March 2017 Hoffmann Architects, an architecture and engineering firm specializing in the rehabilitation of building exteriors, announces that Lawrence E. Keenan, AIA, PE will assume management of the technical staff at the firms Hamden, Connecticut headquarters from Arthur L. Sanders, AIA, who managed the Connecticut technical staff for nearly 20 years.

Lawrence E. Keenan, AIA, PE, Vice President and Director of Engineering, has been selected to manage the architecture and engineering staff at Hoffmann Architects Connecticut office, where he will oversee project management, allocate technical resources, and see that work is done on time, within budget, and to exacting quality standards. A licensed structural engineer and registered architect, Keenan has more than 25 years experience in building envelope rehabilitation and design. In May, he will celebrate his 20th anniversary with Hoffmann Architects. An owner of the firm who is recognized in the industry for his innovations in concrete structural design, Keenan holds two U.S. patents for precast concrete connections. As President of the Connecticut chapter of the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI), he is a sought-after presenter not only for ICRI, but also for the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) and the Structural Engineers Coalition (SEC). With a degree in structural engineering from the University of Connecticut, Keenan is a mentor to staff and a trusted resource on industry standards, code compliance, and structural evaluation. His projects include engineering analysis and project management for Phoenix Life Insurance Company, The Travelers Companies, M&T Bank, BMW of North America, the University of Connecticut, and Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Arthur L. Sanders, AIA, Senior Vice President and Director of Architecture, has ceded staff management responsibilities to Lawrence E. Keenan, AIA, PE but will continue to oversee challenging envelope projects, serve as an expert witness, provide peer review for new construction, and act as a technical resource for staff. Since assuming leadership of the Connecticut technical staff in 1998, Sanders notable contributions include restoration of the Dome of the U.S. Capitol, design of a 70,000-square-foot copper roof replacement at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, peer review of the U.S. Judiciary Office building, consultation on the new Oklahoma state capitol dome, Lawrence E. Keenan, AIA, PE Arthur L. Sanders, AIA Hoffmann Architects Names Lawrence Keenan Manager of Connecticut Office Page 2 restoration of the landmarked iconic Fish Church in Stamford CT, and technical review for the Airforce Academy Chapel. A Yale University alumnus, Art has been an active member in the professional community throughout his 40+ year architecture career. Currently Vice President of the Connecticut chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA CT), he has served three terms as President for the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Housatonic Chapter and has been a representative to the Industry Practice Committee for the Connecticut Building Congress (CBC) for over 15 years. He also continues his longstanding membership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Hoffmann Architects is fortunate to have benefited from Sanders leadership, and, even as he hands over his administrative and managerial responsibilities, the firm will continue to gain from his expertise, mentorship, and technical guidance.

Original post:
Hoffmann Architects names Lawrence Keenan Manager of Connecticut office - Building Design + Construction (press release) (registration)

Charlotte Observer (blog)

Check out Charlotte's biggest new office buildings and see when they open Charlotte Observer (blog) After a post-recession lull, Charlotte's office market is growing rapidly, and a string of new projects are set to open in the coming years. Vacancy rates remain tight. Citywide, the office vacancy rate stood at 8.5 percent at the end of 2016 ...

View post:
Check out Charlotte's biggest new office buildings and see when they open - Charlotte Observer (blog)

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

'For the People' law firm to have name on new downtown office building Columbus Ledger-Enquirer He is a partner in the office building project with Columbus businessmen Todd Ammerman and Russ Carreker, with River City Construction undertaking the major rehabilitation of the 408 12th St. property that once was home to Strickland Motors, ...

View post:
'For the People' law firm to have name on new downtown office building - Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Design and engineering of the building are almost completed. The company plans to unveil the new office building by the end of the year.

KP Engineering LP plans to build a new 25,000-square-foot office building in Tyler, Texas, adjacent to the companys headquarters, which opened in 2015. The new asset will include design workstationsand conference rooms incorporating the latest conferencing technology. With construction expected to begin this month, design and engineering of the building are almost completed.

Located on Old Jacksonville Highway, the new facility will relieve overcrowding and replace the temporary offices nearby. The company plans to complete construction of the new office building by the end of the year.

Our newest building will be a tangible representation of our growth and a direct reflection of the dedication of our employees and our engineering, design and execution prowess that leads to efficient, on-time projects, saidWilliam Preston, president & COO, in a prepared statement.

Image courtesy of KP Engineering LP

Original post:
KPE to Construct New Office Building in Texas - Commercial Property Executive

The renovation of the DuPont Building. Wochit

DuPont Building renovation plans.(Photo: Suchat Pederson, The News Journal)Buy Photo

The Buccini/Pollin Group is charging ahead with a $175 million transformation of downtown Wilmington's DuPont Building in one of the city's most ambitious redevelopment projects in decades.

