Downtown Vancouver is undergoing an office tower construction boom, which will add a combined 1.2 million square feet of space and go a long way toward rectifying a shortage in the business core.

But all that construction bodes poorly for workers in neighbouring offices, who will have to put up with noise, dirt and other major disruptions for at least two years.

Oxford Properties Group, which is developing the 35-storey MNP Tower at 1021 West Hastings, is trying to make things easier for tenants in its surrounding office towers while the construction is underway.

Marta Jackson, vice-president of operations for Omni Warranty Corp, which leases a floor and a half of the Marine Building, at 355 Burrard, is particularly grateful for the 25 noise-cancelling Bose headphones that Oxford gave to her staff.

There was a time when it was really, really noisy, said Ms. Jackson, whose company provides after-market warranties for the auto industry. [The headphones] were fantastic and they let us keep them. You can listen to nothing or listen to music.

Some of the steps Oxford has implemented include modifying construction schedules around tenants client meetings, providing complimentary shoe shine stations to tackle dirt and dust, moving tenants to temporary office spaces when anticipating higher noise levels, and offering the Bose headphones to minimize disruptions during the work day.

Near is an understatement, added Jackson of her companys proximity to the construction activity. Literally, my office wall is immediately next to the building they just took down. Thats how close I am.

Theyve been very, very proactive in giving us notification of when the noise would happen, she said. There were four weeks of heavy drilling and, literally, our walls were vibrating.

They really tried to leave a solid window of quiet in the middle of the day. And that was an important thing for us, having the flexibility of a solid block for a full days work.

Derek Page, Oxford Properties director of real estate management for Vancouver, said that keeping tenants happy is very important during the construction stage. It [MNP Tower] is a great new addition, but the last thing we want is a shiny new tower with a bunch of unhappy tenants in our adjoining towers.

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Vancouver tower developer offers free shoe shines to workers in nearby offices

Despite the intensity of the fire when the first units arrived on scene, firefighters were able to save the majority of a two-story office building that caught fire Friday evening.

James Hartman, spokesman for Fire District 12, said the inclusion of firewalls in the buildings construction and the assistance the department received from other departments enabled firefighters to save approximately two-thirds of the building.

Firefighters with Fire District 12 were assisted by firefighters from Covington Fire, Fire District 4 (Mandeville), Fire District 8 (Abita Springs), Fire District 5 (Folsom) and Fire District 13 (Goodbee) as well as personnel from Acadian Ambulance, St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office and Covington Police as they battled the blaze at 2401 U.S. Highway 190 Friday evening.

The building housed Allstate Insurance Offices, D&S Surveyors, Inc., Law Office of Darrell R. Sims, a massage business and formerly housed Delta College.

A building at the back of the property, which now houses Delta College, was not harmed. The first call reporting the fire came in at 6:09 p.m., and the first units were on the scene by 6:14. The first firefighters on scene observed flames coming from the second story on the two-story office building and heavy black smoke billowing from the roof and windows. It appears the fire started in the front end of the building closest to the highway on the second floor.

Firewalls near the center of the building prevent much of the fire from spreading to the rear of the building.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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Firewalls, mutual aide credited with saving building

CHICAGO, June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Mortenson Construction has brought the Great Hall at Union Station and its attached 8-story office building into the 21st century while preserving its historic heritage. As part of a $25 million infrastructure improvement project funded by Union Station owner Amtrak and project-managed by Jones Lang LaSalle, Mortenson Construction upgraded or replaced the building's mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems while installing fire safety equipment, including sprinklers and fire alarms to help make the 87-year-old building compliant with city regulations and set the stage to market the upper floors for tenants.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120626/CG30378)

Amtrak is already reaping financial returns from the capital improvement program, which it can use to offset operating costs. It has moved its Chicago office employees back into the building, partially occupying the second and third floors and saving more than $2 million in annual rent. By eliminating inefficient radiator heat, utility costs have dropped by more than $1 million so far in 2012, with an expected yearly savings of more than $2 million.

