Courtesy of HOK

William Jefferson Clinton Children's Center for Fondation Enfant Jesus is designed to use local materials, have natural ventilation and be independent of Port-Au-Prince utilities, which are not reliable.

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If all goes as planned, the children of Haiti will soon have a small but powerful symbol of hope in the form of a 6,000-sq-ft building. Thanks to the largely volunteer efforts of the U.S. Green Building Council and others, the $1.2-million to $1.5-million William Jefferson Clinton Children's Center of the Fondation Enfant Jesus, which could open by the end of next year, is setting the stage for sustainable, resilient construction in Haiti, which was devastated by a magnitude-7 earthquake on Jan. 12, 2010.

"We really wanted to do something to promote sustainable design that also honors the country's culture and we wanted to empower an existing organization to carry out their mission," says Roger Limoges, vice president of organizational design for the the U.S. Green Building Council and USGBC's project manager for the children's center, which is slated to be built in Port-Au-Prince.

According to Haiti government estimates, the temblor killed 316,000 people, injured 300,000, displaced 1.3 million, destroyed 97,295 houses and damaged 188,383 in the Port-Au-Prince area and in much of southern Haiti, says the U.S. Geological Survey.

The Fondation Enfant Jesus, a nongovernment, nondenominational, apolitical charity, says there are hundreds of thousands of orphans in Haiti. FEJ's Project Haiti, of which the new center is part, provides health care and other services and offers children a pathway to adoption. The new building will replace an FEJ orphanage destroyed by the quake.

The idea for the sustainable center, which will serve 25 to 30 children at a time, belongs to Rick Fedrizzi, the USGBC's president, CEO and founding chairman. At Greenbuild 2010, USGBC announced the project. Last year, it named the center in recognition of the Clinton Global Initiative's work in both sustainability and in Haiti.

Funding is from several sources, including USGBC member companies. Donations of money, sweat equity and materials are welcome.

As designed, the main, three-story structure, which includes living space, is an L in plan with a courtyard. Kitchen and dining areas and a corner stair tower will provide safe spaces during storms. A separate tower contains training and office space. There is also a ground-level safe zone for refuge during an earthquake.

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U.S. Green Building Council and HOK Create Model for Sustainable Building in Haiti

HAMILTONLast November, long-time resident Donna Reid opened what many in Steeltown might find a really tough sell a store celebrating all the great things past, present and future about Hamilton.

Id never lived in a city before where people seemed more focused on what wed lost, rather than what we have, says Reid, who moved to Hamilton 16 years ago after stints in Toronto, Quebec City and Calgary.

Her wonderfully eclectic James St. N. shop, The Hamilton Store, is just 600 square feet. But almost every inch of its walls are lined with photos, maps, artwork, books and memorabilia chronicling a city with a rich industrial past and a rapidly evolving future.

So its somewhat ironic that the store is just a short drive or about a 12-block walk down the street from sprawling waterfront parking lots and old warehouses that could soon become the heart of some of the biggest transformations Hamilton has seen in decades.

Of course, thats assuming city officials can finally turn years of talk into action, and that developers dont do what theyve done so often in the past here, says Reid tear down the old to make way for the new, only to later abandon their grand plans, leaving yet more empty lots and broken dreams in their wake.

Hamilton is almost a laboratory of urban renewal right now, says local architect David Premi. Were in a bona fide boom.

There are many, many condominium projects on the table. We have a new GO Train station coming next year in time for the Pan Am Games. There are a lot of pieces being put into place that are really capturing the attention of developers, both inside and outside Hamilton.

The waterfront is a critical part of that.

The City of Hamilton is now in the final stages of preparing one of the last major stretches of urban waterfront in Southern Ontario more than 18 hectares over two sprawling sites for redevelopment.

In all, the city will spend about $39 million to transform two bayfront sites, some $13 million of that just in roads, sidewalks, sewers and other infrastructure to make the so-called West Harbour area in the citys once-busy shipping port shovel-ready, says Chris Phillips, head of waterfront redevelopment for the city.

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Hamilton looks to its waterfront as next great frontier

As the algae bloom in Lake Erie continues to grow, so does the debate on who's really to blame.

A report released by Environmental Defence, an environmental and health organization, Wednesday morning suggested a four-point plan to fix the bothersome bloom.

We are seeing increasing intensity, increasing frequency in algal blooms on the Great Lakes obviously what we're doing so far is not enough, said Nancy Goucher, water program manager for the organization.

The plan outlines four key points that will fix the algae issue, including harnessing market forces to help farmers cut down on nutrient runoff, building water smart cities, improving scientific understanding of the blooms and forming a policy framework that pushes for action.

