Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Last Updated: October 8, 2012 10:10pm ET

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A rendering of the two 26-story towers that will be built above the historic Victoria Theater on 125th Street in Harlem.

NEW YORK CITY-A new hotel, apartments, retail and cultural space are all part of a $143-million plan to bring a mix of commercial uses to Harlems storied 125th Street corridor. After Empire State Development approved Danforth Development Partners plan to construct more than 300,000 square feet above the historic Victoria Theater in July, the developer has tapped architect Ariel Aufgang to design the project with a special focus on preservation and progress.

The whole idea of developing this mixed-use structure is that we are trying to make a destination for the community and for people from outside the community, Aufgang tells GlobeSt.com. It will be the center of attention.

The project which will rise midway between the New York State Office Building and the Apollo Theater involves the construction two 26-story towers, a hotel and an apartment building, will be constructed above the historic Victoria Theater, whose original 1917 terra cotta facade and ornate lobby will be restored. The two towers, a 210-room hotel and a 230-unit apartment tower, will have a combined 360,000 square feet of space.

Aufgang part of Suffern, NY-based Aufgang + Subotovsky Architecture says the team is working to preserve and restore historic components of the theater while bringing new amenities and services to the area. He notes that the hotel will be the first full-service hotel in the history of Harlem, complete with a 5,000-square-foot ballroom and a four-story base called the podium, which has 25,000 square feet of retail space and 25,000 square feet of cultural space. Upon completion, it will house institutions such as the Classical Theater of Harlem, JazzMobile, the Apollo Theater Foundation and the Harlem Arts Alliance.

Original post:
360,000-SF Victoria Project To Highlight Harlem's Past--and Future

by Romesh Navaratnarajah Punggol is rapidly developing into a major commercial and residential hub, underlined by strong interest for the new Watertown development.

Over at the upcoming retail mall Waterway Point (pictured), supermarket NTUC FairPrice Finest and Shaw Theatres have signed on as anchor tenants.

The FairPrice Finest outlet will occupy around 30,000 sq ft of retail space and provide a variety of quality products and value-added services. It will be the 10th of its kind in Singapore and the second 24-hour Finest outlet after Serangoon Gardens.

Christopher Tang, CEO of Frasers Centrepoint Commercial, said that NTUC FairPrice Finest's commitment as an anchor tenant "affirms the strong appeal of Waterway Point and we are confident that the Mall will be the centre of attraction at Punggol waterfront".

Waterway Point will feature a "24 Hour Basement" level, where Shaw Theatres and FairPrice Finest will function round-the-clock.

When completed, 40 percent and 30 percent of the mall's floor space will be for retail and F&B outlets respectively, while the remaining space will be occupied by entertainment, educational institutions, banks and other service providers.

The entire S$1.6 billion-plus Watertown development is jointly developed by Far East Organization, Frasers Centrepoint and Sekisui House and will integrate residences, the mall and an extensive public transport network.

Meanwhile, close to 97 percent of residential units at the 992-unit development have been snapped up with only 34 units remaining, mainly three- and four-bedders ranging from 1,173 to 1,550 sq ft.

At the same time, new buyers will receive FairPrice Finest vouchers ranging from S$8,000 to S$10,000.

The construction of the retail mall is expected to end in 2015, while the residential component will likely be completed by 2017. Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd was awarded the main construction contract for the project.

See the original post:
Punggol waterfront development shaping up

Dylan Chappell Architects, specializing in modern Santa Barbara architecture, has opened a new office at 550 Maple Ave., Suite A, in downtown Carpinteria

Carpinteria, CA (PRWEB) October 09, 2012

Known for its functional and energy efficient modern design, DCA brings a fresh and interactive approach to the design process. DCA is a full-service architectural and planning firm that creates residential, retail, and commercial buildings.

