Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Jennifer Zeckendorf, founder of residential architecture firm Zeckendorf Architects, is continuing her familys long-standing legacy in the real estate business. Her father, Arthur Zeckendorf, is the owner, founder and co-chairman of Zeckendorf Development and the co-founder of Terra Holdings, a company that owns and operates Brown Harris Stevens. The Zeckendorfs are responsible for many high-end New York buildings, including the famed 15 Central Park West.

But Ms. Zeckendorf, 31, decided to go into architecture rather than development, starting her own firm in 2019. Before that, she attended Yale and received a masters degree in architecture from Columbia University. Shes worked as an architect at Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM) as well as at Robert AM Stern Architects. Among the projects she contributed to were 1500 Mission in San Francisco and Hudson Yards in New York.

Her latest project is Healdsburg House, a renovated 1920s single-family ranch house situated along the Russian River in Californias Sonoma County. Ms. Zeckendorf gut renovated it and connected a garage to the main structure, interweaving two narratives: Russian River camp and sleek modern wine country.

We caught up with Ms. Zeckendorf, who splits time among New York City; East Hampton, New York; and Sonoma, to discuss forging her own path, learning from Manhattan real estate royalty, and more.

More: Dubai-Based Real Estate Expert on Buying in the Middle East During Coronavirus and Beyond

Mansion Global: How do you define luxury?

Jennifer Zeckendorf: To me, its about having a sense of place. Usually thats about views, but its really a combination of views and location. Its also a mixture of architecture, interior design and landscaping. They all come together to make it feel luxurious.

MG: How would you describe your dream home?

JZ: It would have classical elementsa courtyard with columns, but also modern in its sense of simplicity. It would have beautiful stone work, wood and natural elements. Where it is could be anywherewith remote work there are so many options.

More: Marriott Executive Says Buyers Are Spending More Time Than Ever in Their Vacation Homes

MG: What was your vision behind Healdsburg?

JZ: That was built in the 1920s and Healdsburg was an agricultural town near a Russian River resort. Its now a premier wine country destination. I wanted to modernize it but retain the classic Craftsman character, so I embraced gables, retained cedar beams and restored some cedar siding.

When you have older structures, theres character you wont get when you build something new. When we did the addition, we converted the garage into a master bedroom and connected it with a glass breezeway. What made it so special was the rustic element of the ceiling. The ceiling was original, and we added another roof on top of it to preserve it.

MG: Do you expect architecture and design tastes to change as a result of Covid?

JZ: The fact that youre showing so much of your home on Zoom has changed things. That started with Instagram, when people were creating the perfect social media backdrops. Were going to see that more often because people are showcasing their homes more than ever. Its an interesting design challenge. Lighting is an issue too, as are things like where you place doors, so you dont have people coming in and out all the time while youre on Zoom meetings.

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MG: You come from a family thats very well known in the New York City real estate world. How has that affected your career thus far?

JZ: I learned a lot from my dad and from [15 Central Park West architect] Bob Stern, who was the dean at Yale, where I went. And its given me a lot of exposure. I chose to go into architecture as opposed to development. Its so technical and I always liked that.

A lot of times when you interact with architects, you think just about the end product, the beautiful spaces, but theres a lot of technical work that goes into it.The more technical you are, the better the architect you are.

MG: Is there a way people can make their homes feel more relaxing and more like an oasis at this difficult time?

JZ: Lights can be overlooked, but changing ceiling lights can really affect your mood. Its also important to have a work-free zone. For my family, thats the sunroom and outdoor patio space. Its nice to be able to disconnect from the work day and spend quality time there.

More: San Francisco Interior Designer Says Clients Are Looking to Make Upgrades

MG: What kind of long-term impact do you expect the pandemic to have on real estate?

JZ: What is going to be long-term, for my generation especially, is the shift from renting and traveling. Now people really see the value of the home. Well see people putting all of their assets into residential homes, whether theyre working from home full-time or not.

Your Hamptons house, for example, willat the leastgo from being home for 30 days a year to 45 days a year.

MG: What about the future of apartment living?

JZ: I think apartments will get bigger. Theres recently been a trend of a great rooma primary living space, which was something I was against, even at SOM, because of the noise and privacy issues. I think thats something developers are going to reassess.

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Architect Says 30-Somethings Are Learning the Benefits of Home Ownership - Mansion Global

Dwell Escapes is supported by Genesis. We selected this escape because the drama of the open-plan interior picks up on the progressive, audacious aspects of the Genesis GV80and the two-story garage doubles as a gallery for showcasing art.

