Local architects win Calif. Design Firm of Year June 11th, 2012, 4:54 pm posted by Jon Lansner Architectural designerLPA Inc. has beennamed California Design Firm of theYear byeditors of Engineering News-Record.

The industry tracker noted that in the past year, LPA with 200 employees at offices in Irvine, San Diego and Roseville saw revenues climb 11% to $48.2 million, a notable accomplishment in a still-tough architecturalmarket.

Engineering News-Record also wrote:

What also sets LPA apart is its deep green character. For example, more than 80% of its 200 employees are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professionals. We are creating a new model for the industry, says Dan Heinfeld, president. Weve become an integrated design firm that uses sustainability to lead the design process in which solving problems is valued over chasing fashion.

Some of 47-year-old LPAs local work and click on images above for larger views of these projects:

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Local architects win 'Calif. Design Firm of Year'

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The American Society of Landscape Architects has elevated 33 members to the ASLA Council of Fellows for 2012. Fellowship is among the highest honors the ASLA bestows on members and recognizes the contributions of these individuals to their profession and society at large based on their works, leadership and management, knowledge, and service. The Fellows-elect will be recognized at the 2012 ASLA Annual Meeting & Expo, September 28October 1 in Phoenix.

The designation of Fellow is conferred on individuals in recognition of exceptional accomplishments over a sustained period of time. Individuals considered for this distinction must be members of ASLA in good standing for at least ten years and must be recommended to the Council of Fellows by the Executive Committee of their local chapter, the Executive Committee of ASLA, or the Executive Committee of the Council of Fellows.

Gerdo P. Aquino, ASLA SWA Los Angeles

Gerdo Aquino was nominated by the Southern California Chapter in the Works Category. In addition to his many design accomplishmentshe has revitalized wetlands and vacant and unusable urban spaces throughout the worldhe is an accomplished lecturer, professor, and author. He established the SWA Los Angeles office in 2005 and has since expanded the practice into Asia. His involvement in the firm's projects begins at their inception and continues through final completion. His long list of national and regional awards is a testament to his close stewardship. He also strives to elevate the social well-being and health of communities through landscapes that conserve and filter water to maintain ecological balance. He holds a BLA from the University of Florida and MLA from the Harvard GSD.

Julia M. Badenhope, ASLA Iowa State University Ames, Iowa

Julia Badenhope was nominated by the Iowa Chapter in the Knowledge Category. She is an associate professor and director of Iowa's Living Roadways Community Visioning Program at Iowa State. She integrates teaching, research, and outreach in the statewide community design assistance program she directs, and her efforts have been recognized by both the American Planning Association and Federal Highways Administration with their highest national awards. Notably, she has been able to bring both funds and design talent to the state's smaller, often-underserved communities. She integrates poly-disciplinary collaboration and inspires grassroots design even as she adeptly publishes, mentors, and advises. She earned her BS in agriculture from the University of Tennessee and MLA from the Harvard GSD.

David Jay Berkson, ASLA SWA Group Laguna Beach, Calif.

David Berkson was nominated by the Southern California Chapter in the Works Category. He designs places that have meaning as well as function and contain a strong accessible experience. He demonstrates that the quality of our surroundings directly influences the quality of our lives. His focus on the interplay of contextual forces is like that of a weaver of fine tapestry. He is an intellectual, a consummate collaborator, and master multi-disciplinary team weaver. Mr. Berkson harbors a private passion for making special places in the public realm. His decade-long effort to plan the replenishment of Beverly Hills trees was just one of the many legacies he has bestowed on Southern California. His BFA is from Tufts and MLA from the Harvard GSD.

Christopher Brown, ASLA SmithGroupJJR Phoenix

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ASLA Honors 33 Outstanding Members with Fellowship

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Posted June 11, 2012

BALTIMORE -- Hammond Wilson Architects, an award winning architecture firm in Annapolis, Md., has selected Vitamin as agency of record for its rebranding initiative. Vitamin is handling the development of the firm's new logo, brand messaging, identity collateral, website, and look book. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 1976, Hammond Wilson Architects is noted for its creative approach to waterfront and historic building sites and its successful leadership of these projects throughout design and construction. For more than 30 years, the firm has designed homes and unique commercial buildings on and around the Chesapeake Bay.

