by CoyDavidson on February 6, 2013

Kirksey Architects released its 2013 annual construction cost update on office buildings and parking structures which is an annual poll of leading contractors to update current market conditions. This year the report has been expanded to include corporate interior construction costs.

Construction costs began to climb in 2012 and costs are expected to continue rising at a steady pace through 2013. A combination of a higher volume of projects in a number of sectors combined with labor and material cost increases will continue to drive up construction costs

Twenty one office projects, totaling 4.5 million square feet, are under construction in Houston as the citys robust economy continues to propel the Houston office space market and this doesnt include ExxonMobils massive new campus just south of the Woodlands.

Energy related companies are driving the uptick in major office projects and major interior lease deals in the Houston region. Many speculative office projects are in the wings awaiting a tenant and financing while new projects are being announced on a regular basis. LEED certification continues to be a standard for most office buildings. However, the current LEED standards favor dense urban locations, resulting in many suburban buildings settling for a level lower than similar projects built in 2007-2008.

2013 Office Construction Cost Update by Coy Davidson

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The Cost of a New Office Building - THE TENANT ADVISOR

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIAConsulting firm Bright Rich/CORFAC International has been awarded the exclusive marketing assignment and listing for a new commercial business center in St. Petersburg that will be the first newly-constructed LEED Gold building in the historic Russian city.

Called Eco Status, the class A project is being built to qualify for certification by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) for the environmental and sustainable features that are being integrated into construction of the new office building, which includes ground-floor retail. The general contractor is Renaissance Construction.

When complete and if the owners certify the building with USGBC, it would be only the sixth LEED certified building in Russia and the second in St. Petersburg. In 2010 a Moscow property was the first to be LEED certified in Russia and an office building in St. Petersburg was renovated to LEED Gold earlier this year.

Located in St. Petersburg historic district at Ligovsky Prospect, 140 and about 200 meters from the metro station Obvodny canal, the eight-story office and retail building totals 6,080 square meters (approximately 65,445 square feet) plus two atrium terraces. Marina Kukharenko, acting head of the department, foreign markets, of Bright Rich/CORFAC International won the listing and is marketing space in the building on a lease basis.

The average leasable floor area in the building is 590 square meters (approximately 6,349 square feet) and divisible from 50 square meters (538 square feet) to 300 square meters.

The business property is scheduled for completion and ready for occupancy June 20.

In addition to the sustainability features of the building, the project will have a unique automatic elevator-parking system designed to save time for people working in the building. There is also guest parking at the site.

The great location, certified LEED design and high service-level makes this property a very attractive location for major Russian and foreign companies, said Kukharenko, whose firm is based in St. Petersburg and joined CORFAC International in 2012.

Green building and other special features for the office space include:

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LEED Gold Office Planned for St. Petersburg

After three decades and with its service area growing daily, the Lumberton Municipal Utility District office has outgrown its four walls and is starting over with an energy-efficient building.

In the next few weeks, the 30-member staff will pack up and move from West Chance Cutoff Road to 625 FM 421.

District Manager Roger Fussell, who has been with the agency 14 years, said that from 2000 to 2008, their 63-square-mile coverage area saw a new house or connection per day. The district, which covers Lumberton and Kountze ISD, has grown substantially in the past 35 years, Fussell said. The current building was constructed when the district had fewer than 10 employees.

"Once we've moved out and organized and can find out how to turn on the coffee pot we'll probably put this one up for sale," he said.

Fussell said they took in mind that they wouldn't want to construct another building for another 30 years, so they built the new one with room for growth.

The additional space can be used for storage until it's needed, if the area continues to expand as it has over the years.

"We wanted it to meet our needs for now and future," he said.

The new office is a state-of-the-art facility, he said, Administration decided to do something no one else -that he's aware of - has done in Southeast Texas with an office building. MUD will harvest rainwater from its roof and recycle that to use to irrigate its landscape.

"Even though we're the water company, we want to show there are alternative means to watering the grass," he said.

All the lights in the building are LED and the structure is storm rated, allowing it to have its own auxiliary power in case a hurricane were to come through.