I started DCA based on the simple idea that buildings can serve as a link between culture, nature, and the people who inhabit them. We are a uniquely creative firm geared to helping people realize their architectural dreams in both a timely and highly cost effective manner, noted Mr. Chappell.

His domestic and international projects include restaurants, resorts, retail, educational facilities, multi-family housing, and custom residences. Mr. Chappell is the author of the series A Guide for Homeowners Building Strategies for a New Age, which includes the popular DCAs Great Design System. This system is a leading edge approach that is truly different.

The Great Design System is a summary of the five phases used in designing a custom new home or residential remodel. This guide includes details on what information an architect needs from a client, what clients can expect in services and plans from an architect, and an outline of fees and typical costs for each of the five phases. This guide is a general and gentle introduction to the very exciting world of working with an architect to make your dreams and visions for a new home a reality.

Born in Ventura and a Buena High School graduate, Mr. Chappell holds a Bachelor of Architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He also studied modern architectural design in Denmark at The University of Copenhagen. He is a licensed California Architect. His pro bono projects have included rebuilding from the 2008 Tea Fire and Casa de Una Esperanza, an orphanage in Juarez, Mexico.

Clients can get to know DCA by watching A Studio Visit With Dylan Chappell, a short video introduction into the firms philosophy, where Mr. Chappell explains why he got into architecture and how he finds his passion for being a designer.

Dylan Chappell Architects

550 Maple Ave.

View original post here:
Santa Barbara Architect Dylan Chappell Announces New Office in Carpinteria

CAROL STREAM, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The industrys leading construction firms gathered at the San Mateo Marriott in California this past Friday to discover which builders, contractors, and corporate owners would be named this years Constructech Vision Award winners.

The Constructech Vision Awards honor companies that have realized the advantages of applying advanced technologies to their everyday businesses. In addition to honoring builders and contractors, Constructech magazine also recognized the hardware and software suppliers that enabled each construction company to achieve its goals.

Companies eligible to participate include residential, commercial, and heavy construction firms, professionals in all trades, architectural and engineering firms, corporate owners, facility management companies, government agencies, and land developers.

The 2012 Vision Awards ceremony was held following Constructechs annual Technology Day event. This years Technology Day theme was Flash Forward IT, which centered on the question: What will your IT department look like in 3-5 years? This years Vision Awards winners proved they have been thinking about the exact questionand have even taken great strides to reach the answer.

The Vision Awards have a steep tradition rooted in honoring the most forward-thinking, innovative companies in the construction industry. Make no mistake, the 2012 winners carry on this stellar tradition, says Peggy Smedley, editorial director, Constructech. These companies have implemented technology solutions that are improving their businesses far beyond what we could have even imagined just a few years ago. Now, with an eye on tomorrow, they are using technology to serve as a strong foundation as we advance the future of IT in the industry.

The winners of the 2012 Constructech Vision Awards are:

AEC/Design Gold: Vista Projects Limited

Builder/GC Commercial: $26 million to $100 million Gold: Tocci Building Corporation Silver: Milestone Construction Services Inc.

Builder/GC Commercial: $101 million to $250 million Gold: The PENTA Building Group Silver: Anslow Bryant Construction Ltd. Bronze: Elford, Inc.

See more here:
Constructech Announces Vision Award Winners for 2012

STV acquired ARCHITECTURE/vbn (VBN), an award-winning architectural design firm based in Oakland, Calif. VBN will be integrated into STVs West Coast operations.

VBNs talented employees share our commitment to excellence, said Dominick M. Servedio, PE, STV executive chairman. We have known this firm for many years, and have always been impressed with their portfolio of work. I am excited to welcome VBN into STVs family.

Founded in 1958, VBN serves education, transportation, government and commercial clients, and has extensive experience in the design of transit facilities. They bring an established and highly-regarded presence in Northern California to STV. The firm is also a registered green business.

STV and VBN have been working together to seamlessly integrate our corporate cultures, said Milo E. Riverso, Ph.D., P.E., CEO and president of STV. This is a great match. VBNs excellent skill set strengthens STVs services, so we can better serve our existing clients in the Western region.

