily. The District has other projects out to bid, generating additional jobopportunities, with high goals for local, minority and small business utilization.

To date, GOB expenditures total approximately $830.7M ($94.8M for technology and $735.9M for facilities) with another $60M contracted. GOB projects continue to be finished on time and at or under budget.

2019-2020 GOB projects included:

Blue Lakes Elementary Total investment of $2.3 million. This project includes classroom and restroom renovation and installation of new windows and air conditioning. Interior and exterior painting throughout the campus, as well as the renovation of a basketball court and play areas.

Caribbean K- 8 Center Total investment of $3.6 million. This project, which will be completed by November, includes a new 5,344 square foot building addition that will consist of a music suite, art suite, two intermediate classrooms, staff and group restrooms, a new covered walk to existing campus, mechanical room, electrical room, and an IT room. The art portion of the building will house a 2D/3D art lab, kiln pottery oven, a large art material storage area, and an outdoor artpatio. The music area of the building will include a band classroom and an instrument storage room.

Andrea Castillo Preparatory Academy Total investment of $18.7 million. Phase I of the new K-8 Center, located at N.W. 78th Street & 102nd Avenue in Doral, is approximately 58,765 square feet and has 750 student stations. New spaces include state-of-the-art classrooms, a media center, art and music labs, a full kitchen, cafeteria, administration offices, play courts, fields, PE shelter, other support spaces and student drop-off areas.

Citrus Grove Elementary Total investment of $2.3 million. This project entails the demolition and replacement of the entire existing canopy structure, lighting and sidewalks at the facility.

Coral Terrace Elementary Total investment of $1.2 million. This project includes renovations to eight classrooms, replacement of windows and doors, installation of new HVAC system and ADA-compliant restrooms.

Cypress K-8 Center Total investment of $2.7 million. This project includes replacing windows in three buildings, the remodeling of existing space into a new science laboratory. It also includes exterior painting throughout the campus.

D.A. Dorsey Technical College Total investment of $2.7 million. This Phase II project includes installation of a new entry courtyard, remodeling of two existing buildings that house administration and student services, replacement of HVAC, electrical upgrades, installation of new flooring, replacement of ceiling tiles and lighting, roof repairs, and landscape upgrades.

Norman S. Edelcup / Sunny Isles K-8 Center Total Investment of $668,000. This projectconsists of remodeling an existing computer lab into two new state-of-the-art classrooms to increase student capacity and enhance better use of space.

Lillie C. Evans K-8 Center Total investment of $2.9 million. This project includes the complete renovation of various classrooms, individual and group restrooms. A new elevator has been constructed, a new air conditioning system has been installed in the kitchen area, and new fencing has also been installed.

Glades Middle Total investment of $2.9 million. This project includes construction of a newone-story classroom building addition consisting of three classrooms and one collaborative space, housing 110 student stations, covered walkway connecting the new building, bathroom renovations, and resurfacing of play courts.

Barbara Goleman Senior High Total investment of $1.2 million. This project includes the remodeling of nine classrooms for use as magnet program labs, including cyber security, Bloomberg stock market training, forensic science and others.

Gulfstream Elementary Total investment of $1.4 million. The project includes a new bus drop-off area with a covered walkway, new parking spaces, new playground and a fitness area.

Barbara Hawkins Elementary Total investment of $2.9 million. This project includes the updating of classrooms with new impact windows, renovation of all group restrooms throughout the school, new air conditioning units in the cafeteria and administration building. The school also features a new PE shelter, playground and water fountains. The entire exterior of the school has also been painted.

Lake Stevens Elementary Total investment of $2.5 million. Project includes new HVAC upgrades throughout the facility, restroom renovation, covered walkways, new ceiling, flooring, lighting, fire alarm, public address (PA) and security alarm systems, playground, selective painting, portable removal, resurfacing and restriping of paved play areas and parking.

