Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

New York-based SO IL has shared images and details of its recently completed North Fork House, a subdued and tranquilyet never close to sterileweekend retreat in East Marion, New York, tucked into a 20-acre hillside site overlooking Long Island Sound. The project, finished last year, was designed in collaboration with Shenton Architects with Patrick Cullina serving as landscape designer.

The cruciform residence, wrapped entirely by a continuous porch thats sheltered by generous roof overhangs, is comprised of four distinct rectangular volumes with expansive floor-to-ceiling glass windows and steeply pitched, zinc-clad gabled roofs. This organization of space allows for each distinct wingseparated between living and sleeping quartersto take on its own relationship with the surprisingly varied topography of the property. The house seeks to sample the lively terrain, bringing together different qualities of light, landscape, and vista to define interior spaces, explained the design team.

The wings containing the bedrooms, for example, are positioned within a more wooded, secluded part of the property with the living spaces arranged above a soft clearing that slopes down to the water. A dining area and library have been carved out where two of the living-centered quadrants meet; beyond this section of the home is a spacious, pie-shaped outdoor entertaining area that that extends from a porch area tucked beneath a curving, cantilevered roof that offers a deviation from the largely angular forms that comprise the residence. At the center of the home is a modest roof terrace thats discretely burrowed between the four gables that sneaks vistas bordered by the gables diagonal lines.

Nestled within a collage of disparate landscapes, North Fork House offers a sense of uniformity in its design and organization of spaces yet, above all else, celebrates the varying forms of natural beauty that makes the property so unique.

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SO IL and Shenton Architects complete a porch-wrapped sanctuary on Long Island's North Fork - The Architect's Newspaper

US design firm Fentress Architects has unveiled the winners of its 2020 Fentress Global Challenge, a competition for architecture and engineering students from around the world.

The first place was awarded to Green Gateway, a zero-emission multimodal hub designed by students from the Southern California Institute of Architecture.

The project redesigned New Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport as a sustainability-centric hub with enhanced mobility. The airport features a central terminal surrounded by six towers located around the city.

The towers, working both as air-purifying centres and stations for flying cars, are meant to improve New Delhis mobility and would offer an alternative to domestic flights, which are a major source of pollution for India.

The designers described Green Gateway as zero-emission at the macro and micro level, improving mobility across the city by replacing domestic flight as one of the major sources of pollution and making air travel a personal affair.

Duan Sekulic, a student from Slovenias University of Ljubljana, came in second with his innovative design for Atlantas Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, which involved autonomous pods, AI-powered navigation as well as vertical take-off and landing for aircraft.

Sekulics design transforms Hartsfield-Jackson into a drive-in airport where travellers pods and driving chairs bring them to their aircraft.

Fentress awarded students from Beijing Jiaotong University the third place. Entitled Floating Zero City, the plan reimagined Hong Kongs airport and turned it into a building floating at sea. The new airport would be made of a three-dimensional moveable platform, which would reduce the impact on the terrain while increasing the amount of available land.

The concepts vertical structure also reduces the time for passengers to move from the check-in to the boarding area.

The Vertebrae a design by University of Malaya students and OPon the Hill a project by Jakarta University of Technology came in first and second in the Peoples Choice Awards, with 6,200 and 5,900 votes respectively.

Started in 2011, this years edition of the Fentress Global Challenge year asked participants to envision airport mobility for the year 2100.

A deep passion for design and a creative mindset are the cornerstone of any successful design competition submission, said Fentress Architects principal in charge of design Curtis Fentress.

Each year, the submissions we receive are more innovative, spirited and dynamic than the prior year, which shows an exciting outlook for the future of terminal design. Were greatly impressed by this years winners and every submission we received.

Antimicrobial Trays for Security Checkpoints

Aircraft Ground Support Equipment

Bag Tagging Services

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Fentress Architects announce winners of 2020 Global Challenge - Airport Technology

Aerial view of the new Grand Avenue Park Bridge in Everett, Washington. Photo: Adam Hunter/LMN Architects.

Detail view of the aluminum panels, the truss, and the structure of the Grand Avenue Park Bridge. Photo: Adam Hunter/LMN Architects.

Seattle, Oct. 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LMN Architects celebrates the completion of the Grand Avenue Park Bridge in Everett, Washington. The 257-foot-long asymmetrical weathering steel truss spans from the hillside to a vertical concrete tower, creating a sequence of new civic spaces and connecting Grand Avenue Park with Everetts growing waterfront district.

