Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

HELENA The Lewis and Clark Library has reopened the lobby of their Main Branch, but only for pick at this time.

The Library has seen a large demand from the community for pick up and holds, with more than 300 items requested for Monday.

Library Director John Finn says the remodel of the library is coming along well, but there is still a lot left to be done before the library can be fully opened again.

One of the current hurdles is the monumental feat of moving and organizing an entire library.

There are 90,000 items in the collection at the Main Branch of the Lewis and Clark Library. The total collection weighs well over 40 tons, comparable to an adult sperm whale.

Moving and organizing such a large collection may seem like a white whale, but Finn says the collection management team has the situation well in hand.

I jokingly say it is General Patton level organization, said Finn. Our collection management librarian James Parrott did an amazing job of making that plan and then it took the whole staff to execute it.

Most of the shelving for the library remodel has arrived, and the current marching orders are to get the remaining items unpacked and to their designated area.

While it has taken a small army to pull a move like this off, its not like picking up and moving bricks. Books are fragile and need to be handled with care.

It took Library staff five full days just to move the 26,000 items that were at their temporary Capitol Branch.

At the Capitol Branch we actually had a lot of AV material. So we had lots of Blu-ray, DVDs and CDs which are even more fragile than books. But we took great care of them in that transition from the branch back here and everything so far looks good, said Finn.

Finn says his staff have been meticulously keeping track of items so they dont get lost. The Library also performed an inventory before the move and will conduct another once everything is in place.

Modern technology has made the sorting process of 90,000 items far easier than it would have been just a few decades ago.

Each book has a RFID tag that lets staff know exactly where the item belongs.

We have a device that we can walk around the library with and it tells us whats out of place and whats missing, said Finn.

It will still be several weeks before the library is fully open for browsing and staff are currently working with public health to develop a COVID plan for the remodeled library.

Were probably six weeks away from opening the library to the public, but we do have the holds pick up and the book drop is now open here. Those are the services were able to provide at the moment because right now theres really no library to take part in, said Finn.

Finn added the entire staff cant wait to show the community the remodeled building in the coming weeks.

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Small army needed to move L&C Library collection - KTVH

Oregon says people who lost homes or suffered other damage from the wildfires that erupted across the state this month should contact their insurance companies immediately to begin their claims.

But they should be prepared for a long process as they work to get their payouts and start to rebuild.

Authorities say the fires that erupted earlier this month burned more than 1 million acres in Oregon in just one week, and theyre still burning. Homeowners and firefighters are just starting to tally the damage. At least nine people died and hundreds of homes burned.

As evacuation zones open up, people are beginning to return to their properties to discover homes, barns and vehicles destroyed. Brad Hilliard, spokesman for Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services, said it will take them time to tally just what theyve lost and more time to recoup that loss as insurers work to cope with the blazes' unprecedented toll.

We encourage people to take their time with the process and also understand that your insurance company is going to need time to handle things, Hilliard said. Because theyre handling a large number of claims across a number of states.

Fires this month have spanned Washington, Oregon and California. The total financial losses figure to be staggering, after fires devastated the southern Oregon communities of Phoenix and Talent. The Beachie Creek fire east of Salem destroyed at least 470 homes. Dozens more homes were lost to fires in Clackamas County.

California wildfires in November 2018 destroyed 14,000 homes and generated $11.4 billion in insurance claims within two months.

This years blazes on the West Coast appear to have done far less damage, but the total devastation is plainly severe.

In Oregon, homeowner insurance policies typically cover wildfires in the same way they would cover a typical house fire, but Hilliard said autos even if they were in a homes garage require separate coverage.

The state offers several pieces of advice on how to begin the claims process:

Notify insurance companies immediately about evacuation and damage. Policies will often cover short-term housing for people in evacuation zones, and will typically provide long-term housing while homeowners rebuild.

