Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Source: The Daily Telegraph

TWO architects who openly savaged designs released for James Packer's Barangaroo casino worked on construction and redesign of competitor The Star casino.

Joe Agius, the NSW president of the Australian Institute of Architects, who said the design could have belonged in "Dubai" and described Mr Packer's comparison to the Opera House as "ludicrous and offensive" in The Sydney Morning Herald admitted he was employed on "alterations and additions" worth $140 million in construction costs on The Star's $750 million design. Phillip Cox, Mr Agius's partner at Cox Richardson Architects, who also criticised the Crown proposals as "a bit Macau", helped build the original Star building.

Last Friday The Daily Telegraph revealed designs by three leading overseas architects for the building. Mr Agius was forced to admit yesterday that he had done work for The Star, as had his company Cox Richardson, but said it was no longer a client: "This is irrelevant to my comments. Those comments were made in my (position) as NSW chapter president of the Australian Institute of Architects."A spokeswoman for Cox Richardson referred all inquiries about comments made by Mr Cox, who is overseas, to Mr Agius.

Executive vice-president of Mr Packer's company Crown, Todd Nisbet, said last week's unveiling of the three designs was the culmination of months of work by some of the world's best architects to give Sydney a building it could be proud of.

A government panel is to decide whether to give approval to Mr Packer's Barangaroo high-rollers casino as part of the government's "unsolicited proposals" process this month.

Gallery - see the Barangaroo proposals

Experts applaud designer shortlist

Architectural genius won't wear Crown

Keating favours sea shells by the sea shore

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Barangaroo critics were Star architects

HIALEAH, FL--(Marketwired - May 6, 2013) - According to Tom Castellanos -- roofing industry professional and CEO of East Coast Metals, Inc. -- homeowners and contractors must concentrate on the right techniques and materials if they intend to ensure thorough in-home comfort and energy-efficiency. As such, Castellanos points to a recent article from GMA News that discusses how clay and concrete roofing tiles -- in addition to ventilation techniques -- can improve the level of comfort residents experience amidst increasing summer temperatures.

The article explains, "In a live installation demo Wednesday at building and construction expo WORLDBEX, representatives from the Siam Cement Group said that concrete roof tiles are the best way to keep cool indoors during the summer." According to GMA News, architects at the conference revealed, "Concrete roof tiles offer very good thermal insulation. Especially when coated or glazed, it provides a higher level of emmitance and reflectance compared to galvanized iron and asphalt roof, thus heat transfer beneath the roof is reduced." The article also notes that many homeowners may find concrete tiles more aesthetically pleasing, as there is more potential for the materials to match other textures or colors.

In terms of maximizing the energy-efficiency offered by concrete roof tiles, the article suggests that ventilation also plays an important role. As a proponent of this type of material, Tom Castellanos believes that more contractors and homeowners should make sure to employ proper technique to ensure thorough ventilation beneath the tiles.

While the product has gained popularity in areas throughout the world, Tom Castellanos suggests that the lack of concrete roof tiles in the United States has prevented many homeowners from experiencing the energy-saving insulation benefits of the material. He expects that if the material becomes more widely used that the cost associated with concrete roof tiles could decline, making it more accessible to construction and home improvement projects within the United States.

"Markets around the world have embraced the use of concrete and clay roof tiles for the purpose of cooling their homes in the summer heat. Along with concrete and clay roof tiles proper ventilation beneath is still crucial; it is time that we in the US adopt these standards that the rest of the world seems to have gotten right. As a proponent of roof tiles in my 25 year career in the roof tile industry I wholeheartedly endorse the use of roof tiles for cooling homes," Tom Castellanos concludes.

ABOUT:

Tom Castellanos, President and CEO of East Coast Metals, Inc., is a business professional in Hialeah, Florida. As the leader of his company, Castellanos has revolutionized the roofing industry and is continuing to expand his business by providing a high degree of customer service and quality support to his clientele. Throughout his career, Tom Castellanos has developed a long list of professional skills that have contributed to his success, which include quality improvement, strategic partnerships, operational planning, reengineering of manufacturing operations, strategy development and market analysis.