Elevating utilitarian infrastructure to a thoughtfully designed community asset, the Grand Avenue Park Bridge highlights the value of rethinking public realm design. The bridge transforms the Everett waterfront, establishing a new connection between the historical Grand Avenue Park and the citys developing waterfront district. At the bridges recent opening, Mayor Cassie Franklin commented, It is a beautiful bridge, it is a utility project, and it is going to be part of our city for generations to come. It is a gorgeous new asset.

The new bridge solves a complicated sequence of grade-changes and utility needs in an unlikely new form that weaves pedestrian ramps and stairs above, around, and inside a sloping truss, presenting an inviting new crossing from Grand Avenue Park to the waterfront district. Across its 257-foot span, the bridge carries major utilities while navigating a network of existing electrical lines, a five-lane highway, and the BNSF train tracks at the base of an 80-foot-tall steep slope, all while preserving views from the park above. In part, the amazing views are preserved by having a unique entrance onto the top of the bridge such that most of the bridge structure is below Grand Avenue Park.

As designers, we found these circumstances the perfect opportunity to create a place where the accessible features would define the experience, says LMN Partner Stephen Van Dyck, AIA. In its design, the Grand Avenue Park Bridge is also a destination. The bridges paths, stairs and spaces create a variety of views beyond and within that make it a place of discovery.

The design is pragmatic and economical. The truss form responds directly to its programmatic needs while recalling the form and character of traditional railroad trusses found across the Pacific Northwest. The structural elements are constructed of weathering steel, a raw form of steel, which uses rust to form a protective layer, providing corrosion resistance and enhancing the bridges maintainability over time. Wrapping around and running through the truss, a shining, lacey guardrail also serves as the bridges de-facto wayfinding system, contrasting with the raw character of the rusted truss with its silvery aluminum panels.

The guardrail features a bespoke perforation that is inspired by the forms of the surrounding natural environment. The varied density of perforations was designed to enhance reflectivity of the artificial lighting, improving the performance of the integrated linear lights at the top of the rail while minimizing glare and light pollution. Each aluminum panel is unique, responding to the geometry of the bridge, views beyond, and varying guardrail requirements.

Geometry for the 400 aluminum panels was generated through a computer script, automating the layout, numbering and cut file production. A separate file for each panel was provided to a fabricator for use with their computer numerically controlled (CNC) Waterjet. LMN Principal Scott Crawford says, LMNs experimentation with our own CNC machine to fabricate full-scale mockups was essential for refining the scale of the pattern, adjusting the amount of area for the light reflection, and testing the digital cut files. This close collaboration allowed for a solution that is finely tuned to its context.

The overlay of large-scale truss elements and small-scale perforations creates a dynamic experience of view, light and shadow along the walking path. A tall concrete elevator and utility core serve as the western abutment, its concrete walls blasted with the same perforation pattern and wrapped in a staircase that leads to the pedestrian-level waterfront promenade.The bridges iconic presence is rooted in the unexpected formal juxtaposition of muscular and delicate, rustic and refined, symmetrical and asymmetrical, inside and out. Since its completion in late August, the Grand Avenue Park Bridge has become a popular destination, enhancing the pedestrian life of the Northwest neighborhood and the growing mixed-use waterfront district. By embracing a creative pragmatic approach, the design addresses both functional and aesthetic demands, weaving urban infrastructure into the life of the city and becoming a catalyst for continued community revitalization.

LMN Architects is recipient of the 2016 AIA National Architecture Firm Award and is widely recognized for its design of projects that support smart, sustainable, cities. The firm has successfully completed more than 700 projects across North America, including the double LEED Platinum Vancouver Convention Centre West in Vancouver, Canada; Cleveland Convention Center & Civic Core in Cleveland, Ohio; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio, Texas; and the Voxman Music Building at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The firms ongoing dedication to communities at all scales is underscored by its design approach, creating environments that elevate the social experience.

About LMN ArchitectsSince its founding in 1979, LMN Architects has dedicated its practice to the health and vitality of communities of all scales. Internationally recognized for the planning and design of environments that elevate the social experience, the firm works across a diversity of project typologies, including higher education facilities, science and technology, civic and cultural projects, conference and convention centers, urban mixed-use and transportation.

LMN has successfully completed over 700 projects across North America, including the Voxman Music Building at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio, Texas; Vancouver Convention Centre West in Vancouver, Canada; Sound Transit University of Washington Station in Seattle, Washington; and the new Seattle Asian Art Museum.

