Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

A Ford Fusion driven by Shirley Mattson of The Dalles came out of a parking lot across from the Stratton Agency Insurance Services office in the 200 block of East Fourth Street and plowed into the insurance companys office building. Mattson said the car just took off. Photo by Jesse Burkhardt.

The Dalles Northwest Cherry Festival got off to an unusually impactful start on Friday with an incident that wasnt part of the scheduled activities.

At approximately 9:30 a.m., a black sedan came roaring out of a parking lot across from the Stratton Agency, an insurance company at 212 E. Fourth Street. The car jumped the curb and rammed into the office building with such force that bricks and cinder blocks were pushed several feet into the interior.

Glass, sheetrock, bricks and other debris was sent flying inside and the entire building shuddered, according to an employee in the office at the time.

I was sitting in my office with a customer and Boom! said Breanna Wimber, a Stratton Agency insurance agent. What the heck happened?! It was extremely scary. It was so loud and it shook the whole building. I didnt hear any screeching or anything, just Boom.

The car was driven by 83-year-old Shirley Mattson, a resident of The Dalles, who was transported by ambulance to Mid-Columbia Medical Center.

Mattson said her car, a 2009 Ford Fusion, just took off on her as she left the U.S Bank drive-thru.

I came through and the car just started speeding. The car would not stop. Ive never had that happen in all my years driving, she said. It was the fault of the car. Im going to have that car looked over very thoroughly.

Mattson suffered no broken bones, and said she hoped to be out of the hospital within a day or two.

She added that she was very grateful no one in the building was injured.

And Im so glad there were no cars or pedestrians, she said.

A desk near the front of the Stratton Agency office was knocked askew in the wreckage. The desk normally would have been occupied by Eileen Teas, and her desk and chair were mangled in the mishap. In a stroke of fortune, however, Teas was not there that day.

When Wimber dashed out of her office, the first thing she realized was that Teas normally would have been at the twisted desk.

Eileen would have been here today, but she has been off the last two days, Wimber said.

Her chair is mangled and facing the opposite way. Her briefcase was thrown about 15 feet toward the back.

According to Wimber, Mattson was screaming and had a bloody nose. Wimber went to her and tried to calm her down.

She said the car wouldnt stop, Wimber recalled.

Another Stratton agent, Liz Narciso, was on her way to the Fourth Street office when the accident happened.

I was sitting at Eileens desk yesterday, and I was going to be there today, Narcisco said. I had some work I was going to finish, and then I was going to come over to the office, but I didnt get around to it because I got a couple phone calls. Im feeling grateful I wasnt there.

The buildings owner, John Geiger, said he figured it would take about two months to repair the building, and the repair bill will be costly.

Id say $50,000-$60,000 on the low side, Geiger said.

A crew from Dave Adams Construction boarded up the building and made it safe and secure until full repairs can have made.

Wimber pointed out that the business was scheduled to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 3 to commemorate the opening of their new office.

It looks like well have to call the Chamber of Commerce and reschedule, Wimber said.

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Mishap sends car into office building - Dalles Chronicle

George Senerth (right) WhidbeyHealth executive director of facilities, checks on construction progress of the new addition. Its innovative heating and cooling system is predicted to reduce energy use by half. Photo by Patricia Guthrie/Whidbey News-Times

Climate change is coming to WhidbeyHealth Medical Center.

An innovative heating and cooling system being installed at its $50 million new addition could turn the facility into one of the most energy-efficient hospitals in the country.

Known as a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system, it will respond quickly when patients want their rooms warmer or cooler and it could cut energy use and bills in half.

Comparing it to conventional systems, Im told with the VRF system the energy savings is 50 percent, said George Senerth, executive director of facilities for the healthcare system.

Cutting back on its heating and cooling bills means less demand for electricity, and ultimately less burning of fossil fuels.

This is very unique for the West Coast. Its energy efficient but not with high cost, says Don Iverson, mechanical engineer at Coffman Engineers, Inc., a consultant on the project. Youre not creating a very high construction cost to get energy efficiency.

WhidbeyHealth Medical Centers new 39-patient room addition, designed by HDR Architecture, is expected to open by summer. The hospitals contractor is Andersen Construction.

Construction is about 82 percent complete, Senerth said.

