Industry News
Austin gets first multifamily LEED Gold building - 7/1/2009
One of Austin's newest office properties, Four Points Centre , has signed its first Tenant, THQ Inc. to approximately 33,000 square feet. "We are extremely excited to sign a lease with such an outstanding company as THQ," said Mark Greiner of Oxford Commercial , the project's leasing firm. "This lease with THQ demonstrates that first-class office buildings continue to attract tenant interest even in challenging markets." David Kimball and Keith Zimmerman with UGL Equis represented THQ Inc.
International Code Council to write 'green' code for commercial structures - 7/1/2009
Michael Burnham, E&E senior reporter The International Code Council launched an initiative today to develop a "green" construction code to slash the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of commercial buildings.
Unique library project in Moravia threatened - 7/1/2009
Some 2,500 people have signed a petition in support of the construction of a unique library building shaped as a black cube in Ostrava, north Moravia, since the region unexpectedly halted the project, the daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) writes today. The library designed by renowned Czech architects Ladislav Kuba and Tomas Pilar won an architectonic contest in 2004 in which 43 authors took part.
More building material salespeople pursue green training - 6/30/2009
The Certified Green Dealer(TM) Program, the nation's only program for certifying the nation's green lumber and building material dealerships, just announced that it has crossed the 4,600-user threshold.
DOE doles out $453m for weatherization programs - 6/23/2009
CONTACT: (202) 586-4940 COLUMBUS, OHIO - U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the Department of Energy is providing more than $453 million in Recovery Act funding to expand weatherization assistance programs in 15 additional states. These funds, along with additional funds to be disbursed after the states meet certain Recovery Act milestones, will help these states achieve their goal of weatherizing more than 165,000 homes, lowering energy costs for low-income families that need it, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and creating green jobs across the country. Secretary Chu made today's announcement while helping to weatherize a local resident's home in Columbus, Ohio with Governor Ted Strickland. The following states will receive 40 percent of their total weatherization funding authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act today: California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Maryland, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia. Under the Recovery Act, states may spend up to 20 percent of funds to hire and train workers.
Turkmenistan launches $1.5 billion resort - 6/22/2009
? The president of Turkmenistan staged lavish ceremonies for foreign guests and media on June 15 to launch a new US $1.5 billion resort on the desert shore of the Caspian Sea in a city named after his eccentric and autocratic predecessor. Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov stood on the porch of one of three gleaming white luxury hotels just completed here, and told thousands of guests that the development in Turkmenistans national tourist zone Avaza would help his energy-rich country diversify its economy by encouraging the growth of the Turkmen tourist industry.
US Navy fast tracks $ 34m in airfield projects - 6/22/2009
Million in Airfield Projects By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michelle Terrell, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia Public Affairs NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic Division (NAVFAC LANT) has embarked on an airfield improvement project at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, performing more than $ 33 million in expansion projects to be completed within fiscal year 2009.
Siemens Expects $21B in new orders, 40% green - 6/22/2009
Green technologies will account for 40 percent of this planned order volume by the end of 2012 MUNICH, Germany, June 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Siemens expects to win new orders of around $21 billion in the next three fiscal years 2010 until 2012, which will be generated by government stimulus programs already announced around the world. Green technologies are expected to account for 40 percent or about $8 billion of this total, which will significantly increase the share of the company's revenues from its environmental portfolio in the future. Siemens based this forecast on an initial systematic analysis of the largest stimulus programs. In the U.S., Siemens expects orders stemming from the stimulus program of roughly $8 billion. "With their programs, governments worldwide are sending the right signal. Against the backdrop of the worst global economic crisis in decades, these government measures are at least partially cushioning, in some cases, sharp declines in private-sector demand. They should also have a stabilizing effect on our business," said Siemens President and CEO Peter Loscher. "In addition, the government programs will safeguard jobs worldwide. The large portion of the investments in environmental technologies will probably create new green jobs as well. This applies particularly to the green infrastructure giant Siemens," Loscher added.
General Mills to build new 1.5m distribution facility - 6/22/2009
Rockefeller Group Development Corporation (RGDC) has been selected by General Mills to construct a 1.5 million square foot distribution center in Social Circle, Georgia, located 50 miles east of Atlanta. According to real estate research and portfolio strategy firm PPR, the facility is the largest build-to-suit distribution center to be built in 2009.
Calatrava will not design Atlanta Symphony Orchestra - 6/22/2009
Whatever the future may hold for the proposed Atlanta Symphony Orchestra concert hall, acclaimed architect Santiago Calatrava will not be the designer. A statement released to the AJC Tuesday by Calatrava's American publicist made clear the architect has removed himself from the project: "In 2008, Mr. Calatrava was informed that the Symphony Center will be relocated to a new site. He was also told that a new master plan would be conceived for the site and proposals would be solicited for a new design for the project. Mr. Calatrava declined to participate in this process." The orchestra and Woodruff Arts Center unveiled the Spanish architect's dramatic, $300 million vision for Symphony Center in 2005 when it intended to build on a 14th Street site.