Based in Seattle, Washington, LMN Architects is led by partners John Chau, Sam Miller, Walt Niehoff, Wendy Pautz, Mark Reddington, George Shaw, Stephen Van Dyck, and Rafael Violy-Menendez. The firm employs 165 talented professionals practicing architecture, interior design, and urban design, and the quality of the work has been recognized with nearly 300 national and international design awards, including the prestigious 2016 National Architecture Firm Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

For more information on the work of LMN Architects, please visit lmnarchitects.com

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LMN Architects Celebrates the Completion of the Grand Avenue Park Bridge in Washington - GlobeNewswire

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By Jackson Strom, Principle Architect at Strom ArchitecturePhotos by Chantell Lauren Photography

Starting a home project, whether it is building new or remodeling, can be an exciting, yet unfamiliar process. Inspiration images, timeline, budget, square footage, material selectionsthese are just some of the unknowns that may keep you up at night. So much time and investment go into a new project, and you want to be certain youve selected the right architect to guide you through the process, making it not only a positive experience but an exciting one as well.

In this edition of Form & Function, we suggest key questions we feel are important to ask when hiring your architect.

Are you an architect or a designer?

Architects are required to meet rigorous education requirements, pass a licensing exam and complete continuing education to maintain their license. An architect will ensure the proposed design is able to be built the way it was presented. There should be little that differs between the final rendering and the built project.

What range of services do you offer?

Beyond the design and construction documents, is your architect able to assist throughout the project? Even with the construction documents in hand, there are many decisions that need to be made throughout the project, and we suggest involving a professional to assist, ensuring the project is constructed in line with your original vision.

A common misconception is that architects are not involved with the interior of the project. Architects take a holistic approach to design and spend as much energy on the interiors as any other area. Ask about an interior 3D model. This model provides the vision for the interior and assists with finishes and material selections.

What is your design aesthetic?

While some firms work has a similar aesthetic, others offer a diverse range of styles. You will want to review the work to see what speaks to you and your project.

Can you provide a preliminary estimate for the design?

Based on the clients proposed budget, the architect should be designing with the appropriate square footages, materials and details in mind. With that, construction costs fluctuate, and until a builder is able to put numbers to the schematic plans and specifications, nothing is certain. We suggest engaging select builders after the schematic design, and prior to construction documents, to provide an estimate ensuring the project is on the path to meet the proposed budget. The estimate does not provide the final construction cost, but it tests the project midway through, either giving peace of mind that you are on the right path, or allowing time to revise the plans and details before the final construction documents are complete.

Do you have a reference?

Ask your architect about past clients and builders they have worked with, and then reach out to the references they provide. All projects, big or small, are the product of many relationships. Some of these relationships are lasting, some arent. Your architects goal should be that you are just as excited to work with them at the end of the project as you were at the beginning. Reaching out to their references provides you with insight on what to expect for your project and relationship.

How long does it take to design the project?

Whether you are in a hurry to get in the ground before snow falls, or you have all the time in the world, it is best to understand the architects workload and the general amount of time dedicated to a new design. Often the architect can provide a general timeline based on past projects of a similar scope of work. With that, we would suggest requesting a proposed timeline of your project from your architect to ensure the project proceeds in a timely manner.

What do your services cost?

Does the architect bill hourly or provide a fixed-fee for the project? This is a personal decision, and you will need to find what works best for you. Often architects will tailor their proposal to your preferences upon request.

Who builds the project?

Does your architect have a preferred list of builders they work with? Are they open to working with a builder you have already selected? We suggest clients have at least three builders bid on the project, then review the bids with the team. We often suggest touring a few of the builders past projects to better understand their quality of work. If the architect is committed to a single builder, this could possibly limit your projects opportunities and reduce accountability.

The process of a new project is a journey, and with the right team in place, can be an exciting one. You will not regret spending additional time upfront to understand the differences between firms and find the right architect for your project.

Strom Architecturestromarch.com@stromarch

With over a decade of experience, Stroms passion for the architectural profession led him to found Strom Architecture in 2019. Within his new firm, Strom Architecture strives to elevate the ordinary elements that exist in all projects.