Ask about advances on your claim to pay for supplies and equipment to get by. Even if it takes a long time to settle a claim, advance payments may be available quickly.

Save receipts and keep a running list of whats been lost. Keep a paper and pen handy to make notes when things spring to mind, and look through old photos and videos that might help jog your memory. Figure out how long your insurance company will give you to provide a complete list.

Photograph damaged items but dont throw them out until a claims adjuster has seen them. People living in manufactured homes can visit a state website for ownership documentation that may have been destroyed in the fire.

Contact your mortgage company to learn how it manages insurance payments.

Its too soon to know how this months' blazes will affect insurance rates in places where wildfires burned, or elsewhere in Oregons wildland areas, Hilliard said. But the NW Insurance Council said Friday that the state is preparing to issue an emergency order to prohibit insurers from canceling insurance policies in fire affected areas, or because of a wildfire claim.

The state will also require insurers allow a grace period of premium payments on policies in areas affected by the wildfire.

Oregon fields 1,400 insurance and financial complaints a year, according to Hilliard, who said the state can help mediate when disputes arise between policyholders and their insurance carrier.

On Friday, Hilliard said people who suffered wildfire losses should resist any pressure to settle their claims before theyre ready, and to carefully catalog what theyve lost and what it was worth as they prepare to rebuild.

It takes time to work through that, Hilliard said, to rebuild and replace what was lost.

-- Mike Rogoway |mrogoway@oregonian.com| twitter:@rogoway|

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Oregon wildfire insurance payouts will be a long process, state warns, so get started now - OregonLive

Our office burned down last Tuesday. The little green and white rented bungalow along Route 99 was filled with art, houseplants, laughter, and sometimes tears. It was a meeting place for Latinx youth to have coffee and organize climate justice events in their community. We built folding desks so we could fill the space with volunteers while campaigning against the fracked gas pipeline a Canadian company is trying to ram through Oregons forests. Now those walls and desks are all rubble, still hot to the touch.

As part of Rogue Climate, a local climate justice organization with an office in Phoenix, Oregon, weve fought for years not just against fossil fuel projects changing our climate but also to demand justice for those in our community most affected by that warming: Latinx essential workers and their families facing hazardous working conditions and Covid-19, low-income rural residents plagued by rolling blackouts, and tribal members watching the salmon runs vital to their diet and culture dwindle in warming rivers.

On Tuesday, the Almeda fire raging through Southern Oregon took out the very base weve used for those fights. Many of our staff and volunteers have been evacuated; some have lost their homes. In the past few days, weve been out on the streets in the thick, gray smoke, getting food, water, cell phone chargers, hand sanitizer, tents, and blankets to people who have lost everything they owned.

Climate change has doubled the number of fires in the West in one generation: Even if the Almeda fire was started by a human, it was fanned by the exceptionally hot, dry, and windy conditions that climate change is producing. Scientists have known about the link for decades. The Environmental Protection Agency warned Congress in 1989 that the incidence of catastrophic wildfires will increase in U.S. forests with higher temperatures.

1989 was 31 years ago, before either of us was born. And yet our government has done almost nothing to stop the pollution warming the world and fueling the fires. The fracking and drilling has continued. The CEO of Pembina, the company that wants to run an explosive fracked gas pipeline through our home to the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal, emitting nearly 40 million tons of carbon dioxide a year, took home $7 million in 2018. In contrast, the median household income in Phoenix is $41,753 a year. In nearby Talent, it is $33,244. The fire ran through both towns along Route 99, torching apartment buildings, mobile and manufactured homes. Thousands are unhoused. Two are dead.

See more here:
We Work in Climate Justice. Our Office Burned Down, Thanks to Climate Change. - The New Republic

Amid a series of established Democratic endorsements, Drake Buckmans voice lifts as he talks about a lesser known group. He landed the support of the Federation of Manufactured Home Owners of Florida.

Its an organization that represents people who live in manufactured homes in the parks , and we have hundreds of them here, he said. They are an integral part of the community.

