Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

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PHOENIX It is simply the end of a chapter for a Peoria library. The wait for the next one will be short.

Peoria Main Library will be closing from Sept. 4-8 for interior renovations.

Routine enhancements with new furniture, carpet cleaning and reconfiguring of key areasare all planned, with a re-opening date set for Saturday, Sept. 9, at 9 a.m.

We havent updated the Peoria Main Library for a number of years and it is one of the busiest libraries in the community, said Nathaniel Washburn, Peoria library & cultural services manager, in a press release. This renovation project allows us to make improvements to the library to enhance the experience for our patrons. We cant wait to share the new and improved library with the public.

Although the library will be closed, the book drop will remainopen. Services will still be available from Sunrise Mountain Library, along with the website.

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Next chapter: Peoria library to close for renovations - KTAR.com

When we do a move-in or move-out cleaning, we are very detailed in what we do, especially in high important areas, such as the interior of kitchen cabinets, inside bathroom drawers, and inside and outside of kitchen appliances.

Norcross, GA (PRWEB) August 15, 2017

Traditionally, the month of August has been the most popular time of year to move to a new apartment or house. To help Atlanta area residents get ready for their big moves, EMJ Cleaning Services, an Atlanta-based maid company, is offering a 20 percent discount on move-in/move-out cleanings and any extra cleaning services. This special is good through August 31.

Moving to a new home can be very exciting, but it can also be a very stressful time because there is so much that needs to be done, notes Eric Cano, owner of EMJ Cleaning. In addition to things like packing, calling utility companies to end or start services, and perhaps enrolling your kids in a new school system, you have to make sure the home youre moving out of is clean so you can sell it or so you can get your security deposit back, and you also want to make sure your new home is ready for move-in day. With this special, were trying to ease some of the transition of moving, by taking care of the house cleaning for you.

EMJs move-in and move-out house cleaning services include a thorough cleaning of all rooms, hallways and entryways. Hard-surface floors will be swept and/or mopped; carpets will be vacuumed; patio doors and interior windows will be cleaned; bathroom fixtures, sinks and tubs will be scrubbed and sanitized; and door frames, baseboards, window sills, window blinds, ceiling fans and built-in shelving will be dusted or washed.

Extra services offered by EMJ include services such as cleaning inside the refrigerator, scrubbing out ovens, cleaning the inside of cabinets, cleaning the interior of the garage, picking up the carpets, sweeping the porch or patio, and cleaning the basement.

When we do a move-in or move-out cleaning, we are very detailed in what we do, especially in high importance areas, such as the interior of kitchen cabinets, inside bathroom drawers, and inside and outside of kitchen appliances, says Cano. All of our services are backed by a 24-hour warranty in case of any dissatisfaction.

To take advantage of EMJs move-in/move-out cleaning specials, please call (678) 966-9469 to schedule a cleaning appointment. Alternatively, appointments and cleaning estimates can be requested online at http://www.emjcleaning.com/free-estimates, or by sending an email to services(at)emjcleaning(dot)com. In order to qualify for the August discount, customers should mention this promotion when they call or email EMJ to make the cleaning appointment.

About EMJ Cleaning Services:EMJ Cleaning is a licensed, bonded and insured professional home cleaning service in Atlanta, Georgia. The company has been in business for over 10 years, and provides cleaning services to residential and commercial buildings six days a week throughout metro Atlanta. EMJ Cleaning provides specific services such as window cleaning, carpet cleaning, heavy duty cleaning, weekly deep cleaning and move-out cleaning; these are offered in both EMJs office cleaning service and home cleaning service. For more information, visit http://www.emjcleaning.com.

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Atlanta Housekeeping Company EMJ Cleaning Services Announces Move-In/Move-Out Specials - PR Web (press release)

Semihandmade started out as a Los Angeles cabinetmaker called "Handmade," but when they got a commission to design aftermarket doors for a cheap and surprisingly robust set of Ikea kitchen cabinets, they realized that they could supply excellent-looking, high-spec kitchens at a tiny price by just manufacturing replacement doors for Ikea's ubiquitous cabinetry.

I happened on the company's showroom this weekend in Palm Springs and was blown away by the quality and aesthetic properties of the doors, which are made from a variety of materials, including some great molded fiberglass pieces that were really kick-ass. The company also sells aftermarket wheels, legs, and other hardware that can transform the identikit Ikea staples into striking and pleasing home furnishings. They've expanded beyond kitchens into bathrooms, bookcases and other furnishings.

