Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Mike Ullery | Daily Call Volunteers from the Housing Enhancement League of Piqua, along with Piqua city officials and workers from Morris Heating and Cooling and Harmony Systems gather for a group photo as work nears completion on installation of a new furnace for a family on Blaine Avenue in Piqua.

PIQUA Two local companies teamed up to bring warmth to a resident on Monday.

The Housing Enhancement League of Piqua (HELP) brought together Harmony Systems, Inc. and Morris Heating Cooling Comfort Systems to donate a furnace and its installation to a resident on Blaine Avenue. Harmony Systems donated the furnace, while Morris Heating Cooling Comfort Systems donated their time for the installation, which took place Monday morning. The total estimated cost for the furnace and installation was around $3,400.

Its a great help to me, said Ken Baker of Piqua, who received the donated furnace. Baker has been living in Piqua for 25 years, and his previous furnace was on its last leg.

It was in bad shape, Baker said.

Baker reached out to the city to see if HELP or the citys Community Home Investment Program (CHIP) funding, which they received through the states Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, was able to help him keep the heat working in his home this winter.

One of the big purposes of HELP is a way to give back to the community, Development Program Manager Nikki Reese said. Reese explained that HELP then reached out to Harmony Systems and Morris Heating Cooling Comfort Systems to see if they were interested in working together to help Bakers situation.

This is the second year in a row both companies came together to donate a furnace to someone in need in Piqua.

We were presented the opportunity last year We thought, absolutely, Brad Penrod, operation supervisor of Morris Heating Cooling Comfort Systems said.

Penrod said that in addition to giving back to the community by donating their time, this also provided them with the opportunity to make the residents home safer by getting rid of one of the older furnace systems in exchange for a safer, newer model.

It was a no-brainer, Penrod said. Its great for the community. The fact that Harmony Systems stepped up and weve been able to help has been huge.

This is a donation from our employees, Cynamyn Clem, human resources manager of Harmony Systems said.

Each year the employees of Harmony Systems think of a Christmas project, and they decided to give the gift of heat to a resident in need this season.

Its great. We love to be able to give back to the Piqua community, Clem said.

Mike Ullery | Daily Call Volunteers from the Housing Enhancement League of Piqua, along with Piqua city officials and workers from Morris Heating and Cooling and Harmony Systems gather for a group photo as work nears completion on installation of a new furnace for a family on Blaine Avenue in Piqua.

http://dailycall.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_021317mju_piqua_help.jpgMike Ullery | Daily Call Volunteers from the Housing Enhancement League of Piqua, along with Piqua city officials and workers from Morris Heating and Cooling and Harmony Systems gather for a group photo as work nears completion on installation of a new furnace for a family on Blaine Avenue in Piqua.

Harmony, Morris Heating donate furnace, installation

Reach Sam Wildow at swildow@dailycall.com or (937) 451-3336

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Heating up this winter season - Piqua Daily Call

Submitted by Wilson Creative Group 4:07 a.m. ET Feb. 18, 2017

Diamond Custom Homes completed this kitchen renovation.(Photo: Laurence F. Taylor)

Build a luxury home from scratch or choose to remodel an existing home?

This is a kitchen before being remodeled by Diamond Custom Homes.(Photo: Submitted)

That is the question heard most often from homeowners. Both options allow homeowners to achieve the home of their dreams, but how does a homeowner decide which path is right?

"When deciding whether to build new or remodel an existing home, choosing a location is an important first step,"advises Diamond Custom Homes President Michael Diamond.As more estate homes continue to age and land becomes less and less available in high-demand neighborhoods and communities, the remodeling market will continue to increase, he believes.

"Luxury home remodels and renovations are at an all-time high in Southwest Florida because many of Naples magnificent residences, built during the real estate boom years in the late 1990s and early 2000s, are now 15 to 20 years old and need remodeling,"he explains. His firm recently completed four luxury home remodels in Grey Oaksfor homeowners who wanted to modify the interiors to fit todays functionality and technology.

Contrary to what many might believe, luxury home renovations in the Naples area are not typically undertaken by existing homeowners who have been living in their home for many years. The lions share of luxury home renovations are requested by the new homeownerinterested in making enhancements in an existing home to accommodate their vision and lifestyle.