VBNs work encompasses large- and small-scale projects, consisting of intermodal terminals, bus facilities, light rail, rail stations and transit centers. VBNs notable projects in these areas include the Millbrae Station for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) System; the Transit Mall Station for Long Beach Transit; the Richmond Intermodal Station for the Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee; and multiple stations for the California High Speed Rail project, including three stations from Fresno to Bakersfield.

Eli Naor, AIA, who was one of the principals at VBN, is joining STV at a vice president and will head the California Facilities group.

Rob Barthelman, AIA, also a principal with VBN, will join STV as a VP. He will lead STVs West Coast education market, continuing the innovative excellence his team has brought to the education market in Northern California.

STV is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2012. Since its earliest predecessor firm opened its doors in 1912, the firm has grown to become a leader in providing architectural, engineering, planning, environmental and construction management services for buildings and facilities, transportation systems, energy and infrastructure.

STV is ranked 32nd in Engineering News-Records Top 500 Design Firms survey. STV is 100 percent employee-owned. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.stvinc.com or follow @STVGroup on Twitter.

The rest is here:
STV acquires Calif. architecture firm

York Minster restoration project gets under way to improve visitor access and facilities

8:12am Tuesday 9th October 2012 in News By Julie Hayes, Business editor

Work has started on improvements to York Minster as part of a landmark project.

Building restoration specialists William Anelay have started work on refurbishing the piazza surrounding the south transept and the undercroft below the Minster.

Working with architects Arroll & Snell and project managers Gardiner & Theobald, William Anelay, which has been based in York since 1747, has been appointed to carry out the construction works to improve access for all.

The work is expected to be complete by spring next year in preparation for the opening of the Minster Revealed project, a five-year scheme supported by a 10.5m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The York Minster Revealed project includes the largest conservation and restoration project of its kind in the UK, and is set to transform the visitor experience with new underground, interactive chambers, and a world-class stained-glass gallery, The Orb.

The Minster will remain open throughout the works and visitors will be able to enter the cathedral through the West Door while pedestrian access past the south transept will be maintained at all times.

The piazza area, which is currently laid out on different levels with stone steps and a temporary ramp, will be excavated with the foundations being levelled off. It will be replaced with sandstone and limestone and the area approaching the Minster Gates will be relaid with new sandstone flags.

The undercroft area below the Minster has been home to a museum for many years and the access will be improved with two passenger lifts, and a series of ramps and walkways.

Continue reading here:
Minster restoration project gets under way to improve visitor access and facilities

From 1999 - 2002, decorations for special events accounted for an estimated 1,100 reported home structure fires per year, the majority involving candles, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Halloween is no exception to these statistics, as open flame fires increase by 50 percent around the Halloween holiday due to increased use of candles.

PuroClean,known as The Paramedics of Property Damage, is a property damage fire restoration company that offers emergency clean up, restoration, and repair services including smoke and fire damage restoration, water damage restoration, flood water removal, and mold and mildew removal. Rick Gutridge, owner of Puroclean Water, Fire, and Mold experts serving Central Ohio, says, We experience an increased number of fire mitigation calls beginning in September. The source of many of these fires is typically attributed to seasonal decorations.

Columbus, OH (PRWEB) October 09, 2012

PuroClean, known as The Paramedics of Property Damage, is a professional mitigation company specializing in property remediation after a home or commercial structure has been damaged by fire and smoke. Rick Gutridge, owner of Puroclean Water, Fire, and Mold experts serving Central Ohio, says, We experience an increased number of fire mitigation calls beginning in September. The source of many of these fires is typically attributed to seasonal decorations.

To help reduce the risk of fire and prepare homeowners if a Halloween fire were to ignite, Gutridge provides local property owners with the following tips:

If property is damaged by a fire, it is important to call a fire restoration professional immediately. Gutridge said the faster the response, the greater the chance of saving property and possessions.