Original post:
Tom Castellanos Says Roofing Materials Can Affect Home Comfort in Face of Increasing Summer Temperatures

May 6, 2013 - ARMA's Quality Asphalt Roofing Case-Study Awards Program recognizes architects, contractors, and specifiers who use asphaltic roofing materials on low-slope and steep-slope building projects fortheir beauty, affordability, and reliability. Winners of this year's awards include a building that houses a federal agency that monitors marine life and climate, an insurance company that wanted to add a vegetated roof, and an upscale home in a bucolic residential community prone to frequent rainfall. Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association Public Information Department Washington, DC, 20005 USA Press release date: April 24, 2013

QARC winners display roofing projects beauty, affordability and reliability

The winners of this years Quality Asphalt Roofing Case-Study (QARC) Awards Program include a building that houses a federal agency that monitors marine life and climate, an insurance company that wanted to add a vegetated roof and an upscale home in a bucolic residential community prone to frequent rainfall.

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) is proud to announce the winners of its 3rd annual (QARC) awards program. Industry judges awarded the top three prizes to one residential and two commercial projects for their roofing design, craftsmanship and versatility.

QARC is designed to recognize architects, contractors and specifiers who use asphaltic roofing materials on low-slope and steep-slope building projects for its beauty, affordability and reliability. The competition drew a mix of residential and commercial roofing projects from all over the United States. The 2013 award recipients are:

Gold National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Building in La Jolla La Jolla, CA Company: Protech Roofing Service Project description: Built-Up Roofing system provides redundancy and long-term performance, accommodates more than 800 stand-up solar panels and meets stringent requirements dictated by CA Title 24

Silver Mill Creek Community Association (MCCA) Residence Mill Creek, WA Company: Chris Howard Roofing, LLC Project description: The heavy weight asphalt shingle used for this home offers a long life expectancy and requires little to no maintenance

Bronze American Life & Insurance Company Louisville, KY Company: American Roofing & Metal Co., Inc. (AR&M) Project description: An SBS Modified Roof provided the buildings vegetative system a watertight, durable and long-lasting option

Honorable Mentions Brent Gibson Classic Home Design Edmond, OK J&L Roofing http://www.jlroofing.com

Saint Petersburg College Clearwater, FL McEnany Roofing and Contracting, Inc. http://www.mcenany.com

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Asphalt Roofing Awards Program Honors the Year's Most Remarkable Building Projects

Mike and Allison Nys of Billings didnt think too hard when deciding whether to build a house or join the remodeling fraternity.

They chose to buy and move into an historic home believed to be the only residence in Laurel listed on the National Register of Historic Places and then spend a year or more on a six-figure renovation.

We fell in love with the history of the house, said Mike Nys. Its going to be apriceylittle deal, but on the other hand, if you go with new construction, youll spend $250,000 to $300,000 for not that much house.

A 1905 kitchen was really just some furniture, he said, and the room wasprobablylast remodeled in the 1950s.

A modern floor plan required more space, so the Nys decided to add 500 square feet to the back of the house, while preserving the homes historic character and value.

After three months of demonstrating to the Laurel City Council that upgrading the home would be good for the older neighborhood, the couple won unanimous approval to get a variance for their addition.

We explained that we want to be in the town for the long term and want this property to be something people are proud of, he said.

For the past decade, the Nyses and their son, who will be an eighth-grader, lived in a 2,500-square-foot house on acreage in Lockwood, the first occupants of a house built by Kenmark Construction. But when Allison was hired as principal at Graff Elementary in Laurel, they decided to move.

The lure of remodeling was based on the familys lifestyle, even when historically low interest rates made new construction attractive.

I wanted to live close to work, live close to school for all the events and walk to a football game, said Allison Nys. I love sports.

Link:
The big question: Build a new house or buy a fixer-upper?

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