"Many of todays luxury home renovations include opening up the main floor plan to create an open, lighter and airy concept rather than the more formal layouts where interior walls intentionally divided each room by its specific function,"explains Diamond. "The challenge is to capture and combine the new homeowners style and interior design wishes with the existing estates practical needs,"he adds.

Luxury residence remodels often include replacing and upgrading mechanical systems such as the air conditioning system to enhance energy efficiency or adding state-of-the-art technologies such as low voltage home automation and lighting control to manage their living environments.

Flooring is frequently updated usually beginning with the removal of the original finishes then upgraded with contemporary products like wood, stone or large porcelain tile. Windows are regularly replaced to meet new wind code regulations and increase energy efficiency.

The centerpiece of a remodel is characteristically the renovations to the kitchen, which can include relocating islands to offer expanded counter space, new appliances, lighting, counter tops and customized cabinetry. Master and guest bathrooms are often brought up to date with new plumbing, shower enclosures, lighting, and counter top installations.

From complete custom home interior and exterior makeovers and room additions, to kitchen and bath renovations and architectural and design accents, Diamond Custom Homes covers the spectrum of home remodeling services. The company's commitment to quality craftsmanship ensures each project reflects the individual client and the home they envision.

Since 2010, Diamond Custom Homes has been building estate homes throughout Naples including the luxury neighborhoods west of U.S. 41. Offices are at 6646 Willow Park Drive, Suite 5,Naples. Online atwww.DiamondCustomHomesfl.com.

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Diamond Custom Homes leading estate home remodeling boom - Naples Daily News

Apex Building Products and Hartville Hardware announced today a new key partnership between the two organizations. Hartville Hardware will now offer all Apex Sunrooms products at its store. This partnership follows the unveiling of Hartville Hardwares newly-renovated Idea House, which now features an Apex sunroom and entirely modern finishes throughout.

Hartville Hardware shares our commitment to family values and our dedication to American-made products, said Fred Calero, Apex CEO. Were thrilled to announce this new partnership, and are excited that Hartville provides us the opportunity to continue to offer best-in-class sunroom products to a larger customer base.

With this partnership, Hartville Hardware will now carry the Apex Sunrooms product line. All Apex Sunrooms structural parts are made with high-temper aircraft aluminum alloy with ribbed reinforcement the strongest in the industry. Apex Sunrooms products are also 700x more thermally-efficient and more energy-efficient than other sunrooms on the market. All Apex sunrooms come standard with high-performance Low E2 glass which reflects solar energy and UV rays and allows visible light to pass through. And all rooms come with a limited lifetime warranty.

Apex Sunrooms products will be offered at Hartville Hardware with custom options available, including cathedral or studio style rooms with various sizes, doors and color options. Hartville Hardware will also offer design and installation services for the sunrooms. Or customers may choose the DIY option for installing an Apex sunroom.

One of the great strengths of this partnership with Hartville Hardware is that it allows us to leverage additional resources for our sunroom customers, said Trevor Calero, director of business development at Apex. Our customers can now work with Hartville directly to complete the entire sunroom addition project, including flooring and singles, or even landscaping and railing. It really allows us to offer a complete package.

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Apex Building Products Partners With Hartville Hardware - Broadway World

The News Journal 1:12 p.m. ET Feb. 17, 2017

Plantation Lakes(Photo: K. Hovnanian Homes)

Living on a golf course has its perks. To hit the links, golfers just roll their clubs over to the green. Those who dont golf can savor the restful views of well-manicured greens and lush, landscaped areas from their screened porch or patio. Add a clubhouse, a community pool and proximity to the beach to the mix and you have the recipe for relaxation. Youll find all of the above at Plantation Lakes, a K. Hovnanian Homes community.

Just 12 miles from the coast, Plantation Lakes in Millsboro has new single-family homes, including ranch models and two-story designs. Choose the floor plan that suits your family. The designs offer up to five bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths. If you act now, you can secure one of the few remaining lots on the golf course. What's more, in honor of Presidents Day, K. Hovnanian Homes is offering three complimentary upgrades to those who sign before Feb. 20.

If you dont want to wait to enjoy all that the beach area has to offer, consider one of three quick move-in homes, all of which have mostly hardwood floors on the first level and multiple upgrades.