The Sarasota Democrat hopes that type of endorsement makes a difference as he runs against Republican Fiona McFarland in House District 72.

Hes unrolling endorsements as he fights for attention on what could be one of Floridas tightest House races. Hes lined up many of the usual suspects in Democratic politics: Planned Parenthood, the Sierra Club and the Sarasota County Jewish Caucus. But he still faces a level of skepticism among forecasters and pundits on whether he has the raw resources to defend the seat.

The jurisdiction is one of the places where Democrats find themselves on defense this cycle, though thats not a complete surprise.

Democrat Margaret Good represents the district now, having flipped the seat in a 2018 Special Election and defended it in the last General Election. But that last race came down to fewer than 1,200 votes between her and Republican Ray Pilon. Both her House campaigns cost more than half a million dollars, reportedly one of the reasons she decided this year to run for Congress.

But Buckman believes he can compete for far less.

I dont know why you need a quarter of a million to win this race, he said. I say this as someone who has been in business here. I have met payroll. I have met budgets. I understand this district. I dont know why you need more than $100,000 to win this election.

McFarland, meanwhile, spent more than $200,000 during the Republican primary, and eked a win by just 266 votes out of 17,779 cast. For the moment, she lags Buckman in cash on hand, but shes raised $254,713 in total to Buckmans $82,295.

A strong fundraising period for McFarland post-primary prompted national forecaster CNalysis this weekend to shift the race to tilt Republican instead of tossup when it put the entire state House in the Safe Republican column. Indeed, the district is the only House jurisdiction in the state in which that forecaster predicts a change in party control; several other districts are still marked tossup.

But Buckman still feels confident. Hes been in regular communication with Florida House Victory, he said, and would welcome greater state investment. But mostly he feels confident he has more individual contributors from within the district.

Hes had 728 donors to McFarlands 543, with his average donation at $121 to her $518. Three of the Democrats donations come through political committees while 18 of the Republicans checks are listed from PACs. And 621 of Buckmans donations originate from Florida addresses while just 270 of McFarlands do the same.

He dismisses institutional support shes receiving, including a recent shout out by the Presidents son.

I dont think Donald Trump, Jr. is registered here, he said. To me, thats an endorsement from one New York Republican who doesnt live in the district to another New York Republican who doesnt live in the district.

Notably, McFarland was criticized in the primary for renting an apartment in House District 72 but owning property in neighboring Manatee County, though she stressed at the time shes living in Sarasota.

Regardless, Buckman plans in November to prove any cynics wrong.

We are going to win, he said.

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Can Drake Buckman win HD 72 on the cheap? - Florida Politics

Many of us are spending more time at home in 2020, which could mean having more time to take on home improvement projects. But home renovations arent just a way to fill time; you want the results to be worth the hard work. The key to any successful project lies in careful planning including financial strategizing long before the power tools come out.

Roughly 3 in 5 American homeowners (61 percent) have taken on home improvement projects since March 1, spending $6,438, on average, according to an Aug. 18-20 NerdWallet survey conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,414 homeowners.

Whether youre outfitting your home with a new office or classroom, or taking on long-intended improvements such as painting or installing new flooring, here are six tips to help you make sure youre heading into the right project, the right way.

Any project may be worth your time if doing it makes you happy, but if you plan to sell your home soon, make sure you focus on projects that give a good return on your money. Many renovations cost thousands of dollars but wont increase the value of your home by the same amount.

For example, it costs about $50,000 to add a new bathroom, but homeowners typically recoup only about 54 percent of the cost in increased home value, according to Remodeling Magazines 2020 Cost vs. Value Report. A minor kitchen remodel, on the other hand, returns about 78 percent of its cost, so that type of project might make more sense.

Consider calling local real estate agents to ask them about the return you might receive from a home renovation project. Some local markets or neighborhoods may reward certain upgrades more than others.

