Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The property, a former machine shop, would be renovated for the new use that Childs said aims to be welcoming, warm, and family friendly.

Were all about best in class and providing an amenity, Childs said.

With 30-foot high ceilings and an open dining room, the restaurant would hold close to 250 seats, in addition to an outdoor patio space, Childs said. The project also includes the addition of a 20 car parking lot.

Childs said the eatery aims to provide farm to table cuisine thats affordable.

The restaurant would be approximately 7,000 square feet, with 3,900 square feet dedicated to the main commissary/kitchen.

The indoor space is also expected to incorporate two food trucks, which would supplement the main menu and provide space for cooking competitions and other events.

The roof of the restaurant would hold a rooftop garden, with the vegetables from the garden being used in the restaurant's dishes.

During the day the restaurant would have a more caf feel to it, with coffee drinks, prepared meals, and small, less intensive lunchtime dishes.

During the evening the space would be converted into a more traditional restaurant, with table service and full menu. The cuisine is expected to be American comfort food.

The hours of the restaurant have not been determined, but Childs hes interested in a 2 a.m. closing.

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New restaurant pitched for West 3rd Street

Wednesday, January 8, 2014 - 4:19pm

Tyler, Texas (KETK) The Tyler Fire Department responded to a two-alarm structure fire Wednesady mornign at 1217 South Glenwood.

The initial call was received at 10:42 a.m., and the caller reported seeing smoke coming from the house. The first unit saw heavy smoke coming from the attic when they arrived on scene and called for a second alarm. Five engines and one Ladder Company, along with a District Chief and an Investigator, responded to the scene.

Fire investigators with the Tyler Fire Marshals Office have indicated that the fire originated in the kitchen area of the home. Investigators believe that the fire burned for an extended period of time in the wall space before it gained access to the attic area. Initial findings indicate that the cause is electrical in origin and may have involved one of the homes appliances.

Citizens are reminded to be cautious and keep safety in mind when dealing with electricity in the home. Remember to call a qualified electrician or your landlord if you notice any of the following conditions:

Based on recent data between 2003 and 2005, the United States Fire Administration reports that over 28,000 residential building electrical fires occurred annually. This accounted for approximately $995 million in property loss, 1000 injuries, and 360 deaths. Additional safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association include:

Citizens are also encouraged to have an adequate number of smoke alarms installed throughout their home. For more information about fire prevention and safety in the home or workplace, please contact the Tyler Fire Marshals Office at 903-535-0005.

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Tyler Fire Department releases fire safety tips after Wednesday morning fire

Dear Angie: Can I save money by finishing my basement piecemeal rather than hiring a general contractor? Jennifer M., Alpharetta, Ga.

Dear Jennifer: It depends. There are risks and rewards if you act as your own general contractor on a large project.

Our researchers found that general contractors who hire and supervise subcontractors such as plumbers, electricians and carpenters typically mark up labor and material costs by as much as 20 percent. A 20 percent markup on a $15,000 remodel, for example, would be $3,000. Thats money you could pocket if you supervise all aspects of the project.

But weigh your options carefully before deciding whats best for your situation. Unless you have experience in the building trades or house construction, as well as a flexible schedule with significant free time, youre probably not ready to act as your own general contractor. Orchestrating a full remodeling of your basement can be a monumental task for an inexperienced homeowner.

You could end up paying more if the job is done incorrectly by the subcontractors you hire or if scheduling conflicts arise. Highly rated general contractors tell our team that they sometimes are brought in to fix problems created by workers homeowners hired on the cheap.

A general contractor is responsible for fixing problems with the job. If things go wrong on your watch, youll be paying.

Also, keep in mind that an experienced and qualified general contractor will handle getting all necessary permits, and making sure subcontractors are appropriately insured and licensed. A good general contractor also will ensure that work meets local building codes, comes in on budget and maintains high quality standards.

But if you have the experience and the time to be your own general contractor, you may save money as well as stay on top of all details.

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Being your own contractor carries some risks

Growing cannabis indoors requires lots of light: Firm buds glistening with resin require a stronger light source than your average house plant.

Lighting for plants is nutrition; it's very much like fertilizer, except it's absorbed in wavelengths through the leaves. Think of a rainbow: each color is like a different nutrient for your pot plants. Each color is important, but various types of plants use nutrients differently; they also use different amounts during different times of the year. For example, in thevegetative state, plants prefer more blue light, while in bud they do better with more red light.