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Utility district gets new office in Lumberton

Boston, MA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/08/2014 -- This report is the result of Timetric's extensive market research covering the office building construction industry in Poland. It contains detailed historic and forecast market value data for the office building construction industry, including a breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition). "Office Building Construction in Poland to 2017: Market Databook" provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of the office building construction industry in Poland. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Polish construction value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.

View Full Report Details and Table of Contents

Scope

- Overview of the office building construction industry in Poland. - Historic and forecast market value for the office building construction industry by construction output and value-add methods for the period 2008 through to 2017. - Historic and forecast market value by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) across the office building construction industry for the period 2008 through to 2017.

Reasons to Get This Report

- This report provides you with valuable data for the office building construction industry in Poland. - This report provides you with a breakdown of market value by type of construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition). - This report enhances your knowledge of the market with key figures detailing market values using the construction output and value add methods. - This report allows you to plan future business decisions using the forecast figures given for the market.

About Fast Market Research Fast Market Research is an online aggregator and distributor of market research and business information. Representing the world's top research publishers and analysts, we provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available. Our unbiased, expert staff will help you find the right research to fit your requirements and your budget. For more information about these or related research reports, please visit our website at http://www.fastmr.com or call us at 1.800.844.8156.

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You may also be interested in these related reports:

- Office Building Construction in South Africa to 2017: Market Databook - Office Building Construction in Argentina to 2017: Market Databook - Office Building Construction in Singapore to 2017: Market Databook - Office Building Construction in Australia to 2017: Market Databook - Office Building Construction in Lithuania to 2017: Market Databook - Office Building Construction in Hong Kong to 2017: Market Databook - Office Building Construction in Algeria to 2017: Market Databook - Office Building Construction in Austria to 2017: Market Databook - Office Building Construction in Latvia to 2017: Market Databook - Office Building Construction in Colombia to 2017: Market Databook

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Recent Study: Office Building Construction in Poland to 2017 ...

Walnut Capital Partners has its financing in place, its contractor ready to go and expects to begin building a new 216,000-square-foot office building in March as part of its expansion of Bakery Square 2.0.

Thats the basic gist of what the company reported to the Planning Commission on Tuesday on a project to build upon the established Bakery Square development to create a new larger 20-acre office-apartment-retail campus along Penn Avenue in the citys East End.

Bids are going out next week, said Gregg Perelmann, principal of Walnut Capital, of the chain reaction of commitments falling into place that should see a new office building completed on the former site of the Reizenstein school in the next 18 to 24 months.

The new office building is expected to be the first of two 200,000-plus-square-foot structures on the site, which is also expected to now also include a second 950-space parking garage, along with the two 175-unit apartment buildings and a collection of townhouses also slated for the plan.

Perelmann was mum about whether Google, which occupies 140,000 square feet in the original Bakery Square, had made any commitment to expand into the new building.

Anonymous sources familiar with the plan expect Google to take a significant portion of the new office building, which will be built with a two-level sky bridge spanning Penn Avenue connecting the Larimer side of the established Bakery Square with the new Shadyside addition to the development.

Perelmann said the company continues to talk with potential tenants.

Were focused on the university-based companies that need to expand, said Perelman.

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Bakery Square 2.0 office building to start construction in ...

Plans to build an 8,250-square-foot office and retail building at the southern flank of downtown Ceres generated both approval and praise by members of the Ceres Planning Commission on Monday evening.

Bill Leer of Modesto's Leer Corporation went before the panel to seek approval for a Site Plan Approval for the project to be constructed on a 14,375 square foot parcel at the northwest corner of Park and Sixth streets. The project was approved 3-0 by commissioners Laurie Smith, Gary Del Nero and Hugo Molina. Commissioners Gary Chapman and Bob Kachel were both absent.

Leer proposes to build a two-story shell building which would be improved by tenants for either office or retail uses. Leer said he would begin marketing three upstairs units and three downstairs units with future tenants needing to obtain permits from the city for interior improvements. He said the upper floor office space will be perfect for insurance, real estate or law firms while the downstairs would be ideal for a sandwich shop or retail shops.

Leer, who has projects in Modesto and Turlock, said he expects construction to start this spring and be ready by fall.