It's a great way to capitalize on the economies of scale that Ikea gets in designing its hardware without subjecting yourself to the compromises it makes on finishes and materials for the exteriors.

Semihandmade Doors

The mystery of yesterdays India-wide censorship orders which blocked the Internet Archive from the worlds largest democracy has been solved: it was the result of complaints by two Bollywood studios, Prakash Jha Productions and Red Chillies Entertainment, who chose to target infringing copies of their movies by securing an injunction at the High Court of []

Five years ago, a patent troll called Personal Audio started demanding money from podcasters, claiming that their patent on mailing cassette tapes of people reading magazines (a ridiculous patent on its face) also covered podcasting.

In 2016, CBS/Paramount brought a lawsuit against Axanar, a very successful group of fan-film producers whod crowdfunding more than $1M to make a kick-ass Star Trek video.

The Pry.Me Bottle Opener holds tens of thousands of times its own weight, and you can pick one up now from the Boing Boing Store.This remarkable keychain is considerably smaller than any of your keys, but dont let that fool you: it can easily open any bottle, and could even tow a trailer full of []

Guaranteeing your privacy online goes way beyond checking the Do Not Track option in your browsers settings. To ensure that your internet activity is totally hidden from Internet Service Providers, advertisers, and other prying eyes, take a look at Windscribes VPN protection. It usually costs $7.50 per month, but you can get a 3-year subscription []

This project management bundle will help you get organized and learn how to lead a team to success. You can pay what you want for these five courses when you pick them up from the Boing Boing Store.To help you become an invaluable asset for your company, this bundle includes a curated collection of professional []

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Ikeahacking turned pro: the aftermarket cabinet-doors of ... - Boing Boing

Some White House and Republican officials are exploring the idea of putting West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin in charge of the Energy Department, according to four people familiar with the discussions, a move that could boost President Donald Trumps stalled legislative agenda.

If Manchin were offered and accepted the position, that would allow West Virginias Governor Jim Justice -- a newly minted Republican -- to appoint a GOP successor and bring the party a vote closer in the Senate to being able to repeal Obamacare. The idea is in the early stages of consideration, and its unclear whether it has support within the administration, according to the people, who described the conversations under condition of anonymity.

A spokesman for Manchin declined to say whether the senator would take the Energy secretary job -- currently held by former Texas Governor Rick Perry -- if offered.

Senator Manchin has not had any recent conversations with the Administration about the Secretary of Energy position. He remains committed to serving the people of West Virginia, said Jonathan Kott.

Manchin, who faces a tough re-election battle in 2018, was considered for the post after Trump won election in November. His nomination fell through in part because Trump wouldnt assure him he could pick his own staff, according to two people familiar with the staff selections, who described them on condition of anonymity.

Perry was named Energy Secretary instead, and its unclear whether he would be open to taking another position in the administration. He has been among the candidates considered to replace John Kelly at the Department of Homeland Security, according to three people familiar with the deliberations. Kelly, who became White House chief of staff last week, and Trump havent yet decided who should succeed him as Homeland Security secretary.

Perry has not been a seamless fit with the Energy Department, where the two most recent secretaries had Ph.D.s in physics. Perry was an animal science major at Texas A&M, and he advocated abolishing the department during his own presidential bid. The Air Force veteran was initially under consideration to lead the Pentagon under Trump.

With an annual budget of about $30 billion, the Energy Departments work ranges from safeguarding nuclear weapons to the research into carbon-capture technology and maintaining the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Perry has expressed a deep interest in the nuclear security and intelligence aspects of the post, and has become a vocal advocate for the national laboratories and for U.S. energy exports.

The ultimate goal of such a Cabinet shift would be to jump-start Trumps agenda in Congress, particularly repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

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Yet to execute the idea and pass an Obamacare repeal, Republicans and the administration would have to pull off a highly choreographed series of events. Perry would have to agree to take another job, the Senate would have to confirm Manchin as Energy Secretary, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would then have to bring a repeal bill back up without losing any of the 49 Republican senators who voted for the so-called skinny repeal.

Some of those senators, however, like Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said they were only voting for the bill to bring it to negotiations with the House. Other Republicans, like Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, are working on a bipartisan fix.

Moreover, Manchin would face intense pressure from fellow Democrats not to leave the Senate and bear some personal responsibility for a repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

Manchin has said in interviews that he warned Trump personally that people in his state who gained insurance under the law dont know who gave it to them, but would surely know who took it away.

Earlier this month, Trump appeared at a political rally in Huntington, West Virginia, where Justice announced that he was changing parties from Democrat to Republican.