You dont want to run out of cash in the middle of a home remodeling project. But unless youre careful, your project may get more expensive while its underway. That nicer tile may add only $7 per square foot, but if your kitchen has 100 square feet of floor space, watch out! To avoid running short on cash, add up your expenses before you start the project. Then add 10 percent or 20 percent to the total to allow for cost overruns.

To get an idea of how much youll have to spend on a specific project, look at what others have spent on comparable projects using a project estimate calculator or perusing sites like HomeAdvisor or Remodeling Magazine.

Since March 1, 34 percent of homeowners who undertook home improvement projects used cash on hand to fund those projects, 25 percent used money they had saved for those projects specifically and 14 percent used money from their economic stimulus check, according to the NerdWallet survey. As long as these projects arent being funded to the detriment of more important expenses, using available cash or savings can be a good way to keep from paying interest on your home improvement project.

If you have to finance your project, explore your funding options carefully. Among them are a home equity line of credit, a personal loan, a cash-out refinance or even credit cards. But they come at varying costs depending on the interest rate and how long it will take you to pay off the loan. A home improvement financing calculator can help you weigh these costs and make a savvy decision.

If youve decided to hire a professional, get written estimates from different contractors. As those estimates roll in, check their references and ask about their credentials. At a minimum, make sure each contractor is properly licensed to do the work on your home. You can also ask about their membership in trade associations. Many reputable contractors belong to professional trade groups such as the National Association of the Remodeling Industry or the National Association of Home Builders.

A good contractor will guarantee the work and offer a warranty. You can check Better Business Bureau ratings to see if others have had complaints about companies youre evaluating. If there have been complaints, check to see how they were resolved.

When you select a contractor, make sure you get your agreement in writing.

Permits help protect your home and your safety. Without the necessary approvals to perform work on your property, theres a chance the renovation wont meet local building codes. It could even affect your ability to sell your home in the future. Contact your municipality for details about what permits you must have for your renovation project. And follow up to make sure your contractor has permits in hand before beginning the work.

Youre probably planning to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars on a remodeling project. Its understandable to look for ways to save money, but dont automatically cut corners by using the cheapest materials.

Talk to your contractor about the trade-offs between quality and price for your project. Youll probably be better off selecting the best-quality products that fit your budget. Otherwise, you could be stuck with having to make costly repairs after a few months because you skimped on quality.

A home remodeling project can give a big boost to your homes aesthetics and market value if you avoid costly mistakes. By setting a budget, researching contractors and making sure your improvements use quality materials, you can help avoid expensive pitfalls and enjoy your homes new design.

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of NerdWallet from Aug. 18-20 among 1,414 U.S. homeowners ages 18 and older, among whom 883 have done home improvement projects since March 1. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Anna Palagi at apalagi@nerdwallet.com.

Continued here:
6 ways to avoid costly home renovation mistakes - Tampa Bay Times

When we are cooped up at home, the walls begin to close in. Suddenly, that creaky stair becomes really annoying. That window, always cranky, is sticking even more. Blinds close only halfway, and the patio door jumps its track. Outside, the soffit on one side is hanging loose.

Then theres the kitchen -- instead of dealing with a recalcitrant oven, weve been ordering meals to be delivered. And the bath -- the walls are losing tiles, and the hot water comes in a puny dribble. Repairs and renovations in both the bathroom and the kitchen are overdue.

Its time to tackle problems. Before winter sets in, hire some experts. They have the tools and the experience to fix and change all those months of neglect. Procrastination be gone. Get it done.

Since the establishment of the business, the guiding principle has always been complete customer satisfaction, says Gary Shiman. All three generations of owners have lived, worked, and raised families in New Jersey. This is our home too!

Gary is one of the owners of Bellari, one of New Jerseys premier remodelers of homes and other structures. The company is based in Branchburg and it serves communities from the Hudson River to the Delaware River.