"Staff supports the project as it would provide some new construction in downtown Ceres which meets the intent of the Downtown Specific Plan, and the project encourages both the development and reuse of an underutilized parcel," wrote Associate Planner James Michaels in his report to the commission. He added that staff feels that the project offers "an attractive new building to the downtown area."

Michaels also said "in our opinion this will not only be one of the most aesthetically pleasing buildings in downtown, but in all of Ceres."

The new building, coupled with the design of the $1 million Turlock Irrigation District office at 2944 Third Street which opened in 2009, is likely to be the design standards for new construction in downtown, Michaels said.

"It'll be a nice improvement to any downtown," said Leer. "We're hoping that you like it. It's a great place near the freeway."

Smith said she feels the design is attractive and that she is familiar with Leer's projects in downtown Modesto. Molina commented that he likes Leer's building in Turlock so much that he would like to own it someday.

"I like the design, I like the idea," said Molina. "It goes right along with what we've been talking about revitalizing downtown. The building is beautiful and I wish we had it right in front of the freeway where people can see it but hey it's an awesome start. Welcome to Ceres."

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Downtown office building wins OK

Slide Show

Photo courtesy of Howard S. Wright

EMP Administrative Office Building

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Developed to support the Experience Music Project Museum, a five-story office facility was designed and built to achieve LEED-Platinum certification on a nonprofit budget.

The team determined that to achieve its sustainability goals the project would require an extremely high-performing envelope. The team took a compartmentalized approach and determined the U-values required to meet project goals. Competitive requests for proposals for subcontractors were as much performance based as they were cost and aesthetic based. Specialty subcontractors were brought on early during the envelope design process.

Other sustainable features include rainwater reclamation for toilets; passive cooling; variable refrigerant flow systems for heating and cooling load sharing and distribution; installation of a reclaimed photovoltaic system; extensive green roofs for stormwater quality and quantity control; and pervious sidewalks to reduce runoff.

Building information modeling added to the project's green approach. Howard S. Wright processes submittals, shop drawings and other documents in editable electronic formats. On the EMP Administrative Building, electronic construction documents were available on flat-screen displays in the jobsite office, on moveable smart boxes in the field and on touchscreen tablets carried around by staff. The firm says this approach reduces paper consumption, increases productivity and results in significant savings for the client.

The team had ongoing daily quality-control surveys with the architect, field staff and management. Everything was tracked using cloud-based BIM software, which meant up-to-date information was available to the entire project team at any time.

Howard S. Wright's in-house BIM department also modeled the underground shoring system, which helped minimize damage to existing underground utilities.

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Best Office/Retail/Mixed-Use Development Project | ENR ...

A world leading construction specialist has opened a new regional office in Cambridge for its UK division.

Cambourne Business Park has benefited from significant new investment and upgrades in the buildings, landscaping and facilities since being acquired last summer by Cube Real Estate in a multi-million pound deal.

It is estimated that the takeover was worth anything between 80m and 100m. Vinci has chosen to relocate its Eastern regional office from Stowmarket, leasing 4,150 sq ft at Cambournes Building 2030.

The company have taken a new five year lease, and joins an existing business community which includes some of the most innovative companies such as Citrix Systems, Netcracker, ip.access and CDT.

Christopher Reeve, head of office agency at Bidwells, said: Following the office buildings at Cambourne Business Park being bought by a Joint Venture between Cube Real Estate and Benson Elliot, with Cube asset managing the property, considerable interest has been received.

This is due to the new owner's considerable investment in the park, with upgrades including refitted receptions and office space and landscaping improvements.

This alongside our client's fresh property management approach has attracted a great deal of interest from Cambridge orientated companies, and I am delighted Vinci has decided to base its office here.

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Construction firm moves to Cambridge

OAKLAND -- A move-in delay at the future headquarters of the Bay Area's regional transportation agency will cost tollpayers an extra $5.4 million to temporarily house FasTrak, the agency's electronic toll-collection operation.

FasTrak was supposed to set up shop in the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's planned new office building at 375 Beale St. in San Francisco.

But the eight-story structure won't be ready to occupy until mid-2015, and the lease on FasTrak's current office expires this June, which leaves the operation's 146 employees and 1.4 million electronic accounts homeless.