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Form & Function: Things to Ask When Hiring an Architect - Design and Living Magazine - Design & Living Magazine

How to Balance Creativity and Constructibility? Design Assist Smartly Links Owners, Architects, and Contractors

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Every project begins with a design, and ends with an attractive and functional building. What happens between these two end points is where it gets interesting - and challenging. The construction process is complicated. It means meeting and exceeding expectations in design, affordability and constructibility. It means overcoming hurdles and facilitating smooth transitions from design to engineering to construction. And for complex projects with more unusual features and elements, the risk factors increase exponentially.

Which is why any project with high design aspirations should start with a discussion around the design. What does the architect have in mind? Whats the inspiration? Whats the desired effect of certain design elements? Communication, awareness and accountability are crucial success factors for any team. Great teams talk and develop rapport. They rally around common goals and understanding. They push each other for excellence in all aspects of a project.

These team qualities also describe the benefits of Design Assist, the planning method and process structured to facilitate this kind of collaboration and cooperation among interdisciplinary construction teams. Theres a real concern among architects, owners and contractors that Design Assist slows things down, adds costs, and invites additional complexity. But the fact is, especially when it comes to architectural metals and fabrications, there are often knowledge gaps between design and engineering, materials and applications, attachment points and installations.

Design Assist can add a layer of knowledge that fills these crucial gaps and brings together the disciplines of architecture, engineering, metal fabrication, and construction. It expands thinking to solve design challenges with sophistication, elegance and practicality. Design Assist considers the whole project and makes thoughtful, well-informed recommendations that can save months in construction schedules, and millions in construction costs.

Design Assist should not begin as an accounting and value engineering exercise. It shouldnt start with costs and timelines. Sure, those details are critical for project success, but they come later. First and foremost, Design Assist is a conversation about design inspiration, vision and intent. Balancing creativity and constructibility is the ultimate challenge for any owner, architect, or general contractor and early collaboration can help these key stakeholders achieve that delicate balance. The Design Assist phase of a project can be extremely useful and productive - and when done well with experienced practitioners - can often mean the difference between confusion and clarity, costly and cost-effective, mediocre and exceptional.

Great Design Assist Clarifies and Simplifies Your Project

In traditional construction projects, the design, engineering and construction teams often work independently on their respective parts. Construction documents are created; subcontractors submit their bids, and the process of coordination, shop drawings, and bid awards begins.

When inevitable discrepancies arise, the design team must answer requests for information and modify construction documents, causing delays, changes in orders and added costs. Fingers of blame tend to get pointed in all directions.

Design Assist prevents this dynamic. The best Design Assist practitioners, especially in architectural metals and fabrication, have multidisciplinary teams of architects, engineers, metallurgists and fabricators. These specialists assist the architects and engineers of record with input as designs take shape.

The end result is a well-informed construction team thats better prepared to handle any hurdle or contingency that comes along.

The benefits of Design Assist are numerous:

What to Look For In a Design Assist Partner

The single most important factor in construction project success is subcontractor selection and execution. Heres what to look for in a Design Assist subcontractor:

Design Assist can have a significant and positive impact on design, cost, quality, and constructability. And that can be especially important in high-risk projects where sophisticated materials, specialized fabrication, and complex installations are in play.

But risk and uncertainty can be reduced in these high-stakes situations - and ensure project success - by assembling the right team of subcontractors early, tapping into their expertise, and using their best ideas to build in a smarter, faster and more profitable way.

By Bill Zahner, President/CEO of Zahner.

Zahner is an architectural metals, engineering and fabrication firm that helps architects, artists, owners, and contractors through its own special brand of design assist - Zahner AssistSM - to make any project more feasible, achievable and affordable. Zahner brings a blend of architecture, engineering, technology and metallurgy - all under one roof - to every design and construction project. To find out more about Zahner Assist, visit us at AZahner.com or call +1 (816) 474 - 8882 to speak with one of our Project Specialists.

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How to Balance Creativity and Constructibility? Design Assist Smartly Links Owners, Architects, and Contractors - ArchDaily

along the eastern tip of long island, female-run studio valerie schweitzer architects presents its newly completed outside-in pavilion. the playful, occupiable sculpture is characterized as a cluster of elevated volumes projecting upward. crafted with loosely spaced timber slats, each part faces intimately inward while remaining open to filter the air and natural sunlight. in this way, the project defies the strict dichotomy of inside versus outside, and seeks to exist as more than an object within the landscape. instead, the pavilion blends within its forested context with a rhythmic verticality.