Plantation Lakes(Photo: K. Hovnanian Homes)

Located on homesite 723 on Lumberton Road, the San Sebastian is a one-story design with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and a three-car garage. The thoughtful layout separates two guest bedrooms from the owners suite. Both are steps from the powder room and a full bathroom. They each have a walk-in closet.

The owners suite, meanwhile, features a spa bathroom that opens into a

huge walk-in closet. You can shower and dress without disturbing your partner.

The gourmet kitchen opens to the great room, which has a dining area and fireplace. Relax in the sunroom or on the low-maintenance screened porch. Originally priced at $475,192, this home is now $379,900.

The Maine II design on homesite 763, located on Glenwood Drive, has a classic farmhouse-style exterior with a welcoming front porch and an open floor plan. The two-story home, which is ready and waiting, has four bedrooms, including a first-floor owners suite, and two-and-half baths. The gourmet kitchen, filled with upgrades, opens to an extended family room and a dining room with a cathedral ceiling. This home, which has a two-car garage, was $388,123. Its now $324,900.

Plantation Lakes(Photo: K. Hovnanian Homes)

Another version of the Maine II will be ready in May on homesite 315, which resides on Belmont Boulevard. This home is currently the model, and the lucky buyers can just pack a bag and move right in. The home comes fully furnished right down to the custom window treatments.

This appealing deign includes a covered front porch topped by a covered balcony. There are four bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. Like the other designs, this residence has an upgraded kitchen that flows into the family room, which has a fireplace. The screened porch is large enough for effortless entertaining. Or head to the finished lower-level recreation room, which boasts a den and a full bath. This model has a two-car garage. Originally priced at $575,433, its now $459,900.

Plantation Lakes(Photo: K. Hovnanian Homes)

Whether you build from the ground up or select a quick move-in home, youll enjoy all the amenities that Plantation Lakes has to offer. In addition to the golf course, the community has a pool, a childrens pool, an outdoor sports court, a playground, and a 4,000-square-foot clubhouse with a fitness center. Walking trails gently meander through the landscaped common areas.

Plantation Lakes is close to Delawares award-winning beaches, state parks, cutting-edge restaurants, outlet shops and cultural attractions, including Historic Lewes.

While visiting Plantation Lakes, ask about The Villages at Red Mill Pond and Ocean View Beach Club, two other K. Hovnanian Home communities along the coast.

If youve been dreaming of living at the beach, act now while during K. Hovnanian Homes Monumental Sale. Not only will you realize significant savings, but youll also lock in an attractive interest rate before the expected hikes.

For information, visit khov.com.

COMMUNITY PROFILE Name: Plantation Lakes Builder: K. Hovnanian Homes Price: Low $200s Style: A variety of homes, from ranches to colonial residences Amenities: Golf, clubhouse, pool, outdoor sports court, playground, tennis court, walking trails Address: 27540 Belmont Blvd., Millsboro, DE Phone: (855) 683-6407 Hours: Monday, 2-6 p.m.; Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

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Fits to a Tee - The News Journal

(BPT) - More than half of homes in the U.S were built before 1980, according to U.S. Census figures. With most home heating and ventilation systems lasting around 20 years, millions of American homeowners will be looking at replacing their HVAC systems this year. If youll be among them, understanding the factors that influence the cost of a system could help save you money in the long run.

The cost of HVAC systems can vary widely, and most people who face replacing a system have never gone through the process before, says Steve Hoffins, director of marketing, Luxaire, a heating and cooling systems manufacturer. Sorting through your options can be challenging. However, finding the right system for your home can greatly influence energy efficiency, your homes comfort and its resale value.

Here are six factors that affect the cost of installing a new heating and cooling system, and what you should know about each:

The size of your home

You can probably guess that the larger the home, the bigger the system youll need to adequately heat and cool it. If a system is too small for the home, it will work harder, be less energy efficient and possibly wear out sooner.

However, too big isnt better, either. In fact, says Hoffins, Most homes have heating and cooling systems larger than they actually need. A system thats too large for a home can create uneven temperatures, poor humidity control, maintenance problems and a loss of efficiency.

Research can help you identify the size HVAC system thats just right for your home. You can also ask your product dealer to provide a load calculation and energy analysis for your home.

