ST. PAUL The Minnesota Senate will likely get a new office building after all.

After holding up the controversial project for two months, the House Rules Committee on Friday approved proceeding with construction after reducing its price tag to $77 million, down from $94 million.

It took us a little while to get there, but we did find a path to reduce the cost and make the building as functional as possible, said House Majority Leader Erin Murphy, the St. Paul DFLer who chairs the Rules Committee.

All Republicans and many DFLers, including Gov. Mark Dayton, had criticized the cost and what some called lavish features of the building that the Senate Rules Committee approved in January.

That plan called for a four-story structure with a massive glass wall facing the Capitol across University Avenue. The project included a 730-stall parking ramp a block east of the new building.

At Murphys request, the Department of Administration drafted a new, lower-cost design that calls for less glass and more stone on the front wall, smaller Senate offices, fewer conference rooms, reduced landscaping, delaying construction of a nearby parking ramp and no reflecting pool or fitness room two amenities senators insisted they didnt request. In addition, a parking ramp under the building will be financed by user fees paid mainly by senators and their staffs.

If the previous design was lavish, the new one might be characterized as utilitarian. Murphy said it would and should look subservient to the Capitol.

At the Houses insistence, the revised plan also calls for housing all 67 senators in the new building. Senators wanted 23 leaders to retain offices in the renovated Capitol while the other 44 members moved into the new building.

Murphy said House DFLers wanted to make sure the public could get access to senators in one place, rather than having to find them in scattered locations.

Currently, DFL majority senators have offices in the Capitol, and Republican minority senators are housed across the street in the State Office Building. Senators of both parties have said sharing a common building would reduce partisan divides.

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Minnesota House panel approves new Senate office building plan

Washington, DC (PRWEB) April 04, 2014

The Thomas P. ONeill, Jr. Federal Building has recently been awarded LEED Platinum Certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED is the nations preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

Designed by Boggs & Partners Architects, The ONeill Federal Building project is a modernization of an aged 550,300 square foot federal office building just a few blocks from the Capitol in Southwest D.C. The building accommodates nearly 2,000 federal employees with an improved work environment and reduces the use of natural resources. The project involved demolition, base building core and shell work, tenant interior fit-out, and site improvements. The 9-floor (7 above, 2 below grade) buildings key features include a large glass-encased entry atrium, a similar central atrium spanning from the basement to roof skylight, a communicating stair from the basement to sixth floor, a green roof and enhanced security features.

Turner could not be prouder that the Thomas P. ONeill, Jr. Federal Building has achieved LEED Platinum Certification, said Chris Jahrling, Vice President and General Manager of Turners Federal Services Group. It is extremely difficult to achieve this level of sustainability, and requires a great deal of effort from the contractor and architect to develop and implement innovative methods of sustainable design and construction, especially on a renovation project. We are thrilled to deliver this building to the GSA and even more excited that it will provide a healthy atmosphere for the workers that will occupy the facility.

The ONeill Federal Building achieved LEED Platinum by significantly reducing energy and water use, increasing natural light and ventilation water and by using materials with high recycled content. The intention of a LEED certified building is to save money for taxpayers, reduces the overall building maintenance costs for businesses and creating a healthier indoor work environment. A building that reduces its greenhouse gas emissions and the dependency on infrastructure can contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBCs vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation, said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, The Thomas P. ONeill, Jr. Federal Building is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement.

LEED certification of the ONeill Federal Building was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include:

About Turner Construction Company Turner is a North America-based, international construction services company. Founded in 1902 in New York City, Turner has 5,200 employees worldwide and works on 1200 projects each year, for an annual construction volume of $8 billion. As the largest general builder in the United States, Turner ranks first or second in the major market segments of the building construction field, including healthcare, education, sports, commercial, telecommunications, and green building. The firm is a subsidiary of HOCHTIEF, a publicly traded company, and one of the worlds leading international construction service providers.

For more information please visit http://www.turnerconstruction.com.