Manchin has sought to position himself as a political independent. In a recent interview with the Charleston Gazette-Mail that he wont commit to Democratic policy positions just to win re-election.

The bottom line is, if it doesnt help West Virginia, it doesnt make sense to me,Manchin told the newspaper. Just because theres an election doesnt mean I sign on or dont sign on,

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Manchin Emerges as Possible Pick for Energy Department - Bloomberg

Posted on 14 August 2017. Tags: boating accident, kingsland news, Lake LBJ

STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY

KINGSLAND Texas Parks and Wildlife Department investigators are reconstructing a suspected accident scene on Lake LBJ where a Kingsland man died following a boat crash Aug. 13.

According to the report, the incident happened sometime around 11 p.m. in the Rock Bluff subdivision just off CR 127 in Burnet County.

Russell B. Bowman Jr., 68, of Kingsland was reported as both the driver of the 20-foot boat and the victim of the collision.

Investigators said the boat crashed into a concrete retaining wall.

The victim sustained a severe head injury and apparent internal injuries, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department news release stated.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by Burnet County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Roxanne Nelson.

A 66-year-old female passenger in the boat was treated and released at the scene, the report stated.

Crews were scheduled to take measurements Aug. 14 to recreate the incident.

Were investigating what took place, Game Warden Cody Hatfield said.

connie@thepicayune.com

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Kingsland man dies after boat hits retaining wall on Lake LBJ ... - DailyTrib.com

By Brian Quinn

BELVIDERE Shovels will be going into the ground Tuesday to get the Park-and-Ride facility at the Crossroads Center underway, Allegany County officials said Friday.

The groundbreaking will be at 1 p.m. at the Crossroads Center, 6087 State Route 19.

With a grant through the Federal Transit Administration, improvements will include reconstruction of the existing driveway and parking lot, a new driveway to allow improved traffic flow and the addition of about 60 parking spaces. The work will also include new, dark-sky-compliant, outdoor LED lighting, enhanced landscaping, stormwater management practices and a new bus-stop area.

Thanks to the dedication and leadership of an active steering committee, state agencies and our consultant, we were able to secure funding through a grant from the Federal Transit Administration for a parking facility and to receive long-term safety and significant infrastructure improvements, said Ardent Solutions Mobility Management Planner Larry Kaminski. As another example of economic development initiatives within Allegany County, this project not only serves to improve and enhance existing infrastructure, but will also be an asset and catalyst to encourage future community development activities and ultimately facilitate long-term economic growth.

The county Public Works Committee on Aug. 2 approved awarding a bid for the Park-and Ride project to Nova State Company, which submitted the low bid of $621,606.

At the committee meeting, committee member Judy Hopkins asked whether the project is on target for completion by the end of October.

They (Nova representatives) believe that we have established an aggressive schedule, but they believe its doable. Thats what theyre telling us, Superintendent of Public Works Guy James replied. I think we can extend it a little bit. We dont want to go too far behind.

The blacktop plants are really the critical thing. Once they close, the availability of material, thats the problem, he said. You can put topsoil down later on after the blacktop plants close if you want to, but thats the real critical element that needs to be done.

In response to a question, James said blacktop plants usually close around Thanksgiving, so the project should be OK time-wise.

James noted the Park and Ride project has already been approved and that Public Works Committee approval is all the bid needs. He said this will enable the project to move ahead.

Were looking forward to getting that project going and getting dirt turned black up there, James said.

Kaminski said, All that I can add is its under our budgeted amount that we had anticipated.

Committee member Karl Graves asked if the Department of Public Works was familiar with Nova State Company.

They actually worked for us before. They did a small project, James said. It was the retaining wall on the exit ramp going out from the back parking lot. They did the gutter system, the curb, the gutter and the retaining wall and then the black fencing thats along there. They did a good job. Theyve done a lot of municipal work, so theyre familiar with the procedures that have to be done.

Hopkins asked if the project being under budget means there will be leftover money in the grant.

This isnt the only component of that budget. This is just the construction portion of it, James said. There was the design that we already paid for and then we have construction inspection the people who are doing the inspection of the work thats going to be done. All in all, its going to be very close.

Ill tell you better in a little bit whether theres going to be a surplus, he said.

Continued here:
Park and Ride event slated for Tuesday - The Chronicle Express - Penn Yan Chronicle-Express (blog)

Architects show designs for new...

COLUMBIA, Mo. - A new middle school is Columbia should hold 700 students for classes, according to the architects who designed it.

PWArchitects showed off its work on a southwest middle school Monday night. Firm president Chris Davis said the school should hold 700 students for daily classes, but could fit 800 students in total.