Bellari offers a wide variety of design and craftsmanship. This company offers windows, doors, siding, roofing, decking, sunrooms, awnings, basements and additions -- just about anything your home might need. Experts can help you plan and remodel kitchens and baths, including electrical and plumbing needs. And they handle all the permits required.

We specialize in sourcing products that have years of life, adds Gary. Many of their customers are homeowners whose parents contracted with the original company.

Bellari is a third generation business that traces its beginning back to 1950. That was when Max Gropper began selling aluminum storm windows in downtown Somerville. He called the company Somerville Aluminum.

The operation has grown substantially over the intervening years. In 2013, the company moved into a larger 15,000-square-foot showroom and design center in Branchburg.

Branchburg-based Bellari is ranked among the top 100 remodeling firms in the nation by Qualified Remodeler.Courtesy Belari

Our organization is extremely appreciative to all those hometown heroes who have always worked hard to help our community and keep us all safe, especially during the pandemic, explains Gary. People are working on the front lines to take care of us, and we are honored to help with needed repairs at their homes to help take care of them.

The company has pledged to help one deserving local hero every month with a project at home. The initiative kicked off in April when Bellari replaced the back steps for Jennifer and David Smith, a Branchburg couple. The two of them work in healthcare and law enforcement, and both of them experienced increased intensity in their professions during the pandemic, according to Gary.

Bellari also proudly supports Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, in its Healing Homes initiative, explains Gary. The Healing Homes initiative offers housing for up to 24 months for an individual or family in Somerset County who has a chronic or acute health condition that causes financial hardship and leaves them unable to afford housing and/or the basic cost of living.

Windows and doors are our roots and will always be the backbone of our business, Gary continues. And we have grown our breadth of offerings to provide everything a homeowner could possibly need. And we continue to take pride in providing the exceptional service and premium products, across the board, that our customers have come to expect.

Bellari is celebrating 70 years in business. For more information, call 908-300-3670 and visit the website at BellariNJ.com. Also, see Facebook, Instagram and other social media. Company headquarters and showrooms are located at 20 County Line Road, Branchburg. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturdays by appointment.

Before embarking on a major renovation, it can be useful to see how a contractor performs on a smaller job. A worker repairing the soffit hanging loose under the eave can give you the confidence to hire the firm for that larger renovation you have in mind.

Mark Schneider has many years experience helping homeowners with jobs both small and large. He operates Handyman On Call.

I specialize in small jobs, and Ive found that these can lead to larger jobs, Mark says.

He will repair doors, replace moldings, clean gutters, repair decks, touch up painting and repair the treads and risers on those squeaky stairs. If you like, he will even hang pictures and change out light bulbs. How about adding shelving in the basement or garage?

For these smaller jobs, hell travel about 7 miles from his base in Annandale. Estimates are free and flexible--according to materials and scheduling.

Hes been in the business for some 35 years, he explains. So theres not much he hasnt seen, repaired, replaced, or otherwise put back in shape--or renovated. He will also work with homeowners to remodel kitchens, baths, and basements.

Mark posts some free Do-It-Yourself Tips on his website, HandymanOnCallNJ.com. Or, call him at 908-437-8856.

Al Warr may be reached at 610-253-0432 or AlWarr16@gmail.com.

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Procrastination be gone ... its time to tackle home repairs - nj.com

NEWTOWN, Conn. (PRWEB) September 21, 2020

The Taunton Press announced today that Kiley Jacques will take the reins at Green Building Advisor, a sister website to Fine Homebuilding that is more narrowly focused on sharing complete and accurate information about designing, building, and remodeling high-performance homes.

Jacques joined Fine Homebuilding two years ago as Design Editor, where she drove all the architecture, home design, kitchen, and bath-related content. But her interest in green building and high-performance homes was strong enough that it was not long into her time at Fine Homebuilding that she found a regular spot on Green Building Advisors calendar for her popular Green Advocate blog.