Energy efficiency

Replacing an HVAC system affords you the chance to improve your homes energy efficiency and save money over the long term. A quality, energy-efficient HVAC system may cost more than a less efficient one, but you can anticipate recouping the expense, plus additional savings over the lifetime of the system.

System type

From gas furnaces and split system air conditioners to heat pumps and packaged heating and cooling units, there are multiple ways to heat and cool your home. Most people replacing all or part of an HVAC system will opt to stick with the same type of system theyre replacing. However, you may find a different option will work better.

Different types of systems come with different product and installation costs. Before deciding whats right for your home, research your options and talk to a qualified dealer about benefits and costs of each.

Ductwork

When youre installing a new HVAC system, its important the ductwork in your home works with the type of system youve chosen, and that its been properly installed and maintained. Improper ductwork can create hot or cold spots in a home, reduce system efficiency and even allow the growth of mold from condensation. An HVAC professional can help you assess if your ductwork is in good shape before you invest in a new heating and cooling system.

Accessories

Certain types of accessories can make your new HVAC function more efficiently and provide you with greater ease of use. If your furnace is 20 years old, chances are good your thermostat is the same age, so youll want to replace that, too. Programmable thermostats can be reasonably priced and help enhance the energy efficiency of your HVAC system. Other accessories such as an electronic air cleaner can help enhance the air quality inside your home. Youll want to carefully consider the accessories youll be adding, and factor them into the total anticipated cost of your new HVAC system.

How youll pay for it

Replacing an HVAC system costs thousands of dollars. If you dont have enough cash saved to cover the cost, you may choose to finance all or part of the expense. You could use a credit card, but high interest rates mean you could end up paying thousands more in interest for your HVAC system. Manufacturer or dealer financing may be a lower-cost option. For example, select participating Luxaire contractors offer financing with appealing terms such as deferred interest, no interest with equal monthly payments and convenient monthly payment options.

To learn more about Luxaire home comfort systems, visit http://www.luxaire.com or follow @LuxaireHVAC on Twitter.

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Six factors driving the cost of your new HVAC system | Lubbock ... - LubbockOnline.com

February 17, 2017 4:04 PM By Jim Donovan

(credit: CBS 3)

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) Whether youre trying to keep your house warm in the winter or cool in the summer, your heating and cooling system is the biggest energy user in your home.

But an invisible shield could help make your home more energy efficient. In this weeks Angies List report, what you should know about window film.

Installing high-efficiency windows can be a great investment but its also expensive and costs thousands of dollars. If youre looking for a more affordable option, window film is a great alternative, said Angies List founder, Angie Hicks.

Solar window film is a thin material applied to window glass which helps filter out a lot of solar energy.

Window film will be a much better option in terms of improving the performance and matching the performance of a new replacement window, typically a fifth the cost of going through the replacement of those windows, said window film installer, Kevin Koval.

Jay Dunbar says, what he spent on window film, he made up within three years, in energy savings. But he noticed one thing immediately, no more uneven temperatures throughout his house.

First thing that we noticed, because we had it applied I think it was in late fall, we noticed that when it got cold, all of a sudden our bedroom wasnt 10 degrees colder than the rest of the house, which was very nice, said Dunbar.

You can install window film yourself, but doing that could void your window warranty. Reputable film installers will replace your window warranty with their own. Theyll also install the film without bubbles, which will prevent cracks or peeling later on. Some will even let you transfer the warranty if you sell your house.

Window film can also help filter out potentially dangerous ultra violet light and even protect your furniture from fading from sunlight.

For more information, click here.

Jim Donovan is anchor of CBS 3s Eyewitness News This Morning and Eyewitness News at Noon. The 15-time Emmy Award-winner joined CBS 3 as its On Your Side consumer reporter in 2004. In April, 2016, he stepped up to the anchor desk to rela...

Regis To Lead Ocean City Parade

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Angie's List: What You Should Know About Window Film - CBS Local

For the past 17 years, Eric Johnson has operated Authentic Builders out of his home. Recently, he opened up a showroom at 1524 Farwell St., McFarland, so people could look at models of his custom Amish kitchens. The name on the showroom Custom Amish Kitchens and More describes exactly what people can expect to find in the retail space.

He said many people are sold on the cabinets and millwork done by the Amish builder Johnson works with once they see it, but the only way potential clients could get a good look at the woodwork was to visit one of the homes Johnson worked on. This prompted the decision to open the showroom.