There used to be very few choices available for indoor growers -- today, there are many. HID (high intensity discharge) lighting is the standard for more serious indoor growers, and High Output fluorescents are a great choice for a smaller-scale hobbyist or outdoor growers looking to raise transplants indoors before the season starts.

Over the past several years there have been improvements to industry standards in regards to crop lighting, including digital ballasts (that drive the lamps) and a wider range of horticultural lamps.

While there have been strides forward, it's still the same technology. One of the reasons growers find HID lighting so reliable is because it is standardized.

For some, that's just fine; especially as declining prices make good lighting more affordable. Some growers, however, are looking to push the envelope of what is possible with cannabis harvests, and as a result, other light sources that are becoming important and becoming more accessible in pricing as well.

Light Emitting Diode (LED), Induction Lighting and Light Emitting Plasma (LEP) are increasingly being adopted for growing indoors by savvy medicinal bud farmers.

Alternative lighting sources may be able to do what HID lighting can't -- and in a variety of areas. It's common practice to discard HID lamps after a year of operation because they aren't as bright after long use. This is costly, and more than in dollars and cents. The arc tubes contain elements like mercury and lead in very pure forms -- so discarding them is terrible for the environment.

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Indoor Grow: Alternative Lighting | High Times

FARMINGDALE, N.J. -- Dialight (LSE: DIA.L), the global leader in LED lighting technology, today unveiled the new Vigilant() LED High Bay with industry-leading efficiency for maximum return on investment and lower total cost of ownership. At 125 lumens per watt (LPW), the Vigilant LED High Bay is among Dialight's most groundbreaking innovations providing up to 26,500 delivered fixture lumens and backed by Dialight's industry-leading 10-year full-performance warranty for more than a decade of reliable, worry-free performance in the world's harshest industrial environments.

Featuring Dialight's world class in-house designed power supply, next generation LED technology and advanced optical design, the new Vigilant LED High Bay marks a major step forward in the future of energy efficiency for industrial environments. Since launching their first LED high bay in 2009, Dialight has sold hundreds of thousands of LED high bay fixtures, setting the highest standard for fixture design and reliability around the world.

"Dialight continues to manufacture the most advanced LED lighting solutions for industrial and hazardous location applications worldwide," said Roy Burton, Dialight's Group Chief Executive. "Our customers can now benefit from an additional 25% energy savings, making the conversion to LED technology an even smarter business decision with highly attractive payback periods for their facility upgrades."

The Vigilant LED High Bay fixture is currently certified to UL1598/A and CSA 22 #250 for both indoor and outdoor applications, and will soon be available with CE compliance, UL844 and ATEX/IECEx for hazardous locations as well as other international certifications. At 18 lbs, the 100-277VAC Vigilant LED High Bay ships standard with 6kV surge protection and is IP66/NEMA4X rated to operate in ambient temperatures ranging from -40 degrees C to +65 degrees C.

To learn more about Vigilant LED High Bay please visit http://www.dialight.com/125LPW.

About Dialight Dialight (LSE: DIA.L) is leading the energy efficient LED lighting revolution around the world for industrial and hazardous areas as well as transportation and infrastructure applications. For 40 years it has been committed to the development of LED lighting solutions that enable organizations to vastly reduce energy use and maintenance needs, improve safety, ease disposal and reduce CO2 emissions. The company is headquartered in the UK with operations in the USA, UK, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Mexico. http://www.dialight.com

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LED High Bay Fixture achieves 125 lm/W efficiency.

Kingspan Solar Thermal and Commercial Rainwater Harvesting systems help Architects, Engineers and Designers boost LEED points at 2014 AHR Expo

JESSUP, Maryland The U.S. Green Building Council promotes cost-efficient, energy-saving building practices via a global LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, points program for Architects, Engineers, Designers and Property Owners engaged in green activities. Kingspan Environmental is set to score big points of its own among those stakeholders by demystifying the LEED project certification and points-accrual process at the 2014 AHR Expo in New York City.

"The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Expo is a great place for us to meet face-to-face with Architects, Engineers, Designers and others interested in reducing costs and safeguarding resources through sustainable building technologies," says Seamus Cussen, commercial director for Kingspan in Jessup, Md "We're very excited to show our solar thermal solutions as well as the rainwater harvesting systems which will be launched at the Expo!"

"The commercial rainwater harvesting systems alone earn property owners LEED points in multiple credit areas," explains Cussen. "In addition, they provide as much as 85 percent of the water needed to run high-performance buildings efficiently and effectively with maintenance and run costs so low that most clients experience radical savings."

Cussen says the company's rainwater harvesting systems fit seamlessly into existing pipe work and suit a wide variety of applications which include, but are not limited to: universities, hospitals, airports, sports arenas, shopping centers and hotels.

