Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

When the letter arrived in 2007 inviting Tod Williams and Billie Tsien to enter a select competition to design a new Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, the husband-and-wife architectural team were momentarily stumped. Yes, they were well known among the cognoscenti, who admired their artisanal devotion to their projects. Yes, their new Folk Art Museum in Manhattan had just opened to rave reviews, raising their profile. And, yes, they had just made a good impression in Philadelphia with their elegant design for a small engineering building at the University of Pennsylvania.

The problem was that Williams and Tsien had never visited the Barnes Foundation and its fabulous art collection in suburban Merion.

Embarrassed by the lapse, the pair "hightailed it out there," recalled Williams, now 68. "I'd known about it since I was at college" at Princeton University, he admitted, but "it always seemed like a hassle to get to." He chided himself for his "intellectual laziness" and quickly acquired a pair of tickets to visit the galleries.

The Barnes worked its usual magic on Williams and Tsien. At the entrance, Jacques Lipchitz's stylized ceramic bas-relief stopped them in their tracks. They were left dizzy by the sensory overload of Matisses and van Goghs and Renoirs. And yet the element that intrigued them most was the one that perplexes many visitors: the antique hinges and brass implements that founder Albert C. Barnes had salted among the paintings. Albert Barnes, they realized at once, was a kindred spirit.

Barnes was a modernist who was intensely drawn to handcrafted objects. So are Williams and Tsien, who practice what might be called slow architecture. They pursue just a few projects at a time, so they can pay close attention to the details, etching and scoring and hammering every surface of their buildings as if they were crafting fine leather bindings or handmade paper. While they don't apply ornamentation in the same way that a neoclassical architect might have, they enliven their simple forms with the strategic use of rich color, unusual glazes, metalwork, and lavishly textured masonry.

Bigger names were considered for the coveted Barnes commission, including Rafael Moneo and Thom Mayne, but the board decided instead to go with the pair's small New York-based firm. It wasn't just their sensibility about craft and detail; the board also felt "they understood the complexity of the project better than anyone else," Aileen Kennedy Roberts, who chairs the building committee, has said.

Without a doubt, the $150 million Barnes building, which opens to the public May 19, was more complex than most museum projects. It was no secret to Williams and Tsien that the foundation's decision to relocate to Philadelphia was a controversial one, decried in the world's art press as a desecration of Albert Barnes' unique vision.

Because of promises made during the lengthy court battle, designing the new Barnes was a herculean assignment fraught with character-testing obstacles. For starters, the architects were obliged to re-create the interiors of the Merion galleries, inch-for-inch, inside the new building. Not just room dimensions, either. All the paintings, metalwork, and other objects would be placed in precisely the same arrangement as they had been in Merion. The imposition of that single requirement would ripple through the rest of the design, and would profoundly dictate the look and function of the new building on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

For most modern architects, the idea of replicating any building, even one as fine as Paul Cret's exquisitely proportioned 1920s gallery, is anathema. Some art-world figures were appalled to hear that Barnes' antiquated, salon-style hanging scheme would also be replicated, although others saw it as crucial to understanding the collector's intentions. Yet for the Barnes to succeed in its new location, the board understood that the building had to be a serious work of architecture, not a pastiche.

Many argued it was an assignment that simply couldn't be done well. "A faux Barnes is going to be a disaster, a compromise that will satisfy no one," said Lee Rosenbaum, who writes the CultureGrrl blog for the Arts Journal, and has been critical of the move.

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Architects' zeal for detail matched founder's

Seattle-based landscape architecture firm Gustafson Guthrie Nichol and New York-based architects Davis Brody Bond have won a competition to redesign Union Square, on the National Mall, in Washington, D.C.

"The National Mall is an extraordinary monumental landscape. Remarkable for its sheer scale, its powerful presence serves the country as both a public park and place of gathering and discourse," GGN Director Kathryn Gustafson said in a news release. "The goal of our design is to create a sustainable, durable and flexible plaza that is yet inviting and also active when it is not occupied for national events."

The Trust for the National Mall organized the competition to choose designs for three mall sites. Union Square, at the base of the Capitol, is the site of such major events as presidential inaugurations and mass demonstrations.

"Union Square represents an opportunity to fulfill the Mall's promise as a national place of assembly that is adaptable and easily maintained," Davis Brody Bond Partner Carl Krebs said in a news release.

The winning design "engages visitors with an impressive monumental scale, while also providing comfortable places for a range of experiences and voices," according to the team.

It focuses on a central space defined by the Grant Memorial and a reflecting pool consisting of a two-inch sheet of water that can quickly be drained to create a range of differently sized assembly spaces. Paved paths run diagonally across the pool.

"(T)he design dramatically rethinks the use of water operating with just 10 percent of the water of the current fountain and creates a series of plazas which can handle the heavy traffic of special events, and in turn reduces the wear and tear on the National Mall's lawns and gardens," Krebs said.