About HOCHTIEF HOCHTIEF is one of the leading international providers of construction-related services. With more than 80,000 employees and a sales volume of EUR 23.28 billion in FY 2011, the company is represented in all the worlds major markets. With its core competencies in development, building and operation, the Group delivers services for the entire life cycle of infrastructure projects, real estate and facilities. The focus of the related business activities is on four strategic areas: energy infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, major cities, and resources. With its subsidiary Leighton (HOCHTIEF share around 54 percent), the Group is market leader in Australia. In the USA, the biggest construction market in the world, HOCHTIEF is the No. 1 general builder via its subsidiary Turner and, with Group company Flatiron, ranks among the most important players in the field of transportation infrastructure construction. Because of its engagement for sustainability, HOCHTIEF has been listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes since 2006. Further information is available at http://www.hochtief.com/press.

Originally posted here:
Thomas P. ONeill, Jr. Federal Building Awarded Prestigious LEED Platinum Certification

WEST CHESTER TWP.

Schumacher Dugan Construction Inc. is constructing a bigger and taller follow up to the office park it opened 18 months ago.

Union Centre Office Park II will be a three-story, 48,000-square-foot office building at 9078 Union Centre Boulevard.

The class A office will cost between $5 million and $6 million to construct and dirt should start moving on the project in the next week, said Mark Schumacher, vice president with Schumacher Dugan Construction.

Were racing to get it done by Nov. 1, Schumacher said. Well start moving dirt probably next week, or if it doesnt dry out, the week after.

Union Centre Office Park II will be a story taller than Union Centre Office Park I, a two-story, 32,000 square foot office building at 9032 Union Centre Boulevard that features Millikin and Fitton Law Firm, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide Insurance, Employers Health and Re/Max.

Roughly 12,000 square feet on the new buildings top floor is pre-leased by an anchor tenant but Schumacher declined to identify that tenant. He said the company would likely not make an announcement regarding the move for several months.

Schumacher said Union Centre Boulevard was 70 percent leased within six months. The remainder of Union Centre Office Park II to fill up within a year or two once people see the project, he said.

I think people need to see it up in the air, Schumacher said. Once they see it, the calls will start coming in. Theres not much available in this West Chester market, as it is.

The building will offer Union Centre Boulevard visibility, with some tenants receiving signage along the busy roadway, he said.

Continued here:
Company to build $5 million office building in West Chester

Construction is underway in Luling on a $6.5 million building that authorities say will help the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office consolidate its enforcement divisions in one location and provide its own state-certified training center.The expansion of the law enforcement complex will be a 34,000 square feet multi-purpose center next door on a lot almost 2-1/2 acres on Judge Edward Dufresne Parkway.

It will house the cadet training center, victim's assistance program and the special services division, which includes community outreach and crime prevention programs. Currently those units, and about 30 staffers, are in three different locations around the parish.

"This is probably the most centralized location in the parish," Champagne said of the Luling site. "Everything won't be here, but pretty much all of our enforcement people will be here in Lulling and the beauty of this place ... is that we are centrally located.

"If an emergency happens, we can get to any of the four corners of the parish, whether it's Des Allemands, Bayou Gauche, Montz, St. Rose, Ama, we can get to any location literally in about 10 minutes if we had to mobilize a group of people, like SWAT."

The building is expected to be complete by June 2015. Money to build it was borrowed in a 20-year bond that's backed by an existing property tax, said project manager Major Sam Zinna said.

Murray Architects of Destrehan designed the building. Aegis Construction of LaPlace was the low bidder on the job, authorities said.

The building is being constructed to withstand 150 mph winds. In addition to office spaces, it will include larger, updated classrooms with modern audiovisual equipment, a gymnasium area for physical training and a commercial kitchen for use during an emergency.

"Training has always been at the forefront for my dream for St. Charles Parish," Champagne said. "We have been able to take this agency from a rural country sheriff's office to a modern one. It is the result of the training that we've done."

In 2003, the Sheriff's Office become a Peace Officers Standards and Training Council-certified site, one of 26 in Louisiana. That designation allows other agencies to send their officers to St. Charles Parish for the 12-week law enforcement training program for deputies.