In addition, air conditioning in the Great Hall is making it a hot spot for cool events in the summer, with a record nine events in May and four weddings in June. The Great Hall, a waiting area for Amtrak and Metra train passengers and favorite location for movies from "The Untouchables" to "Man of Steel," is now a year-round venue for events and expected to bring in another $1 to $2 million annually.

To generate more revenue to put toward operating costs, Amtrak is working with Jones Lang LaSalle, the building's property manager, to market the rest of the available Headhouse office space as well as 60,000 square feet of upgraded retail space surrounding the Great Hall. "What was previously unrentable space because of life-safety issues and inadequate ventilation systems has become prime real estate," says Ray Lang, President of the Amtrak-owned Chicago Union Station Co. and the railroad's chief of state government relations.

Mortenson Construction successfully tackled significant logistical and operational challenges while working on the historic landmark, including doing some of the overhaul in a public space, without interrupting passengers, the train traffic control center, several retail businesses and private and public events. "The challenge is similar to redoing a kitchen while you're still cooking in it, although on a much larger scale," says Frank Tverdek, Jones Lang LaSalle's General Manager of Union Station. "Mortenson brought immense value to the project."

The primary portion of the work occurred in the sub-basement of the facility, which is inaccessible by vehicle and located two floors below the water level of the Chicago River. Mortenson relied on extensive use of 3D laser scanning and modeling, first to determine the best way to disassemble and remove the old mechanical and electrical systems, then to carefully design, fabricate and assemble onsite the new systems. Without this powerful tool, the extraction of existing equipment and installation of five industrial boilers and two 600-ton chillers would have added considerable cost and time.

For Chicago Union Station, Mortenson drew on deep experience in historic renovation and restoration, including other train station projects. In a $243 million restoration that will largely be completed by the end of 2012, Mortenson is reviving St. Paul's Union Depot for tenants that include Amtrak, and it renovated and converted Kansas City's Union Station, built in 1913, into an interactive science museum and Amtrak station. Mortenson has completed more than 30 historic preservation projects over the years, including cultural and performing arts centers, municipal and civic facilities, education buildings, churches, and office buildings.

"Restoring historic buildings is one of the most sustainable ways to build," says Greg Werner, vice-president and head of Mortenson's Chicago office. "The true success of an historic renovation is when visitors can't tell that we were ever in the building except that it looks and operates better." Chicago Union Station was envisioned by famed Chicago architect Daniel Burnham and opened in May 1925 after ten years of construction at a cost of $75 million dollars. Burnham died before construction began and the work was completed by the firm Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, Burnham's successor.

Excerpt from:
Chicago's Historic Union Station Is Better Than Ever

By Catherine Yang Epoch Times Staff Created: June 25, 2012 Last Updated: June 25, 2012

A construction worker signs the final beam before it is hoisted atop 4 World Trade Center on June 25. (Gary Du/The Epoch Times)

The final steel beam was installed at the top of 4 World Trade Center Monday morning. The office building, located at 150 Greenwich St., is the first completed of four new buildings at the World Trade Center site.

The 977-foot, 72-story tower will open in the fall of 2013, making it the sixth highest building in New York City. It will accommodate stores, offices, and the Port Authoritys new headquarters.

Ceremony for the final beam of 4 World Trade Center on June 25. (Gary Du/The Epoch Times)

World Trade Center construction on June 25. (Gary Du/The Epoch Times)

The buildings developer, Larry Silverstein, joined local officials and construction workers in signing and raising the last beam, which weighed a whopping eight tons and was covered with an American flag. Silverstein was quoted in Crains New York saying that the events goal was to give New Yorkers back the city terrorists tried to take away.

Senior associate construction manager for the building Malcolm Williams said the design is simple and elegant. The floor plan has a focus on efficiency and productivity, and the lobby is twice the size of 7 World Trade Center. The building is minimalist in style and trapezoidal in shape, with a reflective black granite surface.

Architect Fumihiko Maki says in a video on the buildings website, I feel very honored to participate in this exciting process of making something important for New York City.

The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.

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Final Beam Completes Construction of 4 World Trade Center

A triumph for the "I'm Coming Back" recovery campaign in Minot took place today at the unveiling of the new entrance building for the Roosevelt Park Zoo.