A press release from the organization stated:

The Ontario government should evaluate the applicability of market mechanisms such as tax shifting, pollution taxes and nutrient trading to transfer money from undesirable acts like polluting to desirable ones that reward farmers for 'doing the right thing.'

It's this kind of statement that raises questions from agriculture experts like Ivan O'Halloran, an associate professor at the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus who studies nutrient use and soil fertility.

What they're saying is reasonable, he said. The only concern I have is that when you write it that way they did it sort of implies that farmers are doing the wrong things now and I don't believe that is the case for all farmers.

O'Halloran has been fielding questions about farmers and phosphorous for years.

He's encountered all sorts of explanations and studies and while he admits that farmers play a role in adding phosphorous to Lake Erie he said the issue isn't that simple.

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Algal blooms on Lake Erie. Who's to blame?

As the algae bloom in Lake Erie continues to grow, so does the debate on who's really to blame.

A report released by Environmental Defence, an environmental and health organization, Wednesday morning suggested a four-point plan to fix the bothersome bloom.

We are seeing increasing intensity, increasing frequency in algal blooms on the Great Lakes obviously what we're doing so far is not enough, said Nancy Goucher, water program manager for the organization.

The plan outlines four key points that will fix the algae issue, including harnessing market forces to help farmers cut down on nutrient runoff, building water smart cities, improving scientific understanding of the blooms and forming a policy framework that pushes for action.

A press release from the organization stated:

The Ontario government should evaluate the applicability of market mechanisms such as tax shifting, pollution taxes and nutrient trading to transfer money from undesirable acts like polluting to desirable ones that reward farmers for 'doing the right thing.'

It's this kind of statement that raises questions from agriculture experts like Ivan O'Halloran, an associate professor at the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus who studies nutrient use and soil fertility.

What they're saying is reasonable, he said. The only concern I have is that when you write it that way they did it sort of implies that farmers are doing the wrong things now and I don't believe that is the case for all farmers.

O'Halloran has been fielding questions about farmers and phosphorous for years.

He's encountered all sorts of explanations and studies and while he admits that farmers play a role in adding phosphorous to Lake Erie he said the issue isn't that simple.

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Algal blooms on Lake Erie. Who's to blame? 0

Leesburg Concrete Company, Incorporated (LCCI) is preparing to manufacture the precast concrete boardwalk treads known as PermaTrak. PermaTrak North America provides environmentally friendly precast concrete boardwalk and elevated greenway systems which are virtually maintenance free. Leesburg Concrete produces precast concrete components for PermaTrak.

PermaTrak has secured a portion of the contract for the Upper Tampa Bay Trail, Phase IV which is a seven mile stretch of regional multi-use trail which will run from Peterson Road to Lutz-Lake Fern Road in Hillsborough County, Florida. LCCI will produce 134 x 3 precast panels with sandblast finish for PermaTrak to install 3 separate sections of elevated greenway covering an approximate total of 2500 feet. When completed the Upper Tampa Bay Trail will connect to the North Suncoast Trail and will offer recreational opportunities and transportation alternatives to residents and visitors of West Central Florida. (Photo illustrates the surface that was selected for Upper Tampa Bay Trail, Phase IV)

Leesburg Concrete Company, Incorporated

Family owned and operated since 1983, Leesburg Concrete Company, Incorporated was first a leading manufacturer of precast concrete steps decks, walkways, landings, and ADA compliant modular precast concrete wheelchair ramps, with steel guard rails, and handrails. They also manufacture Easi-Set Buildings, Easi-Span field assembled large and ultra-large buildings and Easi-Set restrooms, feature a patented post-tensioning system in the roof and floor, architectural precast cladding panels and precast concrete stairs. LCCI also offers a wide array of custom precast product options. We've never had a job that we couldn't handle, stated Kirk Rouse, Vice President of LCCI. This American, family-owned company demonstrates a philosophy of quality and innovation.

Leesburg Concrete Company, Incorporated is an NPCA Certified Plant, focused on meeting the needs of commercial building construction and renovation projects. Their experienced staff provides turnkey service, and it only takes one call to find the solution to your building needs. For more information visit their website at http://www.leesburgconcrete.com, (800) 882-4177, or KRouse@leesburgconcrete.com.

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Leesburg Concrete Company, Inc. Set to Produce Precast Concrete "Boardwalk" for ...

Naples, FL (PRWEB) August 11, 2014

Fiddlers Creek announced that the move-in-ready Washington model is now available at Chiasso, a village of 59 single-family residences within the luxury, master-planned community.

