Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

LUMBERTON Three rooms at Robeson Community College that will be used to provide health care students with life simulation training will be operating within two months, according to college Vice President Channing Jones.

Jones told the colleges board of trustees Monday that the rooms where state-of-the-art mannequins will be used to give students hands-on training should be open as early as next month and no later than March.

The $250,000 in renovations are being funded through a $25 million grant RCC is sharing with five other community colleges. The Better Occupational Outcomes with Simulated Training grant is provided through the U.S. Department of Labor.

Other renovations under way at the college include roofing on Building 8, located on RCCs main campus, and carpet installation in the administration building. According to Vice President Alphonso McRae, 50 percent of the new carpet will be installed this weekend and the rest on Jan. 25 and Jan. 26.

In other business, the trustees on Monday:

Heard a brief enrollment update from Pamela Hilbert, the colleges president. Although the spring semester figures are not final, Hilbert said it appears that spring enrollment will be about 1,725 students, down from the fall enrollment of 1,900 students.

This is the national trend, Hilbert said. Undergraduate enrollments are down at colleges and universities across the country except in metropolitan areas.

According to Hilbert, RCC is trying to recruit new students and maintain those already attending. A committee has been formed, she said, to improve marketing efforts.

Heard a brief report about the colleges chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. The presentation was made by Shamella Cromartie and Louis McIntyre, RCC staff chapter advisers, and RCC student Darious Johnson, the chapters president.

Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society for community college students. To be a member a student must have a 3.5 grade- point average or higher. Currently, there are 28 members of the society on campus at RCC.

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Renovations underway at RCC

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) January 12, 2015

REMODELING Magazine announced today the release of its 28th annual Cost vs. Value Report comparing construction costs with resale value for 36 of the most popular home improvement projects in 102 U.S. markets. The entire report, including interactive infographics, is available at http://www.costvsvalue.com and at http://www.remodelingmag.com.

The 2015 report, which compares changes in home improvement project costs with members of National Association of Realtors perceptions of what those projects contribute to a homes price at resale, reflects the mixed messages that were delivered by the housing market throughout 2014.

While the cost of doing projects rose across the board last year by an average of 4.22%, the modest gains in price and tepid increases in the volume of home sales left Realtors concluding that only about half the 36 projects would benefit a homes value at resale. As a result, this years report saw cost-value ratios rise for only five projects. The midrange roofing replacement led the way, rising 5.9%. The other four gainers were the midrange garage door replacement, up 5.6%; the 20-gauge steel replacement entry door, up 5.4%; vinyl siding replacement, up 3.2%; and the sole upscale project: a fiberglass replacement entry door, rising 1.7%. Another 30 projects declined and there was one new project.

Our Cost vs. Value Reports in recent years indicated big-ticket projects such as attic bedrooms and basement remodels were enjoying ever-bigger payoffs, said Craig Webb, Editor-in-Chief, REMODELING and ProSales. For 2015, however, the simpler and lower-cost the project, the bigger its cost-value ratio three of the four projects that cost less than $5,000 are ranked in the top five for cost recouped, and the other two are in the $5,000 - $25,000 price range.

In 2015, the top recouping projects are:

Under $5,000: Steel Entry Door Replacement (101.8%); Mid-range Garage Door Replacement (88.4%); Upscale Garage Door Replacement (82.5%); Steel Entry Door Replacement (72.0%)

$5,000 - $25,000: Manufactured Stone Veneer (92.2%); Fiber-cement Siding Replacement (84.3%); Vinyl Siding Replacement (80.7%)

$25,000 - $100,000: Attic Bedroom (77.2%); Basement Remodel (72.8%); Major Kitchen Remodel (67.8%); Garage Addition (64.8%)

$100,000 +: Two-Story Addition (64.1%); Master Suite Addition (61.7%); Major Kitchen Remodel (59.0%) Master Suite Addition (53.7%)

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Hanley Wood Releases REMODELING Magazines 2015 Annual Cost vs. Value Report

DEADWOOD Witnessing a variety of evident problems and also a few that could eventually become evident, Lawrence County Commissioners voted to replace the three boilers that provide heat and hot water to the Lawrence County Courthouse Complex at a cost of $387,742.