CPS moved up the opening date of the middle school to 2020 as overcrowding continues to be an issue at its one middle school south of Stadium Boulevard. The district is targeting land on Sinclair Road for the new school.

The half of the building nearest the parking lot will feature the gym and performing arts center. Two stories of classrooms are further back, and staff will have the ability to close off that half after hours. Superintendent Peter Stiepleman said that allowed for a more accessible feel to the public, allowing easy access to the popular facilities, while also protecting the class space.

Davis said a "flex room" near the gym will serve as one of the building's two storm shelters. Columbia city rules require schools to have them. The school's classroom for students with physical and mental disabilities will also double as a storm shelter. Davis said that stops students who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices to get across the entire building in case of an emergency.

"Columbia Public Schools probably isn't too unique from other school districts," Davis told ABC 17 News. "They started taking into account electronic cameras and surveillance, as well as lockdowns, and control of the door systems, so we incorporate those things, too."

Matt Pitzer, a Columbia City Council member, said he enjoyed the simplicity of the school's design. The three main hallways make it seem easy to navigate, and allow for safer navigation of the school, Pitzer said. The city councilman said that he still wanted to accelerate improvements to Sinclair Road ahead of the school's scheduled opening, including sidewalks and bicycle lanes.

"We don't want everybody in their cars, we want to get people out of their cars and be able to bike and walk, and right now, Sinclair is basically an unimproved road," Pitzer said.

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Architects show designs for new Columbia middle school - ABC17News.com

The old warehouse building at 211 Main St. in North Tonawanda was not built to last.

According to Joy Kuebler, one of two women with plans to bring new life to the building, the structure was made with cheap materials when it was built nearly 90 years ago. The fact that its still standing, she said, is unusual.

Were looking at a substantial reconstruction, but we want to maintain the historic integrity, Kuebler said, adding that theyd like to create a 21st century building that lasts another 100 years.

Kuebler, owner of Joy Kuebler Landscape Architect, P.C., has teamed up with Kelley Culp-Burton, owner of KCB Architecture, P.C., to convert the building into new office spaces for their growing businesses. They plan to move their businesses to the space and expect to have 10,000 square feet left over which can be rented out to other tenants. They plan to use movable walls to allow the space to be reconfigured, as needed, over time.

Under the name Enterprise Lumber and Silo, the two have applied for assistance through the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency. Theyve been approved by the NCIDA for a 10-year tax abatement, a sales tax abatement and a mortgage recording tax abatement to help bring the $3.1 million project to fruition.

Thats just one piece of a handful of things we need to get in place to make this project happen, Culp-Burton said.

She added that theres also the possibility of additional funding from the state Department of Environmental Conservation if they get approved to be part of the brownfield program. Theyve also received a $300,000 Restore New York grant and Culp-Burton said there are programs through both National Grid and National Fuel that help with the restoration of abandoned buildings. She said theyve also received support from state Sen. Robert Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, and state Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, D-Kenmore.

The project is expected to transfer 11 jobs to the new facility, with Kuebler saying they expect to add four to five employees each over the next 10 years. The project summary issued by the NCIDA says they plan to create seven new jobs.

As with any building as old as 211 Main St., there is substantial repair work to be done before theyre ready to open for business. The big issue is the roof, which needs to be replaced, along with the windows and the exterior walls of the structure. Whats still in good shape, Culp-Burton said, is the timber frame. She said thats part of the historical feel to the building that theyd like to preserve.

In addition to enhancing their businesses and providing space for new businesses, they also plan to utilize the space in ways that benefit the community. They plan to use a portion of the building to create a space that can be rented out for community events and theyre also working with students in North Tonawanda High Schools Academy of Engineering and Architecture, who will use their project as a learning opportunity.

The project is expected to enter the construction phase during the spring of 2018 and, if all goes according to plan, open for business by late 2018 or early 2019.

Originally posted here:
NT architects seek to revive old warehouse - Niagara Gazette

Kelly Thompson has plans for downtown Sun Prairie. The owner of Kontext Architects LLC is leasing the empty space at 240 E. Main St. and renovating the upper level, which sat vacant for years.

We just gutted everything and cleared it all out, and weve got some big ideas for the entire building, Thompson said, adding that his team will relocate its offices to an updated 1,500-square-foot second-story space next March.

An additional 1,000 square feet of space on the second level remains available for lease.

Meanwhile, a new front facade is in the works that will restore the corner location, adjacent to Cannery Wine & Spirits, to its original early-1900s storefront appearance.

