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O’Brien Construction was recently awarded a Build Michigan Award by the Associated General Contractors of Michigan for the transformation of Detroit’s century-old San Telmo Cigar Factory into 5716 Wellness.

Journal Register Newspapers/KATHY BLAKE Tim O’Brien carries the torch of his father’s business, O’Brien Construction of Pontiac.

O’Brien Construction of Pontiac, which is celebrating 50 years as a privately-owned construction firm, was recently awarded a Build Michigan Award by the Associated General Contractors of Michigan. The firm received the award for the transformation of Detroit’s century-old San Telmo Cigar Factory into 5716 Wellness, a landmark health and wellness outreach center. The project, developed by Southwest Housing Solutions, is a step in reinvigorating the city’s struggling Michigan Avenue Corridor.

Already operating to capacity on a daily basis, 5716 Wellness is one of the first models of integrated primary and behavioral health care in Southeast Michigan.

Tim O’Brien, president of O’Brien, remarked that “This is a very deserving project. It is the 26th building that Southwest and O’Brien have worked on together and, like the others, it is having a huge impact in the city.”

Restoring the dilapidated 50,000-square foot structure, originally designed by famed architect Albert Kahn, required extensive gutting of the building’s interior as well as the complete restoration of its unique exposed timber frame and ceilings. As the general contractor, O’Brien Construction worked with Southwest Housing Solutions, as well as each of the six tenant organizations, to accommodate their specific architectural needs and requests while maintaining the historical constraints of the project as outlined by the Detroit Historical Society.

Early photographs of the building were studied to provide accurate architectural details such as the design and sight lines of original windows which had been removed and replaced with concrete block during the building’s long history. O’Brien ensured that no detail was overlooked, including the careful rehabilitation of exterior ornamental brick and limestone.

O’Brien Construction and subcontractors worked weekends and second shifts throughout the project in order to accomplish this massive renovation in less than a year. They did so despite many challenges along the way.

According to Dan Ross, senior project manager for the renovation, “The biggest challenge was to squeeze in as much as Southwest Solutions needed in that building within the given budget.”

Ross explained further, “Funding for these types of projects has gotten much tighter over the last few years and we wanted to stretch their dollar to the max. By doing so, we were able to accommodate the needs of all eight tenant organizations.”

This award is the second for 5716 Wellness. In July, Gov. Rick Snyder recognized the development with the esteemed “Reinventing Michigan Award.”

Previously, O’Brien Construction received the AGC’s 2009 Build America Award for the construction of Gratiot Woods Co-op Apartments as well as a 2007 Build Michigan Award for the historic renovation of Southwest Detroit’s Lithuanian Hall. Continued...

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O’Brien Construction earns building award

NASHVILLE -- Memphis-based Boyle Investment Co. is helping lead a budding construction upturn in the Interstate 65 corridor south of Nashville.

Boyle recently began the area's first speculative office building since 2006, although analysts figure a construction boom is at least a year off.

"There's going to be a breakout, but not this year," Tom Frye, managing director of CB Richard Ellis' Nashville office, told the Nashville Ledger.

Boyle's seven-floor building is part of the company's Meridian development near Cool Springs Mall in Williamson County. The 177,577-square-foot building and neighboring 15,000-square-foot building are both scheduled for summer completion.

"We all felt that if a corporate headquarters wanted to come to Williamson County, there were not any large office blocks available," Boyle spokesman Shelby Larkin said.

"Although it's risky, it's a calculated risk," Larkin added. "We do have some leases signed (and) we feel strongly about the Williamson County economy."

Even though speculative building had cooled off at Cool Springs, companies continue to move there.

Cool Springs and nearby Brentwood reported a vacancy rate of 6.1 percent, according to an end-of-2011 market survey by CB Richard Ellis. Only the West End-Belle Meade area in Nashville has a lower vacancy rate.

Nashville's overall office market, as measured by the firm's survey, had a vacancy rate of 12.7 percent at the end of last year.

