New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the volume of output in building and construction activity increased by 4.1% in the second quarter of 2014 compared to the previous three month period.

The CSO said this reflected increases of 9.3% and 4.7% in civil engineering and non-residential building respectively.

However, the volume of residential building fell by 1.9% in the three month period. The CSO said that due to the unprecedented low base this series is starting from, it will continue to monitor the quality and comparability of the data.

On an annual basis, the volume of output in building and construction increased by 10.1% in the second quarter of 2014, the CSO said.

The non-residential and civil engineering sectors saw year-on-year increases of 23.4% and 8.5% respectively, while residential building activity slowed by 8.8% in the year to the end of June.

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Construction output increased by 4.1% in second quarter - CSO

Firm awarded contract for multimillion-dollar Building Information Model for VA

OAKLAND, Calif. The KPA Group was selected by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Construction and Facilities Management to develop the Building Information Model for each of the buildings and associated sites on the Palo Alto VA Campus. Approximately 60 building models will be created and over 20 unique campus site configurations will be studied. The Building Information Modeling will allow the VA planning and engineering teams to review project phasing and construction scenarios in 3D and should contribute to the overall success of the program and the life cycle management of the campus.

VA's Office of Construction and Facilities Management (CFM) has determined that Building Information Modeling (BIM) represents both an enhanced technology and a process change for the architecture-engineering-construction-facilities management industry. The VA's mission is to deliver excellent medical services and this BIM supports that mission by maximizing lifecycle building performance.

Paul Powers, AIA, NCARB and Principal at The KPA Group said, "We appreciate the trust the VA has placed in us to lead the Project Management in Architecture and Planning for this VA Health Care Campus BIM. We agree with the VA that Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an enhanced technology and advancement in the method of delivery for the architecture-engineering-construction-facilities management industry. Our team at The KPA Group is proud to be part of this cutting-edge process."

BIM provides a design, construction team with the ability to open the lines of communication among and between teams. This high level of communication and coordination ensures a better building, less changes during construction, reduced costs and better long-term building management.

The KPA Group with its seamless integration of engineering and architecture is uniquely positioned to use BIM to deliver an outstanding product to its clients like the VA.

The KPA Group is an integrated Architectural and Engineering Practice. Our unique integrated approach delivers a better project. Our mission is to expand our integrated expertise so we can increase the value of what our client receives while serving their project development needs.

The KPA Group has an extensive portfolio of successfully completed major projects both regionally and internationally in Aviation, Veterans' Facilities, Justice, Academic, Public Buildings and Microelectronics. This portfolio includes approximately $2 billion of projects. About half were completed under a design-build delivery system. Our experience includes both historic retrofits and new building development.

The KPA Group's current work is for clients who value our focus on serving client needs with creative and timely solutions delivered under a single point of management. To contact The KPA Group please Email.

Media contact: Paul Powers 510-271-6701

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The KPA Group is Selected to Deliver the Building Information Model (BIM) for the Veterans' ...

The latest estimates have set a late 2016 completion date for renovations to Capitol complex Building 3 or nearly 6 years after initial plans to reopen the eight-story office building.

Administration Secretary Ross Taylor told legislators Tuesday a redesign of the project is 90 percent complete, and should go out to bid early in 2015.

It will be scaled back some, but not as much as we thought, he said after the Council of Finance and Administration meeting.

Plans to renovate the circa 1951 building, informally known as the DMV building for its long-time first-floor occupant, have been on the drawing boards since 2008.

After it took much longer than anticipated to move state offices out of the building, a bid opening for the project in 2011 came in more than $6 million over the $27 million the state had budgeted.

After months on the back burner, Administration started a project redesign in January, to bring the renovation back within budget. That included eliminating planned telepresence teleconferencing rooms, with floor to ceiling video screens, as well as a kitchen intended to allow the building to be used to host dinners and receptions.

Taylor said that with the redesign, the mix of occupants for Building 3 has also changed.

The auditors and treasurers offices are not going in as originally planned, he said.

Instead, the latest plans call for moving Department of Commerce offices into the renovated office space.

