Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Montana State University is using recycled glass to build countertops in their new school of business.

"It was a dream that we thought out between the students and I," said E.J. Hook, MSU Environment Services Manager. "We were able to carry it from a dream stage into reality."

The countertops, the back splashes of the drinking stations and the cafeteria will all be made from recycled glass in the new Montana State University School of Business. For more than a year, MSU faculty and students have collected glass on campus.

"It engages people and we can all contribute directly to the project," said Hook. "It does the close loop kind of thing, which is a nice demonstration of smaller carbon footprint and it's all done locally."

2,000 pounds of amber brown and green glass, 1,500 pounds of clear glass and 600 pounds of blue glass have been collected for the project so far. Hook said blue glass was by far the hardest kind of glass to find.

"Blue glass will be seeded over the top instead of being used throughout the entire countertop so we can use larger chunks there and then they will polish it out," said Hook.

"There's actually close to 50 common colors on glass. It's so hard to recycle because there are so many different tints in it when its being made back into bottles," said Dave Leverett, Four Corners Recycling.

After the glass is collected, it is then taken to Four Corners Recycling to be crushed.

"We go ahead and weigh it in and then we run it through a glass crusher," said Leverett."Then we'll scoop it in the super sack, which are sacks that will hold up to 3,000 pounds of glass."

The glass is then transported to GeoMatrix to be made into countertops.

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MSU Uses Recycled Glass To Build School of Business Countertops

Cambridge, Maryland (PRWEB) May 12, 2014

Parking structures -- once considered the ugly ducklings of building design -- are now rising to become visually appealing additions to city and campus skylines as architects use metal mesh to transform and illuminate their exterior facades and create a canvas for corporate branding, lighting design, and public art.

Cambridge Architectural, the worlds leading full-service provider of sustainable architectural mesh systems for both exterior and interior commercial building applications, has seen its parking business grow as a result.

The company recently supplied custom designed stainless steel mesh and attachment systems for garages at Winnipegs McPhillips Station Casino and Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi and is currently working on a parking structure at 275 Wyman Street in Waltham, MA.

Other prominent parking projects for Cambridge in recent years include Awty International School in Houston and Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center.

We are seeing an increasing number of architectural firms coming to Cambridge on parking facility projects because they value our expertise in handling large installations and appreciate our ability and willingness to provide customized solutions, said Gary Compton, Cambridge Architectural brand manager. Architects prefer our large-weave flexible mesh patterns because they can be seen from a distance and unlike finer screens, they dont blend into the design.

In recent projects, architects have used Cambridge mesh to achieve a variety of design objectives, including sculpting the exteriors of a parking structure and adjacent buildings to integrate architecture and create a common look, and using lighting to illuminate mesh panels on garages in school and corporate colors.

Compton says Cambridge mesh also provides solutions for many key functional issues architects must consider when designing parking structures including solar shading, ventilation of exhaust fumes, headlight attenuation, and fall protection.

The transparent and reflective qualities of woven metal mesh make it ideal for parking facilities, he said. The openings in the mesh allow for air flow and daylighting while providing shading from intense sunlight. By night, the mesh allows views into the garage while reducing the glare of car headlights to the outside.

Cambridge offers a wide variety of woven mesh patterns and patented attachment systems for mounting the mesh to the parking structure. Patterns range from small weaves like Mid-Shade to large weaves like Pellican allowing for design flexibility.

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Architectural Mesh Transforms Exterior Parking Facades in Projects from Manitoba to Mississippi; Cambridge ...

Nick Richmond and Brian Barrick of Matrix Basement Systems Honored with Big50 Award

Each year since 1986, the REMODELING Big50 inducts 50 owners of remodeling companies that have set exceptionally high standards for professionalism and integrity through exemplary business practices, craftsmanship, and impact in their community or the industry at large. Big50 remodelers run successful, often growing, companies of various sizes that have taken the lead in raising industry standards.

The Big50 selection process has become increasingly rigorous in recent years, and the result, REMODELING editors believe, is one of the strongest classes to date. Uniting the 2014 inductees are high standards and a determination to rebound following the recession taking the opportunity to retool systems and processes ensuring that they are poised to meet their sales, production, and customer-service goals and continue to thrive, according to REMODELING.

We are very honored to receive this distinction, says Nick Richmond, President of Matrix Basement Systems, Inc. The award recognizes excellence and leadership, and we are privileged to be named to this select group of remodelers.

REMODELING editors, columnists, industry leaders, and the companies themselves make the nominations each year. Following a lengthy evaluation and interview process, the editors select the 50 individuals who exemplify the best of the industry that year, and who have something to offer other remodelers in proven practices.

REMODELING, published by Hanley Wood, LLC, is the leading publication in the home improvement industry. REMODELING has and continues to be the indispensable tool that remodelers cannot do withoutdelivering the business know-how, product and technical information that home improvement pros need to help make smart decisions that will shape their project success.