Before coming to Fine Homebuilding, Jacques spent 22 years working as a professional gardener in the climate-minded mecca of Seattle. Shortly after changing careers to focus on writing and journalism, Jacques was hired to research and write an article for the very first issue of the United States Green Building Councils member magazine, USGBC+, to which she continues to contribute today.

Ive been preparing for this in one way or another most of my life, says Jacques. Im thrilled to combine my commitment to ecological stewardship with my passion for quality journalism. It is with great satisfaction that I am finally able to call myself an environmental journalist, and I take the responsibility that comes with it seriously.

Green Building Advisor is a deep well of conceptual and technical information covering all aspects of green building, including environmentally sensitive design, innovative materials, energy-efficient construction techniques, must-know building science, and information on relevant building codes. With a combination of experts contributing regular and guest blogs, Green Building Advisor is the go-to source to for news on environmental issues and policy discussions.

As a media platform featuring industry innovators, professionals, products, and systems, GBA serves not only its readership but also the greater good, says Jacques. The sites users, contributors, and staff share a common goal to protect the natural world while shaping the built environment. It is a space for exploring global issues such as the climate crisis and resource conservation, while gleaning science-backed, hands-on instruction and data. GBA is both the why and the how of green building science.

Thanks to the dedication of the editors, the sites members, and, unfortunately, the climate crisis we are all facing, Green Building Advisor is enjoying a period of substantial growth in audience and memberships. Recognizing the opportunity and potential of Green Building Advisor, The Taunton Press leadership is positioning staff and resources to take the media brand to the next level. Jacques is replacing Brian Pontolilo, who transitioned to the position of Editorial Director overseeing Fine Homebuilding and Green Building Advisor.

When I decided to take a new role that required me to give up the day-to-day editorial duties at GBA, I knew exactly what to do, says Pontolilo. It was clear to me two years ago that Kiley was the right person to lead GBA, the only question was how long would it take us to get her there. Not only is she a top-notch journalist and editor, shes mission-driven, and climate issues are among the most important to her. She also understands that when it comes to sharing information among home-building professionals, the best approach is an ongoing and evolving conversation. I have no doubt that she will moderate that conversation well as GBA grows and high-performance home building evolves.

Ecologically minded, high-performance builders have emerged as the leaders in residential construction as building scienceand its related best practicesmatures. The Taunton Press, Fine Homebuilding, and Green Building Advisor are committed to serving this community with expert-contributed content for anyone interested in increasing their knowledge, developing their skills, and building better homes.

Kileys appointment to lead Green Building Advisor signals our commitment to this community, and to this conversation, adds The Taunton Press CEO Renee Jordan. She and Brian both embody the editorial integrity and passion that is so important within this highly regarded community of building science professionals. Now in its second decade, Green Building Advisor has brought together the leading voices around products, practices, and policies. We are fortunate to have Kiley in our ranks to keep the conversation going and surface the next generation of ideas and strategies for high-performance building.

###

About Green Building AdvisorGreen Building Advisor is a website dedicated to sharing accurate and complete information about designing, building, and remodeling high-performance homes. With clearly presented, professional-level information, our mission is to empower architects and designers, builders and remodelers, engineers, tradespeople, and homeowners to build more durable, energy-efficient, healthy, and climate-friendly homes. With an elite team of advisors and bloggers from all corners of the building industry, Green Building Advisor has earned a reputation as the most reliable place online for accurate building science, proven building assemblies, unbiased product information, and impactful community. Many of Green Building Advisors members are experts in their own right, making our Q&A forums one of our most valuable assets. For more, visit greenbuildingadvisor.com.

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Taunton Press appoints a new lead editorial role at Green Building Advisor - PR Web

Before and After Renovations: Changes in Architectural Plans

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One of Paulo Mendes da Rocha's main design gestures in the Pinacoteca renovation project was to create a new longitudinal axis for circulation, moving its entrance to the south face of the building. Metallic walkways, which cross internal courtyards covered by skylights, enable new dynamics of circulation between the rooms, transforming a neoclassical building into a museum with a contemporary program.