To close the gap, the commission's Bay Area Toll Authority Oversight Committee on Wednesday reluctantly earmarked $5.4 million from its toll proceeds to move FasTrak into temporary offices for up to 18 months.

"It's not like we have a choice," said committee member and Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates. "(FasTrak) can't stay where they are, and we aren't ready to receive them. It was unfortunate timing."

The money will cover rent and building improvements for an interim FasTrak office at 62 First St. FasTrak allows motorists to carry an electronic device in their vehicles that automatically deducts tolls from a prepaid account.

The transportation commission initially planned to move into a fully renovated Beale Street building with three other regional agencies in 2014.

But the building's sole remaining tenant -- the federal Drug Enforcement Agency Western Laboratory -- apparently lacked the same sense of urgency. The agency occupies the top floor, and it isn't scheduled to move to new offices on Koll Center Parkway in Pleasanton until November.

The commission hired a contractor last summer and began renovations, but there is a great deal the construction team cannot finish until the building is empty, said commission spokesman Randy Rentschler.

"Getting the DEA to focus on finding a new location has been a challenge," Rentschler conceded. "The federal government did not move at the pace we would have preferred, and there is only so much work the contractor can do at night and on the weekends."

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FasTrak office will need temporary home at cost of $5.4 million

BUILDING PERMITS

Building construction permits over $10,000 in value that were approved in Boulder between Oct. 21 and Oct. 27, 2013. Listed below are: the case number; address; total project valuation; owner name; contractor (if applicable); and description.

PMT2013-04987 1920 Bluebell Ave.; $337,233.11; Jeremiah Kaplan and Kristin Kaplan; Kbc Remodel Service LLC; Two story addition to existing single family dwelling. Extensive renovation of existing living space. Garage is attached. Covered front porch inside existing building footprint. Addition of three bathrooms for a total of five.

PMT2013-05503 2929 13Th St.; $356,000.00; School Washington; Horizon Custom Homes, Inc.; New single-family residence, Building #5 Washington Village Single-Family, two-story, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, no basement, with two-car attached garage.

PMT2013-05515 2329 Pine St.; $95,035.49; Gregory Ekrem; Remodel (443 SF) and addition (665 SF) of existing single family dwelling. Scope of work also includes demo and rebuild of front porch (new porch larger than existing). Remodel includes main level renovation with relocation of master bath and bedroom to new upper level addition, and kitchen and dining room renovation. Addition includes new second story.

PMT2013-06340 1700 29th St.; $912,502.00; Twenty Macerich; Conversion of restaurant, skate shack and storage space into office/conference space for Juwi Solar. the scope of this includes work for the interior remodel and finish including all associated MEP's.. All exterior work is included under the scope of PMT2013-06129.

PMT2013-06559 2560 Briarwood Drive; $195,000.00; Jan Lindt; Henson Construction Inc; Interior remodel of 1189 square feet of residence to add vaulted ceiling on main level, remodel kitchen, and new powder room. Lower level to have new laundry, remodeled bedroom, and remodeled bath. Upper level to have new closets in remodeled bedrooms, remodeled baths, and revised exterior deck. Includes MEP.

PMT2013-06770 895 Aurora Ave.; $5,635.95; Larry Rothenberg; Conversion of carport to garage by completion of east wall and new garage door on the south wall. No change to foundation, roof, or existing walls. 283 square feet. No MEP. SEE BOZ2013-00010

PMT2013-07128 919 12Th St.; $12,000.00; Fran Windsor and Tucker Brumley; Reenergizeco Inc; Flood recovery-Owner/Contractor-No kitchen facility approved by this permit. Scope of work to also include drywall and insulation (per code),reframing closet wall in bedroom and wall separating storage room and living room and associated electrical that was damage by flooding. No structural work approved.

PMT2013-07136 5709 Orchard Creek Circle; $61,500.00; Jeffrey Franke and Amy Franke; Melton Construction, Inc; Basement finish including bedroom, 3/4 bath, wet bar playroom/rec room, unfinished storage area. Scope of work includes associated electrical, mechanical and plumbing.

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Boulder building permits: Jan. 5, 2014