The Citys new ElectricityServices head office in Bellville has been recognised by the Green Building Council of South Africa as the first municipal building to adhere todesign, construction and management best practice in terms of resource efficiency. As such, it has been awarded a four-star green energy rating.

Gone are the days when municipal buildings were seen as the dreary, fluorescently lit centres of painstaking bureaucracy. With its eco-friendly and innovative design, the City of Cape Towns Bellville Electricity Services Depot breaks the mould not only aesthetically, but also in terms of the impact it has on the environment. This design has been recognised by the Green Building Council of South Africa, who awarded it a four-star rating.

Notable features of the building include an air conditioning system that achieves a 150% improvement on the requirements set out in the South African national standards for energy efficiency, without compromising the comfort levels of staff. In fact, the fresh air system supplies the building with 12,5 litres of air per second, per person. This means increased oxygen levels and fewer contaminants. Additionally, the building has been designed to promote the use of natural light, and maximise views to the outside with curved facades. Sun louvres protect the curtain wall glazing from heat gain, and blinds have been installed throughout the facility so that comfortable lighting levels can be maintained.

In addition, smart lighting controls, motion sensors and timers linked to the building management system have been installed. This system is calibrated to automatically turn lights off when need be or when no motion is detected, while also adjusting the level of lighting according to the amount of daylight coming into the building. Artificial lighting is almost superfluous as the building is configured around a central glazed atrium that introduces natural light to the offices.

A graph taken from an office, shows the effect of the lights that dim as natural light enters the office. At 06:30, the light switched on as the person entered the office at 100% energy. The amount of energy used went down to 5% at 12:00. Between 14:15 and 15:00, the light switched off when the person stepped out of the office.

Moreover, 400 solar panels have been installed to help reduce the energy consumption of the building. On average, these panels generate approximately 156 800 kWh per year.Further reducing the buildings carbon footprint is the rooftop garden, as well as outdoor seating and recreational areas a stark contrast to the hard-surfaced parking areas, residential buildings and tennis courts that occupied the space previously. Importantly, it was landscaped using indigenous, water-wise plants that grow naturally in the area.

The plumbing system has been split into black and grey water discharges to enable the waste streams to be split for different treatment processes. A grey water recycling system has also been incorporated into the building design to reduce potable water use for flushing of toilets and urinals. The filtration process is fully automated and uses a chemical-free treatment method.

In terms of the materials used, the furniture, fittings, finishes and building fabric (paints, carpets, adhesives, composite wood products, sealants, etc.) were carefully selected to minimise emissions. In addition, all timber products used are sourced from reused and Forest Stewardship Council-certified timber.

The Electricity Services Departments pioneering attitude toward green building design is serving as an example for other departments and municipalities to follow. So far both the Human Settlements Directorate (with their Contact Office in Manenberg) and Transport for Cape Town (with the new Wallacedene Taxi Rank) have since been successful in meeting the standards set out by the Green Buildings Council of South Africa, said the Citys Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, Councillor Ernest Sonnenberg.

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Electricity Services head office: eco-friendly building design

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The building business of housebuilder and construction group Galliford Try has been awarded two new major office contracts worth a combined 77m. The business was selected as preferred bidder by Northamptonshire County Council to build its new headquarters in Northampton in a 38m project that will see the construction of a 17,600 square metre four-storey building as well as local regeneration.

Meanwhile, offshore engineering company Subsea 7 has chosen Galliford to construct its new office building at Sutton in Surrey. Under the 39m project, the group will build a new 150,000 square foot office space and associated facilities.

Galliford Try executive chairman Greg Fitzgerald said: "We are delighted that Northamptonshire County Council and Subsea 7 have entrusted us with such significant projects.

"We have a strong reputation in the office sector and we look forward to providing these two clients with the first class facilities they require."

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Galliford Try announces double contract win

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Part of the Lyons Post Office building was reportedly at risk of collapse when it was struck by a piece of heavy equipment in Clinton, Iowa.

The incident was reported at about 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at the facility at 97 Main Avenue in Clinton. The area around the building was under construction.

Initial reports indicated a water line was also ruptured at the building. The building, which includes the post office and apartments, was evacuated and utility service was shut off.

Firefighters and an ambulance were sent to the scene. No injuries were immediately reported.

Large cracks, and a hole near the base of the back side, were visible on the exterior of the building shortly after it was evacuated.