Leo A. Wilson, AIA, LEED AP, principal of Hammond Wilson said, "There is a fresh look to Vitamin's work that appeals to us, and that freshness is grounded in a methodical and thorough approach to understanding our business. Our recent leadership succession provided us with the opportunity to reflect on what it is that we really provide to our clients, and with Vitamin, we are hoping to communicate our tradition and our capabilities both succinctly and memorably."

"With Vitamin's experience in brand marketing for architecture firms, and Hammond Wilson's timeless aesthetic and appreciation for the art of design, we're a perfect partnership," said Amanda Karfakis, president and CEO of Vitamin. "Our collaboration is the development of a unique brand message coupled with a timeless aesthetic that will resonate with peers and clientele alike. We can't wait to show the world."

Vitamin has deep vertical experience in the architecture industry, having partnered with firms, including:

GWWO Architects Weineck & Associates NIKA Architects and Engineers Marshall Craft Associates

About Vitamin

Vitamin, the "Cure for the Common Brand," is the mid-Atlantic's first boutique design-web-public relations firm focused on nourishing brands through a best practices, all-in-house approach to creating cohesive identity, print, interactive and PR programs. Vitamin's client list includes regional and national companies in diverse fields, including built industry, banking, education, healthcare, restaurant/ hospitality, non-profit and search/staffing. Vitamin is certified MBE/DBE by the Maryland Department of Transportation.

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Hammond Wilson Architects Names Vitamin Agency of Record

MONTREAL, June 11, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Last May 8th, Canada Council for the Arts and Architecture Canada were awarded one of twelve Governor General's Medals in Architecture 2012 with the Kitcisakik Mission of Emergency Architects of Canada (EAC) and Architect and Project Manager, Guillaume Lvesque. Described as an original and innovative initiative and although this is an unconventional architectural project, the jury recognised the value and importance of the mission, "At its essence, and with great power, it incorporates the most fundamental aspect of architecture: to transform and enhance human life. Project participants have responded to real and urgent needs and they applied their technical skills with energy and enthusiasm. We hope that similar initiatives are under way." The medal will be presented later this year at Rideau Hall.

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, had the following to say regarding this year's selection: "The recipients of the Governor General's Medals in Architecture 2012 have distinguished themselves as Canada's visionary architects. The works they have designed are places where communities are forged, where memories are made and where identity is created..." This review certainly echoes the Kitcisakik Mission whereby Emergency Architects of Canada and the Frontiers Foundation following the lead of Guillaume Lvesque, used their knowledge and professionalism to improve Kitcisakik aboriginal homes located outside the reserve. Produced in close collaboration with the Anishnabe (Algonquin) nation, the project has and continues to develop skills, confidence and autonomy of individuals while intervention focuses on the improvement of living conditions, child health, overcrowding in housing, materials recovery, self-sufficiency in wood needs, sustainable forest management and knowledge transfer. Descriptions, images and photos of the Kitcisakik project are available at http://www.raic.org.

For Emergency Architects Canada, this medal solicits a feeling of pride and accomplishment. It also marks a renewed appreciation for the Algonquin community of Kitcisakik and their workers. Even more, this affirmation from the National Order foreshadows the possibility of supporting many other Aboriginal communities in Canada who live in conditions similar to those of the Kitcisakik.

Created by Architecture Canada, the Governor General's Medals in Architecture contribute to the advancement of the discipline and practice of architecture, in addition to increasing public awareness of the crucial cultural role of architecture in Canadian society. These awards are administered jointly by the Arts Council of Canada, which contributes to the publication produced in honour of the winners and administers the award process.

Emergency Architects Canada is a non-governmental organization recognized as a charity since its founding in Quebec in October 2007. It joins forces with the international consolidation of Emergency Architects, which was founded in France in 2001. Chaired by architect Yves Langevin, the founding partners are the Ordre des architectes du Qubec and the Socit d'habitation du Qubec. By grouping these building professionals, Emergency Architects Canada fulfils its mission to provide support to populations affected by natural, technological or human crises by providing specific expertise in prevention, risk management and management of sustainable reconstruction.

Emergency Architects Canada 4000 St-Ambroise st. suite 278 Montreal (Quebec) H4C 2C7 http://www.architectesurgence.ca 5148681SOS (1767)

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Emergency Architects Canada's Kitcisakik Mission: Recipient of the Governor General's Medals in Architecture

UNION CITY, Ind., June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --This month, Dan Hackett, CEO and president of Frank Miller Lumber, and Criswell Davis, architectural marketing manager at Frank Miller, will embark on an international trade mission, covering markets in Singapore, Australia and Japan. Frank Miller intends to use the excursion to highlight its growth into a thriving, global enterprise.