Over the next three to four years, the property comprised of the Hotel du Pont, Playhouse on Rodney Square and a 13-story office building will be converted into a mixed-use complex that includes apartmentsand 40,000 square feet of retail space combined with afood hall.

Most of the renovations will be made to the office portion of the building; the venerable hotel will undergo largelycosmetic changes, such as new carpets and room upgrades.

"To me, this is one of the most important projects in our city because that building has been one of our most powerful symbols," said Wilmington MayorMike Purzycki. "To see it come back like this gives us a sense of optimism that it will turn the tide of confidence in the city."

BPGestimates the project will create 300 temporary construction jobs along with30 full-time positions in the property's retail and residential spaces. Wage, payroll and other taxes are expected to generate nearly $23 million in revenue forthe city, state and county overthree years and about $38 million over five years, according to data from theWilmington-based developer.

"These jobs create a balance in the economy," said Mike Hare, senior vice president for developmentat BPG. "It's not just high-end financial center jobs, but very approachable jobs for people in the city."

BPG is funding the projectthrough a construction loan backed by M&T Bank, private equity andhistoric tax credits. Thecredits, governed by the Internal Revenue Service and the National Parks Service, encourage the preservation and reuse of historic properties by offering a dollar-for-dollar reduction on taxes.

Separately, BPG expects toreceive a $1.5 million Downtown Development District grant from the Delaware State Housing Authority.

The project's most dramatic revitalization will occur in the office building at 1007 N. Market St. BPG will completely gut the space, dividing it between offices and market-rate apartments. Chemical companyChemours will lease 256,000-square-feet of space onfloors four through 13. The company reportedly signeda 17-year lease for the space.

That leaves about 60,000 square feet of vacantspace that could support one to four tenants, accordingto Chris Buccini, co-president of BPG.

Chemours announced plans in January to sell the building to BPG and lease it back on a long-term agreement. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Chemours acquiredthe property as part of its spin-off from DuPont in 2015. DuPont had owned the building since construction was completed in 1908, but gave it up in 2014 when the company moved to asuburban campus in Chestnut Run.

About 700 Chemoursemployees work in the building.An additional 300 Chemoursworkers are scattered throughout Delaware.

STORY: Group saves 600 former DuPonters from leaving Delaware

STORY: DuPont gives hotel art to 3 area museums, United Way

Chemours' decision to keep the building as its global headquarters ended more than a year of speculation on whether the company would seek new digs in the city. It had looked at other properties, including the Bank of America Building just across Rodney Square, before ultimatelyagreeing to stay in the building that has served as its onlyhome.

"Staying in this historic building is an entirely appropriate acknowledgment of our legacy," said Mark Vergnano, CEO of Chemours. "And just as we have been transforming Chemours into a world-class chemistry company now working closely with BPG we will transform our office space into a modern, world-class work environment."

Renovations are expected to take 18 months, Buccini said. Chemours will occupy about 80,000 square feet of space in the Nemours Building, another BPG property, on a 12- to 18-month temporary lease while construction is completed.

Chemours will cover some of the office construction, Hare said. Last year, Chemours was approved for $7.9 million in taxpayer grants in exchange for retaining 900 jobs in Delaware through 2020. Nearly $700,000 of that money was allocated to upgrading its headquarters.

"They are making a significant financial investment in this space," Hare said. "We are doing a large part of it, but Chemours is putting its own resources into it."

The project's second phase will modernize the building's first floor along 10th street, adding 40,000 square feet of retail space. Buccini said it was too early to list potential tenants, but about 10,000 square feet of that space at the corner 10th and Orange streetswill be occupied by a food hall, one of the hottest trends in urban dining.

A food hall is similar to a food court, but instead of traditional chain restaurants, it involves local chefs showcasing their dishes typically healthiereating options. Food halls have sprung up in major downtown markets such as Los Angeles, New York, Detroit and Pittsburgh over the past year. A study by real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield found 96 major food hall projects totaling over 2.4 million square feet of space were under construction by the end of last year's third quarter.

DuPont Building renovation plans.(Photo: Suchat Pederson, The News Journal)

Buccini said the DuPont Building's food hall will have about eight different stands offering breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"The food hall takes smaller, independent and maybe even start-up food providers and gives them a facility where they don't have to build a restaurant," Hare said. "It's meant to inspire a sense of entrepreneurship in the city."

An M&T Bank Branch at 10th and Market streets will remain and a restaurant separate from the food court is expected to be added as part of the ground floor.

