News Briefs

•Design cited in architect Holl's exit of Denver justice center project. The city of Denver will pay nearly $700,000 to New York architect Steven Holl, who quit its justice center project over aesthetic differences with city officials. Although the city will be able to use some of Holl's background analysis, none of his designs will be used. The project manager for the city said Holl's design came in about $30 million over budget. Holl responded to the controversy on his Web site: www.stevenholl.com/INDEX_NEWS%206.htm.

•Hines forms 'green' fund with CalPERS. Real Estate firm Hines recently announced the closing of the Hines/CalPERS Green Development Fund (HCG). Capitalized with more than $120 million of committed equity, the fund will have the ability to invest up to $500 million. HCG will concentrate on developing high-performance, sustainable office buildings certifiable through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Core and Shell (LEED-CS) rating program from the U.S. Green Building Council.

•NFPA 13 adopts code language on flexible sprinkler hose fittings. For the first time, the National Fire Protection Association's NFPA 13: Installation of Sprinkler Systems includes code language that clarifies the use of flexible sprinkler hose fittings and provides applicable guidelines. The new language appears in the 2007 edition of NFPA 13.

•Survey: Half of public owners familiar with 'green' building.According to a new study by construction consulting firm PinnacleOne, almost half (48%) of public owners in the U.S. have implemented construction projects with energy-efficient designs in the past year. Of those owners who implemented energy-saving approaches, the vast majority (87%) were familiar with USGBC's LEED program. For more: www.BDCnetwork.com.