A series of outdoor rooms flank the central space, while "subtle changes in grade are used to form terraces and low retaining walls that provide seating surfaces and views into these rooms," the team wrote. "Planting further defines the spaces within, utilizing the existing mature trees on the site. Materials have been selected to reinforce the different identities of the constituent spaces, as well as to create durable surfaces that can be efficiently maintained through the life cycle of the project."

Read more real estate news. Visit seattlepi.com's home page for more Seattle news.

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Seattle landscape architects on winning team for National Mall design

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., May 4, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII - News) announced today that its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division broke ground on the shipyard's new Apprentice School campus. Apprentice School students, faculty and staff were joined by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, U.S. Reps. Scott Rigell, Bobby Scott and Rob Wittman, Newport News Mayor McKinley Price, HII leadership and other business and community leaders Thursday at the construction site for a ceremonial ground-breaking event.

A photo accompanying this release is available at http://media.globenewswire.com/hii/mediagallery.html?pkgid=12729

Armada Hoffler, the City of Newport News, the Commonwealth of Virginia and NNS have partnered on the project, which will include an 80,000-square-foot school, workforce housing, retail space and a parking garage. The campus will be located between 31st and 34th streets, bordered by Washington and West avenues.

"Looking out across this technologically advanced shipyard -- the only place in America where our nation's aircraft carriers are assembled, and home to commercial and military shipbuilding facilities rivaled by none -- it is clear that America's long history of innovation and advanced manufacturing is still alive and well," said Gov. McDonnell. "The skills needed to create these engineering marvels cannot be learned haphazardly or in your average technical training program. Virginia is proud to partner with the company to create this new campus to house their program. This facility will provide a fertile ground to cultivate the skills and trades necessary to build the ships of today and tomorrow."

More than 100 faculty and staff teach 25 different programs and more than 75 course offerings at The Apprentice School. Since 1919, the programs have produced more than 9,600 graduates in support of NNS's operational needs. An apprenticeship is a formal training program that allows students to receive instruction and experience -- both theoretical and practical -- in the various aspects of a skilled trade.

"This project is a demonstration of HII's commitment to education and investing in our people," said HII President and CEO Mike Petters. "Make no mistake, we believe this commitment to workforce development is necessary because what we do as a heavy manufacturing company -- the products we build and the services we provide -- is a direct result of the skills, talent and capability of our 38,000 employees."

NNS President Matt Mulherin said, "This campus will provide a first-class learning facility for our apprentices, while also providing another significant step toward revitalizing downtown Newport News. It is yet another symbol that American manufacturing is alive and well in Newport News. Without the support of an engaged state and city -- and its leadership -- a large, industrial organization such as ours would not flourish. We appreciate the long-standing support and partnership the City of Newport News and the Commonwealth of Virginia have always shown us."

The Apprentice School attracts an average of 4,500 applicants per year for 280 openings. The school offers four- and five-year, tuition-free apprenticeships in 25 occupations to qualified men and women. Apprentices work a regular 40-hour week and are paid for all work, including time spent in academic classes. Through partnerships with Thomas Nelson Community College and Tidewater Community College, The Apprentice School's academic program provides the opportunity to earn associate's degrees in business administration, engineering and engineering technology.

"Our national defense depends on our Navy," said U.S. Rep. Scott, "and the work product of the graduates of The Apprentice School will serve as the backbone of the United States Navy. We all look forward to the growth and progress of the apprentice program and the impact that the apprentices will have on the future of shipbuilding and our nation."

Mayor Price said The Apprentice School project "represents a partnership of organizations which embraces the values of generations of citizens in Newport News and throughout the Hampton Roads region--quality education, superior work ethic and an exceptional quality of life." "We are proud to be the home of The Apprentice School and to have played a role in an endeavor which will create opportunities for years to come," he said.

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Photo Release -- Newport News Shipbuilding Breaks Ground on New Apprentice School

U-T San Diego reporters may soon be sharing their space with cranes and construction crews as newspaper owner and developer Doug Manchester prepares to build a mixed-use development at the newspaper's Mission Valley property, according to notices surrounding the building.

According to the City of San Diego "notice of application," Manchester plans to build 198 residential condominium units, each with parking, 6,470 square feet of retail space, and 234,415 square feet of office space.

Since buying the paper formerly known as the Union-Tribune in November, Manchester has invested in the newspaper's headquarters building, adding a television studio and a restaurant on the lower floor. But many observers thought his primary interest in the newspaper was the real estate, and this move seems to give credibility to that notion.

Neither U-T San Diego Publisher John Lynch nor U-T San Diego editor Jeff Light immediately returned calls for comment.

At least one newsroom staffer was unaware of the project when reached for comment.