The U.S. Postal Service website listed nearby alternate post office locations for customers as 914 4th Street in Fulton, 300 S. 1st Street in Clinton and 204 3rd Avenue South in Albany.

Stay with News 8 and WQAD.com for updates to this developing story.

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Post office building evacuated after reported equipment accident in Clinton

Charles Good, part of Hawkwood Capital, and Glasgow lettings agency Be Central are behind MyPad Paisley which will open its doors on November 3.

Construction group Redpath has transformed the Gilmour Street building, which, when fully developed, will offer 242 en-suite student rooms.

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It already has 142 on offer, and at room prices from 85 a week (and a 30 discount on opening), it is said to "offer boutique living at a fraction of the price regular student halls command".

Mr Good has been active for 30 years as an investor in early-stage SMEs and across sectors including technology, retailing, asset management, broking and oil and gas exploration.

He said: "I was attracted to creating MyPad in this location because it gave the opportunity of providing students with a modern, high-quality, well-equipped social hub for living in the heart of Paisley, a short walk from the University of West of Scotland campus and West Scotland College."

Mr Good added that the development would "bring tangible benefits to local shops and enterprises and give significant impetus to Paisley's inner city regeneration plans".

Graeme McEwan, the managing director of BeCentral which runs the Merchant Central block in Glasgow city centre, said: "Be Central is pleased to be associated with another building specifically tailored for the academic student market."

The offer includes an onsite laundrette, a common room, study room, high-speed wifi and a fridge hire option. Mr Good is said to be open to further MyPad projects.

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City investor to open 6.5m student complex

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) October 22, 2014

Serenbe moves beyond housing, retail and restaurants and expands into commercial office space to further its mixed-use placemaking strategy. Southeastern Engineering, Inc. (SEI) will become the first company to build a stand alone office building at Serenbe, and it will be used as headquarters for their environmental engineering division.

With the recession behind us and the growth and value of walk-up communities, we are excited to move forward with the first of 200,000 sq. ft. of planned office space, says Serenbe founder, Steve Nygren. "We are also planning a 110-room hotel, and will announce details in early 2015."

A decade ago, Serenbe introduced sub-communities within the mixed-use master plan, beginning with the Daisy Courtyard shops followed by the European-styled Mondrian Artists retail compound. During the recession, The Nest, a cluster of small cottages, was developed and proved exceedingly popular. Earlier this year, Serenbe introduced Swann Ridge, home to the 2014 Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Designer Showhouse, and in September, Grange Hillside broke ground and the immediate demand from singles and couples in their 30s represents an untapped demographic market. Each of these niche neighborhoods are within a few hundred yards of commercial retail and office space increasing Serenbes walkability and healthy lifestyle.

FIRST OFFICE BUILDING TO OPEN JUNE 2015 SEI is scheduled to open for business in June 2015; the new office was designed by architect Michael Landry and is being built by Stonecrest Homes. SEI has worked hands-on with Serenbe since 2002. The companys role has been multi-faceted, providing the gamut of services including green infrastructure design and permitting, trail design, builder services, construction staking, final platting and more.

More than twelve years later, our relationship with SEI continues to grow exponentially along with the community. And this exciting growth will continue to drive the future commercial and office space. says Nygren.

Working with Serenbe has been a great opportunity for SEI to showcase its professional capabilities and be involved in the growth of the Chattahoochee Hills area, says Chad Epple, PE and Vice President of SEI. We value the relationship weve forged with the community, and look forward to continuing it. This new office location suits both our needs and the needs of the Serenbe community."

COMMERCIAL SPACES OPEN WITH SUCCESS Further addressing the need for office space at Serenbe is the opening of The Hive, a professional CoWork space created to provide efficient and inspiring work environments to the residents of Serenbe, Chattahoochee Hills and neighboring communities. Owned and operated by Serenbe residents Michael and Cindy Peters, who both work out of the community, they were inspired to work at their best when surrounded by other entrepreneurs. Another recent commercial expansion is The General Store at Serenbe, owned by another Serenbe entrepreneur and resident Nadine Bratti. The redesign of this commercial space was a winning collaboration with designer Smith Hanes and the store has already gained a loyal following since opening last month.