Original post:
Boyle bets on Nashville office market

THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Howard Hughes Corporation (NYSE:HHC - News) today announced that Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN - News) has executed a lease for 49,929 square feet at 3 Waterway Square Place, an 11-story, 234,000-square-foot Class A office building to be built in The Woodlands Town Center. In addition, Nexeo Solutions has increased its leased space at 3 Waterway Square Place from 64,046 square feet to 106,710 square feet. 3 Waterway is situated at the corner of Lake Robbins Drive and Woodloch Forest Drive in the heart of The Waterway Square District and was designed by Elkus Manfredi of Boston, MA. The building is slated for completion in early 2013.

“Having the majority of the building leased prior to the start of construction with the caliber of tenants such as Nexeo Solutions and Waste Connections validates our decision to invest in The Woodlands. Our ability to offer our customers the complete package of live, work, play and learn will continue to set us apart from our competitors,” stated Grant Herlitz, President of The Howard Hughes Corporation.

In addition, The Woodlands Development Company (TWDC), a division of The Howard Hughes Corporation, secured a commitment for $43.3 million of financing, led by Texas Capital Bank, for construction of the building. The start of construction is imminent.

Waste Connections, an integrated solid waste services company that provides solid waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services in mostly exclusive and secondary markets, announced in December that it would be relocating its corporate headquarters to The Woodlands, Texas.

“This location in the heart of The Woodlands Town Center offers our employees an extremely attractive and convenient work environment, close to shopping, dining and entertainment,” said Ronald J. Mittelstaedt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Waste Connections. “The Woodlands also provides an exceptional quality of life, with a wide range of affordable housing, excellent educational opportunities, health care and outdoor recreation. We look forward to becoming an active partner in The Woodlands’ corporate community.”

Nexeo Solutions, LLC is an independent global chemicals, plastics, composites and environmental services distribution company.

3 Waterway Square is situated in the 73-acre Waterway Square District of Town Center, surrounding The Woodlands Waterway®. The District currently has 1.1 million square feet of office space, 148,000 square feet of retail, nearly 500 urban residences and 343 hotel rooms at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, an AAA Four Diamond rated hotel.

As a result of the strong leasing activity at 3 Waterway Square, The Howard Hughes Corporation is exploring opportunities to construct up to three new Class A office buildings and an adjacent parking garage. The proposed development would be constructed on 9.02 acres located immediately west of the McKesson Building.

“Given the strong market activity, we are now ready to begin our next development project and realize the expanding potential of The Woodlands Town Center,” added Herlitz.

Waste Connections, Inc. was represented by Jason Whittington with NAI Houston. Dan Bellow, Beau Bellow and Diana Dunlap of Jones Lang LaSalle represented Nexeo Solutions, LLC. The Woodlands Development Company was represented by Robert S. Parsley and Norman V. Munoz of Colliers International.

For more information about The Woodlands, visit http://www.thewoodlands.com. For more information about Waste Connections visit http://www.wasteconnections.com, and Nexeo Solutions, http://nexeosolutions.com.

ABOUT THE HOWARD HUGHES CORPORATION

The Howard Hughes Corporation owns, manages and develops commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate throughout the country. Created from a selected subset of 34 assets previously held by General Growth Properties, the company’s properties include master planned communities, operating properties, development opportunities and other unique assets spanning 18 states from New York to Hawaii. The Howard Hughes Corporation is traded on the New York Stock Exchange as HHC, and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. For more information about HHC, visit http://www.howardhughes.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements accompanied by words such as “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “enables,” “realize” or similar words, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management’s expectations, estimates, assumptions, and projections as of the date of this release and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements, including statements regarding construction of new office buildings and leasing activity at The Woodlands. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are set forth as risk factors in The Howard Hughes Corporation’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly and Annual Reports. The Howard Hughes Corporation cautions you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. The Howard Hughes Corporation does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.

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Major Tenants Signed Prior to Construction of 3 Waterway Square Place

TRENTON — Thirty schools are now slated for construction or renovation by the Christie Administration in the state’s poorest cities, but it’s unlikely any of those buildings will open their doors to students by the end of the governor’s term in office, law makers and school officials said.