The San Diego County assessor values the 12.9-acre headquarters at $51 million, but its tax valuation hasn't changed in decades.

The move to build to add so much office space comes as the market for top-quality office space has tightened in recent months, though the project will likely need years to come to fruition.

Manchester previously confirmed that he paid $110 million to Beverly Hills-based private equity firm Platinum Equity to buy U-T San Diego, and that the paper was earning roughly $30 million by one measure ---- sometimes referred to as a company's EBITDA, an acronym for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Manchester has a long history as a developer in the region, having tried to build hotels in Oceanside and in downtown San Diego, and having built the Manchester Grand Hyatt near the San Diego Convention Center.

The plans for the development at U-T headquarters must still go before the Mission Valley Planning Group and the San Diego Planning Commission, and receive approval from the San Diego City Council.

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DEVELOPMENT: Doug Manchester to build condos, office complex on U-T San Diego land

MOUNT VERNON

By Betty Adams badams@centralmaine.com Staff Writer

MOUNT VERNON -- The three-story yellow wooden Oddfellows Hall just feet from Minnehonk Lake caught the eye of Dutch woodworker, craftsman and designer Erik Groenhout.

click image to enlarge

Erik Groenhout is restoring the former Odd Fellows Lodge in Mount Vernon. The Dutch woodworker is building a production space to build cabinets within the prominent structure on Minnehonk Lake.

Staff photo by Andy Molloy

click image to enlarge

Erik Groenhout insects a woodworking tool he sharpened Monday in the interior of the former Odd Fellows Lodge he is restoring in Mount Vernon. The Dutch woodworker is restoring the prominent structure on Minnehonk Lake to open a cabinet making business.

Staff photo by Andy Molloy

Almost two years ago, he and his wife, Rachel, were looking for a home in Maine where he could also practice his craft.

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Dutch woodworker takes on restoration project

Scout at Quarters D

Location: 2675 Rosecrans St. in Point Loma

Contact: (619) 518-8374; scout-home.com

Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday

Background: According to a 2008 historic structures report by Johnson & Johnson Architects, the four Officers Quarters buildings were overseen by architect Lincoln Rogers, possibly designed by his associate Frank Stevenson and built by contractor R.E. Campbell in 1923. Quarters A was the home for the highest-ranking base officer and Quarters D for the second-highest.

Officers Quarters D, a 1923 house at the old Naval Training Center in Point Loma, came back to life this week as Scout at Quarters D, a home furnishings shop specializing in pre-World War II designs.

It's more than a place to buy fancy wallpaper and a vintage lamp. The $850,000 restoration of the building at 2675 Rosecrans St. signals to passersby that the former military base, now called Liberty Station, continues on its path as a new neighborhood where you can live, work, shop and play.

"This was a part of San Diego people couldn't come to," said Alan Ziter, executive director of theNTC Foundation, which oversees restoration of historic buildings on the site. "It was a forbidden kingdom with guards and gates."

Turned over to the city in 1997, the 558-acre property has become home to some of the cultural and recreational activities normally housed in Balboa Park. Unlike the park, Liberty Station is on its own budget-wise; users, residents and businesses have to cover maintenance and other costs.

Still, Paul Silvera was drawn to the setting and the opportunity to turn a military manse into a showcase for living.

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Officer's house becomes home furnishings shop at Liberty Station

Second-generation craftsman Bob Bigelow recently opened his furniture restoration business in a permanent, downtown Woodland location after seven years of operating out of his home.

Bigelow & Associates Antique Restoration and Fine Woodworking, located at 418 First St., is an outfit that restores all types of furniture, yet has masterful expertise specifically in antique rehabilitation.

"I try to take the least evasive role to preserve the value of the antique, which means I use alternative methods like colored wax and cleaning techniques," Bigelow said about his strategy. "I like things to be restored to their original condition."

Bigelow is additionally adept at the rare art of caning, or the weaving of bamboo on a chair with bamboo reed. Caning is either hand loomed or made from a press. According to the craftsman, it takes around 20 years to become proficient in the trade.

"Caning is an artwork and there's very few of us left who do it," he said. "I'm carrying on a tradition my father started."

Bigelow's father, the late Kenneth Bigelow, taught furniture restoration and chair caning at Woodland Adult Education for 20 years. The younger Bigelow learned caning and woodworking as his father's an apprentice, and has "worked with wood his whole life."

"My dad was a real expert in caning," Bigelow said. "He could tell the difference between hand-woven and machine-woven (bamboo)."

Bigelow completed college and graduate work in Computer Assisted

When building the woodworking studio, which opened in February, Bigelow said he set out to design an "old-time workshop." The rustic-yet-modern ambiance is ideal for the intricacies of restoration such as tightening joints, filling holes, sanding, painting, spindle replacement and finish rejuvenation.