Commissioners were presented three options and associated costs by engineer John Hey at the regular meeting of the Lawrence County Commission Tuesday. Hey said he wasn't sure about the county's long-term master plan and what that entailed, so he provided three options.

Option one was total boiler replacement, along with system updates to allow for future expansion in order to back up the jail services, which run on their own separate boiler and generator system, to include a new generator capable of handling more capacity, at a cost of more than $750,000.

Option two, existing courthouse basement boiler replacement only at a cost of nearly $390,000, was the one selected by the commission and option three was to simply patch the existing courthouse basement boilers with their corresponding cast iron sections that are leaking.

The courthouse basement boilers are approximately 25 years old.

"Owing to their age, maintenance is becoming problematic and parts are difficult to come by," said Lawrence County Deputy State's Attorney Bruce Outka.

"With option one, I don't know that there's a reason to go quite that far and I don't know that option three makes any sense either," said Lawrence County Commissioner Brandon Flanagan."

"Option one is $367,000 more than option two," said Lawrence County Commission Chairman Terry Weisenberg. "Will we see energy savings, no matter which option? How much is the gas bill?"

The gas bill for the Lawrence County Courthouse complex is roughly $10,000 per month or $100,000 per year.

The boiler replacement is needed. If one of the boilers goes down, the complex will not have heat. The courthouse boilers also supply the jail with hot water.

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Lawrence County Courthouse complex boiler replacement to cost $388K

Tampa, Florida (PRWEB) January 12, 2015

VOLT Lighting announced today the addition of a new support team dedicated to the company's contractor customers. The new team provides an extra level of support to these professional landscape lighting designers.

A manufacturer of low-cost high-performance lighting products, VOLT is already well known for its extraordinary customer service and support. As a Google Trusted store, the company earns the highest customer service ratings of any online lighting company. Google gives VOLT ratings of 99.9% for "escalation-free orders" and 98% "on-time shipping" and an average shipping time of 1 day.

This emphasis on customer service is only one of the reasons for VOLT Lighting's success in the outdoor lighting industry. The company is also well known for its production of premium quality landscape lighting products offered at prices far lower than distributor-based lighting manufacturers. VOLT can offer lower prices because it designs, manufacturers, and distributes its own products - and it performs each step with world-class execution. This is an extremely efficient and streamlined approach that conserves resources and eliminates waste - a strategy that passes cost savings along to lighting professionals and their customers.

Steve Parrott, VOLT Lighting Communications Director, comments on the evolution of the new Dedicated Contractor Support Team, "Since its inception, VOLT recognized the need to provide real-time live support to their customers. Purchasing a landscape lighting system can seem complicated and first-time buyers have a lot of questions, so VOLT created a phone support line available 7 days a week. This phone line is staffed by a team of lighting specialists well trained to answer questions from a broad range of do-it-yourselfer and professional customers. The addition of a dedicated team just for professionals was added to give them that extra level of support to address their specific business needs."

VOLT is a distinctive manufacturer in the professional lighting industry in that it is extremely successful in both the consumer and professional markets. Whether the customer is a determined do-it-yourselfer or a landscape lighting professional, both groups receive highly effective and accessible customer support.

About VOLT Lighting Based in Tampa, Florida, with East- and West-Coast distribution centers, VOLT Lighting manufactures low-cost, high-performance indoor and outdoor lighting products. For more information go to http://www.voltlighting.com.

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Dedicated Landscape Lighting Contractor Support Team Launched by VOLT Lighting

Pier Solar and the Great Architects: Tim #39;s Way (Part 12)
Mandatory Battles Only -- Watch live at http://www.twitch.tv/hiddeninplainview.