During the trip, Hackett and Davis will meet with many of Frank Miller's international clients, attend an American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) conference, and build relationships with architects and designers.

Singapore will be their first stop, where Hackett and Davis will attend the AHEC 17th Southeast Asia & Greater China Convention, the theme of which is "American Hardwood and Green Design: Life Cycle Assessment and the True Environmental Impact of Material Choice." During the convention they will have the chance to network with members of many different Asian trade associations and institutions, including The China National Furniture Association, the Malaysian Furniture Industry Council, The Singapore Furniture Industries Council, and the Singapore Institute of Architects, among others. The American Hardwood Export Council, with which Frank Miller is closely associated and a member of, is the leading international trade association of the U.S. hardwood industry.

Hackett and Davis will then travel to Perth, Australia, to visit with a customer who has organized a large architectural presentation featuring Davis as the keynote speaker, with many members of the Australian Institute of Architects in attendance. Hackett and Davis will also travel with their customer, giving presentations about Frank Miller quartersawn hardwoods to manufacturers and builders. They will also travel to Sydney to visit with another large distributor, giving presentations about quartersawn hardwoods around New South Wales and in Canberra, Australia's capital. The design of Canberra by American architect Walter Burley Griffin was, in part, influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright and his Prairie Style, which often incorporates quartersawn white oak.

"Frank Miller Lumber is a relatively small niche hardwood manufacturer with a very large international profile," said Davis. "Manufacturers and distributors around the globe are more interested than ever in how to set themselves apart from one another through unique product lines."

The final part of the trip will have Hackett and Davis traveling from Sydney to Japan, where they will travel extensively with their largest distributor. They will visit key manufacturers in Takayama, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Tokyo to try to learn more about each one and strengthen Frank Miller Lumber's relationships with its customers.

In the 1980s, Frank Miller's growing relationships with Japanese furniture manufacturers encouraged the company to significantly increase its quartersawn hardwood production. Thirty years later, Frank Miller is now one of the few providers in the world capable of producing hardwood in this manner, and one of the largest producers of quartersawn hardwoods in the world.

"As many already know, our products are specified by architects and designers around the world in high-end commercial and residential construction," said Hackett. "This trip will further cement Frank Miller Lumber's position in the world community of distributors, manufacturers, designers and architects."

About Frank Miller Lumber (www.frankmiller.com)

Frank Miller helps architects and designers realize the elegance and durability of quartersawn hardwoods in the most distinctive architectural endeavors. Established in 1903 and located in Union City, Indiana, Frank Miller produces exceptionally fine quartersawn and plain sawn hardwoods for manufacturers of fine furniture, cabinets, architectural millwork and flooring. Frank Miller's quartersawn products are used in high-end commercial and residential construction around the globe where there is a significant architectural/design element to the project's cabinets, millwork and flooring.

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Frank Miller Lumber to Meet Architects, Designers, and Customers in Japan, Singapore and Australia

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Ten years ago, developer Peter Bell began work on a massive mixed-use development in Waukesha County. The plans included a significant retail development intended to make the project a regional destination.

Bell's grand vision was to develop the sprawling Pabst Farms site with one master plan, rather than piecemeal by parcel.

However, since the onset of the Great Recession five years ago, the Pabst Farms development has ground to a halt. Huge portions of the site remain vacant. Perhaps most noteworthy, the retail development planned for Pabst Farms has fallen far short of expectations.

A strip mall anchored by a Pick 'n Save store was completed prior to the recession. But the regional shopping center planned at Pabst Farms never materialized. Plans for the 1 million-square-foot regional shopping center at Pabst Farms have been altered to add a heavy emphasis on big-box stores, but even that redesigned plan has failed to move forward.

Through a spokesman, Pabst Farms executives declined to comment for this story.

"I don't know that we really have much to say," said Pabst Farms spokesman Thad Nation. "We're kind of in status quo."

With the Pabst Farms project stuck in neutral 10 years after it began, another major development is planned in Waukesha County in hopes of creating a regional shopping destination. But The Corners, planned by The Marcus Corp., is a very different project at a very different site than Pabst Farms.

