Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Acuity Brands Inc. (AYI: Quote) has demonstrated a pattern of positive earnings per share growth over the past five years, and still remains optimistic about the opportunities for solid profitable growth for fiscal 2015 and the foreseeable future.

The Stock In Focus...

Acuity Brands Inc., a provider of lighting solutions, is the parent company of Acuity Brands Lighting Inc. and other subsidiaries.

The company's lighting solutions encompass devices such as luminaires, lighting controls, lighting components, power supplies, prismatic skylights, light-emitting diode or LED lamps, and integrated lighting systems for indoor and outdoor applications utilizing a combination of light sources, including daylight, and other devices controlled by software that monitors and manages light levels while optimizing energy consumption.

Acuity Brands manufactures or procures lighting devices primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company has one operating segment serving the North American lighting market and select international markets.

The company's lighting solutions are marketed under numerous brand names, including Lithonia Lighting, Holophane, Peerless, Mark Architectural Lighting, Hydrel, American Electric Lighting, Gotham, Carandini, RELOC, Antique Street Lamps, Winona Lighting, Synergy Lighting Controls, Sensor Switch, Lighting Control & Design, Dark to Light, ROAM, Sunoptics, Axion Controls, acculamp, Pathway Connectivity, Healthcare Lighting, and eldoLED.

Annual Financial Data

For fiscal 2014, Acuity Brands' net income increased to $175.8 million or $4.05 per share from $127.4 million or $2.95 per share in fiscal 2013, $116.3 million or $2.72 per share in 2012, $105.5 million or $2.42 per share in 2011, and $79.6 million or $1.80 per share in 2010.

Net sales for the year 2014 grew to $2.39 billion from $2.08 billion in 2013, $1.93 billion in 2012, $1.79 billion in 2011, and $1.62 billion in 2010.

Revenue Breakup

Originally posted here:
In The Spotlight - Research Report

3 Day Kitchen and Bath will give your cabinets a face-over for a fraction of the cost of replacing them, and in most cases, the job will only take three days. You choose the color, style, and look youve been dreaming of and 3 Day Kitchen & Bath will take care of the rest. Your friends will think you paid a pricey interior designer and went on vacation when they see how your stylish cabinets turn your outdated kitchen into a showpiece of your home.

For may consumers, changes in the economy and housing market over the last several years have called for a new way of thinking. A few years back, not only was easy to move up to a larger home, getting a home equity loan for remodels was also a simple and easy process. Not any more. Most folks today are realizing they must be more budget conscientious. If you are looking to get the most out of your money and stay withing budget, then a Showplace Renew refacing from 3 Day Kitchen & Bath might be exactly what you need when considering your kitchen remodel project.

See the original post here:
3 Day Kitchen & Bath Custom Cabinets & Refacing

Architects - Early Grave (Sad Aggressive cover)
Links https://www.facebook.com/aggressive.sad http://vk.com/sad_aggressive.

By: SadAggressive

Read more from the original source:
Architects - Early Grave (Sad Aggressive cover) - Video

Following our recent coverage on Vo Trong Nghia Architects' US$4,000 S House, the Vietnamese firm offers yet another impressive sustainable project that suits the particular local climate and needs. Located in the countrys ng Nai Province, the Farming Kindergarten sports a huge green roof, a water-recycling and irrigation system, and is cooled passively.

The Farming Kindergarten measures 3,800 sq m (40,902 sq ft), and was built to serve up to 500 of the children of low-income factory workers based at an adjacent shoe factory. The factory is owned by the Pou Chen Corporation, which makes footwear for Nike, Adidas, Puma, Reebok, and several other major footwear brands.

The two-story building's overall form is dominated by a triple-ring green roof that encloses three secure ground-level playgrounds. The green roof also serves as a playground (don't worry, there are large fences), and sports a 200 sq m (2,152 sq ft) vegetable garden used to teach the kids to grow their own greens.