The Division of Tourism is expected to move from current offices in South Charleston into the first floor of the building.

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Capitol's Building 3 renovations to be finished in late 2016

The recent surge in house prices, most notably in Dublin, has been blamed almost entirely on a chronic lack of supply. Photograph: Frank Miller/Irish Times

The volume of construction in Irelands residential property sector is continuing to fall despite the acute housing shortages in Dublin and elsewhere.

Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show the level of residential building in the State fell by 1.9 per cent in the second quarter of this year, the second consecutive quarterly decline.

The figures also show that on an annual basis, residential building has now dropped by 8.8 per cent.

The CSOs measure is a gauge of activity in the sector and differs from the monthly house completion numbers released by the Department of the Environment.

Nonetheless, it suggests the current level of building and construction in the economy is nowhere near the rate needed to satisfy the current demand for housing.

The recent surge in house prices, most notably in Dublin, has been blamed almost entirely on a chronic lack of supply.

Only 10,000 new homes are expected to be built this year, whereas the Government and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) believe 25,000 are required every year to meet demand.

Construction Industry Federation director general Tom Parlon said it was surprising to see that the level of residential building activity was down for the second quarter in a row.

At a time when there is a dire need for more housing, we should be seeing an increase in the volume of production, but it has fallen by 7.5 per cent since the end of 2013. This again highlights the problems that exist in the housing market, he said.

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Volume of house building still falling despite supply shortages

The Greenberg Traurig law firm has renewed its office lease for 10 years at the Phillips Point office building in downtown West Palm Beach.

The firm also announced plans for a $1.5 million renovation expected to modernize the 30,254-square-foot space inside the trophy building, 777 S. Flagler Drive. Greenberg Traurig has leased the space since 1991.

Factoring in the remaining term on the old lease, Greenberg Traurig says it will stay at Phillips Point until at least November 2027.

The firm has seven offices in Florida, including West Palm, Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale.

Addiction center planned for Palm Springs

Retreat at Palm Beach County will break ground Sept. 17 on a $12 million addiction treatment center in Palm Springs.

The project at 4020 Lake Worth Road will consist of two buildings totaling nearly 54,000 square feet. The main building will feature 107 beds; the second will have medical offices and administrative services.

The builder is Fort Lauderdale-based D. Stephenson Construction, which expects to complete the project in the fall of 2015.

West Palm Family Dollar site fetches $1.49 million

A retail property in West Palm Beach leased to Family Dollar sold recently for $1.49 million.

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Real estate notebook: Greenberg Traurig renews West Palm lease

When cross-examined by the media, Premier Tom Marshall defended his decision to name the courthouse in Corner Brook after former premier Danny Williams.

Marshall made the announcement that the justice hall that opened its doors in May 2010 will from here on in be known as the Danny Williams Building during a press conference in the courthouse lobby Monday morning.

Speculation before the announcement on social media thought consideration should have maybe went to a former judge from the western region or someone else who made a significant impact on the administration of justice.

Marshall said he is a strong proponent of naming public buildings after those who have given of themselves to public service. He called Williams the greatest premier Newfoundland and Labrador has ever had and noted that new courthouse would not have been built in Corner Brook if it wasnt for the vision and support the project got from Williams.

I cannot think of any name more appropriate to adorn this building which houses the court facilities here in Corner Brook than his, said Marshall.

The premier noted how the Arts and Culture Centre in Grand Falls-Windsor, for instance, is named after former premier Joey Smallwood and not an artist or patron of the arts.

No disrespect to the others (who could have been considered), but I just felt that, given what he did for this province and this area, the appropriate thing to do is to name it after premier Williams, said Marshall.

Williams is a lawyer by profession and was the Tory legislature member for the Corner Brook district of Humber West while he served as the provinces ninth premier.

He said he was ecstatic when Marshall called him recently to ask him if he would accept the honour.

After I stopped doing cartwheels on the other side of the phone, I responded very quickly, said Williams of the moment he was informed of the honour.