Last week, Christie announced plans to start construction on 20 projects serving students from New Brunswick, Phillipsburg and West New York among other districts. Progress on 10 projects he announced last year, however, has been sluggish, leaving the time line to complete the new projects in question.

"I’m happy it appears we have the governor’s attention about the need for these schools, but it doesn’t change the fact that not a single school will be completed during the Christie Administration," Assembly Education Committee Chairman Patrick Diegnan said. "This is not some discretionary situation. It’s court mandated, and it’s a travesty."

The Schools Development Authority must construct and repair school facilities in 31 low-income districts across the state formerly known as Abbott districts. When Christie took office, he put all construction on hold for more than a year before unveiling the first 10 projects he planned to start.

Those projects are advancing "on schedule," said Kristen MacLean, a spokeswoman for the authority. She said significant planning, design, environmental testing, real estate acquisition and site work was needed before the construction projects could be advertised for bids.

"The SDA is proud to have kept its promises on schedule and will continue to not overpromise and under deliver as was done in the past," MacLean said. "The start of construction is not the start of a project."

No work was done to advance construction of Newark’s Oliver Street Elementary School for at least eight months after Christie’s announcement that construction was imminent, said Steve Morlino, Newark’s executive director of facilities management.

A few months ago, a working group of officials from the authority and the district had formed to evaluate if standardized design could be applied to the Oliver Street project. But standardization will be difficult, Morlino said, because Oliver Street School is slated to be built on an irregularly shaped lot.

"Obviously, there have been some delays since the governor’s previous announcement," Morlino said. "If we move forward on Oliver Street rapidly, we could have a school open by September 2014, but it wouldn’t take much to delay that to the following school year or the year after that."

Related coverage:

• Gov. Christie announces new plans for 20 N.J. schools across the state

• N.J. lawmaker: Head of Schools Development Authority hasn't adequately answered questions

• N.J. authority reveals approval process for $500M in construction projects at 10 schools

• N.J. lawmakers frustrated by lack of information on how 10 school constructions were approved

• Schools Development Authority CEO mum on spending plan for poor districts

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Gov. Christie's N.J. schools construction plan unlikely to conclude during his term in office

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 22, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ETC Building & Design, a construction/architecture firm specializing in healthcare/biotech and seismic retrofit, announced today the expansion of its architecture and building divisions with the hiring of three more senior level staffers. These key additions will help the company meet the increasing demands of its fast-expanding client base. The company, with several offices across California and clients throughout the Western United States, has continued to enjoy rapid growth despite the stall in construction during the recession. ETC has maintained growth with its focus on providing highly specialized architectural design and construction services for the healthcare and life science industries, enhanced with its unique expertise in seismic retrofit for hospitals and biotech facilities. The hires include:

Julia Cousins AIA, NCARB, MPH, LEED AP, Senior Medical Architect Janis Cruz, Director of Project Management Neil Howry, General Superintendent of Northern California

Key Hire Biographies:

Julia Cousins AIA, NCARB, MPH, LEED AP, Senior Medical Architect

A licensed architect specializing in healthcare for the past 15 years, Julia Cousins has joined ETC as a planner and project manager for medical projects. Her professional experience spans a wide range of architectural practice as well as teaching architectural graphics and design since the 1980s. She is enthusiastic about making an architectural contribution to the healthcare system.

Prior to joining ETC, Julia was responsible for a wide range of medical planning and design team project management of hospital construction projects for several major healthcare providers in the western US. California projects have ranged in size up to $200 million, including the UCSD Medical Center ED remodel, Kaiser San Diego Medical Center remodels, Eisenhower Medical Center tower expansion and remodels, Dignity Health (DH - formerly CHW) Marian Medical Center hospital expansion, and Oak Valley Medical Center replacement hospital. In Nevada and Arizona, her experience included work at the Carson Tahoe new Regional Medical Center in Carson City, Pacific Medical Buildings' doctor office/tenant improvements at DH St Rose Medical Center in Henderson, NV, build out of new Patient Care Units at DH Chandler Medical Center, Chandler, AZ, and the new DH Mercy Gilbert Medical Center campus in Gilbert, AZ.