Offered by D.R. Horton, Chiasso is a sanctuary of peace and the pinnacle of luxury living. Intertwined with waterways, the village features five individual floor plans, ranging from 2,583 air-conditioned square feet to 3,522 air-conditioned square feet, most with stunning lake views.

The Washington is a one-story, move-in ready home offering 2,788 air-conditioned square feet. This lakefront residence features three bedrooms, three and a half baths, a den, as well as a centrally located great room and kitchen with caf and walk-in pantry. The home also has a large entrance foyer that leads to the dining room, great room and den, plus a two-car garage.

Upgrades in the Washington home include maple espresso cabinets in the kitchen and cherry java in the baths. The home also features Petra floor tile laid in a diagonal pattern in all living area and wood floors in the master bedroom as well the den. The home features a mixture of quartz and granite countertops and brushed nickel celling fans throughout.

The Washington model features a variety of upgrades that showcase the many options currently available in the Chiasso series, including the optional outdoor kitchen and pool and spa complete with glass tiles. The base price for the Washington is currently $581,990, plus lot premium. The move-in-ready Washington model home is currently available for $699,969.

In addition to the Washington, one other move-in-ready home is currently open for viewing.

The Madison luxury model offers 3,246 air-conditioned square feet. This one-story residence features three bedrooms, four baths, and a private den located just steps off the outdoor living area, plus two-car garage. There also is a central living room with adjacent dining room, kitchen and entry foyer with coffered ceiling. The base price of the Madison is currently $599,990, plus lot premium. The move-in-ready Madison model home is currently available for $709,234.

Each residence in the village of Chiasso is built of structurally engineered reinforced concrete block wall construction with high profile concrete roof tiles. Each home also has brick paver driveways, walkways and lanais. Interior design features include a luxury kitchen with granite countertops and 42-inch cabinets with decorative finishes; exquisite baths with designer bath fixtures and granite countertops; ceramic tile flooring; and energy saving features throughout.

Located just off Collier Boulevard between Naples and Marco Island, Fiddlers Creek is an award-winning community that has been selected by the readers of the Naples Daily News and Bonita Daily News as Best Community in the Southwest Florida Readers Choice Awards. The community also received the 2013 CBIA Sand Dollar Award for Community of the Year.

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Fiddlers Creek Offers Move-in-Ready Washington Model by D.R. Horton

Never heard of carriage walks? You're not alone.

They are not public sidewalks. They are private walkways that connect the public sidewalk and the street curb. They are usually in parkways and other public right-of-ways. Many are made of concrete and resemble public sidewalks.

The Bloomington Public Works Department calls them "carriage walks" because of their original purpose: easing the process of entering and exiting a horse-drawn carriage.

Because of the length of time that carriage walks have been in existence, they are located in Bloomington's oldest neighborhoods.

Carriage walks are unique because they are not all the same, said Public Works Director Jim Karch.

"Some are stepping stones. Some are regular steps. Some are very new," Karch said. "Some are very historic in nature. There are some still with the hitching posts right beside them, and others that are in complete disrepair in our public right-of-ways."

Carriage walks in disrepair present tripping hazards and an uncounted number of carriage walks have steps with no handrails, according to a Public Works report.

The Americans with Disabilities Act and companion regulations called the Public-Right-of-Ways Accessibility Guidelines do not address carriage walks, but the cityattempts to remove or remedy safety problems in public right-of-ways.

Public Works began removing carriage walks as the department came across them in the course of repairing streets, sidewalks and other city infrastructure. A moratorium on their removal is in place pending a City Council review. A date has not been set for council discussion of the matter.

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What's a carriage walk?

St. Joseph, Missouri (PRWEB) August 04, 2014

Scot Young Research (SYR) has announced the release of a new white paper highlighting the dangers of wet floors in the workplace. On an annual basis, about 95 million workdays are lost due to falls, and the statistics for workplace falls are rising. A slippery or unclean floor can be one of the biggest hazards for accidents in the workplace.

Falls in the workplace cause physical and emotional pain for the victims and financial burdens for the business where the person works. SYR asserts that those statistics can be lowered if employers have better safety procedures, better cleaning equipment and better cleaning training for their employees.

About nine out of every 10 falls happen when a person steps onto a wet surface. The Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) said the causes of a majority of slips and falls range from walkways that are contaminated, oily or wet; loose rugs or mats on the floor; spills of various materials that cause one to slip or fall; employees who are not wearing the right type of shoes/boots; weather and poorly trained employees.