Construction on the new entrance building was underway one year ago, before the Mouse River filled the new walls with more than six feet of flood water. The interior of the building was re-done, and today zoo staff --- and a few residents of the zoo - welcomed the first visitors to the new building. The entrance, gift shop, and a multi-purpose area will be housed in the new building and the staff are happy to once again be under the same roof in the new office space.

(David Merritt, Roosevelt Park Zoo Director) "There is still a fair amount of work that has to happen on the interior and exterior, but we've officially moved back onto the zoo property and if for no other reason, psychologically, that feels really good."

Zoo staff are located at the zoo now, but varied construction projects and hours mean that the building is not always accessible to the public. If you need anything from the zoo office please contact them at 857-4116.

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Showing Off New Zoo Building

The regional office of Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark Knight Frank has sold a long-vacant, bank-owned Roseville office building at 400 Sunrise Ave., along the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80, just south of Douglas Boulevard.

The buyer, Mourier Land Investment Corp. in Roseville, paid $2.75 million.

Construction on the three-story building stopped 3 1/2 years ago. Despite the prolonged vacancy, eight offers were received when marketing began on May 2, according to Brian Barnes, the Cornish & Carey senior vice president who brokered the sale.

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Long-vacant Roseville office building sold

The public will have a say in plans for the Rock Island County Courthouse and office building, possibly through a referendum, a county official said late last week.

Rock Island County Board member Tom Rockwell, who is leading the committee investigating costs associated with housing four county buildings under one roof, said the county should take positive action and consolidate buildings, but its up to the county board what process its going to take. I fully assume that if we do take positive action, a process for public input will be taken.

The committee is considering four options:

- Build a new facility in downtown Rock Island

- Rehabilitate the courthouse, 210 15th St., and office building, 1504 3rd Ave.

- Relocate to the Quad-Cities Industrial Center, or QCIC, 350 44th St.

- Do nothing

In his opinion, Rockwell said the county cant maintain the status quo and operate the 117-year-old courthouse and 113-year-old office building the old Modern Woodmen building without significant repairs to bring them up to even minimum code requirements.

I havent seen everyones recommendation, he said. But thats not going to be mine.

Each of the six members of the committee will make his own recommendation, and Rockwell will compile those recommendations into one report, he said. He then will present the report publically to the county board July 2.

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Referendum possible for RI County building plan

As the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina nears, St. Bernard Parish will finally be able to celebrate the recovery of one of its greatest losses since the storm: an infrastructure of health care in the community. In early August, St. Bernard Parish Hospital will open its doors, boasting a state-of-the-art, 113,000-square-foot hospital and an adjoining 60,000-square-foot medical office building.

The facility, which has been under planning and construction for the past three years, is at 8000 W. Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette.

For Wayne Landry, chairman of St. Bernard Parishs Hospital Service District, the opening of the hospital is one of the last remaining pieces in ensuring strong economic and community recovery in St. Bernard Parish.

Since Katrina, St. Bernard has slowly been able to build back a sense of security and community, Landry said. From education to police, fire, and government, we have made strides to recover. Health care was the last remaining piece to that puzzle, and now we have that.

Chalmette Medical Center, the parishs lone hospital, flooded in Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and never reopened.

The new $90 million facility is financed through grants, tax credits and state capital outlay dollars. In November 2010, St. Bernard Parish residents backed a 10-year millage to help support the facility.

The people of St. Bernard really stepped up to make this endeavor possible, Landry said. Without that vote, we wouldnt be here today. We are fortunate that the residents recognized the need for this facility.

Landry said residents should take pride in the hospital, knowing that it was their own investment and that it is there to serve and meet the needs of St. Bernard and surrounding parishes. No longer will residents of St. Bernard have to leave the parish to find quality health care, Landry said.

Every detail, Landry said, has taken into account the needs of the patient and has been designed to maximize patient comfort and productivity of the medical staff.

The patient rooms were designed to have more of a hotel feel with details like wood panel headboards, backlit mirrors, and large windows, Landry said. We have also set workstations and tracking capabilities for the nurses and other medical staff.