Seattle-based Coffman Engineers suggested using the VFR system as a way to reduce electric bills and more efficiently provide climate control. The Coupeville-based hospital depends on propane and electricity for heating and cooling, which are more expensive than natural gas.

Hospitals may heal people, but they tend to be unhealthy for the environment.

Thats because most hospitals rely on a traditional reheat system that blows cold air into hundreds of rooms at the same time from a large, centrally-located ventilation system.

The air is delivered cold because some interior rooms need cooling. Rooms that dont need cooling have individual heating coils that heat the cooled air back up to room temperature.

As much as 40 percent of all energy consumed by a hospital is used for reheating, Iverson says.

Instead of blowing air continuously throughout a building using a standard compressor, VFR systems use variable speed compressors and technology that sense when a room needs to be cooled or heated.

With variable refrigerant flow technology, it spreads out the control of the system into a zoned basis, Iverson explained. Heating coils are controlled by the room, not the central system.

Thermostats exist in patient rooms now, Senerth said, but theyre inefficient.

Our system is so old that if a patient turns it down to 68 degrees from 74 degrees, it will take awhile, he said.

The VFR system recovers heat from where its not needed and redirects it. It also senses when a rooms temperature rises as more people gather, such as in a conference room. It adjusts accordingly.

Whidbeys addition is designed with two long corridors with windows facing south and north. Although built as a two-story addition, only one floor is being used for patients.

We have north-facing patient rooms and south-facing patient rooms, Iverson said. We need to cool the south facing and we need to heat north facing. This system is ideal for that.

The VRF concept was developed in Japan decades ago and caught on in Europe long before it came to the United States.

Its been installed in mid-size buildings throughout the country, but WhidbeyHealth is the first health care facility to install it large-scale for a patient wing.

Students with the University of Washingtons Integrated Design Lab are tracking the project to gauge energy savings. It could qualify for a maximum rebate from Puget Sound Energy, which requires a 25 percent reduction in energy usage.

It will reduce the load of electricity needed from Puget Sound Energy and it will save them coal, Iverson said.

Another plus is that patients will breathe air thats only been recirculated from their own rooms and not the entire building as is done with conventional systems, Iverson explained.

In addition to projected energy savings, the WhidbeyHealth addition is designed to reduce water usage with low flow plumbing fixtures and less irrigation, said Annette Himelick with HDR Architecture.

A courtyard being built as an outdoor extension of the existing cafeteria is designed with conservation in mind, Himelick added.

The site is landscaped with 100 percent Pacific Northwest native plants, 65 percent of them native to the island. These native plants do not have the same irrigation needs that other plants require.

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Climate change predicted for new hospital | Whidbey News-Times - Whidbey News-Times (subscription)

[In photos: The slope behind Skidmores Bernhard Theater under which geothermal pipes were installed. Levi Rogers (at left) and Paul Lundberg in one of Skidmores geothermal control rooms. Photos by Larry Goodwin.]

SARATOGA SPRINGS A gentle slope on the campus of Skidmore Collegeone that leads down to a pond rippled by two fountainsnaturally hides the evidence of previous construction.

Several years ago, contractor machines had made a mess of it by digging straight down 450 feet to install a field of five-inch-wide pipes, which supply a sophisticated geothermal heating and cooling system at the college.

The lush green grass behind the Bernhard Theater building now makes the clean-energy infrastructure impossible to see.

Last year, another large geothermal installation was completed on campus after Facilities Services crews had ripped up a portion of the Palamountain parking lot, in preparation for construction of a Center for Integrated Sciences.

Nobody really knows what weve been doing here for a long time, stated Paul Lundberg, the assistant director of Facilities Services. Lundberg is widely considered on campus to be the most enthusiastic promoter of geothermal energy projects.

Lundberg is happy to explain how closed-loop networks ofpipes circulate famously pure local water for indoor climate control at Skidmore. The goal is to get the best bang for your buck in terms of energy consumption, he said.

Geothermal heat pump installations use the constant temperature under the grounds frost line to renewably heat and cool homes and businesses without producing greenhouse gases on site, the New York Geothermal Energy Organization (NYGEO) states in a summary of the technology.

Lundberg admitted that he was eager to attend the NYGEO conference this week at the Radisson Hotel in Albany. In 2015, the same conferencenicknamed Geopaloozawas held at Skidmore College.