Inventure Realty Group will occupy the Main Street level, and Thompson envisions the basement, which still retains woodwork and fabric from a bygone era, as the perfect home for a commercial wine cellar and tasting room.

Thompson, a Sun Prairie resident who began Kontext Architects in 2008 at 425 W. Main St., relocated his firm to downtown Madison on East Dayton Street after Kontext merged with Architecture Network in 2014.

But he wanted to return to downtown Sun Prairie, where he sees a vibrant scene evolving thanks in large part to new housing developments in the area.

You have people walking all over the place, he said. And it gets more exciting at night and during the weekend. This downtown is considerably more accessible than downtown Madison, and for Kontext being in downtown Sun Prairie is all about presence and name recognition.

For now, though, Thompson and his staff are temporarily operating out of 1110 N. Bristol St., a small space formerly occupied by The Ammo Box and sharing a building with Georges Chicken & Fish and Good Spirits liquor store.

We were sort of homeless, said Thompson, whose downtown Madison lease expired in June.

He was able to sign a short-term lease while renovations take place at the East Main Street building.

Proximity to the Highway 151 corridor, which provides easy access to the Fox Valley where several Kontext clients are located as well as to and from other regions, also attracted Thompson. Its very common for us to go where our clients are, and this is a very practical move for us, he said, explaining that Sun Prairies location makes traveling to visit clients much more convenient for his team.

Kontext offers pre-design and schematic design services, creates design development and construction documents, and provides construction administration services. The firm built much of its business on designing public buildings for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, as well as multiple school districts and various municipal entities in Wisconsin and Illinois. The firm also has been involved in several design studies for Sun Prairie-based projects.

Will the move to Sun Prairie help Kontext garner more local work? It remains to be seen how much of an advantage that will be, Thompson said, but hes excited about returning to where he started his business although he doesnt regret the Architecture Network merger and the subsequent relocation to the heart of Madison.

Architecture Network was owned and operated by Arlen Kay a renowned architect whose last name rhymes with eye and who helped restore buildings that now house Quiveys Grove restaurant and the Great Dane Downtown.

He also offered Thompson, who attended the University of Southern Illinois-Carbondale, his first crack at working in Wisconsins architectural design market back in 1997.

Following the 2014 merger, Architecture Network was folded into the Kontext Architects name, as Thompson eventually took charge of all operations.

The partnership has helped Thompson expand Kontexts capabilities to include more design work in the private sector, especially with multifamily residential projects.

Kay, despite being of retirement age, remains a part-time Kontext employee and brings in new work for the firm.

Today, three years on from the merger and only months away from beginning a new chapter in the firms history, Thompson claims Kontexts greatest strength is its ability to connect with clients.

We want to build sustained, trusting relationships, he says. We want to know about their kids or if theyre in a bowling league. We sincerely are interested in them as people. That definitely fosters trust, and we are very intentional about it.

KONTEXT ARCHITECTS LLC

1110 N. Bristol St.

Phone: 608-825-0094

Web:

http://www.kontextarchitects.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kontextarchitects

Hours: Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

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Kontext Architects planning move to downtown Sun Prairie - hngnews.com

The fruitful partnership between Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) and office developer SOHO China will soon bring another remarkable structure to the countrys design landscape. Their latest collaboration, Leeza SOHO, is set to top out at its full height of 679 feet next month. While that may seem diminutive compared with other towers under construction around the world, the Beijing property is breaking records in another way. The mixed-use building will contain the worlds largest central atrium, an expansive 623 feet high, which will be open to the public.

A look at the ongoing construction within Leeza SOHO.

Leeza SOHO is the fourth building ZHA has designed for SOHO China, and the latest images reveal that the architectural firm has created something that will rival its previous collaborations, which total 15 million square feet and include Galaxy SOHO, Sky SOHO, and Wangjing SOHO. The dizzying photos offer a look at the progress of the 1.86-million-square-foot building and a glimpse at the construction process, which is being done with an eye toward sustainability and LEED Gold certification.

Once Leeza SOHO is completed, Beijing will have yet another skyscraper designed by one of the leading firms in the world.

Set to be completed in 2018, the building is composed of two sides twisting around the atrium and connected by a series of sky bridges. The clever design allows the halves to shade the central space, while the double-insulated glazing maintains the views as well as comfortable interior temperatures. The atrium also connects with the subway station below the site, meaning that future occupants could have one of the worlds most beautiful commutes.

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Zaha Hadid Architects Reveal New Images of the World's Tallest Atrium in Beijing - Architectural Digest