image by blaine davis | @blaineduh

the design team at valerie schweitzer architects has realized the outside-in pavilion as an environmentally-sensitive intervention to its context in watermill, new york. the structure is fabricated of both salvaged and new cedar wood, together with construction waste, which is used at the stair rails and in the blocking between each cedar wood post. the structure simulates a forest and allows the unadorned material to speak for itself. additionally, the forms loosely resemble the silos of the surrounding farmlands.

image by blaine davis

the team has realized the outside-in pavilion at the request of the lead architects mother-in-law as a space to gather her family and friends in nature. during the era of COVID-19 however, the pavilion takes on more prominent role as a contemplative place of reflection in solitude. it is also programmed further as an ancillary outdoor office with wifi and allows a place of retreat for members of a large family during quarantine. the pavilion even offers a sleeping porch cloaked with mosquito netting, framing the night sky through its oculus. a steel circular rod allows for mosquito netting, and the space can be used as a sleeping porch from summer through fall.

image by josh goetz

image by josh goetz

image by josh goetz

image by josh goetz

image by josh goetz

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VSA playfully clusters its floating 'outside-in pavilion' in watermill, new york - Designboom

Craig and Meyer Architects based in the town's Duke Street have been given the green light to transform a disused store and workshop into three homes despite an objection form a nearby resident.

Councillors sitting on Barrow Borough Council development control committee heard the Victorian property had been a blight on the area for several years.

Speaking out against the plans, one resident told councillors in a letter: "If restored in a sensitive manner, the building could be a positive addition to the adjoining conservation area, especially as the site has gained a new prominence following the demolition of the former registry office.

"I am happy to see empty buildings brought back into use, but I am very disappointed to see the way this project has been handled.

"I implore the council to demand better of the developer and use this opportunity to do something positive for the towns heritage in a built up environment."

But despite the neighbour's concerns the plans were passed unanimously.

Councillor Anne Burns who represents Hindpool told the meeting she was concerned not enough information was being past to residents about new development projects in the borough.

She said: How are we consulting with the residents on the conversions of buildings? We should be letting people locally know what is going on.

"I am delighted that this building is finally getting done up as residents regularly say to me that it is a mess.

"We need to update residents about what is going to be converted around our town."

Maureen Smith, planning officer replied: We did write to all the residents in the area and put up a site notice. As well as a condition of the construction management plan.

The committee was told the developer will make sensitive improvements to carry out work away from the road to avoid congestion on Coulton street.

See more here:
'I implore the council to demand better of the developer' - Architects given greenlight to convert eyesore store despite objections - NW Evening Mail

By: PuroClean | 1Shares 65Reads

October 06, 2020 // Franchising.com // Tamarac, Fla. - PuroClean, a leading national restoration and remediation franchise, today announced it has earned a Bronze award for Most Valuable Corporate Response for the 17th Annual International Business Awards as well as two Gold Stevie Awards for Marketing Department of the Year and Collaboration/Social Networking Solutions. Last year, the company was the recipient of the 2019 American Business Awards Gold Award and the International Business Awards Bronze Award in the User Interface Design Web category for the launch of the franchises updated website. Nicknamed the Stevie for the Greek word for crowned, the awards will be presented at a virtual ceremony on December 1.

It is a tremendous honor to receive three Stevie Awards this year that highlight the combined efforts and contributions from our corporate headquarters, marketing department, and internet marketing team all working together as one, said Mark W. Davis, Chairman and CEO of PuroClean. While this year has been challenging for many across the globe, its a privilege to see our brand bond together to achieve incredible strides to provide support to our franchise network.

The companys Bronze acknowledgment comes as a result of its COVID-19 corporate response to company-wide efforts focused on the safety and wellbeing, beginning with the corporate team and implemented across the franchise network throughout the U.S. and Canada. These actions, led by President and COO of PuroClean, Steve White, led to record growth amid the pandemic. Keeping with the corporate vision of servant leadership, strict branding guidelines, and world-class support to the communities they serve, the executive team kept the lines of communication open to ensure full support for all concerned. Through daily corporate briefings, check-ins, and weekly virtual happy hours, all designed to maintain strong execution and share the vision that PuroClean cares. The leadership team reinforced the corporate messages by implementing new virtual training courses, distributing a myriad of operational procedures, new marketing materials, providing ongoing virtual updates on the ever-changing COVID guidelines and procedures, and sharing copious corporate messages via eNewsletters and videos. All this, as the brand implemented work-from-home for the entire corporate team supporting the over 320 franchise offices, all working through quarantine, and subsequently, through the office reopenings. Franchise owners were supported and encouraged as they selflessly gave back, providing complimentary COVID cleanup services for their local fire departments, police stations, hospitals, and first responders. And when the companys largest event, the annual convention, was cancelled, over 150 teams hosting viewing parties showed up to celebrate their colleagues at the virtual Awards broadcast.