At the Farwell Street storefront, there are three kitchen remodels with examples of cabinets and countertops so customers can see the quality of the handmade millwork. Also on display is a vanity and cubby for storing coats, winter accessories, and shoes and boots. In the future, Johnson plans to showcase tables and chairs.

I have a builder thats amazing at just how precise he is, how his finishing is its so smooth with the wood and the sanding and how he stains things. Ive compared my cabinets to other custom cabinets, and I have not found someone that can match the quality that we put in to a kitchen, he said, adding the customers like the fact Authentic Builders charges roughly 15-25 percent less compared with other custom cabinet dealers.

Johnson works with an Amish builder for all of his pieces. The two met when Johnson visited Amish cabinet shops while remodeling his previous home in Mount Horeb.

His work was just head and shoulders above everyone else, Johnson said.

The pair discusses the design through letters or the Amish man goes to someones home to call Johnson.

He understands what Im looking for without having to have a very detailed drawing on what it needs to look like, Johnson said.

While Johnson designs and installs the new pieces as a licensed general contractor, he hires outside companies for any other necessary work like electrical, plumbing, drywalling and painting.

Johnson also remodels basements, bathrooms and other rooms.

Johnson enjoys the entire process from designing the project with the customer to demoing and installing.

The reason he continues carpentry is the satisfaction of seeing the smile on his customers face.

Just how they light up, Johnson said.I have one customer from five or six years ago, and when she sees me at the grocery store, she tells me, Every time I come down in the morning to get my coffee, I just smile when I see my kitchen.

The showroom is open by appointment only; appointments can be made by calling Johnson at 513-1528 or contacting him on his website, http://www.authenticbuilders.com.

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Johnson opens Farwell Street furniture showroom - HNGnews.com

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Bigger and better

Reiser is part of a new group, Albuquerque Home Shows, which bought the popular event last year. This is its second show after putting on one in the fall, and the company has vowed to make this one bigger and better than ever. This is our second as new owners so each show were looking to be new and improved with fresh ideas, to she aid of the EXPO that will run February 25-26 at the Manuel Lujan Jr. Exhibit Complex.

A touch of new mexican culture

Toward that end, the show has dedicated an entire hall to nothing but New Mexico products. Were going to have everything from foods, to jewelry, to art, Reiser added. All kinds of things will be there in Hall C; olive oils, jerkies and salsa. New Mexico made products. Hand-crafted items. The additions were brought in after checking the results of questionnaires to attendees of last falls show. We surveyed our people as they came through in September, Reiser said. We asked them what they would like to see more of at the show. Some of the feedback was for retail type of items, more New Mexico-type of products. Not everybody was there just for the home stuff. And we listened.

Apparently the idea was a hit with vendors, as well, as that hall sold out quickly, Reiser said. There are so many different types of woodworking, metalworking and other artists. It adds interest to the show and gives people a reason to stick around so its not just home improvement, there is a little bit of everything, she added.

Entertainment and seminars

In another effort to get people to hang out longer and increase the benefits to the attendees this year, Reiser shares that the show will include a stage that not only will be filled with entertainment, but also a full slate of seminars that will be useful for the consumer looking for some home ideas. Theres going to be financial stuff for the home, a dog trainer with obedience tips on training and gardening tips, she said. Well be giving away door prizes like the Amazon Echo.

Dreamstyles presence

Some of the vendors have been enlisted to help, like DreamStyle Remodeling. Were going to have one on kitchen and bath remodeling, one on what to look for when replacing windows and our remodeling department is going to do another one, said Dawn Dewey, DreamStyle marketing director. The Albuquerque-based company will have a major presence at the show, filling the equivalent of 20 10-by-10-foot booths, she said. The home shows are a great opportunity for people in the community as the season warms, people are looking to make improvements to the home to have a chance to see everything we offer, Dewey said. Its a place where they can shop around and have a good time.

In addition to its exclusive Renewal By Anderson windows, which will have a particular extensive display, DreamStyle will also showcase its custom remodeling, design/build kitchens and bathrooms; bath wrap products to shower conversions, sunrooms, stucco, cabinet refacing and patio covers. Well have a wide selection of top name-brand home products, Dewey said. Were going to have a lot going on.