These falls in the workplace cause sprains, broken bones, head injuries, and sometimes even death. For some individuals it means weeks of physical rehabilitation. For most individuals it means some lost time at work.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the workers compensation costs related to falls hits $70 billion on an annual basis. Insurance companies pass their costs on to the workforce and employers. The average fall where injury occurs is followed by eight days of not working, which is two days longer than injuries due to other causes. Thirty percent of falls that happen on a flat surface result in 21 days of workdays lost.

According to Liberty Mutual, between 1998 and 2005, falls in the workplace rose by 25.6 percent. During that same timeframe, injuries from other work-related accidents had dropped. It seems obvious to the cleaning industry that companies across the U.S. need to make it a priority to enact better cleaning procedures and upgrade to better cleaning products that help ensure safety.

With solutions like the Dry Mop and the Multi-Purpose Tool, SYR is working to improve the ways companies keep their floors clean, while also significantly reducing the number of insurance claims made due to slips and falls. For more information, download this white paper today.

About SYR: Scot Young Research is focused on innovation, safety and quality, and proves it with the tools it has created. SYR promises quality, efficiency, cost savings and results. When organizations take on SYR cleaning solutions, they see a reduction in slips and falls related to cleanups. These organizations also see a reduction in insurance costs related to slip and fall claims. SYR products are currently in use at fast food giants McDonalds, Burger King, Wendys and more. The SYR lines of products are a premium source for setting a new standard in health, hygiene and safety.

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Scot Young Research Stresses the Consequences Associated With Wet Floors in the Workplace

Hollister officials last week took two steps in what Mayor Ignacio Velazquez referred to as part of efforts to address infrastructure needs in the city.

City officials launched a sidewalk repair program that involves low-interest loans to fix buckling walkways and other issues throughout the city, which maintains a priority list with thousands of needed sidewalk repairs. The council at the same meeting heard a presentation about a Complete Streets draft plan to address safety and walkability needs, when funding becomes available, for key thoroughfares that include Nash, Tres Pinos and Sunnyslope roads, along with McCray Street.

The sidewalk program discussion, though, incited the most interest from council members who often hear from their constituents about repairs needed to walkways and roads. The council unanimously approved allocating $100,000 toward a sidewalk repair program. Residents can obtain deferred loans at a 2 percent interest rate for up to $10,000 in order to fix sidewalks, repairs of which are the responsibility of homeowners.

Previously, the city would respond when it could and do some repairs, such as grinding, to problematic sidewalks, according to City Manager Bill Avera. With the sidewalk repair program, the city expects to wean residents away from getting assistance from the city with sidewalks in disrepair, within six to seven years.

Councilman Victor Gomez called it a good idea as a transition mechanism.

Eventually this is something that we're going to have to tackle and be proactive on, Gomez said. Eventually we're going to have to get to the point where if somebody's sidewalk is in disrepair, we get on top of it.

The mayor called the sidewalk program part of the beginning to some of the infrastructure needs we have throughout the city.

Velazquez said he had gone out looking at sidewalks with a city engineering official.

Some of these look more like steps, Velazquez said.

As for the other infrastructure matter on the agenda, officials heard a presentation on the so-called Complete Streets Plan overseen by the planning department. Residents were involved with workshops that helped to formulate the draft plan.

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City hones focus on buckled sidewalks, unsafe roads near schools

photo illustration from Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco shown in a rendering with rigging that will act as a safety net. Construction of the netting was approved last month and will take three years.

Of the dead, we know so little.

Their names, usually. The clothes they wore. That they lost hope, and where.

Richard Elliot Stone was one of the latest; he jumped off the George Washington Bridge on July 20, just before sunset. We know he wore jeans and a black T-shirt. He was 30 years old.

The police refuse to give any more information, preferring not to encourage more jumpers. Already, the number of people leaping to their deaths from the George Washington Bridge is increasing, owing, perhaps, in part to a number of high-profile suicides from the span in recent years.

The death toll by the third week of July had reached 13, on pace to set a new annual record.

Now, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which has taken steps over the years to identify and stop potential jumpers, is taking its most aggressive step yet: construction of a 9-foot fence that officials believe will make jumping from the bridge exceedingly difficult. The move parallels other steps taken by managers of spans across the nation, including the Golden Gate Bridge, where a giant net will be put up to catch those who jump.

At the GWB, the death toll has risen so quickly that even local advocates for suicide prevention have been caught by surprise.

For years, the average was about six people per year who jump from the bridge, said Dale Carnhi, director of the American Foundation for Suicide Preventions metro New York region. But 13 this year? Wow. I didnt know that.

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As GWB suicides approach record, an effort to stop jumpers