A little over a mile from the Pacific Ocean in Venice, California, sits a boxy house on a 5,700-square-foot lot. At first glance, its a contemporary two-story home with lots of windows and raw materials like metal and concrete. But take a closer look at the fine details, and youll notice something intrinsically primordial about the space that architect Steven Ehrlich of EYRC Architects designed for himself and his wife, author Nancy Griffin.

Nicknamed 700 Palms, Stevens home is like a love letter to his past experiences around the world. The dwellings design was influenced by his time as a practicing architect in Marrakech, Morocco, as an architecture instructor in Nigeria in the 1970s, and his involvement in a Tokyo project in the 1980s.

The homes exterior colors were inspired by the Marrakech souks Steven experienced as a practicing architect in Morocco in the 1970s. A Genesis GV80 sits outside the 700 Palms residence.

"All of those experiences led me to learn about aspects of culture and multicultural inputand thats what makes this house unique," says Steven.

The homes guiding design principle is called multicultural modernism. Coined by Steven and Nancy 20 years ago, its a practice of utilizing architectural influences and traditions from around the world, and adapting them into a more modern design style.

The homes earthy color scheme complements the exterior landscape, which is ever-visible through grand windows.

"I loved living in courtyard houses in Africa, which were very sustainable because we didnt pump the rooms up with air conditioning," explains Steven. "We actually opened up doors and had thick walls, cross ventilation, and many, many fundamental passive solar strategies."

The family courtyard is a space with luscious greenery and cozy seating where the owners can connect with their three grown children and grandson. Beyond lies the art-filled garage, where a Genesis GV80 is parked.

Drawing inspiration from these African homes, Steven designed 700 Palms with three courtyards. One courtyard houses the pool, whereas the family courtyard has bucket seating and a barbecue. The tree courtyard is home to an 80-year-old tree that Steven built the roof around.

The outdoor pool isnt just a place to take a dip; it also produces an evaporative cooling effect for the air-conditioning-less home.

The courtyardscombined with a concrete block wall with high thermal mass, and a chocolate-brown concrete floor with radiant heatingallow the house to function without air-conditioning. Huge shades on the homes southwestern facade help to dissipate heat, and the small pool provides evaporative cooling, keeping the interior and exterior environments comfortable throughout the year.

Steven describes his Havana Brown cats as "architectural accessories" that accent the playful elements of the homes design.

Inside, the home has lofty ceilings and open spaces. Large glass windows and doors can be discreetly tucked away, allowing for movement and blurring the barriers between inside and out. Japanese influences abound in the Tansu stairs, the dining areaa reinterpretation of a sunken pitand the dining room table, which is a piece of floating ash with unsealed benches designed by Steven himself.

"From architecture to cars, the essence of the design is fundamental," says Steven. "And Ive always appreciated simple, clean lines." Here, Steven interacts with the Genesis GV80 in the homes garage.

Visitors will also spy worldwide cultural influences in the impressive collection of art pieces the couple has amassed over the decades. Perhaps the most surprising place that the owners display their art collection is in the garage.

A beautiful collection of African gourds and bowls reflect on the shiny exterior of the Genesis GV80.

"I do park my car there pretty much every day, but it is also a gallery for my African baskets and gourds that I collected years ago," explains Steven. The duality of the design allows the garage to be used for displaying sculptures and colorful artwork, as well as for entertaining during pre-pandemic events.

The concrete block wall is composed of a special blend made just for this house.

This idea of "duality" also presents itself in other aspects of the homes design. Its most notable in how the space has details that relate to the past and presentand how these elements seem to work cooperatively.

The open panels of the staircase and the glass bridge create the illusion of walking on air.

Take the bridge that is made entirely of glass and suspended on thin cables. Steven connected the glass bridge with a wall that "almost looks like [it] couldve been there for 100 years," bringing two seemingly opposing design elements together to form an appeasing architectural marvel.

Clean lines are ever present in this modern homeas seen in the glass bridge, dining table, concrete block wall, and abstract art pieces.

"The counterpoint between the technical (or the futuristic) and the primitive (or the primal)that duality is an interesting dialogue as well," Steven says.

With a design that moves between the past and the present, and from culture to culture, Steven has successfully created an urban oasis he describes as "an organic organism."

Steven made sure to include a pool on the 5,700-square-foot lot for his grandson and wife, who love to swim.