The kindergarten's interior is kept cool with cross ventilation via ample operable windows and concrete louvers, in addition to the insulating effect of the large green roof. This combination is presumably effective as the building sports no air-conditioning despite the tropical climate. Waste water from the nearby factory is also recycled and routed for irrigation and use in the toilets, and a solar hot water heater produces warm water.

The Farming Kindergarten was constructed in 2013 at a cost of $500 per square meter, including all finishes and equipment, which Vo Trong Nghia Architects says is relatively cheap for such a building in Vietnam.

Source: Vo Trong Nghia Architects via Arch Daily

Follow this link:
Green-roofed kindergarten constructed in Vietnam

By Adam Vaccaro

Boston.com Staff

November 18, 2014 6:50 PM

There are new plans for development in Quincy Center, after a $1.6 billion, 55-acre downtown redevelopment proposal fell apart earlier this year.

Ground broke last year on a block of Quincy Center called Merchants Rowa planned $120 million housing and commercial development. But within months, the project was put on hold by New York-based master developer Street-Works, and by March of 2014, the entire redevelopment plan had fallen apart. That left the Merchants Row space as an abandoned construction area.

A new $100 million plan for that area was unveiled Tuesday by project investor Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance, Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, and other officials, at an event announcing that a development team had filed for construction permits for the block. It is no longer going by the name Merchants Row.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

A six-story building with 169 housing units called West of Chestnut (in reference to Chestnut Street) would be built there, and would also include 12,000 square feet of retail space. Construction on that building is expected to start next year and end in the summer of 2016. Quincy Mutual has bought the land West of Chestnut will occupy.

A second phase for the project, a building called East of Chestnut, would have 220 additional housing units, but there is not a timeline for that building. The $100 million figure refers to the costs of both phases, according to The Patriot Ledgers Patrick Ronan.

Quincy Mutual is working with Boston-based developer Gate Residential on the project. Gate Residential is owned by Redgate Holdings, which is partnered with the city in strategizing about a broader Quincy Center plan. The development team for West of Chestnut also includes Sheskey Architects, Duffy Design Group, and retail investment company Graffito SP.

View original post here:
New Quincy Center Plans Announced Following Redevelopment Projects March Collapse

By Adam Vaccaro

Boston.com Staff

November 18, 2014 6:50 PM

There are new plans for development in Quincy Center, after a $1.6 billion, 55-acre downtown redevelopment proposal fell apart earlier this year.

Ground broke last year on a block of Quincy Center called Merchants Rowa planned $120 million housing and commercial development. But within months, the project was put on hold by New York-based master developer Street-Works, and by March of 2014, the entire redevelopment plan had fallen apart. That left the Merchants Row space as an abandoned construction area.

A new $100 million plan for that area was unveiled Tuesday by project investor Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance, Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, and other officials, at an event announcing that a development team had filed for construction permits for the block. It is no longer going by the name Merchants Row.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

A six-story building with 169 housing units called West of Chestnut (in reference to Chestnut Street) would be built there, and would also include 12,000 square feet of retail space. Construction on that building is expected to start next year and end in the summer of 2016. Quincy Mutual has bought the land West of Chestnut will occupy.

A second phase for the project, a building called East of Chestnut, would have 220 additional housing units, but there is not a timeline for that building. The $100 million figure refers to the costs of both phases, according to The Patriot Ledgers Patrick Ronan.

Quincy Mutual is working with Boston-based developer Gate Residential on the project. Gate Residential is owned by Redgate Holdings, which is partnered with the city in strategizing about a broader Quincy Center plan. The development team for West of Chestnut also includes Sheskey Architects, Duffy Design Group, and retail investment company Graffito SP.

Continued here:
New Quincy Center Plans Announced Following Projects Collapse in March

(PRWEB) November 18, 2014

Global commercial real estate services firm, Savills Studley represented Klein and Hoffman, Inc. in a full-floor 16,600 square foot lease renewal at 150 S. Wacker Drive.

Klein and Hoffman is a leader in architectural restoration and structural engineering solutions headquartered in Chicago, IL. Klein and Hoffman offers an interdisciplinary portfolio of building services including assessment, evaluation & planning, building envelope, existing structures, new structures, historic preservation and building enclosure commissioning. The company works with in wide array of markets including, residential, commercial, mixed-use, healthcare, education, government, parking structures, religious, institutional and industrial facilities.