PuroClean is a property damage fire restoration company that offers emergency clean up, restoration, and repair services including smoke and fire damage restoration, water damage restoration, flood water removal, and mold and mildew removal. PuroClean has earned the trust of property owners, insurance professionals and home service providers throughout the United States and Canada since 2001. Backed by a comprehensive network of 300 franchise offices and a national training and business support center, each PuroClean office responds promptly to property emergencies, demonstrating a high degree of professionalism and compassion. PuroClean certified technicians are thoroughly screened, insured and trained in utilizing the latest in mitigation technology and procedures throughout the remediation process while operating under a strict code of ethics. In addition to serving the needs of property owners, PuroClean offers hundreds of continuing education classes each year to insurance professionals and property service providers nationwide. In 2011, PuroClean trained over 10,089 insurance professionals nationwide, helping them earn their continuing education credits.

For more information on PuroClean, please contact Rick Gutridge at 614-309-5739 or visit columbusrestorationservices.com .

Rick Gutridge PuroClean Water, Fire, and Mold Experts 614-309-5739 Email Information

Link:
Local Expert PUROCLEAN Warn Residents, Business Owners of the Risks of Halloween Fires

Libya's parliament on Sunday ousted the country's newly elected prime minister in a no-confidence vote, the latest blow to hopes that the country's factions could agree on a government charged with restoring stability after last year's civil war.

Mustafa Abushagur was Libya's first elected prime minister after last year's overthrow of dictator Moammar Gadhafi. He represented an offshoot of the country's oldest anti-Gadhafi opposition movement, and was considered a compromise candidate acceptable to both liberals and Islamists.

But his proposed Cabinet was struck down by a legislature representing dozens of divided tribes, towns, and regions across the country, many of whom feel they are owed the spoils of victory over Col. Gadhafi.

He had 25 days from his Sep. 12 appointment by parliament to form a Cabinet and win the legislature's approval, but that deadline expired on Sunday. The General National Congress voted 125 to 44 in favor of removing him as prime minister, with 17 abstaining from voting. He had just put forth 10 names for key ministerial posts Sunday when the no-confidence vote was held.

Until a replacement can be elected by the parliament, management of Libya's government is in the hands of the legislature.

The Congress will have to vote on a new prime minister in the coming weeks. The incoming leader will be responsible for rebuilding Libya's army and police force and removing major pockets of support for the former regime.

On Sunday, around 1,000 people protested in the capital Tripoli outside the congressional headquarters to demand that militias operating alongside the army end a partial siege of the town of Bani Walid, considered a major stronghold of former regime loyalists. They protested for a peaceful solution to the standoff that has already sent families fleeing from the town in anticipation of a strike following the death of a former rebel after his abduction and ill treatment by Bani Walid captors last month.

Perhaps the single greatest challenge facing any new Libyan leader is the proliferation of ex-rebel militias. One radical Islamist militia has been linked to the attack last month on the U.S. Consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi that killed the American ambassador and three others.

There has been a widespread popular backlash against militias since that attack, and the Libyan government has taken advantage to try to put some of them under the authority of military officers. But some militias have resisted any attempt to fully control them or disarm them.

Any prime minister who wants to impose his authority on the militias will need broad national support for his government but such support is hard to get.

The rest is here:
Libya’s newly elected PM cast out by legislature

Q: This fan is mostly made from mother-of-pearl and lace. It was a wedding present to my aunt from her husband in 1910. The plate was hers, too. It is dated and marked on the back. Will you please provide information on these two pieces?

A: These are two items that I am sure have been prized over the past century or so, and the fan with its mother-of-pearl sticks covered with white lace is the epitome of turn-of-the-century femininity.

I can just imagine your aunt flirting with her beau using this lovely piece, which seems to have endured the years rather well. My only concern is the dark area I see at the top near the center is this truly discoloration, or is it just my imagination?

