Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

by CoyDavidson on February 6, 2013

Kirksey Architects released its 2013 annual construction cost update on office buildings and parking structures which is an annual poll of leading contractors to update current market conditions. This year the report has been expanded to include corporate interior construction costs.

Construction costs began to climb in 2012 and costs are expected to continue rising at a steady pace through 2013. A combination of a higher volume of projects in a number of sectors combined with labor and material cost increases will continue to drive up construction costs

Twenty one office projects, totaling 4.5 million square feet, are under construction in Houston as the citys robust economy continues to propel the Houston office space market and this doesnt include ExxonMobils massive new campus just south of the Woodlands.

Energy related companies are driving the uptick in major office projects and major interior lease deals in the Houston region. Many speculative office projects are in the wings awaiting a tenant and financing while new projects are being announced on a regular basis. LEED certification continues to be a standard for most office buildings. However, the current LEED standards favor dense urban locations, resulting in many suburban buildings settling for a level lower than similar projects built in 2007-2008.

2013 Office Construction Cost Update by Coy Davidson

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The Cost of a New Office Building - THE TENANT ADVISOR

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIAConsulting firm Bright Rich/CORFAC International has been awarded the exclusive marketing assignment and listing for a new commercial business center in St. Petersburg that will be the first newly-constructed LEED Gold building in the historic Russian city.

Called Eco Status, the class A project is being built to qualify for certification by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) for the environmental and sustainable features that are being integrated into construction of the new office building, which includes ground-floor retail. The general contractor is Renaissance Construction.

When complete and if the owners certify the building with USGBC, it would be only the sixth LEED certified building in Russia and the second in St. Petersburg. In 2010 a Moscow property was the first to be LEED certified in Russia and an office building in St. Petersburg was renovated to LEED Gold earlier this year.

Located in St. Petersburg historic district at Ligovsky Prospect, 140 and about 200 meters from the metro station Obvodny canal, the eight-story office and retail building totals 6,080 square meters (approximately 65,445 square feet) plus two atrium terraces. Marina Kukharenko, acting head of the department, foreign markets, of Bright Rich/CORFAC International won the listing and is marketing space in the building on a lease basis.

The average leasable floor area in the building is 590 square meters (approximately 6,349 square feet) and divisible from 50 square meters (538 square feet) to 300 square meters.

The business property is scheduled for completion and ready for occupancy June 20.

In addition to the sustainability features of the building, the project will have a unique automatic elevator-parking system designed to save time for people working in the building. There is also guest parking at the site.

The great location, certified LEED design and high service-level makes this property a very attractive location for major Russian and foreign companies, said Kukharenko, whose firm is based in St. Petersburg and joined CORFAC International in 2012.

Green building and other special features for the office space include:

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LEED Gold Office Planned for St. Petersburg

After three decades and with its service area growing daily, the Lumberton Municipal Utility District office has outgrown its four walls and is starting over with an energy-efficient building.

In the next few weeks, the 30-member staff will pack up and move from West Chance Cutoff Road to 625 FM 421.

District Manager Roger Fussell, who has been with the agency 14 years, said that from 2000 to 2008, their 63-square-mile coverage area saw a new house or connection per day. The district, which covers Lumberton and Kountze ISD, has grown substantially in the past 35 years, Fussell said. The current building was constructed when the district had fewer than 10 employees.

"Once we've moved out and organized and can find out how to turn on the coffee pot we'll probably put this one up for sale," he said.

Fussell said they took in mind that they wouldn't want to construct another building for another 30 years, so they built the new one with room for growth.

The additional space can be used for storage until it's needed, if the area continues to expand as it has over the years.

"We wanted it to meet our needs for now and future," he said.

The new office is a state-of-the-art facility, he said, Administration decided to do something no one else -that he's aware of - has done in Southeast Texas with an office building. MUD will harvest rainwater from its roof and recycle that to use to irrigate its landscape.

"Even though we're the water company, we want to show there are alternative means to watering the grass," he said.

All the lights in the building are LED and the structure is storm rated, allowing it to have its own auxiliary power in case a hurricane were to come through.