In 2012, a national academic association recognized Skidmore with an award for the operation of its geothermal energy system.

Before giving a brief tour of one of the systems two main nodes, or control rooms, Lundberg had joined an interview with Karen Kellogg and Levi Rogers, who direct and coordinate various activities through Skidmores Sustainability Office.

Rogers said his office works with a large group of people on campus who are united in their support of Skidmores environmentally sustainable projects. These include the promotion ofsolar power, ambitious recycling and composting programs, and the annual maintenance of a thriving community garden on campus.

Many students are currently participating in Earth Week activities, which include an off-campus March for Science starting at noon on Saturday in Congress Park and a film screening about the Hudson River on Monday at 7 p.m. in the Emerson Auditorium.

Kellogg, Lundberg and Rogers sat down together outside a coffee shop on the second floor of the Case Center, as Skidmore students and faculty were socializing or studying intently nearby.

Kellogg explained that, at present, geothermal energy heats and cools nearly 40 percent of the square footage inside all of Skidmores buildings. That includes theArthur Zankel Music Center, Tang Teaching Museum, the Northwoods and Sussman student apartments, and numerous other structures on campus.

More geothermal projects are being planned to increase the colleges overall energy efficiency, she said.

Lundberg described how Skidmores geothermal system (in scientific terms) is able to store heat energy very efficiently due to a large underground formation of Dolostone, which he called near perfect for optimum heat exchange.

Weve done our homework, Lundberg added.

Rogers pointed out that Skidmore utilizes all of the geothermal power generated on site, which he said eliminates any need for the college to participate in complicated renewable energy credit markets.

I really do think that sets us apart from other institutions, Rogers said.

According to John Manning, a spokesman for Earth Sensitive Solutions in Skaneateles, New York, a firm that has partnered with Skidmore to install geothermal pipes, emissions of greenhouse gases are going to be a growing concern in the years ahead.

Manning said the New York Energy Research and Development Authority is close to finalizing economic incentives that could spur more commercial and residential projects statewide similar to those being completed at Skidmore.

Its good to see geothermal finally catching on, Manning said. He called it the best sustainable way to lower our carbon footprint.

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A Clean Way to Heat and Cool at Skidmore - Saratoga TODAY Newspaper

Brent Roberts, Appraisal Institute 12:03 a.m. ET April 22, 2017

This beautifully restored Queen Anne Victorian in Plainfield will be on the historic homes holiday tour on Dec. 3. iPad video. Nov. 19, 2016. Pamela MacKenzie/Staff Video

Eatontown - Monmouth University Softball team members Kayla Weisere, Nikki Sandlier, Christine Scherr, and Lauren Saal work on removing old finish from livingroom floors. Volunteers from a variety of groups, including the Asbury Park Press, pitched in during Make A Difference Day to work on the Rose Court Group Home Renovation Project in Eatontown, doing yard work, scrapping down the old wood floors, painting and more. Peter Ackerman/Staff Photographer - difference121027a(Photo: PETER ACKERMAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHE)Buy Photo

CHICAGO - The Appraisal Institute, the nations largest professional association of real estate appraisers, advocates that homeowners pursue smaller-scale renovation projects to maximize their potential return on investment.

The latest research shows that home improvements with a relatively low cost are most likely to generate a positive cost-to-value ratio, said Appraisal Institute President Jim Amorin. Spending big dollars on major renovations doesnt necessarily equate to a dollar-for-dollar return. In short: cost doesnt necessarily equal value.

According to Remodeling magazines most recent Cost vs. Value report, the projects with the highest expected return on investment are attic insulation (fiberglass), entry door replacement (steel), manufactured stone veneer and minor kitchen remodel. Other projects with potential payoffs, according to the report, are garage-door replacement and siding replacement.

Amorin encouraged homeowners contemplating renovation projects to compare the planned improvement to whats standard in the community.

Eatontown - Monmouth University Softball team members Kayla Weisere, Nikki Sandlier, Christine Scherr, and Lauren Saal work on removing old finish from livingroom floors. Volunteers from a variety of groups, including the Asbury Park Press, pitched in during Make A Difference Day to work on the Rose Court Group Home Renovation Project in Eatontown, doing yard work, scrapping down the old wood floors, painting and more. Peter Ackerman/Staff Photographer - difference121027a(Photo: PETER ACKERMAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHE)

Projects that move a home well beyond community norms are typically not worth the cost when the owner sells the property, Amorin said.