The training center is currently operating in a wing of the Boutte Adult Education center, leased from the public school system, Champagne said. The Sheriff's Officeis currently conducting its 20th training academy class and has trained more than 500 officers, he said.

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St. Charles Sheriff's Office building $6.5 million training center, office complex in Luling

1:00 AM Builders say theyre on schedule as they face a tight deadline to deliver the contentious building.

By Kelley Bouchard kbouchard@pressherald.com Staff Writer

Construction will start Tuesday on a $7 million office building near the Portland International Jetport in South Portland thats on track to be leased to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services despite early controversy over the plan.

The contractor, Landry/French Construction Co. of Scarborough, expects to complete the two-story building by Dec. 31, which would give the DHHS one month to move its regional offices from downtown Portland.

South Portland officials issued a building permit on Wednesday and workers started digging the foundation soon thereafter, said Kevin French, vice president of Landry/French.

Workers will begin installing steel rebar in the foundation on Tuesday and finish pouring concrete by the end of the week, French said. Elevator pits will be drilled next week and steel beams and columns will start going up during the third week of May.

Were right on schedule, French said Monday.

Landry/French is working for ELC Management Inc. of Portland, which is led by Eric and Kenneth Cianchette. Landry/French is building a $19 million expansion project at OceanView at Falmouth, a retirement community, and recently completed a $2.5 million medical office building in Topsham for Mid Coast Hospital, French said.

State officials signed a contract with ELC in January to lease space for the DHHS and the Maine Department of Labor in the planned 75,000-square-foot building at 151 Jetport Blvd. in South Portland. The building has since won all necessary approvals, including a traffic movement permit from the Maine Department of Transportation, which was issued on March 10.

The lease required ELC to secure permits by March 15 and start construction by April 16. Site preparation, including tree removal and access road work, started several weeks ago.

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Construction starting on South Portland building to be leased to DHHS

Construction Kicks Off Today on Montgomery County-Based RE/MAX Realty Group's Crown Farm Office

RE/MAX Realty Group begins construction on a new office in the Crown Farm development of Montgomery County, MD. This expansion will position RE/MAX Realty Group to expand into one of the hottest real estate markets in suburban Washington, DC. Realty Group currently has 130 agents and will seek to add an additional 60 to its sales force.

The leading real estate company will occupy nearly 5,000 square feet on the main floor of the Summit office building, 9711 Washingtonian Blvd., North Potomac, MD, located right off Interstate 270. The Class A office building offers an array of amenities to tenants, including an on-site fitness facility with lockers and showers; a full-service deli; and close proximity to shops and restaurants at the Washingtonian Center and Crown Farm.

Construction on the new RE/MAX Realty Groups Crown Farm office began Monday, March 31, 2014.

It will be a state-of-the-art facility that includes wireless, high-speed color printer and large screen monitors, said Broker/Owner Ken Crowley.

Three conference rooms and office capacity for up to 60 employees also outfit the new facility, which will be staffed with a professional receptionist 7 days a week, Crowley said.

Additionally, the Crown Farm office will include a RE/MAX Collection Division (luxury homes specialists) and RE/MAX Commercial Division, and agents will have an in-house title company, transaction coordinator, marketing assistant and much more available to them.

The new office is slated to open June 1, 2014.

We are excited about this new expansion for RE/MAX Realty Group, Crowley said. This represents the next generation in real estate offices.

Crowley said Crown Farm is "The most exciting new development in Montgomery County in 20 years. We are proud to be a part of it.

Read more:
Construction Kicks Off Today on Montgomery County-Based RE/MAX Realty Group's Crown Farm Office

OFFICIALS from the Cebu City Prosecutors Office requested the Cebu Provincial Government to help them acquire a lot for the construction of their new building.

Assistant Prosecutor Aida Sanchez, along with other city prosecutors, visited yesterday Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III at the Capitol and told him that the Department of Justice has set aside funds for the construction of their office building.

After the Chief Justice Marcelo Fernan Hall of Justice was damaged by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake last year, prosecutors and other personnel of the Office of the Regional State Prosecutor and Cebu Provincial Prosecutors Office have stayed at the Taft Commercial Center in Osmea Blvd., Cebu City.