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Corner Brook courthouse named after Danny Williams

BUILDING PERMITS

Building construction permits over $10,000 in value that were approved in Boulder between Aug. 25, 2014 to Aug. 31, 2014. Listed below are: the case number; address; total project valuation; owner name; contractor (if applicable); and description.

PMT2014-02661 862 15th St.; $12,000; Barbara Weiland; New 220-square-foot carport with brick hip-wall.

PMT2014-02885 5589 Arapahoe Ave.; $77,088.96; Zou Zhong; Van Matre Construction LLC; Tenant finish for a 2,059-square-foot medical marijuana grow operation adjacent to existing 2,500-square-foot grow operation.

PMT2014-03006 3560 Pearl St.; $127,500; Sirius Investment; Pine Construction Co.; Interior, non-structural tenant improvement to expand RMB grow into adjacent tenant space. Includes associated MEPs. Fire sprinkler system modifications by separate permit.

PMT2014-03089 2108 55th St.; $131,675.60; Flatiron Investment; Quinlan Construction Inc; Tenant interior remodel for HistoTox to create new laboratory and office space for biomedical firm.

PMT2014-03107 3000 Palo Parkway; $625,000; Kalmia Holdings; Markel Homes Construction Co.; New single-family home. 3,710 square feet of finished space. 217 square feet of unfinished space. Garage area is 736 square feet and the porch is 151 square feet. Scope of work includes associated MEPs.

PMT2014-03194 750 Lincoln Place; $35,000; Eric and Mary Pommer; Construction of new 485-square-foot carport, with associated breezeway attaching to a single-family dwelling.

PMT2014-03251 3014 14th St.; $120,000; 3014 14th and Matt Alfermann; Interior remodel of single-family dwelling. Scope to include replacement of entire HVAC system, replacement of windows, removal of a section of interior load bearing wall with beam, remodel of kitchen and two baths.

PMT2014-03478 2125 Pine St.; $15,912.00; Scott Dagney; Melton Construction Inc.; Rebuild existing front porch, reusing existing footings.. Scope to include modification (lowering) of roof line above porch only.

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Boulder building permits: Sept. 8, 2014

Red Lobster's upcoming move to a CNL tower next to Orlando City Hall has developers planning another office highrise for a downtown that has drawn more apartment tenants than new employees in recent years.

Although no formal plans have been submitted to the city, both CNL and Highwoods are seeking anchor tenants for long-envisioned office towers. CNL hopes to make an announcement before the end of the year.

"The decision by Red Lobster to move their corporate headquarters to downtown Orlando is a big moment for the central business district and for CNL Center," said Paul Ellis, president of CNL Commercial Real Estate.

In addition to validating the city's investments in the downtown area, the Red Lobster move marks an "important step for CNL as we contemplate the development of a third tower at CNL Center," Ellis said in a prepared statement this week. Red Lobster, which was sold by Darden Restaurants earlier this year, was likely the largest downtown lease since the recession.

Red Lobster's announcement that it would locate its headquarters in 91,000 square feet at CNL Tower I came amid a resurgence for the central business district, which was plastered with "For Lease" signs just four years ago.

Positive signs for downtown include this year's opening of the SunRail commuter line, which has two downtown stops. The $514 million Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is scheduled to open in November.

Technology firms including Canvs, Splyt, Echo Interaction and Plan Source have leased space in the Church Street Exchange. Young professionals and others are leasing many of the 1,000 apartment units being added to the downtown market. And the downtown office vacancy rate has dwindled from more than 20 percent at the low point about four years ago to about 12 percent during the second quarter.

Despite the improving conditions, the last major addition to the downtown skyline was the Plaza, which opened at Orange Avenue and Church Street in 2006 and is now known as Chase Plaza. The smaller, seven-story GAI Building opened on the fringe of downtown in 2010. Ustler Development is underway on a four-story office building, which is fully pre-leased, on North Orange Avenue just north of Colonial Drive.

CNL and Highwoods say they are still working out details on the type of building and tenants they want to bring downtown.