He also noted that homeowners might consider renovations simply for their personal enjoyment. While its nice to gain a solid return on investment, its certainly reasonable for property owners to upgrade just to enhance their quality of life, Amorin said.

For an unbiased analysis of what their home would be worth both before and after an improvement project, a homeowner can work with a qualified real estate appraiser such as a designated member of the Appraisal Institute to conduct a feasibility study.

The Appraisal Institute offers a free, informative brochure titled Remodeling & Rehabbing, which provides consumers with valuable advice on home improvement projects.

Stay connected with the latest news from the Appraisal Institute on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and the institute's blog, Opinions of Value.

The Appraisal Institute is a global professional association of real estate appraisers, with nearly 19,000 professionals in almost 60 countries throughout the world. Its mission is to advance professionalism and ethics, global standards, methodologies, and practices through the professional development of property economics worldwide. Organized in 1932, the Appraisal Institute advocates equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in the appraisal profession and conducts its activities in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Individuals of the Appraisal Institute benefit from an array of professional education and advocacy programs. Learn more at http://www.appraisalinstitute.org.

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Lower-cost home renovations offer best value - MyCentralJersey.com

Ah, spring, when For Sale signs pop up on lawns across the metro area alongside the azaleas. Its prime time for sellers, but even with the prospect of a quick sale, homeowners who want to get top dollar may be considering remodeling to up the magnetism of their homes.

But it doesnt take knocking down walls or raising roofs to get a house into prime selling condition. In fact, some dramatic projects, such as a complete kitchen renovation, might not suit the style of a new owner. Rather than opting for an extreme makeover, a simpler approach may result in a better return on investment. Where to start?

Curb appeal, said Atlanta Design & Builds Dale Contant, board chair and past president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). Its the first impression. Its much better to have a nice-looking front door, nice shutters, a covered entryway midrange projects that wont break the bank.

Sprucing up the front faade, including the entry, shutters, garage doors and porticos, is considered a replacement, not renovation, project. The same goes for landscaping, said Kara OBrien of Kara OBrien Renovations in East Atlanta.

Curb appeal creates an emotional connection with buyers before they ever set foot inside, she said. But a lot of time the landscape design isnt great; its too overgrown, it needs a pop of color. Put in some small gardens and potted plants to make it inviting.

Once in the door, most buyers head right to the heart of the house the kitchen. There are two ways to go about improving this, said Contant. If youre trying to sell and give it new life, you really dont want to do a high-end project that tears out the entire thing. You might spend $60,000 on French provincial when the buyer likes contemporary, and that will be a detriment.

Instead, Contant recommends opting for smaller projects. Paint the cabinets, add new counter tops, put in a new sink, faucet and tile backsplash. Upgrade the floors or have them refinished. That doesnt involve removing everything, and youll spend less to make the changes.

OBrien recently redid a kitchen by painting cabinets a pewter gray, adding new hardware and putting in a salvaged sink. You really can spruce up a kitchen on a shoestring budget. Paint goes a long way, especially if you have dated cabinets. New counter tops or backsplash arent super expensive, either, and the effect of a stone backsplash on granite with newly-painted cabinets goes a long, long way.

The next room buyers want to be wowed by is the master bath, the one space that might warrant a complete overhaul.

If you have a bath with 1950s tile, youre almost better off to do a full-scale renovation, said Contant. Were also now removing the tub and going with a shower, particularly in smaller homes. The good news is that a mid-range bath remodel in the Atlanta market can recoup 62.9 percent of the cost.

Other projects that bring a similarly high return on investment are decks and finished basements, said Contant. Decks have an almost 70 percent recoup. Putting in a backyard patio with a cooking area and an arbor might be around $50,000, which might not be worth it if youre selling. But upgrading a deck with Brazilian wood will almost always will be. As for basements, they can be expensive the average in the Atlanta market is $70,500 for a good-sized space but if you could spruce it up with an inexpensive floor, some dry wall and spray-painted ceilings, you can get a 65 percent recoup rate.