Once the ground floor retail and office renovations are completed, BPG will transform the unused office space into 180 apartments. The project will essentially divide the building in half with Chemours occupying the side on Market Street facing Rodney Square. The apartments will overlook Orange Street.

"One of the things that really works here is that every single street has a different, but very elaborate lobby," said Buccini. "The ground floor retail would be the unifier among the space. It lays out incredibly well."

The residential component is still in the preliminary stages. It is not known if it will include one-, two-, or three-bedroom units. Hare said the units' rental rates will be on par with BPG's other downtown Wilmington apartment properties, about $2 per square foot. Hare said the residential portion will include amenities such as a health club.

Another component of theproject will include increasing the number of shows at The Playhouse at Rodney Square, a 1,200-seat Broadway-style theater attached to the office building.

Buccini said BPG is working with the theater manager, the Grand Opera House, to offer more events. The Grandacquired the theater business from DuPont in 2015, after the chemical giant was under pressure from activist investor Nelson Peltz to divest some of its non-core assets.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Purzycki said his administration will do what is necessary to improve safety for workers, residents and visitors.

"I think we view it as a very important district to maintain statistical safety, but also the appearance and feel of safety as well," he said. "Our major effort is going to be to increase public safety and make people feel secure."

By the time the renovations are completed, the DuPont Building might even have a different name. BPG is studying the possibility of rebranding the property to reflect the changes. Any name change will not impact the Hotel du Pont, Buccini said.

Although the hotel will remain largely unchanged, Hare said he hopes the project will restore its glory days as the center of social activity in Delaware's largest city.

"We want more people going through for dinner on a Friday or Saturday night or more people having breakfast and lunch there," he said. "We want to make the hotel even more relevant to the way people get together in downtown Wilmington."

Contact Jeff Mordock at (302) 324-2786, on Twitter @JeffMordockTNJ orjmordock@delawareonline.com.

Read or Share this story: http://delonline.us/2pbK16K

See original here:
$175M transformation planned for DuPont Building - The News Journal

Bradenton Herald

Office and retail building under construction in Parrish Bradenton Herald Phil Stewart bought one acre of property 22 years ago when Parrish was a sleepy little village with no traffic lights on its two-lane stretch of U.S. 301. He never imagined then that so many homes would be built around the community, or that it would ...

Read this article:
Office and retail building under construction in Parrish - Bradenton Herald

Michael Barrett Gazette staff GazetteMike

A Charlotte-based financial institution has cleared another hurdle in its bid to establish a new hub in Gastonia.

Park Sterling Bank recently applied for a conditional use permit through the city of Gastonia to build a substantial new office building that will encompass 26,917 square feet. The 6.74-acre site near CaroMont Regional Medical Center is zoned to accommodate offices, but the city requires such a permit there for any proposed building that will be in excess of 25,000 square feet.

The Gastonia Planning Commission approved the request this month.

Park Sterling announced last summer it would begin searching for property for an expansion in Gastonia. Then in the fall, the company pulled the trigger, paying Gaston County $938,000 for a plot of publicly-owned land at the corner of Plastics Drive and Summit Crossing.

The bank initially stated its new one-story structure would only include 24,500 square feet, though its plan has only grown since then. Overall, the project will represent a total investment of roughly $3.7 million here.

Park Sterlings push is part of its broader plan to consolidate many of its back-office operations, which will involve bringing jobs from South Carolina to Gastonia. The lands position within the city limits means Gastonia will also see a boost to its tax base, just like the county.

Park Sterling CEO Jim Cherry said recently that Gastonia is a logical place to consolidate since they already have such a heavy presence here, and the banks leadership has been impressed with the local labor force.

The consolidation will move at least 15 new jobs into Gaston from other Park Sterling locations. The groups operating deposits, retail, bank cards, electronic banking, trusts and loans operations will move into one location in or near Gastonia.

The original plan last year was to finish constructing the new office building and move into it by late 2017, though that timetable may be pushed back.

The space will be mostly open space with cubicles, as well as some offices.

The companys headquarters will remain in Charlotte, where it was founded 11 years ago. Since then, mergers have helped the company grow to include some 60 offices and 529 employees.

You can reach Michael Barrett at 704-869-1826 or on Twitter @GazetteMike.

View post:
Park Sterling Bank moves closer to construction of new facility - Gaston Gazette

An office renovation at 30 Broad Street. Yvonne Albinowski/For Commercial Observer

Over the last three years, alterations have generated an average of $9.3 billion in construction work annually, nearly half of which came from commercial renovations, according to a new report from the New York Building Congress.

Commercial buildingsincluding offices, hotels and retailaccounted for 46 percent of all alteration permits by value in 2016, and office construction made up 70 percent of those commercial permits. Overall, the New York City Department of Buildings issued 5,641 permits for renovations last year.