Earning Gold accolades from this years contributions, PuroCleans Marketing Department was awarded the Marketing Department of the Year for staying ahead of the rapidly changing parameters, going above and beyond to provide world-class support to their franchise network and customers throughout the communities they serve in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring all messaging was aligned with the CDC safety standards, the corporate culture, and branding, the team kicked into high gear to become an information hub, making daily calls to assess how COVID-19 was affecting the network and how best to support them. While the competition focused on selling services, PuroClean's Marketing team focused on its servant leadership culture and supporting the communities.

Working overtime, they rapidly produced resources to support the franchise network in effectively and safely providing COVID-19 cleaning services. The team provided critical resources to the more than 320 franchise locations throughout North America, implementing a virtual classroom for new franchise owner training with digital visuals. Since February 2020, the team released more than 45 marketing pieces and did not skip a beat in producing two quarterly editions of the company-branded HEARTBEAT magazine developed, updated, and distributed on time to support the entire franchise network.

In addition, this team created new content for blogs and social media; ongoing public relations campaigns; weekly internal eNewsletters and magazines; business development strategies; video marketing campaigns; online academy classes on COVID-19-specific marketing and safety training materials, biohazard procedures and guidelines, and external documents on connecting with insurance agents and municipalities.

Following in the Gold honors, PuroClean also earned praise for an addition to its recently updated award-winning website, developed by media partner, Bright Pink Agency, to incorporate a new franchise directory tool. This new website element combines several databases into one simple search system. While helping property owners throughout North America, faced with restoration and remediation issues in their homes and businesses, to find help 24/7/365, it simultaneously routes those incoming inquiries directly to the 320-plus franchise locations to efficiently bring in jobs, all while being designed to be user-friendly, flexible, and data-driven.

These international accolades showcase the strength of the PuroClean way, bringing innovation, solutions, and support during times of need to our franchise network, the communities they serve, and their business partners, said White. We are proud of these accomplishments and know that our corporate headquarters and marketing partners work closely together to develop strong systems to help our brand operate efficiently during these unprecedented times.

More than 3,800 nominations from organizations of all sizes from 63 nations and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of Stevie Award categories. Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 250 executives worldwide who participated in the judging process from July through early September.

Despite the unprecedented impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on organizations and working people worldwide, the number and quality of nominations we received in this years International Business Awards attest to the continued outstanding performance of many organizations, said Stevie Awards president Maggie Gallagher. The commitment weve seen through these nominations to maintaining the success, health, and safety of employees, customers, and communities is truly impressive.

PuroClean is one of the leading restoration franchise companies in the nation. Each year, PuroClean performs thousands of jobs throughout the United States and Canada, providing restoration services from common to large-scale disasters.

Details about The International Business Awards and the lists of Stevie Award winners are available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.

For more information on PuroClean, contact 800-775-7876 or visit http://www.PuroClean.com.

Known as the Paramedics of Property Damage, PuroClean provides water damage remediation, flood water removal, fire and smoke damage remediation, mold removal, and biohazard cleanup to commercial and residential customers. Founded in 2001, PuroClean has a comprehensive network of more than 300 franchise offices across North America. PuroClean technicians are thoroughly screened, insured, and trained in utilizing the latest in mitigation technology and procedures, while operating under a strict code of ethics. Each PuroClean office is independently owned and operated. For more information about PuroClean, contact 800-775-7876 or visit http://www.PuroClean.com; for franchise information, visit http://www.PuroCleanFranchise.com.

Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

SOURCE PuroClean

###

Rachel Tabacnic/ Paige AlonsoHemsworth Communications561-441-9692PuroCleanPR@HemsworthCommunications.com

Originally posted here:
PuroClean Honored With Three Stevie Awards In Multiple Categories Of The 2020 International Business Awards - Franchising.com

Moisture in New Construction, Mold testing and inspection, mold,

If you keep moisture out of a building, you'll likely keep mold out as well, since mold requires a moist environment.

A dry building not only prevents mold outbreaks, but also creates a more pleasant, healthier environment. And, dry buildings are more durable, and will have fewer maintenance problems - so controlling moisture is truly a win-win for builders, owners, and occupants.