One of the best remodeling projects that pays off is a relatively simple one. Blow in insulation in the attic, said Contant. Not only can you recoup about 80 percent, youll also have lower energy bills while youre still living there.

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Small changes can get home ready for spring market - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Fort Worth Star Telegram

Offices made from shipping containers coming to Fort Worth Fort Worth Star Telegram Soon, Matthijs and Jie Melchiors, partners and founders of MEL/ARCH studio, will start construction on a three-story office building near Evans and Rosedale avenues made entirely of shipping containers. In all, 40 containers of various colors will be used.

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Offices made from shipping containers coming to Fort Worth - Fort Worth Star Telegram

Judith McGinnis , Times Record News 4:24 p.m. CT April 21, 2017

Amanda Gonzales, right, picks up a bag of gourmet popcorn from A.L. Williams, owner of Aunt Margie's Gourmet Popcorn in the lobby of the Oil and Gas Building at 813 8th Street.(Photo: Torin Halsey/Times Record News)Buy Photo

The Oil and Gas Building lobby is ready to pop.

Aunt Margies Gourmet Popcorn, owned, operated and made by Anita Williams, has set up shop to the delight of companies that office there.

What began with a shared recipe has now become a unique enterprise. Williams has come home to Wichita Falls with a delicious start-up business.

I really did have an Aunt Margie, Williams saidwith a broad smile. I call her original recipe butter crunch.' Its sugar, butter and popcorn. I have to tell people all the time this is not caramel corn.

A graduate of Rider High School, Midwestern State University and Bethania Nursing School, she was 10 when her civil service-employed parents came to Wichita Falls. Marriage and children moved her to different states but she was ready to return.

A. L. Williams mixes up a batch of popcorn for her business, Aunt Margie's Gourmet Popcorn, which she started recently. Williams has been making her aunt's recipe for several years and now offers several flavors and varieties.(Photo: Torin Halsey/Times Record News)

Anita had a booth at the Farmers Market for a while but this is over the top, Cynthia Laney, executive director of Downtown Wichita Falls Development said. Her office is across the hall from Aunt Margies Gourmet Popcorn. Popcorn is my favorite snack and I like to have coffee with a mix of the butter crunch and the sweet and spicy.

White Realty Management Vice President Mark Chase, who worked with Williams,is just as pleased.

Years ago this was a concession stand. Chewing gum and candy bars, Chase said. Were very excited to have Anita here. I understand soon we'll have homemade lemonade to go with the popcorn."

Aunt Margie's Gourmet Popcorn is located in the lobby of the Oil and Gas Building, seen in this old photograph as the shorter building, center right. Construction in the foreground is of the Hamilton Building. Additional floors were built onto the Oil and Gas Building later, making it roughly as tall as its next door neighbor, the City National Building.(Photo: Torin Halsey/Times Record News)

The Oil and Gas Building has been a key contributor to the growth of downtown Wichita Falls. Built in the early 1920s, its 12 stories were an oil boomheadquarters. Old photographs collected by White Reality President and CEO David White depict the building surrounded by new builds like City National Bank and vacant lots ready for construction.

White Realty also manages the Hamilton Building, Energy Center Building, Chelsea Plaza andCity National Building.

"Currently 25 companies have offices at the Oil and Gas Building," Chase said. "People have told us a number of times they want to lease space in one of these buildings because their grandfathers used to work there."

A.L. Williams stirs up ingredients for her gourmet popcorn she makes from a family recipe. Williams recently opened Aunt Margie's Gourmet Popcorn and is located on 8th Street in the lobby of the Oil and Gas Building.(Photo: Torin Halsey/Times Record News)

With samples offered to visitors, office staffers and company execs, Williams continues to develop her brand. InitiallyAunt Margie's recipe was made as a gift for friends who asked for more and told others until it became a business.

"The sweet and hot version has cayenne pepper but I've also added milk and dark chocolate to the original recipe," Williams said, "By Thanksgiving I'll have cinnamon and pumpkin pie but Ireally want to do something with cheesecake."

A bag of Aunt Margie's Gourmet Popcorn made by A.L. Williams. Williams opened her popcorn business in the lobby of the Oil and Gas Building on 8th Street.(Photo: Torin Halsey/Times Record News)

Williams makes gift bags for all occasions. Aunt Margie's Gourmet Popcorn is open from 11 a.m ("to cover lunch time") to 3 p.m. ("afternoon snack time). She is flexibleto accommodate gift pickups and other needs. For more information or to place an order call(940) 263-9558 or go to https://www.facebook.com/auntmargiesgourmetpopcorn/.