Julia's academic achievements include a BS and Master of Architecture from Ohio State University, and a Master of Public Health in Healthcare Administration from San Diego State University. She is an NCARB certificate holder, a member of the AIA, and also a LEED AP in New Construction.

Janis Cruz, Director of Project Management

Janis Cruz has over 17 years of experience in project management, with seven focused on healthcare design and construction projects at Scripps Health in San Diego, CA and Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. Having worked on the client (owner) side, Janis brings a deep understanding of the needs of clients to ETC. She has worked on a variety of acute care hospital projects (OSHPD) and medical office building projects including surgery suites, major radiology, infusion treatment centers, exam rooms and amenities. She brings an exemplary track record of directing teams to complete projects on time and on budget, often coming in ahead of time and under budget. Highlights include completing the Rady Children's New Acute Care Pavilion ($260 million, coming in below the original budget) and the Scripps Clinic Rancho Bernardo ($43 million), the WebMD Pavilion in Oceanside and most recently a UCSD research facility supporting maternal and pediatric studies. Janis was also responsible for ensuring compliance with OSHPD and other regulatory agencies. Janis' experience includes a decade of capital construction and facility management projects at SAIC in San Diego. Janis's educational achievements include a Master of Business Administration from San Diego State University and undergraduate studies at UCLA.

Neil Howry, General Superintendent of Northern California

Neil Howry has worked in construction since 1994 when he started as a carpenter. His extensive resume includes excelling in the role of superintendent at Centex Construction in Santa Monica, CA and more recently lead superintendent at Clark Construction in Oakland, CA. He brings many years of experience working closely with owners, architects, engineers, inspectors and subcontractors to manage all aspects of construction projects and ensure they stay on time and on budget. Neil has specific experience in the education and healthcare industries. Larger healthcare projects managed by Neil include John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, CA ($335 million), Clovis Community Hospital ($195 million), Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton, CA ($43 million) St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, CA, and Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, CA. Neil also worked on a renovation of Anaheim Stadium and a large student housing project at Cal Poly San Louis Obispo ($235 million).

Neil's certifications include STS (project management) and OSHA 30 hour. He's well versed in OSHPD. His varied experience also includes serving as a firefighter for four years in Orange County. He studied construction management at Cal Poly Pomona.

About ETC Building & Design

ETC Building & Design is a privately held corporation specializing in the design and construction of health care and life science facilities. The firm has completed over 3 million square feet of hospital tenant improvements over the past ten years and in 2010 added a Biotech Division with a seasoned team of professionals specializing in projects for the life science sector. In addition, ETC is the foremost provider of seismic retrofitting to health care and biotech facilities in the Western United States, a specialization that is very unique in the construction industry. To complement its seismic services, the firm is also the primary distributor of SAFE-T-PROOF earthquake fastening systems and emergency preparedness products. ETC is headquartered in San Diego, CA, with offices in Los Angeles and the San Francisco bay area. More information about ETC can be found at http://etcusa.net.

The ETC Building & Design logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=11744

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California Healthcare Construction Company ETC Building & Design Continues to Expand With Three Key Hires

26-05-2010 00:42 Alex and Steve report on how america is heading for lockdown! stevequayle.com http://www.infowars.com http://www.prisonplanet.tv US Postal Service Expands Construction Of Secret Rooms Paul Joseph Watson http://www.prisonplanet.tv Tuesday, May 25, 2010 We have received documents from a military source indicating that US Postal Service facilities across the country are expanding the construction of secretive criminal investigation rooms, which some fear will be used to detain American citizens in the event of a national emergency, bioterror attack or pandemic. The documents (PDF) show architectural floor plans for criminal investigation rooms that would be housed within existing US Postal Service buildings. The blueprints show secret rooms within post offices where, the source claims, families will be separated in the event of martial law being declared. The United States Postal Service undoubtedly uses such criminal investigative units to conduct investigations into mail fraud through its federal enforcement arm, the United States Postal Inspection Service, but as with many things of this nature, everything serves a dual purpose. The fact that such rooms are being constructed inside post offices is verified. We discovered this web page which talks about how an architecture firm called IPG Architects constructed a Criminal Investigative Office within the Macon Post Office in Macon, Georgia. The new documents describe similar rooms being constructed in Lake Forest, Illinois and Gurnee, Illinois ...