If it is discoloration, the fan needs to be shown to a textile conservator, who may be able to fix the problem - but it probably will not be cheap. I fear that the lace may be degraded - and if this is the case, care needs to be taken to preserve this family heirloom for future generations.

There is little question in my mind that this fan is Continental European - perhaps French, Belgian, or Italian. It is hard to tell for sure without seeing a tag that would list the country of origin.

If the condition of this fan is not seriously compromised by broken sticks or discolored fabric that cannot be brightened, the insurance replacement value is probably in the $250 to $300 range. More expensive fans tend to be older and decorated with rather elaborate hand painting.

The plate is very interesting. It is entitled "Hector's Abschied" or "Hector's Goodbye." In Greek mythology, Hector was the son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy, and brother of Paris. He was married to Andromache to whom I presume he is bidding farewell.

Hector was considered to be the greatest fighter Troy possessed, and when he is killed in battle by Achilles, the Greeks refused to return his body for burial, abusing it for 12 days until the gods intervened and allowed Hector's body to be buried. Hector was considered by Medieval Europeans to be one of the "Nine Worthies" of the ancient world who were known for their courage, nobility and courtly nature.

This is a so-called "cabinet plate," meaning that it was designed to be displayed in a cabinet and not used for any sort of food service (they were also sometimes hung on walls). The mark on the back is called by many a "beehive," but it is really part of the Austrian Coat of Arms and is more properly called a "Bindenschild."

This mark was used by the Vienna or "Royal Vienna" factory, which opened in 1718 and closed 1864. However, many other companies have used this mark over the years, and I do not believe this piece was made either in Vienna or by Royal Vienna.

Link:
Joe Rosson: Valuable cabinet plate features art of Greek mythology

Libya's parliament ousted the country's new prime minister in a no-confidence vote on Sunday, the latest blow to hopes that political factions could agree on a government charged with restoring stability after last year's civil war.

Mustafa Abushagur was the first prime minister to be elected after the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moammar Gadhafi. He represented an offshoot of the country's oldest anti-Gadhafi opposition movement, and was considered a compromise candidate acceptable to both liberals and Islamists.

But his proposed Cabinet was struck down by a legislature representing dozens of divided tribes, towns, and regions across the country, many of whom feel they are owed the spoils of victory over Gadhafi. He was forced to withdraw his first ministerial line-up under pressure and his second attempt to submit one resulted in his ouster.

In a short statement on Libya al-Wataniya TV after the vote, Abushagur said he respected the decision made by the General National Congress as part of Libya's democracy but warned of instability if it takes too long to elect his replacement.

"There should be quickness in the election of the prime minister and formation of the government so the country does not slip into a vacuum," he said.

He had 25 days from his Sep. 12 appointment by parliament to form a Cabinet and win the legislature's approval, but that deadline expired on Sunday. The Congress voted 125 to 44 in favor of removing him as prime minister, with 17 abstaining from voting. He had just put forth 10 names for key ministerial posts Sunday when the no-confidence vote was held.

Until a replacement can be elected by the parliament, management of Libya's government is in the hands of the legislature.

The Congress will have to vote on a new prime minister in the coming weeks. The incoming leader will be responsible for rebuilding Libya's army and police force and removing major pockets of support for the former regime.

On Sunday, around 1,000 people protested in the capital Tripoli outside the congressional headquarters to demand that militias operating alongside the army end a partial siege of the town of Bani Walid, considered a major stronghold of former regime loyalists. They called for a peaceful solution to the standoff that has already sent families fleeing from the town in anticipation of a strike.

Perhaps the single greatest challenge facing any new Libyan leader is the proliferation of ex-rebel militias. One radical Islamist group has been linked to the attack last month on the U.S.-Consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi that killed the American ambassador and three others.

See the original post:
Libya's parliament votes to remove PM from post