There are Several Excellent Strategies, to prevent New Construction Moisture and Mold Growth, here is an Excellent Checklist:

1) AllBuilding materials must be kept dry. They should be protected from the weather before they're installed.

2)The scheduling of the trades that install the roof and cladding, to prevent leaks and visible penetrations for leaks.

3)Exterior wall cavities should be properly insulated - insulation should completely fill the cavity to prevent the formation of convection cells within the wall that can negatively affect moisture and energy management. Mineral Wool insulation, or Polyisocyanurate (Polyiso) which is a closed-cell, rigid foam board insulation, are better examples of insulation.

4) Avoid Placing Pipes in Exterior Walls, due to possible condensation and mold growth.

5)Wallboard should only be installed during the controlled phase of construction when the building envelope is enclosed.

6) Use of Dessicant Dehumidification, and Heat, to lower Relative Humidity values, and Vapor Pressure, in order to Dry Joint Compounds and other substrates more effficently.

7) Concrete Foundations and floors must be cured and dried.Uncured concrete introduces lots of moisture into a new building.

8)HVAC systems must be balanced throughout the building to avoid overcooling interior rooms, which can lead to Condensation and Mold growth.

9) Vent and exhaust Moist areas to Outside, such asCommercial lavatories and shower facilities.

10)Masonry block absorbs water, it should be covered with sheathing materials before EIFSs or other siding materials are applied. If there has been a significant amount of recent rain, be sure to allow enough time for the block to dry before being covered.

11)Exterior walls must be designed to incorporate a water-resistant barrier behind the cladding system, as well as an air barrier and thermal insulation.

12)ProperlyInstall Roof, Window and Door Flashings.Flashings should be installed around all roof lines, windows, and doors, ensuring that the water flows out of the building.

13)All roof penetrations, such as vent pipes and other HVAC-related piping, should be properly flashed and drained to ensure that water drains to a roof drain or sump, and away from the building - not into the building structure.

14)The grade around all buildings should slope away from the foundation. The first 10 feet of soil extending outward from the building should be pitched at a 5-percent grade, or 6 inches of fall in the first 10 feet. The slope should be checked every few years to make sure that the backfill has not settled.

15) Installperimeter drains, as rain andwater will be taken away from the base of the foundation, thereby keeping the foundation and basement dry.

16)Coat Vertical Foundation Walls on the Outside, with a Vapor Barrier.Cement, Concrete block and brickis porous and, without the protection of this type of barrier, water moving down the side of the foundation may be absorbed and make its way into the basement.

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Your nose isn't deceiving you - hotels are starting to pump smells into rooms. If you have a sensitive snout, avoid the worst offenders with these tips.

As an asthmatic, Sara Voorhees is always careful when she's on the road. A whiff of cologne or detergent can trigger an attack for a scent-sensitive traveler like her.

But lately, as travel companies have obsessively cleaned their cars, rooms, and seats, she's had to be extra cautious.

When she opened the door to a compact SUV she rented at the Philadelphia airport recently, a powerful soap odor wafted her way. It left her gasping for air.

"We kept the windows down and the air conditioning running on high for the first few minutes each time we started it," says Voorhees, a retired project manager. But the odor lingered.

If you find the smell in your rental car overpowering, make sure the air vents are set to bring in fresh air rather than recirculate.(Photo: AndreyPopov, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

If you think the risk of a coronavirus infection makes travel difficult, imagine how passengers like Voorhees feel. On the one hand, they could catch COVID; on the other, they might have an asthmatic attack or allergic reaction to the strong cleaners used obsessively to disinfect surfaces.

Travel companies once relied on fragrances to lift their profits. Now they're turning to smells to save their businesses. Only this time, instead of vanilla and floral scents, it's the harsh odors of bleach and detergent that greet customers in rental cars and hotel rooms. But travelers with scent sensitivities and allergies can protect themselves from these harsh odors with a few easy strategies.

Although it may be difficult to avoid all scents when you travel, you can take certain precautions before your next vacation or business trip.

"Reach out to any hotel, airline or place where you think you run the risk of long-standing exposure," says Michael Rubino, president of All American Restoration, a mold remediation company. "I have called several hotels ahead of time to find out what disinfecting product would be used in my hotel room."