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Steve Quayle

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Crescent Real Estate Holdings LLC announced today that its three Class A office properties in Denver recently received LEED certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) under the Existing Buildings (EB) rating system. Johns Manville Plaza, located in Denver CBD, achieved LEED EB Gold status, and 707 17th Street, also downtown, and Peakview Tower within the Denver Tech Center each achieved LEED EB Silver. Out of the 26 premier office buildings that Crescent owns or manages through its subsidiaries and joint ventures, nine have earned LEED EB Gold or Silver ratings. The remaining properties are expected to achieve LEED status in 2012.

“Our customers want LEED certified buildings,” said John Zogg, managing director of leasing for Crescent's Denver portfolio. “To them it means that we care about their experience, the communities that surround us, and ultimately the cost savings that we are able to achieve and pass on to them. It's good for everyone.”

Johns Manville Plaza, a 29-story, 675,400 square-foot Class A office property located in the heart of Denver's 17th Street Financial District is home to a prestigious customer base including Johns Manville and AECOM. The plaza area adjoining Johns Manville Plaza and 707 17th Street is downtown Denver's largest and most beautiful plaza with trees, flowers, and outdoor seating. Crescent has plans to further enhance the plaza in 2012 by upgrading the plaza seating and retail amenities.

707 17th Street, adjacent to Johns Manville Plaza, is a 42-story property that holds the Marriott City Center hotel on the first 20 floors and Class A office space on the next 22 floors. The office component totaling 550,000 square feet is home to A-list customers including Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. and KPMG. The exterior of 707 17th Street consists of black reflective glass and the lobby has a Raja Pink granite floor, polished black granite walls accented with the Raja Pink granite and 2 large displays of art glass.

Peakview Tower, a 10-story, 264,149 square-foot Class A office property, is located in the prestigious Greenwood Plaza Office Park within the emerging Fiddler's Green submarket of the Denver Tech Center. Customers of Peakview include W.J. Bradley Mortgage Capital Corp., Dean Evans & Associates, Inc., and American Title Services. The property offers easy access to interstate freeways, the light rail system, and Denver's two airports. Peakview Tower also has an unobstructed view of the Rocky Mountain Front Range and countless amenities within two miles including nearly 200 restaurants, 11 hotels, 27 banks and seven major shopping venues.

ABOUT LEED

LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, carbon dioxide emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, and operations and maintenance solutions. For more information, refer to http://www.usgbc.org.

ABOUT CRESCENT

Crescent Real Estate Holdings LLC is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. Through its subsidiaries, Crescent owns or manages a portfolio of 26 premier office buildings totaling over 9.5 million square feet located in select markets across the United States with major concentrations in Dallas, Houston, Denver and Las Vegas. Crescent also holds investments in resort residential developments in locations such as Scottsdale, Vail Valley, and Lake Tahoe; luxury hotels; and the wellness lifestyle leader, Canyon Ranch®. For more information, visit Crescent's Web site at http://www.crescent.com.

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Crescent Denver Portfolio Achieves LEED Status

Architects in Utah have designed a five-story brick building for the new $30 million federal office building to be built under the Rimrocks north of downtown Billings.

The Boyer Co., and GSBS Architects, both based in Salt Lake City, recently submitted plans to the city of Billings for a design that looks something like the current Parmly Billings Library, only taller and with more windows.

“From my standpoint, I think the building fits the needs. I like the design,” said Marty Connell, president of the Billings Industrial Revitalization Project, a group of business leaders spearheading improvements in the East Billings Urban Renewal District.

The U.S. Department of Interior office building is one of a handful of new buildings in the district, an old industrial zone between MetraPark and downtown.