"The house is my transformer that I get to play with every day," says Steven. "I can open it, close it, move the shades up and downand Im tuning it up for the time of year, and the type of weather conditions. But its also a living, breathing organism that I get to be a part of, which is just fun."

The comfortable nooks at 700 Palms have doubled as remote workspaces during the pandemic.

His wife agrees. "The house was really designed to be flexible, so we use it differently today than we might have 20 years ago. For instance, adapting to pandemic life, weve been able to take certain spaces and use them for different purposes. I use the guest house now when I need to have quiet meeting time," says Nancy.

Steven and Nancy love how their home continues to change and serve them in new ways each passing year.

With natural ventilation, flexible spaces for working remotely, a design that blurs the line between shelter and nature, and elements that transport you to places around the world, 700 Palms provides Steven and Nancy with everything we might hope for in a homenow and for the future.

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Steven Ehrlich, EYRC Architects / @eyrcarchitects

Builder/General Contractor: Shramek Building Co.

This content was created by Dwell Creative Studio, the brand marketing arm of Dwell.

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An Architects Venice Home Draws Inspiration From Around the World - Dwell

Full of light and loft, the future new Frisco Public Library stands out not only for its AIA award-winning design, but as a luminous example how libraries serve communities, even during uncertain times.

Architects at Genslers Dallas office are reimagining a cavernous concrete building originally built to manufacture rocket ships as the librarys new home. Built in 1997 by Beal Aerospace, the original structures 40-foot-high ceilings and reinforced concrete slab floors were designed to accommodate heavy-lift orbital launch vehicles. The buildings journey from rockets to books seems predestined: Reinforced floors, it turns out, are ideal for supporting the weight of massive collections of books.

And as adaptive reuse projects go, the $42 million building is an architects dream or biggest challenge and maybe a bit of both.

Last year, voters overwhelmingly approved the city of Friscos five bond measures worth $345 million, including funds to relocate the public library from its current location inside Frisco City Hall. The new library, which is slated to begin construction in mid-2021, is already winning accolades. In June, Genslers design took top honors from the Dallas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects at its 2020 Unbuilt Design Awards. Architects Brian Nicodemus and Justin Bashaw, who are based in Genslers Dallas office, worked closely with Frisco Public Library director Shelley Holley on the redesign.

Shelley wanted something uniquely Frisco as far as the building language and expression, Bashaw says.

Inspiration came from the areas early Blackland Prairie roots. Named for its rich, dark soil, the Blackland Prairie is a narrow grassland ecoregion that runs 300 miles from the Red River in North Texas, through Frisco and the Metroplex, ending in San Antonio. After thousands of years of buffalo grazing and wild fires, the Blackland Prairies fertile soil was prime for farming. Civilization ultimately led to the prairies demise, and less than one percent of it remains.

The Blackland Prairie is the reason we are all here, says Bashaw. Theres not much of it left, but its worth celebrating.

For the librarys design, the architects played off the concept of a dogtrot a style of log cabin common to the Blackland Prairie during the 1800s. Imagine a rectangular shoe box with a breezeway punched through the middle, like where a dog might trot through, Bashaw explains.

The design allows for two entryways, including a ceremonial one to the north toward Frisco Square. (The new library is part of a larger master plan that will include a park and trails leading to the square.) A breezeway connects the existing concrete structure with a new community event space made from UV-treated wood veneer, which subtly recalls the look of a log cabin. The event space is surrounded by a plaza designed to accommodate activities like robotics racing, science night, and stem-based learning.

Studio Outside is also taking cues from the areas original ecosystem for the librarys landscape design, and have selected plants native to the Blackland Prairie. When its finished, an interpretive nature trail leading to a park will provide library staff and teachers with another tool to educate on the prairies important history.

Of course, there are challenges in any design project and the Frisco Public Library was no exception. The original buildings wide open spaces and strong structural slab are perfect for housing a multitude of heavy books, but they didnt allow for the kind of big windows the architects wanted, explains Bashaw.

We needed to punch openings into the concrete panels to provide light but the exterior walls are also its support structure, he says. So we got creative and introduced skylights in some areas, and in others, we replaced the walls with steel, so that large windows and doors could be added. When it comes to books, too much of a good thing can also be a problem (paper is highly sensitive to the punishing effects of the Texas sun), so to protect books and other materials, the architects designed an elaborate louver system on the buildings west side to deflect heat and light at the harshest time of day.