The ability to completely renovate a space by demolishing parts, making additions, altering functionality, and improving ambience is one of the most admired functions of the architect. In housing, thissignificance is even more apparent, since adapting housing to contemporary demands, through a well-thought-out plan, can drastically improve the quality of life of the occupants.

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Due to changes in lifestyles, standard family compositions, construction standards, and market trends, housing has undergone significant changes over time, especially in residential apartments. There exists extensive research on how floorplans have changed over time, identifying patterns and trying to understand the causes of such changes. Some trends are universal. In general, newer residential buildings contain more compact apartments due to the high cost of urban land, and spaces and utilities considered unnecessary have started to disappear, such as laundry. Solutions to land cost such as tiny houses and co-living have opened the door to new possibilities for facilitating adequate housing for everyone in large cities.

At the same time, most cities have a huge stock of buildings, many ofwhich are designed in ways now consideredoutdated. In Brazil, for example, due to the country'sreliance on slavery and cheap domestic labor in the recent past, it was very common for middle class apartments to have separate service areas with exclusive circulation and access points until the 1990's. Nowadays, with new labor laws and a different economic reality, it is much rarer for domestic workers to sleep in the homes they work in,making a considerable fraction of the remaining housing underutilized.

In addition, the plans of older apartmentscompartmentalized large spaces and utilized large circulation areas, such as corridors. The kitchens were generally separate from other rooms. Concomitantly, the buildings had larger rooms, more ornate covering materials, and more natural light.

Despitepotentially provoking the ire ofneighbors,remodeling these properties through the demolition of walls can transform compartmentalized and disjointed spacesinto rooms that match morecurrent lifestyles, turning them into more comfortable and interesting homes.

Building rehabilitation and renovation is a field that has gained much attention over the past few years. It can now be considered one of the main functions of the architect, especially if we use as reference the enormous amount of projects published on this website.

For example, at Apartamento Simo Alvares by GOAA - Gusmo Otero Arquitetos Associados, the demolition of practically all masonry facilitated the transformation of a traditional 2-bedroom apartment and its accompanying small, sequestered rooms into a contemporary apartment with a more comfortable social area. Changing the bathroom location and laundry layout made it possible to integrate the kitchen into the living room.

Similarly, in the IN Arquitetura project remodeling this apartment, the traditional compartmentalization of the 2-bedroom apartment was abandoned, resulting in a large room with an open kitchen and only one bedroom.

In the case of Lausanne Apartment, another remodeling project by GOAA - Gusmo Otero Arquitetos Associados, the changes were even more extensive, integrating the social and service areas of the original plan. According to the description sent by the architects, The apartments internal organization is clear: the frontal block shelters the social and intimate spaces, while the back quadrant receives the service areas. For the development of this project we made an interpretation of the original design to adapt it to the new residents needs. The service area and bathrooms were fully redone and the kitchen was integrated into the living room, creating a fluid space that is illuminated by the two opposing facades. The original living room partitions, built of wood, were re-made with a structure of steel and fabric, gaining lightness and translucency."

In the Apartment on Avenida da Repblica by Manuel Cacho Tojal, several small floorplan modifications made it possible to make the spacious apartment more suited to the contemporary needs of new residents.

The renovation project developed by Vo for an apartment in the Viadutos Building, designed and built by architect Artacho Jurado in the 1950s, dealt with an extremely challenging floor plan. The solution adopted was to demolish all the internal walls. In the words of the project team: To increase the feeling of amplitude within the 46 m2 of internal area, the division between environments was made through a furniture that floats suspended, without touching the green floor that floods the whole apartment".