Greg Gerber and Jake Ehrenberg of Savills Studleys Chicago office represented Klein and Hoffman in the transaction and Joe Alberts represented the landlord, Fulcrum Asset Advisors, LLC and Lincoln Property Company.

About Klein and Hoffman, Inc. With offices in Chicago and Philadelphia, Klein and Hoffman offers over 60 years of creative solutions in the investigation, design, renewal, and preservation of the built environment. Our reputation as a client-focused organization is reflected in the number of returning clients and referrals we receive from partnerships established with owners, architects, developers, and other engineering firms.

About Savills Studley Savills Studley is the leading commercial real estate services firm specializing in tenant representation. Founded in 1954, the firm pioneered the conflict-free business model of representing only tenants in their commercial real estate transactions. Today, supported by high quality market research and in-depth analysis, Savills Studley provides strategic real estate solutions to organizations across all industries. The firms comprehensive commercial real estate platform includes brokerage, project management, capital markets, consulting and corporate services. With 25 offices in the U.S. and a heritage of innovation, Savills Studley is well known for tenacious client advocacy and exceptional service.

The firm is part of London-headquartered Savills plc, the premier global real estate service provider with over 27,000 professionals and over 600 locations around the world. Savills plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SVS.L).

For more information, please visit http://www.savills-studley.com and follow us on Twitter @SavillsStudley and LinkedIn.

# # #

Read the original:
Klein and Hoffman Renews Lease at 150 South Wacker Drive

FAIRFIELD, N.J., Nov. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Honored as a complete family of architectural slim-line recessed and pendant mounted luminaires common in quality, efficiency and aperture size, the LINEA 1.5" pendant and the GRUV 1.5" recessed LED linear luminaire family from Amerlux has received a Product Innovation Award from Architectural Products magazine, according to Amerlux President/CEO Chuck Campagna.

More than 50 independent industry professionals served as judges and reviewed 300-plus architectural products that were submitted by manufacturers. The award program recognizes innovation in the development, manufacturing and refinement of building-related products and submissions included basic product information, sustainable features of product materials and production, case studies illustrating product applications, and comments from architects, builders and contractors who have used the products.

"We are proud to accept a Product Innovation Award for our LINEA 1.5 and GRUV 1.5 family, which has been praised for providing robust illumination while offering clean, understated aesthetics and design continuity from discreet linear profiles," explained Mr. Campagna. "This special combination of unobtrusive light sourcing is available with flexible mounting capabilities, solid performance, high-quality extruded materials and superior LED technology and drivers."

The LINEA 1.5" and GRUV 1.5" share equal components and a miniature aperture that allows designers to create recessed patterns running on walls and over ceilings, then transition nicely to open ceilings. Available at 5w or 10w per foot, the luminaires deliver a high output with up to 650 lumens per foot and a significant efficacy at 73 lumens per watt. Custom sized lengths are available to meet designers' exact specifications.

GRUV 1.5" is available with flanged or trimless styles and can be recessed in ceilings or walls while performing at high levels in gypsum board, Armstrong TechZone, USG Logix, Slot and T-grid ceilings, or J-mold for all configurations. The fixtures can be individual or continuous row-mounted using a drawer latching system that provides easy and precise joining of units for straight runs, wall runs for longer runs with J channels, or in T or L shaped patterns.

LINEA 1.5" is perfect for direct, indirect or both direct/indirect illumination and can be cable mounted for open ceiling applications, over desks or over a conference table, with or without a louver, or as architectural decorative lighting above a reception counter. The system offers the industry's first linear LED fixture designed for use with a louver, for optimal glare control, light diffusion and sight line reduction. Full range dimming capabilities are offered, as well as the option to operate with Lutron EcoSystem.