Nicodemus and Bashaw have designed other libraries in the Metroplex, but the Frisco library is unique not only for its size in terms of contiguous square footage its one of the largest in the state but because it is designed as a single library to serve an entire city.

Thats fairly unique, says Nicodemus, who compares Friscos plan with that of Dallas, which has many small municipal libraries spread out all over the city with shared resources. Frisco took a different approach with a single library for a very large city, and that was exciting; The question was how do you put everything into one library so that it all works together seamlessly?

Thats where Frisco Public Library director Shelley Holley comes in.

Everyone has an idea of what a library is mostly they think its a place to warehouse books where the librarians shush people to be quiet but we are so far from that, Holley says. We have plenty of books, but progressive modern libraries are full of noisy activity.

When it opens, the Frisco Public Librarys state-of-the-art Innovation Lab will feature AI components sophisticated enough for both entrepreneurs and students who want to try out new technology. It will also be a place to experiment with laser and 3D printing, or learn to create anime or even make a movie.

But no mistake about it, Books and ebooks are still king, she says, and of the 2.5 million items circulating each year through Frisco Public Library, most are books. The library, which has a broad general collection of books, will need to add another 55,000 items to meet the needs of the citys growing population, Holley notes.

As the sole library in a town of 215,000 people, Holley envisions the new building will become a major destination for the community. In the library world, we talk about libraries being the third place there is your home, there is your work, and then there is that third place where the community can gather and have civic discussions, have friendships, have social and learning experiences. The new library will also be located near existing museums and theaters and feed off their vibrant energy.

In addition to Gensler, Holley called on the expertise of 720 Design Inc, a boutique design and architecture firm in Dallas that specializes in developing modern libraries. Together, they came up with a highly flexible design for the Frisco Public Library including 20 individual spaces for small group gatherings such as the casual Un-Conference Room, and spaces to handle such diverse activities as crafting and robotics.

Bookshelves are totally mobile with casters and independent lighting sources, so they can be rearranged or rolled away for large programs. Power and data connections will be available from anywhere in the library, and technology for broadcasting live from the building will be built in, because what Holley has learned from the pandemic is that people still want its services, especially during lockdown.

We have a weekly meeting with management team where we comb through data and look at whats popping, what people are using and asking for, she says. We track our usage data, and respond quickly. So when Covid hit in the spring, we introduced curbside service immediately. It went off like a rocket and has been very successful.

The new library building will continue curbside service with sophisticated, efficient drive-through and drop off systems. Many of its existing programs have already gone virtual, including story times for kids, along with its award-winning ESL and GED programs. I was just looking at stats, and one of our science programs has had 19,000 views in the last week, Holley says. People still want these things, and weve had to figure out how to give them to them in this new Covid environment.

Even when theres not a pandemic raging, librarians and architects are keenly aware that hundreds of people streaming through the doors every day bring plenty of germs with them. Automatic sliding doors are musts for new libraries the fewer touch points the better. And the types of materials furniture and other surfaces are made out of matters its hard to sanitize wood tables, for instance so the team is researching what the safest and most durable options will be. And since social distancing may become the new norm in public spaces, theyre looking at ways to make sure furniture can be quickly adapted as needed, including putting all furniture on casters, along with studying what the safest furniture groupings are, says Bashaw.

With cutting-edge design and a state-of-the-art new facility, the Frisco Public Library promises to be an inspiration for other libraries nationwide to follow.

We are revisiting the paradigm of what a library can be so all bets are off, Bashaw says.

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With Cutting-Edge Design and Technology, Architects Reimagine the Frisco Public Library as a True Destination - PaperCity Magazine

SL Green recently celebrated the commencement of construction at One Madison Avenue, a new 1.4-million-square-foot office building in the Flatiron District. The project entails the expansion and redevelopment of an existing 13-story structure into a 27-story Class A office building.

Located on the corner of Madison Avenue and East 23rd Street, the structure will occupy an entire city block and is poised to revitalize the streetscape surrounding the property. To complete this vision and deliver a high-quality commercial product, SL Green commissioned Kohn Pedersen Fox to lead architectural design.

The vertical addition will comprise 530,000 square feet positioned above a redeveloped nine-story podium. The reinforced concrete structure will house a series of 32 35,000-square-foot floor plates with minimal support columns to improve internal flexibility.

Amenity spaces within the tower will include expansive outdoor terraces at the tenth and 11th floors, a 15,000-square-foot artisanal food market, a 9,000-square-foot tenant lounge, a three-level fitness center, and bike storage. The building will also contain a 13,000-square-foot high-tech event space designed to accommodate up to 800 people.