About Matrix Based in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Matrix Basement Systems, Inc. is the largest basement finishing contractor in the Midwest. Founded in 2009, Matrix has provided homeowners with a non-toxic, energy-efficient, waterproof, mold proof, paintable wall system that is quickly and easily installed, and protects basements from water and moisture damage for years to come. Matrix has brought dry basement environments and great basement design services to more than 1,000 homes across the Chicagoland and Detroit areas. The innovation of successful entrepreneurs Nick Richmond and Brian Barrick has not only impacted residential construction, but their recent launch of Matrix Manufacturing, USA is the Midwests biggest producer of Basement SIPS, MgO-Board, Tyroc Subflooring, and Panel Lamination services. With more than 100 employees spread across multiple locations in Illinois and Michigan, Matrix Basement Systems is a leader in the basement remodeling industry and will continue to be an innovator in green building and home performance materials.

Contact Information: Anne La Francis Matrix Basement Systems, Inc. 847-290-8000 info@mymatrixbasement.com http://www.mymatrixbasement.com 1435 E. Algonquin Rd. Arlington Heights, IL 60005

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Nick Richmond and Brian Barrick of Matrix Basement Systems Honored with Big50 Award

Hari Raya Music Light Set
A Totally New Decorating Concept for Indoor Lighting.

By: aribabawholesales

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Hari Raya Music Light Set - Video

Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) May 12, 2014

Studio 2000 Photography + Cinema (http://www.Studio2000.ca), Torontos premier international award-winning wedding photographer and wedding cinematographer, is pleased to announce it uses the most advanced cinematic equipment to deliver the best photographic images.

In addition to using speedlights and monolights, as well as other commonly used flash heads, Studio 2000 Photography + Cinema has started using more and more state-of-the-art cinema-style LED lighting for photography and cinematography, says George Paatashvili, owner of Studio 2000 Photography + Cinema.

Paatashvili explains that portable cinematic LED lighting provides continuous light that is easy to control and configure and allows the photographer to see exactly where the light falls. On top of that, whereas speedlights and other flash units are only useful for photography, cinematic lighting is useful for both photographers and cinematographers.

Cinematic lighting can create beautiful effects and is perfect for everything from key lighting to backlighting to adding soft light for fill and bringing up the level of illumination, Paatashvili adds. Studio 2000 Photography + Cinema discretely uses both LED lighting as well as speedlights to recreate/capture ambient lighting on engagement shoots, especially during evening sessions, at any indoor events, and for creative lighting at receptions. As for receptions, remotely controlled monolights and speedlights make it possible to override and control the existing ambient lighting at the reception as required, especially when dealing with mixed sources of illumination with different colour temperature.

In addition to providing the most advanced, top-quality photography and cinematography services, Paatashvili announces that Studio 2000 Photography + Cinema is also offering discounted promotional packages. Clients that book a photography and/or cinema package can save anywhere from $700 to $1,000.

Those interested in learning more about Studio 2000 Photography + Cinema or looking to book an engagement and/or wedding can call us at 416-315-2000 in Toronto or at 514-696-4238 in Montreal, Paatashvili concludes.

As the best wedding photographers and wedding cinematographers in Toronto and Montreal, Studio 2000 Photography + Cinemas award-winning team specializes in fine art, photojournalism, and cinema. Studio 2000 Photography + Cinema uses state-of-the-art cinema gear and camera equipment, including Steadicam stabilizers, jib cranes, and sliders, as well as copter cameras for aerial cinematography. Studio 2000 Photography + Cinema is known for very high-quality standards of post-production, including creative retouching, album design, and cinematic video editing. The company offers in-house custom framing, which includes making custom wrapped canvases and the latest offerings on wood, metal and acrylic, plus an extensive line of albums and guest books. Studio 2000 Photography + Cinema is also a member of the Professional Wedding Photographers of Canada (PWPC) and Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI). To learn more about Studio 2000 Photography + Cinema, visit the companys web site at http://www.Studio2000.ca or contact Studio 2000 Photography + Cinema by e-mail studio2000(at)sympatico(dot)ca or by phone at 416-315-2000 in Toronto and 514-696-4238 in Montreal.

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Studio 2000 Photography + Cinema Expands Offering, Uses Advanced Cinematic Equipment for Industrys Best Photographic ...

Architects - FULL SET @Ottobar Baltimore, MD 5/6/2014
Architects live at Ottobar Baltimore, Maryland on 5/6/2014.

By: James Rakestraw

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Architects - FULL SET @Ottobar Baltimore, MD 5/6/2014 - Video

For years, Catasauqua officials have debated what to do about 13, unused riverfront acres in the heart of their downtown.

On Monday night, they took a step toward turning it into one of township's biggest industrial and commercial developments in a half century.

Spillman Farmer Architects presented borough officials and local residents with their early visions for the former F.L. Smidth site the municipality bought in 2013.