A square building is the least expensive to build and the design undoubtedly is dictated by the lot size and federal government regulations, Connell said.

“Maybe it could be more architecturally pleasing, but it’s sure better than the federal courthouse,” Connell said.

The $60 million federal courthouse being built at North 26th Street and Second Avenue North is expected to be ready for occupancy by late summer. The General Services Administration owns the courthouse land and building and federally owned buildings don’t have to submit plans to local governments for review.

But the Interior office is a private project, so Boyer, the builder/owner, must have its plans reviewed by the city of Billings. Boyer will lease the building back to the GSA for at least 20 years to house about 400 Interior department employees.

John Brittingham, a registered architect and professor at Montana State University Bozeman, said the GSA has been “very aggressive in supporting the pursuit of excellence in design” over the past 15 years.

This Billings design is “fairly generic,” Brittingham said, and is modeled after loft buildings that were historically used as light manufacturing warehouses in Chicago and New York City. The building seeks basic Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification.

Designs for an $18 million library to be built at Sixth Avenue North and North Broadway are shooting for a high silver LEED rating.

The Interior building appears to have equal amounts of glass on all sides, Brittingham said, rather than treating elevations differently in relation to the sun for better energy efficiency.

“On the southern exposure, you might have more glass to gain exposure to the sun in the winter months,” he said.

In the starting blocks

Boyer won the GSA contract last October, but getting the sale closed with Aldrich’s Lumber and getting started has taken months. However, once construction starts, the pace will be rapid to meet a completion date of summer 2013.

Demolition of the lumber yard buildings was completed last week and the rubble is almost removed. The bidding process, which will determine how much work goes to local companies, should be completed in March, said GSA regional spokeswoman Sally Mayberry in Denver.

Steel will start going up in May or June and that work has been awarded to Lundahl Building Systems Inc., of Logan, Utah.

The plans allocate $13,285,000 to construct the shell. The balance of $16,715,000 will be spent on interior finishes and on a separate warehouse and storage yard still being designed for a site at the southern end of South 27th Street.

Building plans cover 133 pages — 30 inches tall by 42 inches wide — plus 2-inch thick specification books. The documents specify everything from details on the tile wainscot to where to install toilets and electrical panels.

Brian Anderson, a senior plan examiner at the Billings Building Department, said reviewing 20 pounds of drawings will take at least a week of uninterrupted work.

“It’s a fairly typical project,” Anderson said. “It will probably go smoothly and will be a success.”

The building will be heated and cooled by two boilers pushing hot or cold water throughout the building. The exterior will be covered by reddish bricks with a matte finish. The GSA requires that the brick to be manufactured within 500 miles of Billings. A brick called “sunset” specified in the plans is made at Interstate Brick in West Jordan, Utah, which works with Boyer and GSBS Architects.

Landscaping includes two-dozen plants: trees of Honey Locust, Canada Red Cherry, Lindens, Crimson Pygmy Barberry; Peking Cotoneasters and fragrant sumac shrubs; and Foerster’s reed grass.

When the building is completed next year, the Interior employees now working at the James F. Battin Courthouse at Fourth Avenue North and North 26th Street will move in. Eight years ago, tests showed several high readings of asbestos in the courthouse built in the 1960s. Future use of the Battin building has not been determined.

City input

Some Billings officials saw the plans before Christmas, but had only a modest input into the design, according to city/county planning director Candi Beaudry.

“We did offer suggestions, one which was to put in a boulevard sidewalk,” Beaudry said. “That was important because we’re trying to create a softer feel.”

The EBURD renewal district is close to adopting zoning codes that would strongly influence building designs. The Boyer Group was aware of the proposed codes, Beaudry said, but they didn’t affect the office design.

So far, Boyer has hired three local companies to work on the office tower: Collaborative Design Architects; Sanderson Stewart, an engineering firm; and Langlas & Associates, which is the chief local contractor.