The Corners is a $150 million retail and residential development planned for the former West Point Cinema site and the former Menard's store site at the intersection of I-94, Barker Road and Bluemound Road in the Town of Brookfield. The project will consist of a 140,000-square-foot Von Maur deparment store, another 200,000 square feet of retail space, 30,000 square feet of restaurant space and 120 apartment units. Office space that was originally planned for the project will likely be scrapped, said Katie Falvey, director of real estate for Marcus Corp. The Corners will be built in a town center format with a central park, similar to the outdoor portion of Bayshore Town Center in Glendale. Most of the 2,000 parking spaces will be located underneath the town center shopping area.

Link:
Around The Corners

Manufacturing has been the star of the recovery, powering Michigan out of the Great Recession. But the outlook remains dim for another chief pillar of the nation's economy: construction.

The industry that builds everything from homes and offices to roads, bridges and power plants is a major economic weak spot.

Just last month, the nation lost 28,000 construction jobs. In Michigan, industry employment shrank by 3,000 jobs from April 2011 to April 2012.

The glut of homes, offices and retail space combined with fewer government-financed projects means things are not likely to significantly improve anytime soon.

"We keep waiting for an increase in volume, but unfortunately we don't see it for the next 18 months to two years," said Ken Lawless, executive vice president of Clark Construction, a Lansing general contractor, and chairman of the Associated General Contractors of Michigan.

Barton Malow, one of the state's biggest construction companies, doesn't expect a full industry recovery until 2015, said Alex Ivanikiw, the firm's senior vice president.

The grim outlook persists even as many subcontractors and other construction-related companies have quietly shut down their businesses because of too little work in recent years, with more failures expected. Even more worrisome for construction's long-term future, thousands of skilled workers have left the troubled industry.

Construction is a major economic driver, normally accounting for 4% to 5% of the nation's economic output, according to Kenneth Simonson, chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America. Today, this percentage has dropped to 3%, a historic low.

In Michigan, some companies that have stuck it out through the tough times are seeing a slight increase in activity this year, but bids are so low that profit margins have never been tighter. And hundreds of carpenters, laborers, sheet metal workers and others are desperate for work.

"I've never felt so depressed," said Vincent DeMassa of Redford, a 36-year-old carpenter who used to work on commercial construction projects like hospitals but can now find only occasional repair jobs for homeowners.

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Construction Sheds Jobs Amid Manufacturing Recovery

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/m23w88/intellinews_bulg) has announced the addition of the "Intellinews - Bulgaria Construction And Real Estate Report - 2012" report to their offering.

The IntelliNews Bulgaria Construction and Real Estate Sector Report offers an extensive summary of the most recent topics related to the Bulgarian construction market, segmented into residential, office, industrial and retail space, as well as construction materials. It includes a complete coverage of the latest market developments and news, accompanied by thorough statistics and comments. The report pays particular attention to new development projects and investment inflows in the sector. This sector report is ideal to keep you abreast on recent company and industry news. Written by local professionals, it is a unique market and business intelligence analysis, tailored to save time by providing in-depth information, while helping you to make confident and informed business decisions.

The available data provide a mixed picture for the construction and real estate sectors in Bulgaria.

On macroeconomic level, IMF made a new downward revision of its forecast for the economic growth in the country in 2012. In addition, the data showed poor Jan-Feb performance of key economic variables such as retail trade turnover, exports, industrial production and unemployment. Construction output has not managed to return to sustained positive annual growth yet, and the business climate indicator in the sector deteriorated in February and March. The prices of dwellings monitored by the statistics office continued to fall last year.

On the other hand, annual growth of new building permits has been positive and accelerating throughout 2011, and the new buildings' construction starts have been rising as well. Notably, foreign direct investment in the real estate sector nearly doubled on the year in Jan-Feb, although it is still far below the pre-crisis levels. The sector stock index BG REIT has posted impressive growth ytd and the agricultural land market had very strong performance in 2011...

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/m23w88/intellinews_bulg

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Research and Markets: Intellinews - Bulgaria Construction And Real Estate Report - 2012

DALLAS and FORT WORTH, Texas, June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NBC 5 / KXAS-TV has finalized plans for construction of a state-of-the-art broadcasting and multimedia news facility to be located in The CentrePort Business Park, just south of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

The technologically advanced facility is being specifically designed to provide the resources for journalists to collect, interpret and report the news and information most relevant to North Texans 24-hours each day on multiple distribution platforms.

The 75,000-square-foot building will combine NBC 5 facilities currently located in east Fort Worth and Dallas to the 8.1 acre site in Fort Worth. The project developer, KDC, will commence construction at the end of June with completion slated for late 2013.