The wood artist is open to all projects, whether it's stripping down a piece and applying a new stain, or minor repairs. Bigelow is further equipped to custom design and build furniture upon a customers request and specification, such as a table and chairs set in a unique shape.

Continued here:
Bigelow, a master in antique rehabilitation, opens new downtown Woodland shop

Bonus ceiling for workers increased CABINET DECIDES BS Reporters / New DelhiOctober 02, 2007 The Union Cabinet today cleared a scheme through which bonus ceilings for both private and public sector workers would be raised. The move will cost the Union government Rs 125 crore and an undisclosed sum for the private sector. This was the first meeting of the Cabinet after two weeks as the PM had been unwell. The Cabinet approved an increase in the ceiling for bonus calculation to Rs 3,500 from the current level of Rs 2,500. In order to bring more workers within the ambit of bonus, the eligibility limit for bonus has also been raised. Now, workers whose basic and Dearness Allowance is less than Rs 10,000 are eligible for bonus. Earlier, workers earning upto Rs 6,000 were covered under bonus act. To pave the way for these two hikes, the government will amend section 2(13) and 12 of the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965. Section 32(vi) of the act will be deleted to cover the employees employed through contractors on building operations, Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes announced. Bonus corrections were promised by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in August, 2006. In a meeting with labour Unions, PM had said, I agree that current ceilings were set more than a decade ago. We will soon take a favourable decision on it. Then, at the Indian Labour Conference held in April this year, Labour Ministry again assured that it would raise the bar. However, nothing happened in the intervening period - until the Left parties announced their differences with the centre and the prospects of mid-term election imminent. The Cabinet, further, gave its approval, for signing of an agreement between India and Philippines, on the abolition of visa requirement, for holders of diplomatic and official passports. The Agreement would be signed during the visit of the President of Philippines to India on October 5, this year. The Philippines will become the 36th country with which India has signed this agreement. The acquisition of a new research vessel as a replacement of Geological Survey of Indias aging research vessel- Samudra Manthan, also got the Cabinets approval today. The vessel, for carrying out seabed surveys and exploration of non-living resources, would cost the government Rs 448 crore. Bonus ceiling for workers increased CABINET DECIDES BS Reporters / New Delhi Oct 02, 2007, 00:12 IST

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Bonus ceiling for workers increased

LEDtronics, Inc. 23105 Kashiwa Court Torrance, CA, 90505, USA

LEDtronics, Inc., the industry's most innovative LED lamp manufacturer since 1983, announces a series of T5 tube-style LED lamps as direct replacement for 12V xenon and halogen T3/T4 subminiature glass bulbs from 4 to 15 watts, including Xenon 1205X (5W) and Halogen lamps 774 (8W), 891 (8W, 12.8V) and 773 (8W).

The LEDtronics LEDG4BP-2W series of lamps work with high-frequency power supplies for 12VDC or 12VAC, and consume only 0.8 watts at 12VAC, and 1.4 watts at 12VDC voltage input - this adds up to 90% reduction in power consumption.

These subminiature lamps come with a dual-pin G4 base and are available in 3000K warm white or 5500K pure white light colors. They are a perfect fit in applications such as pendant lamps, under-cabinet lighting, landscape lighting, electric signs, scoreboards, step lights, puck downlights, RVs, boats, car bulbs, ceiling fans and anywhere T3 or T4 halogen bulbs are used. A removable 5.2mm lead spacer is included.

Read the complete Press Release and down-load the high-res product images at; http://www.ledtronics.com/Media/Press...

Webpage to browse the on-line product information for the LEDG4BP-2W Series: http://www.ledtronics.com/Products/Pr...

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LED Bulbs are offered as xenon and halogen replacements.

Dustin and Patti Lavallee's project to remake their unfinished, dank basement into a full-on, mini apartment landed Dustin in the ER only three times.

Once he was in a hurry to cut something; twice he didn't use protective goggles.

He imparts these lessons learned with the skill of the middle-school teacher he is: holding his hand up to prove his thumb is still attached; pointing to his eyes, which still work.

The project transformed 800 square feet of, well, not much -- other than a washer and dryer as far from the stairs as possible, some water damage along the side wall, a toilet sort of in the middle of nowhere, and a few windows tucked up next to the ceiling.

The one thing the space had was a ceiling high enough for 6-foot-2 Dustin to clear.

The other thing the space had was two owners with smarts, design savvy, patience and pluck.

"You really have to see what it used to look like," Dustin says, walking down the newly re-coated concrete stairs, explaining that there was one load-bearing wall and an exposed furnace and water heater.

"It was icky," he says.

But not any longer.

In a year of weeknights and weekends, the Lavallees created a basement in their Northeast Portland home worthy of renting out -- something they considered until they fell in love with it too much.

More here:
Remodeling a basement into a mini-apartment (with tips on how to avoid the ER)