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Go North: 2 new building projects aid rebirth of North Side

BUILDING PERMITS

Boulder

Building construction permits over $10,000 in value that were approved in Boulder between Feb. 6 and Feb. 12, 2012. Listed below are: the case number; address; total project valuation; owner name; contractor (if applicable); and description.

PMT2012-00349; 1500 Pearl St.; $85,000; Central Boulder; Deneuve Construction Services; Tenant remodel to reconfigure interior walls to create an office area, ANSI accessible restroom, cash wrap and storage area. Install new ductwork, relocate diffusers, install LED area and track lighting, and relocate sink.

PMT2011-04755; 2406 Bluff St.; $219,669.70; John Watson; Two-story single-family dwelling, 2,187 square feet finished, 954-square-foot unfinished basement, 490 square feet in decks and porches. Four bedrooms, three bathrooms, high-efficiency water heat and forced-air furnace. See case notes for details regarding zoning conditions of approval and setback/height verification requirements.

PMT2011-04890; 4504 Sprucedale Place; $400,285; Lyons Valley; Markel Homes Construction Co.; New three-story single-family dwelling -- three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, one three-quarter bathroom, third floor loft/study. 3,021 square feet, 1,422 square feet unfinished with attached 848-square-foot tandem garage and 388 square feet in decks and porches.

PMT2011-05180; 2425 Canyon Blvd.; $650,000; Waterstreet Plaza; Facilities Contracting Inc.; Tenant remodel of 5,702 square feet on the ground floor to create an outpatient medical imaging facility for Envision Radiology. Exterior mechanical equipment to be installed as RTUs. Exterior building changes, including window and door relocation.

PMT2012-00173; 5995 Arapahoe Road; $46,000; J. Crouch; Tandem Enterprises Inc.; Refresh of exterior facade at Flatirons Subaru. Not a Sign Permit.

PMT2012-00227; 1005 Grape Ave.; $20,000; Carrie Cavanaugh-Keyek; Mountain View Corporation Inc; Remodel existing basement to include beam replacement; Enclose existing carport to garage (not change in parking).

PMT2012-00419; 2400 Arapahoe Ave; $35,048.16; Co-Arapaho FW; Pirnack Walters Enterprises Inc.; Landlord improvements for expansion of Performance Bicycle into an adjacent space, to include associated mechanical and electrical work.

PMT2012-00160; 1755 29th St., No. 1092; $325,000; Charlotte Ball; Center Management Group LLC; Tenant remodel for Moosejaw retail store. To include interior walls, finished flooring, ceiling, lighting, HVAC, ductwork and plumbing.

PMT2012-00491; 1850 Folsom St., No. 1110; $35,900; John and Isabel Murphy; Melton Construction Inc.; Interior remodel to enhance accessibility in condo unit. Scope of work includes relocation of non-bearing walls in hallway and interior doorways to increase width, replace bathroom fixtures including replacement of tub/shower combo with roll-in shower.

PMT2012-00168; 556 Utica Court; $21,000; Doris Houghland; Straitline Construction Co. Inc.; Construction of a 147-square-foot patio cover with a four-twelfths roof pitch with an adjacent 256-square-foot pergola over an existing sandstone patio area. No electrical, plumbing or mechanical work.

PMT2012-00246; 2425 Canyon Blvd.; $22,848; Waterstreet Plaza; Tenant remodel of 408 square feet on main floor to create three offices/conference rooms. Includes minor electrical and minor mechanical -- no plumbing.

PMT2012-00545; 5218 Pinehurst Drive; $10,000; Rebecca Fossel; Melton Construction Inc.; Interior kitchen remodel in residence including removal of non-bearing pantry walls, remove soffit, replace fixtures, finishes, cabinetry, countertops, associated electrical, mechanical for vent hood and duct alteration, plumbing for relocated water line for refrigerator.

PMT2011-03949; 1300 Cascade Ave.; $86,014.63; Chris Thornson; Treeline Homes Inc.; Construction of new, two-car, detached garage, 624 square feet, with second floor studio/office, 624 square feet, with half bath. Scope of work to include associated electrical, mechanical and plumbing.