FIRST APARTMENTS BREAK GROUND Serenbes fast paced commercial growth will increase with the November ground breaking of the anticipated Textile Lofts. This will be Serenbes first apartment building, located in Phase II Grange with over 10,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail that already has a tenant waiting list. These varied segments of office, commercial and nearly 100 new homes under construction, in permit or design, total over $85M in new construction for 2015.

About Serenbe Serenbe is pioneering a new community model connected to nature on the edge of Atlanta. It is a neighborhood with fresh food and fresh air that makes wellbeing as natural as nature itself. A community built with a sense of place; where people live, work, learn and play in celebration of lifes beauty. With over 400 residents and 180 homes, Serenbe is the first community to successfully build a self-sustaining organic farm, three farm-to-table restaurants and over 30 businesses all connected by 15 miles of nature trails in a 1,000 acre rural place based development. http://www.serenbe.com

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Serenbe Plans 200,000 Square Feet of Commercial Office Space

Plans to make a busy downtown route a one-way street for up to two years may not be necessary after all.

The construction firm that will build a proposed multi-story apartment and office building at Ninth and New Hampshire streets has submitted a new plan that would allow two-way traffic in the 800 block of New Hampshire for much of the two-year construction project.

Previously, Lawrence-based First Construction had wanted to close all northbound traffic from Ninth Street north to the mid-block crosswalk, in order to provide the necessary room to store construction equipment and keep workers a safe distance from traffic.

The new plan will allow for two lanes of traffic by removing on-street parking along the west side of New Hampshire throughout the construction zone. The project will cause about eight parking spaces to be lost on New Hampshire. The city is proposing that about eight parking spaces in the city-owned lot on the west side of New Hampshire be reserved for use by customers of the various businesses located at the northwest corner of the intersection. Those businesses rely heavily on the on-street spaces that are being lost, said Mark Thiel, the citys assistant director of public works.

We dont want to hurt businesses by having this construction downtown, which long-term will be very good for downtown, said City Commissioner Jeremy Farmer.

The new plan has arisen after several downtown stakeholders expressed concerned about another long-term disruption in traffic patterns for the area. A portion of the 900 block of New Hampshire has been reduced to one lane while the same construction group builds a multi-story hotel and retail building on the southeast corner of the intersection.

The latest project will build a mix of apartments and offices on the northeast corner of the intersection. The Downtown Lawrence Farmers' Market uses the city-owned lot just north of the proposed construction site. Thiel said the construction plans will cause a loss of about seven parking spots in that lot. He also noted, however, that the remainder of the lot will be available for parking and use by the farmers market. He said the mid-block crosswalk that leads to the market area also will be open throughout the project.

There will be short periods that construction work will require one or both lanes near the construction site to be closed, Thiel said. That includes work to replace a waterline buried beneath the street. But Thiel said businesses and residents in the area will receive notice ahead of time before the lanes are closed. Traffic also will be shifted farther to the south on the portion of Ninth Street that is adjacent to the construction zone, but two-way traffic will be maintained on Ninth.

Farmer said he knows the construction work is causing some frustration among downtown businesses and visitors but said he hasnt found a better way to create a safe construction zone for the project.

We just need to make sure we have lots of conversations to minimize the impacts, Farmer said. I dont want people to be frustrated, because ultimately this development is going to be a really good deal for downtown.

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New plan emerges to keep two-way traffic on New Hampshire Street

MUHLENBER TWP., Pa. -

Muhlenberg Township Commissioners were faced with another round of high dollar change orders Monday night for the new township office building, located at 210 George Street.

The board has had to approve several change orders for issues arising during the renovations of the office in Berks County since the start of construction.

E.R. Stuebner is the contractor on the project.

Jamal Abodalo, director of Engineering and Codes, admitted that the large number of change orders are a result of "a clear lack of coordination between the architect and his professional team."

Board of Commissioners President Michael Malinowski called for a vote on each change order individually.

"The way all these change orders came in arbitrarily, I just won't vote for them without learning a little more," Malinowski said.

This weeks changes totaled $74,555 and included nearly $2,000 to finish framing the canopy over the police entry and more than $1,300 to repair the brick walls.

Commissioners approved those changes but did not approve an additional $500 to repaint interior walls with accent colors.

They acknowledged that request as another example of the contractor and architect not communicating with the interior designers.

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Commissioners are sticker shocked by office renovation costs in Muhlenberg

MUHLENBER TWP., Pa. -

Muhlenberg Township Commissioners were faced with another round of high dollar change orders Monday night for the new township office building, located at 210 George Street.