"We have a long history of local broadcasting firsts and have been operating from our original east Fort Worth studios for 64 years," said Tom Ehlmann, NBC 5 President and General Manager. "As the North Texas area grew, we added a facility in Dallas. Now we will combine operations into one first-class operation to better serve our viewers and advertisers via television, the internet, mobile and still developing technologies."

NBC 5 / KXAS-TV signed-on as WBAP-TV on September 27, 1948 as the first facility in the southwestern U.S. specifically designed for television. Amon G. Carter, Fort Worth Star-Telegram publisher, businessman and civic leader, dedicated the studios that expanded his media business into the exciting new technology of TV.

The new facility will be located at 4805 Amon Carter Boulevard in Fort Worth.

"It's fitting that the facility will be located on a street named in honor of our founder, Amon Carter," said Ehlmann. "We worked closely with the City of Fort Worth to remain in Fort Worth, yet locate in a more centralized location to better serve all the communities of North Texas."

"NBC 5's new facility will be an iconic, long-term institution at CentrePort," said Bill Guthrey, Senior Vice President, KDC. "The NBC Team will be able to take full advantage of the quick access to all parts of the Metroplex and enjoy the many amenities within walking distance."

As part of the agreement to build the new facility in Fort Worth, NBC 5 will convey its current 66,000-square-foot building and 26-acre site in east Fort Worth to the city.

In addition to NBC 5, the new facility will house Telemundo / KXTX-TV and several other smaller businesses associated with NBC Universal, the parent company of NBC 5. A total of approximately 300 people will work at the Amon Carter Boulevard location.

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NBC 5 / KXAS-TV Announces Construction Of State-of-the-Art Media Facility to Include Telemundo and NBC Universal ...

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

McAfee and 2e2 have today announced a partnership to globally deliver McAfee Enterprise Mobility Manager (McAfee EMM) software to service providers and large enterprises as a cloud-based managed service. Partnering with 2e2, McAfee will be delivering cloud-based access to highly-scalable, customizable mobile device management and security solutions to large and small commercial customers through Telcos and Service Providers.

Threats to smartphones are becoming more common and the need to secure mobile devices has never been more important, said Chris Kenworthy, senior vice president at McAfee. IT security operations want to adopt new technologies and support new mobile platforms, operating systems and architectures, while maintaining corporate security and compliance. We now have a comprehensive cloud-based managed service offering for Service Providers and corporate customers who cant or dont want to build out their own mobile management and security infrastructure.

McAfee EMM software combines secure mobile application management, anti-malware, strong authentication, high-availability, a scalable architecture and compliance reporting in a seamless system. It enables companies to leverage the value of mobile, by implementing extended endpoint policies and compliance management, while protecting the corporate network from growing threats from personal mobile devices. With the 2e2 partnership, McAfee can now offer its McAfee EMM software solution via a cloud-based solution so end-user customers can be up and running quickly with a minimum of up-front architectural work and cost.

There has been explosive growth in mobile devices across the enterprise over the last few years. This has resulted in an ever increasing need to secure a wide range of mobile devices including iPhones, tablets, Android and Windows devices, commented Nathan Marke, CTO at 2e2. Concerns around cyber-security continue to rise, and, for many organisations, finding the time and budget to deploy an on-premise solution has been difficult. By taking McAfees solution and transforming it into a managed cloud-based service we can now quickly and cost-effectively provision and secure mobile devices with no disruption to an organizations existing IT infrastructure.

About McAfee

McAfee, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel Corporation (INTC), is the world's largest dedicated security technology company. McAfee delivers proactive and proven solutions and services that help secure systems, networks, and mobile devices around the world, allowing users to safely connect to the Internet, browse and shop the Web more securely. Backed by its unrivaled Global Threat Intelligence, McAfee creates innovative products that empower home users, businesses, the public sector and service providers by enabling them to prove compliance with regulations, protect data, prevent disruptions, identify vulnerabilities, and continuously monitor and improve their security. McAfee is relentlessly focused on constantly finding new ways to keep our customers safe. http://www.mcafee.com

About 2e2 (www.2e2.com)

2e2 is an ICT Lifecycle Services Provider; providing end-to-end next generation IT services. The companys primary focus is on solutions and managed services for medium and large private and public sector organisations, delivered in varying architectures, including on-premise, cloud, hosted, and managed service.

2e2 works with many companies within local and regional government, telecommunications, financial services and the commercial sector.

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McAfee and 2e2 Launch Cloud-Based Mobile Device Management Solution Designed for Service Providers