Original post:
St. Bernard Parish Hospital is a final piece of Katrina recovery

CLEVELAND, Ohio Cuyahoga Community College's administration building appears marooned amid a sea of construction equipment and dirt at the corner of Carnegie Avenue and Ontario Street.

Just south of the brick building, hard-hatted workers are constructing an on-ramp and approach road to the new Inner Belt Bridge. To the west, a contractor is building a parking garage for Tri-C to replace spots taken by the Ohio Department of Transportation for the bridge. Nearby, ODOT is reconstructing the intersection of Ontario and Carnegie and relocating a freeway on-ramp.

"As a kid I loved to play with Tonka toys so I love this," said Peter MacEwan, vice president of facilities development and operations, as he looked out of the windows of his third-floor office as excavators and other heavy equipment moved dirt for the bridge project. MacEwan, an engineer who oversees all construction for the college, also is fascinated by the project itself.

But he still worries about future noise and vibration from traffic once the road is complete in 2013.

The college had baseline vibration measurements taken at the administration building, which has double-pane windows, before construction began. And the college will take more readings when the project is done, he said.

Tri-C officials had little recourse when ODOT said it had to realign the on-ramp from Carnegie Avenue at the east end of the building and widen the Interstate 90 lanes in the approach to the bridge. The state bought a quarter acre and is building a 25-foot tall retaining wall behind the building.

Tri-C lost 60 of its 127 parking spots and will spend $5 million to $6 million to build a four-story parking garage for 200 vehicles. It received $3.6 million from ODOT for the land, which included compensation for about $250,000 in lost parking revenue from events at nearby Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena, MacEwan said.

Tri-C built its administration building on Carnegie Avenue in 1973 as the central location for the school's downtown, Parma and Highland Hills campuses. But over the two decades following the opening, the neighborhood grew more crowded, primarily from the construction of Progressive Field and The Q. In 2001, as more space was needed, a third floor was added to the building. Parking was always a challenge.

The new garage, scheduled to open in January, will ease that problem. Until then, employees are parking a few blocks away in a lot rented from Peterson Nut.

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Cuyahoga Community College administration employees have front row view of Inner Belt Bridge construction

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - One of the most notorious blight spots in Downtown may not only be getting a new federal courthouse in a few years. There could also be a second building coming to the hole in the ground at the southwest corner of First Street and Broadway.

Officials with Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allards office announced on Friday afternoon that the General Services Administration plans to transfer ownership of the Spring Street Courthouse, which is set to be vacated, to a developer.

The developer, in exchange, would be required to build a new federal office building with a similar value to the Spring Street courthouse on the First and Broadway site.

I applaud GSA Acting Administrator Dan Tangherlini for finding an innovative,practical, and fiscally responsible solution to meet our judiciary and federal workspace needs in downtown LA, said Roybal-Allard in a statement.

According to a spokesman for Roybal-Allards office who did not want to be identified, the 1938 building at 312 N. Spring St. is valued at $53 million. That means a developer would have to build an approximately 150,000 to 175,000-square-foot building on the 3.6 acre site that will also house a $400 million federal courthouse set for completion in 2017.

Once the new federal office building is completed, the developer would then be the new owner of the Spring Street Courthouse building. If the plan comes through, it could be a stunning turnaround for a Civic Center property that has been a vacant blight for years.

Congress had long ago appropriated $400 million to build a 41-room courthouse on the site immediately west of the Los Angeles Times headquarters.

Since then, the General Services Administration, which acts as a landlord for federal agencies, spent $16.9 million to acquire and prepare the site, and another $16.3 million on designs for a 41-room courthouse. The project hit a wall in 2008 when due to delays and design changes, estimated costs tripled, making a 41-room courthouse impossible to build.

The Downtown community was surprised when in January Roybal-Allards office announced that that project was back on track with plans to build a smaller, $400-million federal courthouse with 110 parking spots, 24 courtrooms and 32 judges chambers.

As part of the new federal courthouse plan the 1938 Spring Street Courthouse, which along with the 1992 Roybal Federal Building currently house federal courthouse operations, would be vacated with all its operations relocated to the new courthouse.

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New Federal Office Building Planned at Civic Center Site