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Sweet and salty treats come to historic office building - Times Record News

Construction crews work on a property on West Street near Curtiss Street in Southington, Friday, April 21, 2017. A Courtyard by Mariott is planned along with restaurants and shops thatll include a Mellow Mushroom, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Nutmeg State credit union and Cheshire Coffee. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Construction crews work on a property on West Street near Curtiss Street in Southington, Friday, April 21, 2017. A Courtyard by Mariott is planned along with restaurants and shops thatll include a Mellow Mushroom, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Nutmeg State credit union and Cheshire Coffee. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Construction crews work on a property on West Street near Curtiss Street in Southington, Friday, April 21, 2017. A Courtyard by Mariott is planned along with restaurants and shops thatll include a Mellow Mushroom, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Nutmeg State credit union and Cheshire Coffee. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Construction crews work on a property on West Street near Curtiss Street in Southington, Friday, April 21, 2017. A Courtyard by Mariott is planned along with restaurants and shops thatll include a Mellow Mushroom, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Nutmeg State credit union and Cheshire Coffee. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Construction crews work on a property on West Street near Curtiss Street in Southington, Friday, April 21, 2017. A Courtyard by Mariott is planned along with restaurants and shops thatll include a Mellow Mushroom, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Nutmeg State credit union and Cheshire Coffee. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Partial view of the dining room at Tavern 42 Burgers Brew & Que at 42 W. Main St. in Southington, Monday, August 15, 2016. After three months of renovation the new business has opened with American pub favorites and a wide selection of beers. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal The bar area of Tavern 42 Burgers Brew & Que at 42 W. Main St. in Southington, Monday, August 15, 2016. After three months of renovation the new business opened Monday with American pub favorites and a wide selection of beers. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal The bar area of Tavern 42 Burgers Brew & Que at 42 W. Main St. in Southington, Monday, August 15, 2016. After three months of renovation the new business opened Monday with American pub favorites and a wide selection of beers. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal The nearly completed bar of 75 Center in Southington, Monday, January 9, 2017. Downtowns newest restaurant will open on Wednesday in the former Machiavellis location at 75 Center St. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Mary Forgues, marketing coordinator, draws a variety of beverage signs while preparing for the opening of 75 Center in Southington, Monday, January 9, 2017. Downtowns newest restaurant will open on Wednesday in the former Machiavellis location at 75 Center St. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Workers from Paramount Construction carry a 75" monitor while setting up the game room at 75 Center in Southington, Monday, January 9, 2017. Downtowns newest restaurant will open on Wednesday in the former Machiavellis location at 75 Center St. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Ryan Tunnacliffe, general manager of Ideal Tavern in Southington, creates a Nitro Mule, a signature cocktail at the new restaurant on Center Street in Southington, Thursday, August 25, 2016. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Ryan Tunnacliffe, general manager of Ideal Tavern, a new restaurant at 142 Center St. in Southington, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Joseph Lucci, executive chef, prepares Filet Mignon with Baby Vegetable and Black Truffle Aioli at Ideal Tavern, a new restaurant at 142 Center St. in Southington, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Ideal Tavern, a new restaurant at 142 Center St. in Southington, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Luxury townhouses at the Liberty Station complex on Liberty Street in Southington, Friday, January 13, 2017. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal The Liberty Station apartment complex on Liberty Street in Southington, Friday, January 13, 2017. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal The kitchen area of one of the new apartments at the Liberty Station complex on Liberty Street in Southington, Friday, January 13, 2017. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Matt Denorfia, left, and Andy Denorfia, owners of the Liberty Station complex on Liberty Street in Southington, Friday, January 13, 2017. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Construction continues on the new Hartford HealthCare medical building on Queen Street in Southington, Monday, January 30, 2017. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Construction continues on the new Hartford HealthCare medical building on Queen Street in Southington, Monday, January 30, 2017. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal A Hartford Healthcare medical building under construction on Queen Street next to Price Chopper in Southington, Monday, May 16, 2016. | Dave Zajac / Record-Journal Inside the new Smashburger on Queen Street in Southington. | Farrah Duffany/ Record-Journal staff. FILE PHOTO: By 11 a.m. Wednesday, dozens of people were lined up awaiting the grand opening of the Smashburger location in Southington on Queen Street. The first 50 customers got free milkshakes for a year. | Farrah Duffany/ Record-Journal staff. By 11 a.m. Wednesday, dozens of people lined up awaiting the grand opening of the Smashburger location in Southington on Queen Street. The first 50 customers got free milkshakes for a year. | Farrah Duffany/ Record-Journal staff. A property under development next to Outback Steakhouse on Queen Street in Southington, Thursday, February 2, 2017. Construction began last year on the plaza thatll include a Chick-fil-A, Chipotle and Aldi. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal A property under development on Queen Street in Southington, Thursday, February 2, 2017. A local developer is looking to rezone more houses nearby to allow commercial development and access to the plaza under construction. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Drainage pipes and drains staged on the property at 785 Queen Street in preperation for retail development Thursday Oct. 27, 2016 | Justin Weekes / For the Record-Journal Woodland Heights, a 72-lot development under construction on Loper Street in Southington, Friday, March 10, 2017. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Woodland Heights, a 72-lot development under construction on Loper Street in Southington, Friday, March 10, 2017. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Woodland Heights, a 72-lot development under construction on Loper Street in Southington, Friday, March 10, 2017. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Woodland Heights, a 72-lot development under construction on Loper Street in Southington, Friday, March 10, 2017. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Tree removal has begun on a new development on Loper Street in Southington, Friday, September 2, 2016. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Construction crews began bringing utilities from Loper Street into a new 72-lot subdivision being built by AA Denorfia Building and Development on on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016. | Bryan Lipiner, Record-Journal Noodles & Company in Southington, left, June 1, 2015. The national chain based in Colorado will be opening its Southington location at 832 Queen St. by June 17. | Dave Zajac / Record-Journal Noodles & Company, a national restaurant chain with an emphasis on pasta and noodle dishes is under construction at 832 Queen St. in Southington, Monday, January 12, 2015. The business is located in the same plaza as Puerto Vallarta and plans to open in March. | Dave Zajac / Record-Journal A HomeGoods store under construction in the new commercial plaza on West Street in Southington, Tuesday, February 28, 2017. The plaza will also include a Michaels and Pet Valu store. Chips Family Restaurant is being built on a pad separate from the stores. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal HomeGoods, Michaels and Pet Valu stores under construction in a new commercial plaza on West Street in Southington, Tuesday, February 28, 2017. Chips Family Restaurant is being built on a pad separate from the stores. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal A HomeGoods store under construction in the new commercial plaza on West Street in Southington, Tuesday, February 28, 2017. The plaza will also include a Michaels and Pet Valu store. Chips Family Restaurant is being built on a pad separate from the stores. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