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Utility district gets new office in Lumberton

money section Saving & Spending Investing & Real Estate Career Insurance Retirement Tax Time eHow Now eHow Personal Finance Real Estate Building a Home Does a Sunroom Addition Raise My Property Taxes?

Mary Schultz

Arizona-based Mary Schultz has contributed articles about family, health, home improvement, agriculture and travel to newspapers and magazines. For over three award-winning decades as a marketing writer, Schultz has focused on technology, financial and insurance services and products, medical care, health and fitness, community heritage, tourism and charitable causes. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, honors English, from California State University, Northridge.

A sunroom, even if it utilizes an existing patio floor, is typically considered to be new construction in that it is an addition to an existing structure. Any new improvement a homeowner makes, such as adding rooms or a wing, building a patio cover, adding an in-ground swimming pool and spa or building a deck or a sunroom may increase the property's taxable value.

A sunroom is considered to be a living space, subject to local building codes. Codes are likely to be very specific. In general, you cannot construct, erect, alter, enlarge or convert a building or structure that is regulated by a community's building code without first obtaining a building permit.

In some areas, construction without a permit is in itself a violation of county code. It can be punishable by law as a misdemeanor. Additionally, you may embark on construction and then be issued an order to stop work until you obtain permits. You could be required to submit plans to the local building department and to pay penalty fees that are far higher than what the original fee would have been. Once you get the permit, you could be required to tear out and uncover work already done to provide for inspection.

Usually, new construction such as the addition of a sunroom is tax assessable provided it adds value to the property's assessed value. The revised assessed value is typically determined as of the date when the construction is complete and you get a certificate of occupancy. If the sunroom has changed the size of the structure by adding enclosed habitable square footage, only the amount of difference is considered for the new assessment. As an example, if the residence was formerly assessed as 1,200 square feet and with the addition of the sunroom it is 2,000 square feet, the increase in size is 800 square feet. The market value of the additional square footage would likely be added to the assessed value of the house.

Some homeowners decide to add a sunroom and not to obtain a building permit. No one in their neighborhood may report the addition to the local building department or to the assessor's office. They may intend to occupy that house all their lives and never sell. However, if the need to sell does come to pass, a problem can arise. They are usually required to disclose to any potential buyer that the addition is not permitted. At the time the property transfers ownership, the assessor may make the discovery and may take action for back taxes. The assessor would in all likelihood estimate or otherwise determine the date the construction was completed and make a correction to the tax assessment for the number of years permitted by local law.

What Is Property Tax Assessment? Property tax is most commonly based on the value of real property (improved or unimproved land) or...

But the installation of a completely new liner or heating system would, in fact, increase the property taxes. ... Does a Sunroom...

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Does a Sunroom Addition Raise My Property Taxes? | eHow

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 08, 2014

Fast internet speeds, well-designed structured cabling, seamless wireless network coverage, and the handling of large files is now a necessity for businesses to compete in the local and global marketplace. From corporate offices that need to fill the high tech demands of their staff to the cafe owner who wants to offer WiFi to its patrons, data and network cabling needs are increasing all over the west. Los Angeles Network Cabling and Fiber Optic has expanded its service area to offer data/voice cabling, wireless network installation, fiber optic installation and termination services, CCTV/IP cameras and business phone/VOIP systems to commercial and business customers throughout the entire west coast of the US including California (CA), Nevada (NV), Oregon (OR), and Arizona (AZ).

As well as expanding its service area, Los Angeles Network Cabling and Fiber Optic offers state of the art fiber optic termination, testing, and splicing services. These specialty fiber optic installations require specialty tools and trained, skilled technicians. Fiber optic cabling is a great choice for connecting areas that are farther than 300 ft, networks requiring high speeds and bandwidth, or connecting networks within different buildings. Most new voice and data networks are designed to best optimize the companies needs while utilizing fiber optic cabling, cat5e or cat6 wiring, VOIP phone systems, and a series of switches and patch panels. Using an experienced telecommunications contractor assures the network will be designed to suite your needs, according to your budget and time frame.

New and existing customers are thrilled about the expansion as it comforting to work with an honest and reliable vendor for network cabling and comes in good time for many as they expand their offices, relocate to larger facilities, and open new field branches.