However, Highwoods has proposed Capital Plaza Three, which would include 187,000 square feet, an outdoor piazza, and seven stories of office space atop seven decks of parking at 207 E. Pine St.

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Red Lobster move makes new office tower more likely in downtown Orlando

Residential and commercial construction has kicked into high gear in the last year, driving up the price of everything from lumber to labor, as the economy has begun to recover from a recession that started in 2008. For taxpayers throughout the Lowcountry, that's meant schools and a new county jail will cost millions of dollars more than was anticipated when they were initially planned. Grace Beahm/staff

Lowcountry residents will be paying millions more for a new jail and getting fewer frills in the next generation of schools because of rising construction costs rolling across the country as the economy emerges from years of recession.

Dorchester District 2, which is building three new elementary schools and a middle school with $179 million in bonds approved by voters two years ago, was surprised when bids on the first two elementaries came in around $20 million apiece. That was about a third more than originally predicted, forcing the district to cut out upgraded heating and air-conditioning systems, LED lighting, landscaping and some classroom sinks.

"We were quite shocked on bid day because the bids came in higher than expected," said Bob Folkman, Dorchester District 2's capital improvements facilitator.

Construction costs have been on the rise nationally since the housing recovery went into high gear in 2013. The improved housing market has been among the driving forces that have helped the economy emerge from the recession that began in 2008, creating more jobs for electricians, plumbers, carpenters and related manufacturers.

But the higher demand for skilled workers and building materials has driven up the price tags for some public works projects whose costs had been figured when the economy was still struggling.

Dorchester County took a hit recently when bids for its new jail came in about $5 million higher than expected. When planning started in 2012, the building was estimated to cost about $14 million, but the low bid came in at $18.8 million. County Council voted in July to increase the budget rather than try to cut corners.

"Right now everybody's coming out of the gates wanting to build, and that's driving prices up to pre-2009 levels," Folkman said. "That's a big hit on budgets that were developed in 2012."

When Folkman worked for the Pickens County School District during the recession, the opposite was true, even through last year.

"In Pickens, people were taking work just to stay in business," he said. "When I came down here, I was amazed to see how much was being built, and it's been reflected in the prices."

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Economic recovery driving up construction costs

A major redevelopment of the former Allegheny County Health Department building in Oakland has undergone big changes, with nearly all office space eliminated in favor of more apartments.

MWK Forbes LLC, the team behind the redevelopment, has ditched plans for 50,000 square feet of office space as part of the Forbes Avenue development and will add another 59 apartments instead, bringing the total number of units to 389.

Gary Wilson, one of the partners in MWK Forbes, said the team decided to drop the office space when it was unable to find anyone willing to sign on in advance of construction despite the tight Oakland office market. MWK wanted such a commitment before it got started on the work.

Tenants wont lease before the space is completed. We werent willing to be speculative on the office space, he said.

With the extra space, MWK decided to increase the number of apartments to be built as part of the project. It is partnering with Ambling University Development Group a Valdosta, Ga., firm that specializes in student housing to construct the units.

Mr. Wilson said the demand for apartments appears to be strong. Market studies indicated that the biggest audience for the units could be graduate students and others in the 22- to 30-year-old age group.

MWK is leaning toward luxury with the apartments. Plans call for a sky lounge and a terrace deck with grass, trees and planters. There also will be a fitness center, but plans for a swimming pool were dropped. Rental rates have yet to be established.

The overall redevelopment, expected to cost in excess of $50 million, also will feature a 138-room limited service hotel and a 363-space parking garage, with another 131 spaces dedicated to bicycles. Mr. Wilson said MWK is looking at an extended stay hotel, particularly given the nearby hospitals and universities in Oakland.

City planning commission members will be briefed on the project at their meeting next week.

The development they will review differs markedly from the one presented at a community meeting in Oakland last spring. At that time, MWK was proposing a 330-unit apartment building, a 50,000-square-foot office building, and a 125- to 150-room hotel, plus 5,000 square feet of retail space and parking for 400 cars.

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More apartments planned at former Allegheny County health building site in Oakland