The Expo will be held Jan. 21-23, 2014, at the Javits Center on Manhattan's west side. The center itself has undergone major renovation in recent years, complete with a green roof that is said to be "the largest in the Northeast". Representatives from Kingspan Environmental will engage attendees at booth # 6002 and be on hand to explain:

Why LEED certification and credits matter to Architects, Engineers, Designers, etc. How Kingspan Environmental helps fill LEED requirements in USGBC Sustainable Site, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere and Innovation in Design categories The built-in economic/environmental benefits of Kingspan Solar Thermal Systems and Commercial Rainwater Harvesting Systems

Kingspan Environmental, a division of Kingspan Group, is one of the world's largest and most experienced providers of sustainable building technologies. The company has a proven track record of success and offers a comprehensive range of solutions which produce results across any application.

Architects, Engineers, Designers and others interested in learning more about LEED certification, credits and Kingspan's full line of sustainable building technologies should call Seamus Cussen directly at (410) 799-6602 or visit KinspanEnviro.com.

Kingspan Environmental 7510 Montevideo Road Jessup, MD 20794 United States

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Architects, Engineers Score More LEED® Points with Kingspan at NYC 2014 AHR Expo

Car Park House is based in Echo Park, Los Angeles (Photo: Steve King)

Los Angeles-based architecture and design studio Anonymous Architects has completed an unusual property which gives primacy to the occupant's automobile. Like the firm's Big and Small House, Car Park House is again a fine example of using a modest-sized plot to its fullest, but in this case Anonymous Architects took the step of installing a rooftop-based car port.

Measuring 130 sq m (1,405 sq ft) and located in Echo Park, Los Angeles, Car Park House differs from other car-centric properties we've covered, such as the Autofamily House or Porsche Design Tower in that its design derives from practical concerns. The local building code requires that new homes feature at least two vehicle parking spaces, and the site chosen for construction is on a steep hillside.

The single-level dwelling was built atop a concrete pile foundation, and Anonymous Architects reckons these lend the impression that the home is "floating" above the hillside. Access to Car Park House is gained via the bridge, and steps lead from the car port into the home proper. Inside, there's three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and dining area, and a lounge.

The rooftop parking area is also usable as a deck space, and the property boasts views of the nearby San Gabriel Mountains.

Car Park House was completed in August, 2013.

Source: Anonymous Architects

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A car park with a view (and a house too)

The new national stadium of Japan, by Zaha Hadid Architects, will be built for the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo.

In September, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the host city for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in 2020. A town with a good track record, Tokyo beat out Istanbul and Madrid and took the prize for the third time.

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

A range of existing facilities will be used for the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic games, including Rafael Violys Tokyo International Forum, a civic complex completed in 1996.

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The city was first selected for the 1940 summer games, which were canceled due to World War II. Tokyos second win was for the 1964 summer Olympics. Symbolizing the end of Japans postWorld War II reconstruction, new athletic facilities were built and infrastructure was upgraded, changing the Japanese lifestyle for good. Now many are wondering what kind of legacy the 2020 Olympics will leave.

In preparation for the 1964 Olympics, Tokyo underwent several major changes including the construction of an overhead highway system, the extension of subway lines, the widening of streets, and, just days after the opening of the games, the launch of the Shinkansen bullet train connecting Tokyo and Osaka. Our urban life, based on a network of underground trains, was a gift of the 1964 Olympics, says Professor Hiroyuki Suzuki of Aoyama Gakuin University. Most of the new athletic facilities were concentrated within central Tokyo. While a number of the original structures remain in use, Kenzo Tanges Yoyogi National Gymnasium stands out as the events iconic building. Flexing the countrys technological muscles, the building is topped by a spectacular swooping roof and, fittingly, was erected on the site of a former U.S. military base. It showed the world the power of Japans contemporary architecture culture, which has continued into the present.

This time, the main Olympic venues will be divided between two areas reasonably near the Olympic Village, in the middle of the city. To improve Tokyos already efficient public transportation network, there is talk of adding new subway lines that would facilitate movement to the citys two airports as well as to one of the venue areas, the Tokyo Bay Zone. Largely built on landfill, this area is a relatively recent addition to the city and is still considered a little out of reach. More commercial amenities catering to the 17,000 athletes who will call the Village home are also anticipated. These will make the neighborhood more enticing after the Olympics, when temporary accommodations are converted into permanent residences.