The Cebu City prosecutors decided to remain on the ground floor while transactions are in tents placed outside the building.

Desire

Earlier, Cebu Provincial Prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba also expressed his desire to meet the governor to request for a lot for the construction of the DOJ building that will house the offices of the regional, municipal and city prosecutors.

What I understand from the governor is he is willing to give us the usufruct of a particular land for the DOJ to build the building, but what we prefer, particularly the Cebu City Prosecutors office, is to stay there at our area, Sanchez said in an interview.

She said they can ask the DOJ for a budget for the repair of the upper floors for the other attached agencies.

Extension

Davide, earlier, expressed the intention of the Province to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to use the condemned Hall of Justice as Capitol extension.

Original post:
Capitols help sought on lot

MIAMIWere not at the bottom any more. South Floridas largest urban office markets are not only reporting increased leasing activitysome cities are pushing all-time pricing records. So says JLLs Spring 2014 Skyline Review.

Following four consecutive years of significant absorption, premium office space in Miamis Central Business District (CBD) are dwindling. At the same time, JLL is reporting five-year-low vacancy rates among Ft. Lauderdales premier properties. Further north, top-tier trophy assets in West Palm Beach are posting 13.1% vacancy rate, as suburban companies seize the opportunity to enter the class A downtown market without breaking the bank.

An influx of new-to-market tenants, scarcity of premium space, and an overall lack of new construction planned are contributing to a shift towards a more landlord-favored market. The bottom line: its a good time to own a trophy office building in South Florida.

Miamis CBD office market, which includes Downtown and Brickell submarkets, is flirting with some of the highest asking rents quoted since 2008, ranging in the neighborhood of $51 to $60 per square foot for premium office space. There are relatively few options for high full-floor offices with unobstructed views. Only four penthouse options remain. Strong leasing dynamics are helping to fuel sales activity, with 781,659 square feet of skyline inventory trading hands in 2013.

Its really a perfect storm for high quality office buildings in downtown Miami right now, says Scott Strickland, executive vice president for JLL in Miami. A combination of new corporate users entering the market and expanding here, a strengthening economy, and an overall dearth of high quality new space with desirable views on the immediate horizon is putting upward pressure on rents, downward pressure on landlord concessions, and leaving large tenants with few premium options to choose from.

Next: FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2006...

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Is it Time for New Office Construction?

Building construction permits over $10,000 in value that were approved in Boulder between Mar. 17, 2014 to Mar. 23, 2014. Listed below are: the case number; address; total project valuation; owner name; contractor (if applicable); and description.

PMT2013-06166 1905 Kohler Drive; $750,004; Farhad and Afsaneh Navid; Cornerstone Homes Inc.; Construction of new single-family dwelling (4,278 square feet) including attached three-car garage.

PMT2013-06530 2020 Tamarack Ave.; $34,572.44; Andrew Dolan; Timber Construction Inc.; Construction of detached single story three-car garage.

PMT2014-00111 3120 14th St.; $500,674.74; ARL Investment; AGR Building, Inc.; New two-story, 4,530-square-foot single-family dwelling home with 456-square-foot attached garage and 133-square-foot porch. House to have six bedrooms, four and a half baths, finished basement. Includes associated MEP.

PMT2014-00431 1001 Grant Place; $100,000; Davis and Tiffany Hart; Habilis DesignBuild; Interior remodel of 900 square feet of existing duplex. Remodel of upper level to consist of remodeled kitchen, bath, and two existing bedrooms. New vaulted ceilings throughout. Remodel of lower level to relocate dryer and replace water heater, and add egress window. Includes MEP.

PMT2014-00593 830 Eighth St.; $425,000; Broderick Rogers; Rob Luckett Builders; Addition and remodel of existing single-family dwelling. Addition includes 215-square-foot unfinished, conditioned basement and 215-square-foot main level, as well as new 115-square-foot deck. Remodel includes 2,672-square-foot renovation of existing interior space. MEPs included.

PMT2014-00630 2850 Emerson Ave.; $40,000; Lisa Floyd; 600-square-foot remodel of single-family dwelling and new 80-square-foot deck added to existing deck. Remodel to include kitchen, master bath and combining two bedrooms into one bedroom on the second floor.