Adopting pets

Being a big sponsor of the Albuquerque Animal Humane Society, a portion of the space will be filled with adoptable pets. Were also going to have giveaways and a lot of fun stuff so people can come by and see what we have to offer, she said.

Vendor benefits

The show is not only good for attendees, but the vendors get benefits, as well, said Lucas Satterfield of BAC Roofing. We like the steady crowd, he said. Were very pleased with the quality of people who come to the show. Weve been doing the home show forever now. We like the hours, how it is set up and ran. They advertise it very well and keep it very busy.

Often customers will come back to visit, Satterfield said. We have several customers that come back to see us every single year, he said. And we get a lot of leads. We get people who call us and say they saw us two or three years ago and kept the card and call us when theyre ready.

Its also a good time for the vendors to do some meet and greet. A lot of the vendors have been doing it for a long time, Satterfield said. Other than customer access, you get a lot of good, quality time with vendors. Its great for building relationships with other vendors. Still, in the end, its the consumers who truly benefit. We have a total of more 260 booths with more than 200 exhibitors, Reiser said. The cool thing is you can compare the different businesses. For instance, if youre thinking of solar, you can interview more than one. It all will be under one roof to allow people to do some comparison shopping.

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Home remodeling & lifestyle show - Albuquerque Journal

The North Loops makeover in the past 20 years has given new life to brick-and-timber warehouses that once housed factories, car and implement dealers and even a macaroni maker.

Now, a distinctive new office building made from wood has opened, a development that sets the North Loop apart from other urban neighborhoods around the country that have gone through such a renaissance.

Billed as the largest mass timber building in the United States, the seven-story structure called T3 shows that cities dont have to be dominated by structures of steel and concrete. Its progress has been followed by architects and developers.

We got away from wood for awhile for various reasons, and I think architects and engineers and developers have recognized the potential, and some of the new technology does make it a little bit easier to build, said Archie Landreman, regional director for nonprofit WoodWorks, which promotes wood construction of commercial buildings and advised Houston-based Hines, T3s developer.

Mass timber describes a framing style that uses smaller pieces of wood formed into large panels for floors, roofs and walls. It differs from the light-frame wood construction of many homes.

It can be easy to miss the T3 building tucked behind an upscale apartment complex and a strip club along Washington Avenue. But as soon as someone enters the space, it is hard to miss its singularity.

The building smells like wood mixed with a whiff of a new car. The lobby has all the modern furniture of other office suites, but it gives off the aura of a lodge.

T3, which stands for timber, transit, technology, recently received one of its first affirmations when Amazon.com Inc. signed on to lease office space. The company has said it eventually will employ 100 workers in Minneapolis.

Already, the building is home to a fitness studio for Bar Method Minneapolis, a fitness chain whose workouts include dance conditioning techniques. In addition, a restaurant tenant also has plans to debut a new concept at the space.

Heavy timber structures have a long history in warehouse construction, so the new T3 building is a great fit in the North Loop, said Nick Koch, an associate vice president at HGA Architects and Engineers and a chairman of neighborhood development group 2020 Partners.

While brick-and-timber buildings have become a popular choice for creative offices, noise and draftiness can be problems.

We just decided to create something that had the same authenticity and feel [of a brick-and-timber building] ... but all of the modern amenities and creature comforts of new construction, said Brent Robertson, managing director of the office-agency division for JLL, which is responsible for leasing T3.

The building offers Wi-Fi in its public spaces including the rooftop deck. In addition, T3 has fully embraced its location on the Cedar Lake Trail. It has bike rentals, bike storage and a bike repair station.

The 220,000-square-foot building was constructed with 8-foot-by-20-foot panels of engineered wood that were stacked across beams of glued, laminated timber. The panels themselves consisted of smaller strips of wood nailed together.

Concrete still is used in some areas of the building, including the entire first floor. Weathered steel wraps the outside to protect it from the elements.

Mass timber structures are significantly lighter than their steel and concrete equivalents so it takes less time to erect them. Builders needed less than three months to install the timber frame of T3. The dead load or weight of the building also ends up being lower.

As the only structural material that comes from a renewable resource, the sustainability, the aesthetic and the authenticity of the material make it a natural to be used more frequently in commercial applications, said Bob Pfefferle, director of Hines Minneapolis.