To schedule a site survey for a free quote call Los Angeles Network Cabling and Fiber Optic at (888) 228-1595 or request a quote online at, http://los-angeles-cabling.com/request-for-quote.aspx.

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Los Angeles Network Cabling and Fiber Optic Expands Data/Voice Wiring Services Throughout California, Arizona, Nevada ...

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Welcome to Window World of Huntsville, the largest window replacement company in America! Window World of Huntsville, AL is locally owned and operated by Mike & Melissa Edwards, and proudly serves Huntsville, Alabama and all the surrounding areas. We offer almost limitless replacement window options, including window & frames colors, grids, styles, glass options, and Low-E qualifications. We also offer many other industry-leading home-improvement products, such as double hung, bay & bow, casement & awning, garden & slider replacement windows.

New replacement vinyl windows, doors, and vinyl siding can make a major improvement to your home's external appearance, as well as increase energy efficiency and property value. Window World of Huntsville's new replacement windows are sure to turn a few heads, as your home will look like it is the newest, sleekest, and most modern home on the block.

Our superior line of vinyl products, as well as our top-of-the-line customer service has earned us many distinguished awards, including the coveted Good Housekeeping Seal, EnergyStar Certification, and EPA Lead-Safe Certification. So next time you see a home with beautiful new replacement windows in your neighborhood, ask who installed them. The answer will probably be Window World of Huntsville! Contact us today, to schedule your free in-home window demonstration, your home will thank you!

Our success is founded on our professional installation and customer service excellence. From start to finish we perform each job with care, patience, and expertise. You can rest assured that your vinyl replacement windows will be properly installed and keep your home looking beautiful for years to come.

Hear what our customers have to say in our Video Testimonials or visit our Testimonials page to learn what you can expect moving forward with Window World as your window replacement company. Or for even more company feedback, view our GuildQuality profile to read reviews from home owners just like you living near the Huntsville, Alabama area.

Window World of Huntsville 1804 Sportsman Lane Huntsville, AL 35816 (256) 895-3285

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Replacement Windows Huntsville | Windows Huntsville | Window World

Install a new, electric water heater in your home and save energy and money. When installing your water heater, make sure to follow model-specific information, warnings, safety notices and local codes. Consult a qualified professional if in doubt.

Youll need common plumbing tools and pipe joint compound approved for potable water. Youll also need a circuit tester or voltmeter. Most codes require the water heater to be installed in a metal drain pan. See the installation instructions for information about sizing the drain pan and other installation details.

If your house has copper pipes, consider an installation kit with compression fittings that don't require soldering. If your pipes are plastic, youll need connectors / fittings for the specific type of plastic pipes used in your home. Read the instructions for the new connectors before cutting the existing water pipes.

Locate the circuit breaker marked water heater and turn it off. Some homes use fuses, which should be removed. Your water heater may also have a disconnect switch which should also be turned off.

Because circuit breakers can be mismarked, always check the incoming power wires with a voltmeter or circuit tester to make sure the circuit you are working on is off.

Open a hot-water faucet, and let the hot water run until its cool. Then, shut off the cold-water supply to the water heater. Leaving the hot-water faucet open will help the tank drain.

Connect a garden hose to the drain valve. Place the other end of the hose in a drain or outside (you could also use buckets). Open the water heaters drain valve. While the water heater is draining, read the installation instructions that came with your water heater. Disconnect the water and power lines, and remove the old water heater.

Most homes have check valves in the plumbing system and now need a thermal expansion tank installed near the water heater. The expansion tank is attached to the cold-water inlet line. To operate properly, the expansion tank must be pressurized with air. Refer to the expansion tanks instructions for details.

The temperature and pressure relief valve (T&P) is an important safety device. It opens to relieve pressure if the water temperature or pressure is too high. Use the new T&P that came with your new water heater. Dont reuse the old T&P valve.

The T&P discharge pipe should be terminated near a floor drain with an air gap of no more than six inches between the end of the discharge pipe and the drain. Some localities require terminating the T&P discharge pipe outside. In cold climates, we recommend using a floor drain. In all cases, follow the codes for your location.