The board has had to approve several change orders for issues arising during the renovations of the office in Berks County since the start of construction.

E.R. Stuebner is the contractor on the project.

Jamal Abodalo, director of Engineering and Codes, admitted that the large number of change orders are a result of "a clear lack of coordination between the architect and his professional team."

Board of Commissioners President Michael Malinowski called for a vote on each change order individually.

"The way all these change orders came in arbitrarily, I just won't vote for them without learning a little more," Malinowski said.

This weeks changes totaled $74,555 and included nearly $2,000 to finish framing the canopy over the police entry and more than $1,300 to repair the brick walls.

Commissioners approved those changes but did not approve an additional $500 to repaint interior walls with accent colors.

They acknowledged that request as another example of the contractor and architect not communicating with the interior designers.

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Muhlenberg commissioners shocked by office renovation costs

The ATO is going through with plans for a new multi-million dollar office building in Gosford. Photo: Jeffrey Chan

The Australian Taxation Office will spend millions of dollars on a new office building in regional NSW, despite more than 6200 desks sitting empty in ATO in its buildings around Australia.

The Taxation Office has confirmed the project will go ahead, calling for expressions of interest from developers to build the building in Gosford, on the state's central coast, but ATO bosses still cannot say what it will be used for.

The federal opposition says the ATO is being forced to spend money it does not have on offices it does not need.

The agency plans to move 300 of its public servants into the building when it is completed in 2017. It is unclear who will occupy the rest of the floors.

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But ATO staff were told last week the construction of the 6500-square-metre building would go ahead and that property consultants DTZ had been hired to find a builder for the project.

But assistant commissioner Stewart Smillie, the ATO's property boss, could not tell his colleagues which of them would be moved to the central coast, or even which of the Taxation Office's business units would be stationed there.

An ATO spokeswoman would not say if a business case or a cost benefit analysis had been prepared for the new building and that "budget support" for the project was still being discussed.

"It will take a number of years to complete the building project and we will consider the impact for our business and staffing closer to the new office opening."

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Australian Taxation Office orders new building, despite 6200 empty desks

Photographer: Bradley C. Bower/Bloomberg

The City of Brotherly Love is finally getting some affection from commercial real estate investors.

Philadelphia, where office properties last year attracted about half the investment of Washington and less than a 10th of Manhattans total, is seeing a boom in demand that has sent the average price per square foot to a record. Office sales in the first half of this year more than doubled to $1.4 billion, the highest since close to the markets peak in 2006, according to New York-based research firm Real Capital Analytics Inc.

Real estate values approaching or surpassing peak levels in New York, Boston and Washington have buyers turning to Philadelphia for its higher yields, rising rents and falling vacancies. Thats bolstering office deals in the fifth-largest U.S. city at a time when Manhattan-like towers have opened with luxury condominiums and cable operator Comcast Corp. is developing a skyscraper that will be the areas tallest.

We view Philadelphia as really on the upswing, said Gerard Sweeney, chief executive officer of Brandywine Realty Trust (BDN), which owns 13 properties in the citys main business district, including one under development. Theres certainly an expectation that rents will continue to move up.

The average capitalization rate -- a measure of yield that moves inversely to price -- for a Philadelphia office building was 7.5 percent in the second quarter, according to data compiled by Real Capital. While thats down from a high of 8.9 percent two years earlier, its more than the averages of 4.6 percent in Manhattan, 6.1 percent in Washington and 6.5 percent in Boston, the data show.

The average price per square foot of a Philadelphia office building reached $283 in the first quarter, the highest in Real Capital records dating to 2001.

Philadelphia has long been overshadowed by its big-city East Coast neighbors to the north and south. Institutional investors such as sovereign-wealth funds gravitate to the perceived safety of New York or Washington, where rents frequently climb faster and values rebounded first in the recovery.

Unlike New York, with its heavy concentration of financial, media and technology tenants, and Washington, with its work force tied to the federal government, Philadelphia doesnt have a single large office-tenant base. Government, universities and hospitals are among the biggest employers in Philadelphia County, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

The largest public companies by market value with headquarters in the city are Comcast; oil pipeline operator Sunoco Logistics Partners LP; and FMC Corp., a research company in the chemical industry, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

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Philadelphia Office Sales Double As Investors Seek Yields