Drew Ballensky

Drew Ballensky is general manager of Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.’s central U.S. facility in Iowa and company spokesman for Duro-Last’s cool roofing, sustainability and architectural education programs. He is past-president of the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association and chairman of CFFA’s Vinyl Roofing Division. Drew earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from the University of Northern Iowa and master’s degree in business administration from Florida State University. Drew has over 29 years experience in business and industry in various engineering and managerial capacities. He has worked in the U.S. and Canadian operations for a major international manufacturer of pre-engineered steel buildings, was a financial analyst with a major athletic apparel manufacturer and was an owner of a general contracting company.

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Posted on June 05, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

Renovated Boston warehouse reborn as a living lab for sustainable energy research

A 100-year-old former tannery warehouse in Boston is undergoing a major renovation to remake the structure as a living laboratory for sustainable energy and energy efficiency research. The $22 million project will allow researchers at the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems(CSE) to...

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

Houston’s vacant Astrodome could become trade show facility

The iconic Houston Astrodome, which has been empty and unused since 2008, could be reborn as a special events and trade show facility, according to a proposal by consultants led by Dallas-based CSL. The $270 million rehab option could turn Houston into a popular destination for special events and...

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

IBM’s ‘building whisperer’ bullish on energy retrofits

Dave Bartlett, who leads IBM’s smarter building initiative, is known as the "building whisperer" because he views buildings as living organisms, an approach that can help identify problems and suggest cost-effective ways of making buildings healthier and more energy-efficient. With the success of...

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

Old Chicago warehouse retrofitted as urban aquaponics farm

An old meatpacking warehouse in Chicago is being turned into an urban aquaponics farm. Called “The Plant,” the facility is already operating as a fish hatchery, hydroponic garden, commercial kitchen and brewery for both beer and kombucha tea. The waste from one part of the farm serves as raw...

Posted on May 09, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

Iconic UN campus in New York undergoing major renovation

The 17-acre United Nations campus along Manhattan’s East River is undergoing a $1.87-billion refurbishment. Plans call for the mid-century modernist General Assembly to be stripped back to its concrete walls, upgraded to 21st-century standards of safety, security, and accessibility, and then...

Posted on May 03, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

$2.5 billion healthcare project in San Francisco gets key approval

The proposed $2.5 billion California Pacific Medical Center project cleared a major hurdle when San Francisco’s Planning Commission approved its final environmental impact report. Requested exemptions to city planning codes also passed. The center aims to build and renovate five facilities across...

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

Delta spending over $1 billion on New York airport renovations

Delta Airlines broke ground on a $160 million renovation at LaGuardia Airport last week. The improvements include building a connector between Terminals C and D. In addition, the carrier is investing about $1.2 billion at JFK Airport to tear down Terminal 3, the old Pan American terminal, and...

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

Industrial adaptive reuse projects show surprising ways to repurpose old structures

A half dozen adaptive reuse projects featured in this article demonstrate creative repurposing of old industrial buildings. The projects include a never-used nuclear power reactor turned into an amusement park, a defunct factory converted into a glittering museum space, a historic water tower...

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

Tornado-ravaged Joplin, Mo., in $300 million reconstruction boom

Devastated by a tornado about a year ago, the community of Joplin, Mo. is being rebuilt at a torrid pace. About 640 permits for new homes and 2,982 permits for residential repairs and rebuilding projects have been issued since the tornado, representing more than $300 million worth of reconstruction...

Posted on April 04, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

New rehab trend: repurposing vacant malls

The new fashion for mixed-use developments or outdoor shopping centers that are designed to look like a friendly downtown is taking its toll on the enclosed mall. Many cities and suburbs have dead and dying malls on their hands. Some organizations are repurposing dead or dying malls. Rackspace, a...