Interior construction is the unsung hero of the construction industry, said Carlo Scissura, NYBCs president and chief executive officer. And office renovation is on the rise as owners of half-century-old Midtown office buildings try to draw tenants who might otherwise move to new developments Downtown or on the Far West Side.

With Hudson Yards, the Brookfield Properties at Manhattan West and the World Trade Center, theres a lot of new office space being built, Scissura explained. A lot of commercial buildings are trying to compete, so theyre spending millions of dollars to upgrade their buildings. If you drive up Sixth Avenue, every single building is under renovation.

Work on large institutional buildings was the second-biggest driver of renovations last year, making up just over a third of all alteration permits. Institutional buildings is a broad category that includes public schools, higher education, hospitals, entertainment and cultural facilities, as well as government buildings. Among institutional buildings, schools tend to have the priciest renovations, averaging more than $3 million per permit. But across all building types, upgrades of miscellaneous nonresidential structures like subway stations, park facilities and libraries tend to be the priciest.

Multifamily buildings came in third, accounting for 16 percent of all alteration permits issued last year.

Not surprisingly, 70 percent of all alteration permits were issued for work in Manhattan, which is home to 93 percent of the citys office renovations. Brooklyn had 13 percent of renovation permits, followed by Queens with 9 percent, the Bronx with 7 percent and Staten Island with just 1 percent.

Read more here:
Renovations Drove $9 Billion in NYC Construction Last Year: Building Congress - Commercial Observer

TYLER, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

KP Engineering, LP (KPE), an energy industry leader in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) solutions, has released detailed plans and the architectural renderings for its new building in Tyler, Texas. The new building will be adjacent to the current Tyler office and will include more than 25,000 square feet of additional offices, design workstations, and state-of-the-art conference rooms incorporating the latest conferencing technology. Design and engineering of the building are nearing completion, and construction is expected to begin in April.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170412005327/en/

As one of the fastest growing EPC companies in the nation, the new building is in response to KPEs growing headcount which has increased markedly since KPE opened its then-new headquarters building in 2015. The new building will relieve overcrowding and replace the temporary offices currently located adjacent to the Tyler location.

KPEs newest building will be a tangible representation of our stellar growth and promising future, said President and Chief Operating Officer, William Preston. Its a direct reflection of the dedication of our employees and our engineering, design and execution prowess that leads to efficient, on-time projects. KPE takes great pride in assisting our partner-clients with executing successful projects.

A testament to KPEs breadth of EPC expertise, the company has recently added several major EPC projects including a cryogenic gas processing plant, a syngas processing unit, a new gasoline hydrotreater, a refinery debottlenecking project, a condensate splitter and associated tank farm, an NGL fractionator, and numerous process studies. KPE plans to complete construction of the new office facility by year end in order to accommodate the growing demand for KPEs expertise and services.

In addition to its growing presence in Tyler, KPE has an additional office in the Energy Corridor in Houston, Texas.

About KPE

KP Engineering, LP provides value-based EPC solutions to clients in the refining, midstream, chemical, and syngas industries. KPE offers a full range of EPC services and specializes in fixed-price contracting. KPE combines technical expertise and in-depth experience with an integrated engineering and project management approach to deliver cost-effective projects to markets such as domestic refiners, natural gas processors, chemical manufacturers, and storage terminal operators.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170412005327/en/

MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE:http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170412005327/en/

See the original post:
KP Engineering Announces Plan for New Office Building in Tyler - Yahoo Finance

April 2017Josh Green

Rendering by Kevin Gotsch

Whats the big idea?Atlanta-based Cousins Properties has teamed with apartment developer AMLI to transform an entire city block just south of the Decatur Square. The mixed-use venture will include the first new office building in downtown Decatur since 1991. (The citys development patterns have leaned more toward retail, condominiums, and apartments in recent decades.)

BackgroundFor 40 years, the West Trinity Place site was home to parking lots and the four-story Callaway Building, used by DeKalb County for a variety of government departments. The city of Decatur bought the property for $5 million in 2013 and sold it last August to Cousins for the same priceplus expenses the city had incurred.

Come togetherIn February the Callaway Building was razed, and construction launched quickly thereafter. Expect midrise buildings offering 330 apartments, 20,000 square feet of retail, and 30,000 square feet of offices. Plans are tentative, but developers hope the projects varied usesand an on-site public gathering spacewill promote collaborations among tenants.

Name TBDDevelopers expect the project to be open in early 2019. They have yet to decide on a name, and no retailers have been confirmed.

Tags: AMLI, Cousins Properties, Decatur, Decatur Square, development

Visit link:
A new development will boast downtown Decatur's first new office building since 1991 - Atlanta Magazine