But recasting the Village isnt the only adaptive reuse planned. A whole range of existing facilities will host the new competitions. While the Tange gym will hold handball tournaments, Fumihiko Makis Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium will host table tennis. Other buildings, such as Rafael Violys Tokyo Forum and various stadiums as far afield as Sapporo and Sendai, built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, will be venues for weightlifting and soccer respectively.

One building not slated for reuse is the 1964 Olympics main stadium. In preparation for the possibility of winning the bid, the Japan Sports Council held the International Concept Design Competition for a new arena in compliance with the IOCs current requirements. In November 2012, they awarded the commission to London-based Zaha Hadid Architects, which will serve as the projects design consultant in collaboration with a team of Japanese firms captained by Nihon Sekkei, Nikken Sekkei, and Ove Arup Japan.

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Will Tokyo's Second Olympics Leave a Design Legacy?

The site of the former Hudson's department store in Detroit. SHoP Architects and Hamilton Anderson Associates have been tapped to come up with concepts for a new building there.

One of Detroits most iconic sites will be the subject of an intense design concept study in coming months, headed by New Yorks ShoP Architects.

Photo courtesy historicdetroit.org/Detroit Free Press Archives

The former Hudson's department store.

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The focus will be on the site of the old Hudsons department store, which for decades in mid-20th century reigned as Detroits most important shopping locale. The store dated to 1891 and was built in multiple stages, reaching 25 stories and 2.2 million square feet before it closed in 1983. The structure was imploded in 1998 and since then the site has housed just an underground parking garage.

Rock Ventures, the umbrella entity for billionaire businessman Dan Gilbert, founder and chair of Quicken Loans, announced Monday that it had hired ShoP to work jointly with Detroit-based Hamilton Anderson Associates (HAA) to conduct an intensive study of concepts for a new signature building on the site (most likely mixed-use commercial and residential). Given central downtown location in the heart of Woodward Avenue, the project promises to produce what could be a new postcard image for the Motor City. These two firms, known as premier urban catalysts, were chosen for their innovation and creativity, as well as their track record of committing to community engagement. We believe SHoP and Hamilton Anderson will join a long list of distinguished architects, including Yamasaki, Burnham, and Kahn, who have created landmark buildings in Detroit that stand the test of time, said Jeff Cohen, founder of Rock Companies, LLC, a member of the Rock Ventures family of companies.

SHoP has designed dozens of signature projects, including the Barclays Center at Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn, New York, where the worlds tallest modular housing towersalso designed by SHoPare currently under construction. Hamilton Anderson has worked on numerous Detroit projects including the Tech One Building at the TechTown Research and Technology Park at Wayne State University. "In visiting Detroit, we've experienced the zeal and sense of entrepreneurship that underpins a vibrant urban environment. Through our inclusive design process and engagement with academia, we look forward to becoming part of the local culture and conducting a dialogue about the future of downtown," says William Sharples, SHoP principal.

In the coming month, SHoP and HAA will meet with local stakeholders to discuss programming and design concepts. In early 2014, the two firms will host a lecture series for the community to learn more about the architects, the Hudsons site, and what it will take to get a project of this magnitude underway. Designing a signature architectural project from the ground up in downtown Detroitor any great cityis an opportunity of a lifetime, and we are committed to getting it right, says Gilbert. Our goal is that this project will become not only a symbol of Detroits past and present, but more importantly, highlight the high-tech potential, creative future of opportunities for Detroiters and visitors from around the world.

Continued here:
SHoP to Work on Major Detroit Project

Shopping center vacancies in Dallas-Fort Worth have dropped to the lowest level in almost 10 years, thanks to a combination of strong leasing and only modest retail construction last year.

Our occupancy rate is now 90 percent. This has been a goal for our marketplace, said Bob Young, managing director of Dallas retail real estate firm Weitzman Group. We are backfilling existing retail space at a good clip.

This is a good turnaround from 2010, when we faced hundreds of thousands of square feet of vacant space from defunct retail concepts, Young said Wednesday at Weitzman Groups annual retail market update. We cut our supply of vacant boxes almost in half in the last two years.

The number of large vacant retail spaces in the D-FW area went from about 140 in 2011 to fewer than 70 last year.

Every well-located space is seeing activity or offers, Young said.

Net retail leasing in the D-FW area added up to about 2.7 million square feet in 2013.

In the last four years, shopping center and retail building vacancies in North Texas have fallen by about 4 million square feet.

At the same time, a modest amount of new shopping space has been added to the market.

In 2013, developers and retailers opened less than 2 million square feet of new store space in D-FW.

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D-FW shopping center vacancy drops to near decade low as ...