Rendering of outdoor areas at One Madison Avenue

Rendering of outdoor areas at One Madison Avenue

Rendering of event space at One Madison Avenue

With a focus on occupant comfort and wellness, One Madison Avenue will also incorporate state-of-the-art HVAC and circulation systems to improve interior air quality and cleanliness. In addition, the building is expected to achieve both WELL and LEED-Gold certification.

KPF has enjoyed working with SL Green over the years, recently on One Vanderbilt Avenue and now on One Madison Avenue, which is very different from its taller cousin in Midtown, but we think will have an equally dramatic and positive impact on the city, said Doug Hocking, AIA, KPF design principal. We wanted to preserve the character of the original building but also open it up so we could extend the nature of the adjacent park through the tower. When completed, were confident that One Madison will be a dynamic, inspiring workplace for the 21st century.

Additional members of the development team include the National Pension Service of Korea and Hines. Together, the trio of developers have together closed on $1.25 billion in construction financing to complete One Madison Avenue.

We are proud to be bringing an important new office development to Midtown South that we are confident will attract the top companies and talent, said Marc Holliday, chairman and chief executive officer of SL Green. Despite the headwinds presented by current and temporary challenges, we remain focused on boosting the New York City economy by creating thousands of construction jobs and bringing a new, best-in-class office tower to the highly sought-after Flatiron/Midtown South submarket for the first time in a decade.

As part of the development SL Green has also donated $250,000 to the Madison Square Park Conservancy, the non-profit organization licensed by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to manage Madison Square Park. The donation will facilitate the completion of a new dog run and help offset the cost of upkeep and maintenance.

As we are witnessing the success of East Midtowns development, it is fitting that we also applaud development in Midtown South with One Madison Avenue, said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. Adding thoughtful design elements, increasing energy efficiency, and contributing to open space make this a project I can get behind.

Rendering of One Madison Avenue entrance

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Construction Begins on One Madison Avenue, a 1.4 Million-Square-Foot Office Tower in the Flatiron District - New York YIMBY

A portion of Mentors long-neglected Old Village area is targeted for a major upgrade.

Uptown Mentor LLC proposes a 40,000-square-foot, mixed-use, Class A office building at 8675 and 8695 Mentor Ave., near Little Mountain Road.

City Council recently authorized a development agreement with Uptown Mentor for construction, and exemption from taxation, of improvements to the parcels, comprising about 4 acres.

This is one of the commercial centers in Mentor's Old Village area that will be razed for a new office building project.

The legislation allows the city to provide certain infrastructure improvements via tax increment financing and property tax abatement incentives available in the Old Village Community Reinvestment Area.

Most of the existing storefronts on the property have been vacant for many years. Along with office space, developers envision restaurants and shops, and high-energy patio space.

As you know, this area is probably the most rundown, blighted and underutilized area of Mentor, said Uptown President Alison Sikora, who owns two other commercial properties nearby. It has been that way for decades, which has never made sense to me.

"I have always believed that Mentor should have a vibrant and walkable central business district," she added. "This area seems to be the prime location for such a development. The area is surrounded by well-established neighborhoods in all directions.

Studies completed by major commercial brokerage firms show that most employees appreciate the flexibility to work from home during the pandemic, but they also want to be able to work from an office, ideally closer to home, she said.

Employers, in turn, are predicted to accommodate those changes in the workforce by providing work near home options, studies show.

For this and other reasons, demand for suburban office space is on the rise, and that trend is predicted to continue, Sikora said. Mentor currently has lack of supply of quality office space. Moreover, office tenants want convenient amenities like nearby restaurants and shopping. Additionally, people are more interested than ever in outdoor dining options.

She said she and her brokers are actively pursuing tenants for this development, and they are in discussions with several that Mentor residents would be excited to have here.

She noted that she is working with local brokers and contractors with Mentor connections, where possible.

My sincere hope is that this development will have a catalytic effect, that it will become a local landmark, and that it will begin a transformation of that highly visible and vital area of our city, she said.

Her team has worked closely with the city during the last several months on bringing the project to this point. It still requires Planning Commission approval.

The project is welcomed by city officials, Mentor Economic Development Director Kevin Malecek said.

For many years, both the city and the public recognized these properties as an eyesore on bustling Mentor Avenue," he said, "And the opportunity to have a state-of-the-art, mixed-use building with Class A office facilities and a developer committed to making significant investment to improve the area is an extremely positive change.