Another positive is that building with wood is believed to use less energy than building with other materials, Landreman said. The wood also naturally helps store carbon. The 3,600 cubic meters of wood that was used in the building will end up sequestering about 3,200 tons of carbon for the life of the building. Most of the wood was made of lumber from trees killed by the mountain pine beetle.

Designers and developers found a sweet spot with the T3 building with its relatively simple design and moderately tall height that easily can be replicated, said Jacob Mans, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesotas School of Architecture, who is studying Minnesota-made mass timber systems.

Theres just a lot of smart things in that building, he said. I think you will see this building type show up a lot more when you are trying to develop a lot of building footprint in a short period of time.

Wood buildings are perceived to be more vulnerable to fire but thats because many people dont understand mass timber, Mans said.

Mass timber construction might actually perform better in a fire than noncombustible materials because the wood is thick and solid and chars at a slower and more predictable rate. Wood buildings also have been shown to perform well in earthquakes.

Hines has plans to start construction later this year of a similar T3 building in Atlanta. There also have been discussions about an 80-story timber tower in Chicago.

In Minnesota and many other states, office buildings are allowed currently to have up to six floors of wood. But for many architects, the sky is the limit for the potential of wooden buildings.

Its mostly a code issue and the public accepting being in a tall wood building, Mans said.

T3 will inspire confidence for developers to keep building with wood, said Kate Simonen, an associate professor of architecture at the University of Washington.

The T3 project is already influential in that the project team has demonstrated a viable construction model, she wrote in an e-mail. The construction industry is notoriously risk-adverse. Early adopters, especially those that share information about the project success and challenges, can have a big impact on the industry.

Twitter: @nicolenorfleet

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In heart of North Loop, a new office building becomes ...

Last Updated Feb 15, 2017 11:47 PM EST

SAN FRANCISCO --San Francisco fire officials Wednesday night said a crane and concrete slab on a South of Market high-rise construction project that were unstable and considered at risk of falling have been secured, but evacuation orders for nearby buildings remain in place, CBS San Francisco reports.

Concerns about the stability of the crane and a 3,000-pound concrete slab at the top of the 35-story building under construction were raised Wednesday afternoon.

The project developer said in a statement that the 2:45 p.m. incident occurred when a system used to form concrete walls was being raised from levels 35 to 36 and had a partial hydraulic failure.

An engineer with special expertise was being flown in to help the construction crews, crane operator and fire department figure out the best way to relieve the pressure on a concrete wall.

CBSN

San Francisco Assistant Fire Chief Tom Sirogusa said some of the closed streets in San Franciscos South of Market will reopen Wednesday night after workers level the platform on the 35th floor of a luxury apartment building.

He says construction crews alerted authorities after the giant slab tilted Wednesday afternoon because a 30-ton concrete pump was sitting on top of it.

Sirogusa says officials decided to evacuate 16 office buildings and shut down several surrounding streets out of an abundance of caution.

Earlier, he said one a strut in a crane had malfunctioned.

He says the concrete pump sitting on top of the platform will be removed Thursday.

Fire officials described the incident as a failure of one of the struts supporting a crane at the buildings core, and said the tilt of the crane system caused one of the concrete walls and formwork to lean out.

During a fire department press briefing just before 6 p.m., San Francisco Fire Department spokesman Officer Jonathan Baxter said there is no danger of the concrete slab falling from the top of the high-rise project.

At this point we have been able to vet again, through our city inspectors as well as the contracting teams that we have shored the formwork that is in question, said Baxter. The crane that is in question is also secure.

Baxter insisted that media reports regarding the danger had been exaggerated.

Were seeing reports in the media that the crane is going to fall. That is false, said Baxter.

The initial tweet indicated that the building at 41 Tehama was being evacuated due to the slabs potential to fail and that people should avoid the area. The correct address of the construction site was later determined to be 33 Tehama Street.

San Francisco Department of Emergency Management officials warned people to avoid an area between several streets.

Lendlease Senior Vice President Mary Costello said the 37-story, 403-unit luxury residential tower near the Transbay Transit Center is being developed by Hines and Invesco Real Estate. LendLease is the general contractor.

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San Francisco construction site secured, but evacuation orders remain in place - CBS News