Other options include a broad array of accessories and more than 200 durable powder coat painted finishes to complement nearly any design scheme. GRUV is also available in 4-, 6- and 12-inch apertures and with a fluorescent light source, while LINEA is offered in other sizes using fluorescent.

Click on http://www.amerlux.com/awards to see all of the Amerlux products that have won Product Innovation Awards from Architectural Products magazine.

About the Product Innovation Awards by Architectural Products MagazineArchitectural Products magazine's Product Innovation Awards, or the PIAs, represent an effort to impartially review and present to readers --architects, specifiers, interior designers and building owners/operators --a wide-range of innovative building-related products as judged worthy of distinction by industry insiders. The PIAs bring innovative concepts, products and systems into the architectural space. Of the thousands of new and improved product ideas brought to market each year, the PIA winners are representative of the very finest.

About Amerlux LLCAmerlux speaks the language of light for design and construction professionals around the world by manufacturing a broad array of optically superior, energy efficient lighting solutions for the retail, supermarket, hospitality, commercial and exterior lighting markets. Amerlux products and services include track lighting, recessed downlighting and multiples, pendants, linear fluorescents, and custom lighting systems, as well as support for energy reduction plans that can be used as a guide to state, city and local utility rebate programs for maximum energy savings and utility incentives. The company's domestic and international clients receive the support of Amerlux's highly trained specification sales force, as well as expert service from initial design to on-time delivery made possible by strategically located manufacturing, warehousing and shipping locations.

See the article here:
Amerlux LINEA 1.5 and GRUV 1.5 Architectural LED Linear Lighting Family Wins Product Innovation Award from ...

When Atlanta firefighters arrive at a fire scene, they do more than put out the fire. They also call a private company to board up the property after a fire. The homeowner doesn't choose the company, the fire department does.

Critics wonder whether Atlanta is playing favorites, with big insurance money at stake.

Zahi Elias owns several rental properties. Last July, his tenant called to say his house in Atlanta was on fire.

When Elias arrived, a company called 1-800-BOARDUP was already on the scene, and the tenant had signed an agreement to let the company board up the house.

"I said 'No, this is my property, not the tenants property. I will board it.' He wasn't happy," Elias said of the BoardUp representative. He called the two men with the company pushy.

1-800-BOARDUP is based in St. Louis. Local restoration companies around the country buy a franchise, and often hire current and former firefighters to be the face of the franchise.

The companys website states, If your market is available and you would like to increase your sales and decrease your dependence on worn out marketing strategies, please contact our franchise sales department.

Testimonials on the website include this one from Dave W. Of California: Our disaster recovery business flourishes because of our 1-800-BOARDUP program.

Retired Atlanta Fire Section Chief Jimmy Hodges gets a paycheck from a restoration company, but if you ask where he works, he'll say, "1-800-BOARDUP."

Every franchise has to have a director of emergency services and usually it's a chief officer like myself, retired, Hodges said. We understand emergency management. We understand what people go through.

See the original post:
2 Investigates: Fire department ties with home restoration company

JOSEPH JOHNSON

FRONTING UP: Roger Sutton at the press conference announcing his resignation on Monday.

The Government has appointed an acting chief executive who will head up the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority for more than two months before Roger Sutton officially leaves.

Sutton is currently on leave after announcing his resignation on Monday after aseven-week investigation into harrassment allegations

An independent report did not recommend he be dismissed, but State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie said the case amounted to "serious misconduct".

Sutton was expected to continue in his role until January 31, receiving his salary, but today Rennie announced that John Ombler would become acting chief executive as of December 1.

"I have had discussions with Mr Sutton today and he was concerned that his departure might slow the momentum of Cera's work programme in Christchurch," Rennie said in a statement this afternoon.

"We agreed that Mr Ombler's early appointment would be in the best interests of Cera staff and the Christchurch rebuild, and would allow Mr Sutton and Mr Ombler to work together on an orderly transition " Rennie said.

Sutton remained employed but would not be based in Cera's offices during the "transitional phase".

Ombler would be the acting chief executive when Cera merges with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet on 1 February 2015.

Continued here:
Sutton replacement comes early