It is also a recognition of what we are seeing in the commercial real estate market that with the pandemic, areas like Mentor, closer to peoples homes, may see growth opportunities in higher-end commercial possibilities.

Razing of the buildings is expected to take place in the spring, with construction soon to follow.

Ideally, Id like this development to be a shining example of collaboration and civic pride for many decades to come, Sikora said.

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Mixed-use, Class A office project proposed on blighted properties in Mentor's Old Village - News-Herald.com

The construction of new offices in central London has declined by half (50 percent) in six months as developers and occupiers shift their focus to refurbishment, according to Deloitte Real Estates latest London Office Crane Survey. The crane survey analysed office building data over the six months to 30 September, and included a poll of Londons biggest developers conducted at the end of September. The total office space under construction in central London is now 15.1 million sq ft. This is similar to the level recorded in the previous survey (15.3 million sq ft, the highest since 2002) as developments are now taking longer to complete.

Siobhan Godley, partner and head of Deloitte Real Estate, said: As a bellwether of developer sentiment and future office supply in the capital, this crane survey shows a decline in new construction starts to just 2.6 million sq ft across central London. This is down significantly on our previous survey, but remains broadly in line with the surveys long-term average. Notably, a higher than average 40 percent of new construction starts have already been pre-let, indicating less speculative construction.

Mike Cracknell, director at Deloitte Real Estate, said: Our data reveals that 3.3 million sq ft of office construction was not completed as scheduled between April and September and remains under construction. Had these projects completed on time, the total volume under construction would be almost a quarter lower.

Leasing demand became the biggest challenge to new development this survey. The developers sentiment survey showed that 57 percent of respondents said letting conditions were either the same or worse when compared to the end of March this year.

Cracknell continued: Of the developers we surveyed, a clear majority 85 percent pointed to weak tenant demand as the major obstacle to starting any new development. Until there is more clarity about occupiers office plans, developers will hesitate to embark on new projects, particularly speculative ones. Nonetheless, the news about vaccines has already resulted in a re-rating of real estate stocks, and may see both a bigger shift back to the office in the short term, and a strengthening of investor demand in London offices over the medium term.

This reluctance to embark on new office building, especially new projects, has led to a shift towards major refurbishments. The survey found that more than two thirds of the new construction starts involved an extensive upgrade of existing office stock across 28 separate projects. By transforming outdated buildings into COVID-safe, high-quality workspaces, developers are looking to upgrade and futureproof their offices in a market where occupational demand is increasingly discerning, added Cracknell.

Construction activity

The City of London, which dominated construction activity in previous surveys, has seen new office building activity fall by 60 percent to 1.2 million sq ft across 10 schemes. This compares to 2.8 million sq ft across 16 schemes in the previous survey. Notably, just under half of the Citys new construction starts are available to let, again suggesting a lower appetite for speculative development.

Richard Hammell, UK head of financial services at Deloitte, said: The financial services sector has for many years occupied the lions share of City office space, considering its office portfolio an essential part of doing business. Even before the pandemic, the sector was actively looking to reduce costs and consolidate its office presence in central London as many functions were distributed across the UK and offshore, and there was an increasing use of automation. The seismic shift in people working from home this year has served to accelerate this trend. While specific in-person aspects of business life most valued by this sector such as business development, efficient trading, client engagement and employee collaboration mean that offices will remain part of financial services, the nature and operational use of space will adapt in the years to come.

Office building and development in the West End remained at the same level as in the previous survey, with 12 new starts breaking ground, equivalent to 500,000 sq ft. The Southbank saw five new starts over the summer, amounting to 350,000 sq ft, and Midtown observed a small uptick in new construction activity, with 500,000 sq ft across eight refurbishment schemes.

Fewer new construction starts, especially projects built speculatively, are likely to take place in the short to medium term as a result of weaker occupier demand, the lack of development finance and the economic downturn, explained Cracknell. This lower level of new construction and substantial delays in office completions will have a major impact on future supply levels, leading to a self-correction which should prevent oversupply in the short term.

Godley concluded: The UK is leading the way with remote working across Europe. Nearly three quarters (72 percent) of UK employees would like to work remotely more often in the future 10 percent higher than that of European peers*. Developers and investors are acutely aware of this growing trend and are thus in a state of suspension before committing to new projects, until there is more clarity in the market and occupiers reveal their future of work strategies.