Two different versions have taken shape, both of which would transform the four-block-long defunct manufacturer into upscale apartments, townhouses and boutiques. The borough will use these diagrams and wish lists to develop a master plan, which will help them craft the right zoning laws and policies to woo developers into the site.

But the piece borough officials talked about most, the part some have been dreaming of for 40 years, are new homes for the fire and police departments and municipal offices.

That's why Catasauqua finally opted to buy the land after years of debate. F.L. Smidth bought the property, which was once the Crane Ironworks in 2001. When it closed up its manufacturing shop in 2005, 70 people worked there.

By then, Catasauqua emergency officials had been operating out of aging inadequate facilities for decades. Sites were earmarked to build new facilities and later scrapped. Meanwhile, strapped for space, police park their bicycles in jail cells and firefighters make due with aging infrastructure.

Spillman would put brand new offices in the northern Pine Street bridge side of a new development park they're calling The Ironworks.

Elliot Nolter, a Catasauqua Area High School graduate and a Spillman architect working on a master plan, created a development plan albeit a different one for the defunct factory as part of a school project at Penn State University.

Nolter favors embracing the site's industrial past. Plans call for creating a central park area that incorporates old railroad trestles the factory once used.

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Architects present a new downtown vision for Catasauqua

Zoltan Pali, one of the architects hired to work on the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences future museum, has left the project, the academy has confirmed.

Pali, of the Culver City firm SPF:a, had been working with Italian architect Renzo Piano, who remains on the job at the site of the former May Co. building on the Los Angeles County Museum of Art campus.

The academy is scheduled to break ground on the $300-million museum later this year, with a planned opening in 2017. The 290,000-square-foot space will include galleries and movie theaters devoted to the art of cinema.

In a statement, the academy couched the move as standard procedure on a large architectural project.

There is nothing unexpected or untoward about the transition currently taking place within the Academy Museums design team, the statement said. As is customary with projects of this nature as they move closer to a final design, we are engaging an executive architecture firm to realize the vision created by the primary architects, Renzo Piano and Zoltan Pali. This being the case, Pali will now be stepping back from the project. Pali has been an instrumental part of the design team from its inception and we thank him for his incredible creative ingenuity, hard work, and dedication. Moving forward, the executive architectural design firm will be responsible for creating the detailed construction drawings as the project prepares for groundbreaking.

The academy has not named the executive design firm it plans to hire.

Pali, who recently transformed the Beverly Hills Post Office into the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, was already working on a renovation of the 1939 May Co. building when the academy decided to place its long-discussed movie museum there in 2012, and brought on Piano, a Pritzker Prize winner.

Piano and Pali would seem to have been an ideal partnership -- Pali was such a fan of Pianos work, he named a son after him.

But last week the Architects Newspaper reported on rumors that Pali was being quietly removed from the project, and over the weekend, the Hollywood Reporter said the two architects had clashed.

Neither Pali nor Piano could be reached for comment.

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Museum architect Zoltan Pali no longer on the project, academy says

Clifton Park

Clifton Park Center is looking to expand further.

The mall is asking the town's Planning Board for permission to add 28,000 square feet of retail space with multiple retailers near the front of the shopping center.

Donald MacElroy, vice president of DCG Development Co., said he hopes to get approval within the next 60 days. If he does, construction could be completed and the space available in the first quarter of 2015.

The mall has more than 600,000 square feet of retail space, almost all of which is leased.

"This building was always something we anticipated doing," he said.

Originally, the developer received approval for 40,000 square feet of space on that piece of the property, which is at the front of its site near Clifton Park Center Road, MacElroy said. Some 7,500 square feet was then used for the Olive Garden restaurant.

This new, L-shaped section which will be subdivided based on how much space tenants want will still leave room for parking and green space.

"We want the layout to work from a circulation perspective: When someone walks out of a particular store, they immediately see a dozen other shopping opportunities," MacElroy said.

tobrien@timesunion.com 518-454-5092 @timobrientu

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Clifton Park Center wants to add 28,000 more square feet

The least expensive step in any remodeling project is the planning.

Or dreaming as the case may be.

I have, for example, been planning my dream house for about 20 years.

It will be in the hills north of Santa Fe, N.M., and it will be a two-story adobe with maid's quarters upstairs (I'll be well-heeled, I hasten to add), a sunken living room, a dining room atrium, a TV/game room, a book-lined balcony and a large bricked front courtyard with a fountain surrounded by a low adobe wall.

It changes all the time.

Sometimes the front feature is a gnarly old pinon tree, and sometimes the low wall is brick to match the courtyard.

Sometimes there's a wine cellar under the kitchen.

I have gone as far as to plan the bannister, which will be made of peeled poles. I know exactly how they'll be attached although I'll have to find a blacksmith to make the brackets I've dreamed up, because I don't work in iron.

Oh, they'll be a big woodworking shop behind the garage and a kennel behind that. Maybe a vegetable garden, although I don't know exactly what you can grow in northern New Mexico besides peppers.

I don't like peppers.

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Houseworks: Want to improve your space? Dream on