PMT2012-00550; 1506 Brandt Court; $37,954.13; K. James; Energy Concepts Inc.; Basement finish in single-family residence including family room and three-quarter bath and storage area.

PMT2012-04839; 4668 Sprucedale Place; $402,274; Lyons Valley; Markel Homes Construction Co.; New single-family dwelling -- 3,045 square feet finished, 1,446 square feet unfinished -- consisting of three bedrooms, two full baths, one three-quarter bath, third floor loft/study, attached 848-square-foot two-car tandem garage. Main level 1,446 square feet finished, second level 1,364 square feet finished, third level 235 square feet finished -- 388 square feet in decks and porches. Rough-in A/C lines, fireplace.

PMT2012-00196; 4888 Pearl East Circle; $115,900; P3484950 LLC; Rincon Development Inc.; Tenant remodel of 1,170 square feet in an existing office space (Suite 103) to remove interior office walls and to make improvements to bathrooms, door hardware and associated items to improve accessibility. Existing lighting to be utilized.

PMT2012-00296; 350 Hopi Place; $16,150; C. Lois; Von Eschen Construction LLC; Conversion of an 11-by-12-foot unconditioned walled storage area (walls, no windows, only screens) in existing openings on the southwest corner of the main floor of the structure into a conditioned area for an additional laundry room and an additional three-quarter bathroom. No increase to building coverage or to floor area -- reconfigure window openings and window locations.

PMT2012-00479; 4146 Longview Lane; $35,361; Northfield Village; Hendricks Fine Homes LLC; Basement finish of 450 square feet to create a family room, full bathroom on existing rough-ins, and a storage area. Storage area has existing direct vent appliances. Fire sprinkler modifications by separate permit and separate review.

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Boulder building permits: Feb. 20, 2012

Construction of a federal office building on Fourth Avenue North could spawn a renaissance in the industrial area running between downtown Billings and MetraPark.

One effort is already well under way.

Red Oxx Manufacturing Inc., a maker and worldwide distributor of rugged travel luggage, has gutted a dilapidated factory at 1123 Second Ave. N.

The building permit prices the project at $510,500, but Red Oxx’s owners have easily blown past that figure trying to make their future production facility as attractive and as energy efficient as possible.

“It’s over a $1 million project,” said co-owner Jim Markel. “It’s going to have a lifespan of another 100 years when we’re done with it.”

After the factory opens this spring, Red Oxx will operate from two locations, including its nearby store at 310 N. 13th St.

The demolition of the factory is complete down to the floor slab and four walls. The leaky windows are being knocked out and the skylights go in this week.

“It was horrific. There was no redeeming architectural character in that building whatsoever,” Markel said.

When completed, the old warehouse should win Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification as an energy-efficient building. The luggage company also is following the landscaping and diagonal parking code requirements being adopted for the East Billings Urban Renewal District.

“I think their building will be watched for quality and as a good example of transformation in the EBURD,” said architect Dennis Deppmeier.

Markel said he is “super stoked” to see the federal General Services Administration office building go up six blocks from the business he started with his partner, Perry Jones. Unlike the design of the James F. Battin federal courthouse, the GSA design is versatile and can be used for some other purpose someday, Markel said.

Revitalization is a slow process.

So far along First Avenue North, Kairos Development spent $3.5 million remodeling the former Pierce Packing Plant building with more work coming; O’Reilly Auto Parts completed a new building; and Billings Marble & Granite remodeled its space, among other improvements.

Other new construction in the renewal district includes the Rocky Mountain Professional Building with Turley Dental offices, the Billings Food Bank on Fourth Avenue North and First Interstate Bank’s operations center on Sixth Avenue North.

“When First Interstate decided to invest that heavily in the area, it was a signal for a small businesses like us to do the same,” Markel said.

After Red Oxx workers move into the 12,500 square-foot factory in May, Markel and Jones will start plans to develop the vacant half block at the corner of Fourth Avenue North and North 13th Street just north of their store.

“We might build to suit with live (living quarters) above,” Markel said. “We could start that this summer.”

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Red Oxx refurbishing structure to add production space