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Install an Electric Water Heater - Lowe's

Finn McCuhil

Finn McCuhil is a freelance writer based in Northern Michigan. He worked as a reporter and columnist in South Florida before becoming fascinated with computers. After studying programming at University of South Florida, he spent more than 20 years heading up IT departments at three tier-one automotive suppliers. He now builds wooden boats in the north woods.

Tankless water heaters save money by heating water only as it is used. Rather than keeping a storage tank full of water heated and ready for use, these units heat the water as it is required for immediate use. These units are usually smaller than standard water heaters since they require no storage tank. They do have some special plumbing requirements, so read and follow the manufacturer's installation instructions carefully before and during installation.

Tankless water heaters (sometimes called on-demand water heaters or instantaneous water heaters) have been a staple in Europe and Asia for quite...

Tankless hot water heaters are an advancement in technology over conventional water heaters. Unlike a conventional heater, a tankless heater only turns...

In order to install a tankless water heater, it's necessary to consider venting, gas pipe sizing, water pipe sizing and gas flow...

A tankless (aka demand or instantaneous) water heater can supply hot water more efficiently than a traditional hot water heater because it...

Tankless water heaters have been used in European and Asian households for generations and are gaining popularity in the United States. These...

Stiebel Eltron manufactures a series of tankless water heaters that are installable at the point of use, unlike other conventional tanked or...

When an older hot water heater finally fails, a homeowner has a myriad of new choices to consider. A Rinnai tankless water...

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Tankless Water Heater Installation | eHow

A man uses the crosswalk at International Speedway Boulevard and Daytona Boulevard near the Speedway on Monday, Dec. 23, 2013. The Florida Department of Transportation is budgeting for improvements including two new walkways over the 8-lane boulevard.

A key Senate committee waved the green flag Wednesday for a bill that would provide $60 million in tax breaks in exchange for an ongoing overhaul of the iconic Daytona International Speedway.

The bill filed by Port Orange Republican state Sen. Dorothy Hukill would provide the Speedway with $2 million per year in sales tax rebates as the track undergoes the most extensive renovation in its 55-year history. A companion House bill co-introduced by Reps. David Santiago, R-Deltona, and Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, is making its way through committee.

On Wednesday, the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee passed Hukills bill on a unanimous vote.

This is a real economic driver not, only for the county that I represent but really for the entire state, Hukill said before the vote was taken. She pointed out that the Speedway and parent company, International Speedway Corp., inject about $1.6 billion into the state economy on an annual basis.

Hukill said after the meeting the bill will go before another committee soon.

Its got some steps to make, she said, adding shes very optimistic about its chances of becoming law by the end the 2014 legislative session, which begins in March. But were not going to take anything for granted.

Speedway president Joie Chitwood III, who attended the meeting, said he was pleased with the reception of the bill.

Its the start of a long process, he said. Im sure well be in Tallahassee over the next couple of months.

A similar bill failed to become law last year. It sought an additional, one-time $10 million rebate on construction materials.

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Speedway bill moves forward

As part of a planned overhaul to the North Common in Mansfield, a 30-foot maple and some pine trees were recently chopped down to make way for improvements to the park.

We have a master plan for that area, Highway Department of Public Works Director Lee Azinheira said.

The trees came down in mid-December after a public hearing held Nov. 5, inviting residents to voice their concerns about the tree removal.

Azinheria said the project was done in accordance with the states Shade Public Tree Act.

If we take down a (public) tree and there are people who take exception, we then bring it to the selectmen, he said.

A few people attended the Nov. 5 meeting, and their concerns were answered, Azinheira said.

We did need to remove the trees but will be adding more trees, he said. We will be strategically adding trees later this year.

One reason the trees came down was because the Mansfield Electric Department is adding a new underground duct that would have run across one of the trees, Azinheira said.

Updated walkways and the installation of a new 80-foot flagpole also contributed to tree removal.

Azinheira said the American flag, which used to fly atop the previous flagpole, suddenly snapped off. The pole itself was rusty and to repair the flagpole and re-hang the flag would have required a crane to weld things back together.

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Tree removal part of North Common facelift in Mansfield