By: unhappilyeverafter

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Pier Solar and the Great Architects: Tim's Way (Part 12) - Video

Architects Rochester NY Reviews - Mossien Associates Architects
Commercial Architects in Rochester, NY - a Client Review for Mossien Associates Architects, P.C. http://mossien.com Mossien Associates Architect, P.C. 339 East Avenue #205 Rochester, NY (585)...

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Architects Rochester NY Reviews - Mossien Associates Architects - Video

Debbie Flevotomou Architects Awards
Debbie Flevotomou Architects is a unique architectural practice based in London, which is currently designing landmarks and luxurious developments. We create aesthetic architectural forms,...

By: Debbie Flevotomou

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Debbie Flevotomou Architects Awards - Video

IVEDA3D - Bata Airport (GMW Architects UK)

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IVEDA3D - Bata Airport (GMW Architects UK) - Video

Cabin has been designed by Panos Dragonas and Varvara Christopoulou The structure is elevated above the city's rooftop landscape on four stilts The space contains a raised sleeping area and a small desk area Architects say it could be perfect for sleeping, meditating in the city

By Simon Cable for MailOnline

Published: 07:29 EST, 12 January 2015 | Updated: 09:14 EST, 12 January 2015

At first glance it looks rather like a glorified garden shed.

But this wooden cabin could be the future of city living, according to the Greek architects who designed it.

Designers Panos Dragonas and Varvara Christopoulou believe there are fewer places remote enough to build a wilderness hideaway, so have instead proposed a cabin raised above the Athens rooftops.

Greek architects Panos Dragonas and Varvara Christopoulou have designed a cabin that is raised above the Athens rooftops

They say it could be perfect for sleeping, meditating and relaxing while staying in the city.

As the world becomes increasingly urbanised, and digital mapping extends across deserts and jungles, there can be no more unexplored corners of the globe for a traveller to retreat to, say the pair, who are founders of Dragonas Christopoulou Architects.

They say the structure, named Detached and which comprises a small cabin of just nine square metres, allows the contemporary city dweller to escape a taxing daily routine without having to venture into the wilderness.

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Architects Panos Dragonas and Varvara Christopoulou design rooftop retreat

There's no better complimentand no more blistering insultthan one from your peers, especially when it comes to professions that trade in super-specialized knowledge like architecture. So when your peers talk, you listen.

That's definitely the case with the American Institute of Architects's annual honors, which is one of the most telling awards out there; 11 buildings built within the past five years, chosen by a jury of nine prominent American architects. We cover the awards every year because it's fascinating to see what working architects consider as the state of the art of their professionwhether a cathedral to bourbon or a carefully-engineered hall for physics research. Check out a few highlights from the latest crop below, followed by all the winners.

Maybe you think of college regrets when you hear the name Wild Turkey, maybe you think of your great grandpa. But Wild Turkey is in the midst of a self-led comeback, and a new visitor center at its distillery near the Kentucky River is part of that mission.

Louisville shop De Leon & Primmer Architecture Workshop built the so-called "cathedral to bourbon," which is clad in stained woodincluding cedar, ash, fir, and pineand has moveable sunshades to lessen solar gain.

In New York, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux are without a doubt most famous for designing Central Park. But the pair designed Prospect Park, across the East River, and it's just asif not moreloved than its older sister. This year, Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects opened a 75,000-square-foot skating rink and community center to the 1867 park. It's an ice skating rink in winter and a roller rink in summerand perhaps as a nod to Olmstead's preferences for artfully reconstructed nature, Tsien and Williams have covered it all in a cobalt "sky" of twinkling lights and silver streams.

When Shakespeare wrote Hamlet, he sited it at Kronberg Castle Elsinore, Denmark, a castle that was built in the 16th century to protect the crucial gap between Denmark and Sweden. Today, Kronberg is a protected landmarkso when Bjarke Ingels Group accepted a commission to build a huge maritime museum within viewing distance of the castle, they knew they'd need a clever way to conceal it.

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American Architects Pick the 11 Best Buildings of the Year