Miami Gardens Elementary School Total investment of $1.2 million. This project includesrestroom renovations, painting of interior and exterior buildings, resurfacing and restriping hardcourt, and replacement of basketball goals, drinking fountains and security camera system.

Miami Palmetto Senior High Total Investment of $53.1 million. Phase I of this project delivered a new three-story addition, which includes administrative offices, student services, newgeneral-purpose classroom, vocational labs for subjects such as web design, drafting and design, health science and business technology education totaling 1,554 student stations. This project has also completed the renovation and remodeling of the media center and science buildings with a new reading room, CCTV suite, computer labs, science labs, two science classrooms and supportspaces totaling an additional 248 student stations. Additional phases are under construction and will be completed in 2021.

Miami Springs Middle Total investment of $5.6 million. This project includes the provision of new windows and storefront doors, new air conditioning upgrades and restroom renovations in three buildings, fire alarm replacement, miscellaneous electrical upgrades, selective demolition of portables, restriping of the parking lot and new exterior painting of the entire campus.

North Miami Elementary Total investment of $3.4 million. This project includes complete classroom renovations, new air conditioning, new fire alarm and miscellaneous upgradesthroughout.

Palmetto Middle Total investment of $863,000. This project includes a complete band roomrenovation with new practice rooms, office, furniture, air conditioning, paint, ceiling and roofing. Additionally, the main GOB renovation project with a total investment of $5,934,840, which includes window replacement, HVAC upgrades, flooring and lighting replacement, re-roofing of various buildings, exterior painting and other miscellaneous improvements, will begin construction in early 2021.

Pinecrest Elementary Total investment of $3.9 million. This project includes the completerenovation of classrooms with impact window replacement, air conditioning, new ceilings, lighting, interior painting and cabinet replacement in three buildings. Some renovations were also completed in the cafeteria and administration office. Full air-conditioning replacement in the media center and all classrooms in Building 4 were completed, as well as renovation of grouprestrooms in Building 1 and single occupancy restrooms in Building 3. This project also included the exterior painting of the entire school.

Rainbow Park Elementary Total investment of $2.6 million. This project includes a new HVAC system, window replacement, covered walkways, restroom renovations, new ceiling, lighting, flooring and playground, portable demolition and a resurfaced basketball area.

Redland Middle Total investment of $2.9 million. This project includes replacement of selectwindows, air conditioning, ceiling tiles and flooring. New auditorium seating, a new air-conditioning system in the gymnasium, restroom renovations, new exterior paint throughout the campus and many more miscellaneous upgrades throughout are also included as part of the project.

Shenandoah Middle Total investment of $3.2 million. This project includes construction of a new one-story building addition, consisting of seven classrooms, 154 student stations, group and staff restrooms, office administration area, covered walkway and an attached PE shelter.

South Miami Middle Total investment of $4.8 million. This project includes installation ofselective window and air conditioning replacements, as well as group restroom renovations and selective interior paint.

Frances S. Tucker Elementary Total investment of $2.6 million. This project includes replacement of exterior windows, installation of new HVAC upgrades, restroom renovations and exterior painting of the whole campus.

The District-established Small/Micro Business Enterprise (S/MBE) utilization goals were met or exceeded by the architects and contractors on these projects with highly diverse sub-consultant and sub-contractor teams. This was further strengthened by a strong commitment to local workforce utilization.

Continued fidelity to the implementation of the GOB program and the District's steadycommitment to inclusivity and diversity in its procurement process are positively impacting the quality of the educational environment and the local economy.

For the most up-to-date information, please download the Dadeschools mobile app to your iPhone or Android device. Follow us on Twitter @mdcps and @miamisup, on Instagram @miamischools and @miamisup, and on Facebook at MiamiSchools and AlbertoCarvalho

This press release was produced by the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Read more:
New And Renovated Schools Ready For M-DCPS Students For 2020-2021 School Year - Patch.com