Ask your airline what kind of chemical is being used in those electrostatic sprayers that have become common. The chemicals may actually turn out to be far less concentrated than household cleaners.(Photo: CHRIS RANK, Chris Rank)

Get as many specifics as you can, says Marilee Nelson, an environmental consultant and co-founder of Branch Basics, a cleaning product company. That's what she did before she flew recently. An airline representative told her it was using a hypochlorous acid electrostatic spray that is EPA-approved to kill pathogens. That worked for her.

She learned that the concentration of chlorine was one ten-thousandth of that in household bleach, and that it dissipated quickly. "Five minutes after spraying, it is odorless and safe for most people," she says.

Voorhees says she's started carrying a portable air purifier when she travels. On her next rental, she plans to hook it up to the USB outlet inside the rental car to see if that makes a difference.

The smells are too much for some travelers. Sunnye Sherman, a retired substitute teacher from Louisville, Kentucky, is avoiding travel. It is one thing for her to deal with the many hotel scents emanating from soaps and shampoos, causing nausea, sinus pain and migraines. But the cleaning products are even worse.

"Sometimes, Ive had to hold my breath as much as possible in the lobby and rush to the room, hoping I can breathe in there," she says.

Patricia Abreu, a pianist from Boston, has stayed off planes since the pandemic started.

"The new cleaning products are likely to irritate my airways," she says. "But since the filtration of the air in airplanes is also better than in most places, it might be OK unless we were to board right in the moments after the chemicals were sprayed."

Abreu wonders if enough travel companies are taking the problems of people like her into account.

Filtered face masks may help travelers with scent sensitivities protect their airways from the strong smell of cleaning supplies.(Photo: Liliboas/Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"I cant say I am against all these cleaning regimes, despite my own physical reactions to the chemicals," she adds. "We want to be protected against COVID as much as possible, and for now that will mean more potential breathing problems for those with asthma and allergies."

When she travels, she'll wear a mask that can filter out the cleaning chemicals and she'll pack her medications and inhalers -- just in case a company overdoes it on the solvents.

The travel industry started spring cleaning after the coronavirus outbreak and never stopped. For example, United Airlines teamed up with Clorox on an initiative called "CleanPlus" to clean and disinfect its aircraft. Hertz introduced a 15-point Gold Standard Clean program, which includes disinfecting key contact areas like the steering wheel and door handles. And Hilton's CleanStay program includes a partnership with Lysol to clean high-touch areas at its hotels.

COVID-19 hotel stays:How safe does it feel at Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt hotels?

"These old-school disinfectants are toxic and can cause irreversible diseases, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)," says Howard Lefkowitz, president of Germ Free Earth, a distributor of commercial disinfectants. The citrus and pine smell covers the "horrible" effects of the harsh cleaners.

"Sadly, weve grown accustomed to the smells of alcohol, bleach, and acids just as we used to be accustomed to smoke-filled rooms," he adds.

The travel industry's passion for perfuming is well-documented. In the past, hotels pumped artificial smells into their lobbies and rooms to boost profits. For example, guests at the Las Vegas Hilton spent 50%more time playing slot machines when it misted the air with a floral scent, according to Haha Lung and Christopher Prowants book Mental Dominance. A Washington State University study concluded that exposing shoppers to an orange scent made them spend 20% more than they otherwise would have.

To avoid catching other people's germs on your next flight, follow these steps to ensure you've properly disinfected your plane seat before take-off. USA TODAY

Clean the surfaces yourself. That's the advice ofBrooks Trotter, a physician who specializes in internal medicine in Grapevine, Texas. "You can wipe surfaces that have been cleaned with harsh chemicals, such as arm rests and tray tables, with non-toxic wipes," he says. "That will remove the chemicals."

Wash your hands. The extra cleaning can leave industrial solvents on high-touch areas such as door handles and TV remotes, says Ryan Steele, a Yale Medicine allergist and immunologist. "Frequent hand washing can help to quickly get these chemicals off of your skin and minimize your exposure," he says. If you can't get to the bathroom, he recommends minimizing contact with any cleaned surface.

If you see cleaning crews entering one area of an airport, such as a restroom, steer clear if you have an aversion to strong odors.(Photo: Maksym Belchenko/Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Avoid areas that are being disinfected. For example, if you see that the bathroom is being cleaned in an airport, use a different one. "Understand your sensitivities and prepare for them," says Curtis White, chief technology officer of ViaClean Technologies, a biotech company that develops cleaning agents. "Most people with severe food allergies or severe reactions to environmental pollutants already are well-disciplined in avoidance and reaction to exposures."

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Sensitive to scents? Here's how to protect yourself while traveling during COVID-19 - USA TODAY