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Focus shifts to refurbishment as new office building in London falls by half - Workplace Insight

This helps reduce the construction period.

CPWD officials said they are using special bamboo flooring in these projects which are being brought from Meghalaya.

According to CPWD, the projects, started in August this year, have already made 35 per cent physical progress. This technology has not been used in such big projects.

Its success will demonstrate that construction of buildings in cities like Delhi can be done causing hardly any damage to the environment. It takes at least two years to construct such a building complex using conventional technologies.

These two office complexes can accommodate nearly 15,000 employees.The employees, who are currently occupying office space at hutments near South Block, will be shifted here.

The vacated areas will be utilised for construction of a new PMs Office, PMs residence and for accommodating SPG employees.

Officials said the facade of the buildings will resemble the Lutyens style and terracotta tiles will be used for this.

They added the expeditious construction was possible because of 'dry wall construction technology', which uses light gauge steel frames (LGSF) for external and internal walls.

These frames are covered with cement fibre boards on the outer side of external walls.

Cement fibre boards, coupled with gypsum boards, are used for interiors. Rock wool is filled in LGSF sections for thermal insulation.

This does not need water for curing of any concrete or cement plaster work and hence, a lot of water is saved.

Moreover, to increase fire resistance of the structures, vermiculite cement plaster is being done on the steel structures.

Due to this, the structures can withstand for two hours in case of a fire.This finish is not only aesthetically appealing, but also very durable and maintenance-free for years.

This type of faade has a very low effect of ageing, fading and discolouration over time due to their low water absorption properties and high firing temperatures during manufacture.

It also provides acoustic insulation from outside, which reduces noise levels by 10-20 per cent.

Pollution control measures have been adopted at both the sites. The air and noise pollution is being monitored round-the-clock with sophisticated equipment.

Thermal comfort comes from ventilated terracotta tile faade which also reduces the use of energy for air conditioning as well as for heating.

The ventilated installation system reduces the solar heat gain of the building from the external facade, thereby reducing energy requirements for cooling.

These measures include 10 metre-high barricading all-round the perimeter, regular sprinkling of water on the open areas, use of anti-smog guns, controlled deconstruction measures, covering of all debris, sand, excavated soil and aggregates with suitable fabric sheets, covering of trucks/dumpers transporting the debris outside the site, and cleaning of tyres of all vehicles.

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New Delhi: In A First, 'Dry Construction Technology' Being Employed To Complete Office Buildings In Record Seven Months - Swarajya

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October construction starts in South Florida rose from September, but lagged behind amounts seen a year prior, according to a recently released report.

Total construction starts for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties fell 10 percent from October of last year to $964.3 million, according to Dodge Data & Analytics, a Hamilton, New Jersey-based construction data analytics firm.

While nonresidential construction starts jumped, they were offset by a decline in residential starts. Nonresidential construction rose 63 percent, year-over-year, to $583.41 million. Residential construction fell 46 percent to $380.9 million. Residential construction represented about 60 percent of the total building in the region.

Nonresidential construction includes office, retail, hotels, warehouses, manufacturing, educational, healthcare, religious, government, recreational, and other buildings. Residential construction includes single-family homes and multifamily housing, according to Dodge.

October total construction starts climbed about 72 percent from September. That puts Octobers total above those reported for March, April, May and August.

October residential construction was up 16 percent from September. Nonresidential construction more than doubled from September.

Year to date, total October construction starts fell 27 percent, year-over-year, to $7.9 billion. Nonresidential construction starts fell 35 percent to $3.4 billion. Residential construction starts fell 20 percent to $4.5 billion.

Nationwide, total construction starts rose 12 percent, year-over-year in October. Nonresidential building increased 19 percent and residential activity gained 2 percent, according to Dodge.

Year to date through October, total nationwide construction starts fell 11 percent, compared to the same period of 2019. Nonresidential starts dropped 24 percent and residential starts decreased by 2 percent.

South Florida projects that scored construction loans in October include Coral Rock Development Groups $53.5 million loan for the 260-unit residential portion of its mixed-use project in Hialeah.

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South Florida October construction starts drop, year-over-year - The Real Deal

Rendering of Project Commodore

A planned development in MidtownManhattancould bring another one of the tallest buildings in North America to the New York City skyline in the next decade.