PMT2014-00712 2003 Pine St.; $75,000; Andrew MacDonald; Renovation of 293 square feet and addition of 447 square feet to two-story accessory building. Building to contain a 447-square-foot owner's accessory unit with three-quarter bath and one-car garage. Permit to include associated electrical, mechanical and plumbing work. (also refer to BOZ2014-04 for variance approval and AUR2013-00030 for OAU)

PMT2014-00982 1001 Arapahoe Ave.; $69,016; City of Boulder; City of Boulder Fam; Relocate existing interior non-bearing partition walls to create new office space and break room for Channel 8. Existing sink will be shifted slightly in location.

PMT2014-01147 1401 Walnut St.; $63,509.39; 1401 Walnut; Duggan Construction LLC; Tenant remodel of existing office Suite 200. Remodel to include partitions, finishes, lighting, electrical, HVAC registers and alteration of existing break room kitchenette to comply with accessibility requirements.

View original post here:
Boulder building permits: March 31, 2014

Melbourne, Australia (PRWEB) March 30, 2014

From offices and factories, to hotels, airport terminals and retail complexes, the Commercial and Industrial Building Construction industry constructs most of the buildings where Australians work, shop and play. The industry's revenue is forecast to total $29.6 billion in 2013-14, up 0.7% on the previous year but remaining well below the record peak of 2007-08. According to IBISWorld industry analyst Anthony Kelly, confidence in the commercial property market has struggled to recover due to the fragile global economy and sluggish local consumption and investment trends.

Over the five years through 2013-14, industry revenue is projected to decline at an annualised 4.3%. Profit margins have also been squeezed. The industry's performance corresponds with the slump of private investment into commercial and industrial buildings in the aftermath of the global financial crisis and weak investor confidence, says Kelly. However, some contractors have derived stimulus from growth in the aligned institutional building market (notably primary schools refurbishment) and the reconstruction of flood-damaged buildings in Queensland.

The industry's prospects are forecast to strengthen over the next five years, with stronger conditions on local property markets due to rising property yields and occupancy rates. Industry revenue is forecast to be primarily driven by a resurgence in the value of commercial building construction (notably hotels and office developments) and, to a lesser extent, increased industrial building activity. Direct employment is relatively low because the industry relies heavily on a subcontracted labour force. Industry employment is estimated at 40,000 people in 2013-14, while the total workforce numbers about 155,000 people when including direct employees, apprentices, working proprietors, consultant engineers, consultant architects, surveyors and subcontracted labour. The Commercial and Industrial Building Construction industry has a low concentration of ownership, with the four largest firms accounting for less than 20.0% of annual revenue. Relatively few companies are capable of constructing large-scale or complex landmark projects.

For more information, visit IBISWorlds Commercial and Industrial Building Construction report in Australia industry page.

Follow IBISWorld on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ibisworldau

IBISWorld industry Report Key Topics

Operators in this industry construct commercial and industrial non-residential buildings. They also perform alterations, renovations and general repairs of commercial and industrial buildings, and organise and manage construction.

Industry Performance Executive Summary Key External Drivers Current Performance Industry Outlook Industry Life Cycle Products & Markets Supply Chain Products & Services Major Markets International Trade Business Locations Competitive Landscape Market Share Concentration Key Success Factors Cost Structure Benchmarks Basis of Competition Barriers to Entry Industry Globalisation Major Companies Operating Conditions Capital Intensity Technology & Systems Revenue Volatility Regulation & Policy Industry Assistance Key Statistics Industry Data Annual Change Key Ratios

About IBISWorld Inc. Recognised as the nations most trusted independent source of industry and market research, IBISWorld offers a comprehensive database of unique information and analysis on every Australian industry. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, the company equips clients with the insight necessary to make better business decisions. Headquartered in Melbourne, IBISWorld serves a range of business, professional service and government organisations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com.au or call (03) 9655 3886.

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Commercial and Industrial Building Construction in Australia Industry Market Research Report Now Updated by IBISWorld