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Measuring the value of property development in Southington - Meriden Record-Journal

Recent news from the C&D recycling and demolition industry.

Ten years after receiving its first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the University of California (UC), Merced in Merced, California, has earned platinum certification for its Classroom and Office Building 2 (COB2).

This marks the campus 17th LEED certification for new construction and its eighth platinum designation.

From day one, we made a deliberate commitment to build to highest sustainable standards, Assistant Director of Sustainability Mark Maxwell says. With each new building, were proud to demonstrate that were keeping that promise.

COB2 opened in fall 2016, providing much-needed classrooms, tutorial space, research labs and academic and administrative offices to support the campus projected growth, the university says.

Some of COB2s sustainable features include diverting 93 percent of its construction waste from landfills; using 51 percent recycled content during building construction; and being 43 percent more water efficient and 46 percent more energy efficient than California code requires.

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Green building - Construction & Demolition Recycling

Milwaukee Business Journal

Milwaukee's Coolest Offices: An office with a view big draw for Catalyst Construction Milwaukee Business Journal An office with a view of the Milwaukee Art Museum and Lake Michigan, along with lots of open spaces and natural light, highlight the new offices of Catalyst Construction LLP in downtown Milwaukee. Check out the attached slideshow to see photos of the ... and more »

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Milwaukee's Coolest Offices: An office with a view big draw for Catalyst Construction - Milwaukee Business Journal