Dubbed Project Commodore, the mixed-use building planned for the site at 109 East 42nd St. would reach 1,646 feet tall and feature more than 2.1M SF of office space and a 500-room Grand Hyatt hotel as well as 10K SF of open-air public space and 43K SF of retail, New York YIMBYreports.

RXR Realty and TF Cornerstone are pairing up todevelop the project, which would ultimately bring a suite of improvements to Grand Central Terminal and the Grand Central-42nd Street Subway station in Midtown East. Those include an upgraded subway entrance at East 42nd Street, along with a new transit hall with retail that would be built on the western side of the development site and connect to the terminal, according to theEnvironmental Assessment Statement RXR and TF Cornerstone filed with the city.

The1,646 feetwould makeProject Commodore the tallest building in the city by roof height,passing Extell Developments Central Park Tower on West 57th Street, according to The Real Deal.The project is headed to a public scoping meeting next month, with completion slated for 2030.

TF Cornerstone principal Jeremy Shell said in a release when the building was first announced in February 2019that it was an opportunity to bring a new icon to New Yorks skyline and help advance the citys goals for desperately needed new development and infrastructure in East Midtown. The area was rezonedin 2017 with the view of encouraging more office development.

The building would join new office supertall One Vanderbilt, which developer SL Green openedin September on theopposite side of Grand Central from Project Commodore. That $3B building spans 1.7M SF and is 1,400 tall, making it the fourth-tallest in New York and the tallest office building in Midtown.

JPMorgan is also moving aheadwith its plan to build a massive new headquarters at 270 Park Ave., with that building, which would house 14,000 people and reach 1,425 feet, now set to open in 2024.

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1,600-Foot Office And Hotel Tower Planned Next To Grand Central - Bisnow

MASONThe original portion of the Ingham County Jail is ready for the wrecking ball.

Built in the 1960s, the old jail will be completely torn down, the first sign of progress for the $70-million justice complex construction project. That portion of the jail was decommissioned more than a year ago as maintenance issues made it difficult to house inmates there, Chief Deputy Jason Ferguson said.

The complex is slated to open in mid-2023 and stay within cost estimates, Ferguson said.

We are currently doing very well with our budget, he said.

A rendering of the new Ingham County Justice Complex in Mason. The complex is expected to open in 2023.(Photo: Courtesy of the Ingham County Sheriff's Office)

Located adjacent to the current county complex on Cedar Street, the justice complex will house a new jail, the Sheriff's Department's administrative offices and 55th District Court facilities.

The jail, built in 1963, has outlived its useful lifeand is plagued with problems from flooding, deteriorating walls, and functional deficiencies, an evaluation found.

The new jail will have roughly 410 beds, a decline from the more than 600 the facility held decades ago, Ferguson said.

The Ingham County Jail in Mason, Michigan. Friday, Nov.13, 2020.(Photo: Robert Killips | Lansing State Journal)

The new complex will cover the parking lots and vacant land south of the jail and sheriffs administrative offices. Work on thebuildings' footings and underground utilities should start in early 2021.

Once the footings are down, it will go up pretty quickly, Ferguson said.

Precast concrete parts of the building will be installed late in 2021 and people will see the complex start moving upward in 2022.

"We're that close," Ferguson said.

The construction will not interrupt operations at the jail, courthouse or offices but will restrict some parking and roads in the area, Ferguson said.

The current courthouse, jail and sheriffs office will all be demolished once the new complex is open. The only structure that will remain is the mechanical building, which will house vehicle maintenance and a shooting range, Ferguson said.

Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wriggelsworth talks about the plan to build on to the existing facility near a recreation area no longer in use during a tour of the Ingham County Jail on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Mason. That portion of the jail will be demolished this year.(Photo: Nick King/Lansing State Journal)

Ferguson said a team of people at the sheriffs Department and courts have worked together to design the interior layout of the building.

In August 2018, Ingham County voters agreed to a new justice millage, which was primarily designed to fund the design and construction of a new complex for the jail, Sheriffs Department and courts.

More: Voters approve millage for new Ingham County Jail, justice complex

The 0.85 of a mill raised about $6.2 million in its first year and means anan extra $42.50 in taxes annually per $100,000 of home value, according to Ingham County.

Aside from the building's construction, the millage has funded programs for inmates within the jail, Ferguson said. Those programs will grow once the new building is operational and the jail has more space, he said.

Contact reporter Craig Lyons at 517-377-1047 orcalyons@lsj.com.Follow him on Twitter @craigalyons.

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Jail demolition to clear the way for new Ingham justice complex - Lansing State Journal