At Antonio Bicudo Apartment, developed by the same architects, more walls were added than demolished, unlike the previous examples. By aligning the kitchen to the same height as the bathroom, it was possible to integrate it into the social area and allow the bedroom to be closed in a separate space. A closet built into the bedroom wall plays the role of laundry and storage space.

The possibilities are many, but whatever the solution adopted, it is fascinating to observe how spaces can accommodate new uses and adapt to the demands of its users. It is up to the architect to understand users' needsand expectations and to adapt plans with new axes, dynamics, and spatial configurations.

See other examples of plant changes in this My ArchDaily folder.

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Before and After Renovations: Changes in Architectural Plans - ArchDaily

September 18, 2020

Students, employees, parents and community members can look forward to new schools and renovated buildings at Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) when schoolhouses reopen for the 2020-2021 school year. These improvements are made possible with the continued implementation of the General Obligation Bond (GOB) to renovate, remodel and replace schools,expand student capacity, enhance safety and provide technology upgrades. That commitment has not wavered in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, District staff and contractors are hard at work accelerating GOB project timelines.

The unprecedented closure of schools was a difficult but necessary transition that ensured the safety of students and their families, as well as employees. However, during this time, theDistrict was able to speed up construction and maintenance projects before students and teachers return to the classroom. The continuous work during this shutdown also assisted contractors in providing stable employment in the community. Between 300 to 530 workers are on M-DCPS construction sites daily. The District has other projects out to bid, generating additional jobopportunities, with high goals for local, minority and small business utilization.

To date, GOB expenditures total approximately $830.7M ($94.8M for technology and $735.9M for facilities) with another $60M contracted. GOB projects continue to be finished on time and at or under budget.

2019-2020 GOB projects included:

Blue Lakes Elementary Total investment of $2.3 million. This project includes classroom and restroom renovation and installation of new windows and air conditioning. Interior and exterior painting throughout the campus, as well as the renovation of a basketball court and play areas.

Caribbean K- 8 Center Total investment of $3.6 million. This project, which will be completed by November, includes a new 5,344 square foot building addition that will consist of a music suite, art suite, two intermediate classrooms, staff and group restrooms, a new covered walk to existing campus, mechanical room, electrical room, and an IT room. The art portion of the building will house a 2D/3D art lab, kiln pottery oven, a large art material storage area, and an outdoor artpatio. The music area of the building will include a band classroom and an instrument storage room.

Andrea Castillo Preparatory Academy Total investment of $18.7 million. Phase I of the new K-8 Center, located at N.W. 78th Street & 102nd Avenue in Doral, is approximately 58,765 square feet and has 750 student stations. New spaces include state-of-the-art classrooms, a media center, art and music labs, a full kitchen, cafeteria, administration offices, play courts, fields, PE shelter, other support spaces and student drop-off areas.

Citrus Grove Elementary Total investment of $2.3 million. This project entails the demolition and replacement of the entire existing canopy structure, lighting and sidewalks at the facility.

Coral Terrace Elementary Total investment of $1.2 million. This project includes renovations to eight classrooms, replacement of windows and doors, installation of new HVAC system and ADA-compliant restrooms.

Cypress K-8 Center Total investment of $2.7 million. This project includes replacing windows in three buildings, the remodeling of existing space into a new science laboratory. It also includes exterior painting throughout the campus.

D.A. Dorsey Technical College Total investment of $2.7 million. This Phase II project includes installation of a new entry courtyard, remodeling of two existing buildings that house administration and student services, replacement of HVAC, electrical upgrades, installation of new flooring, replacement of ceiling tiles and lighting, roof repairs, and landscape upgrades.

Norman S. Edelcup / Sunny Isles K-8 Center Total Investment of $668,000. This projectconsists of remodeling an existing computer lab into two new state-of-the-art classrooms to increase student capacity and enhance better use of space.

Lillie C. Evans K-8 Center Total investment of $2.9 million. This project includes the complete renovation of various classrooms, individual and group restrooms. A new elevator has been constructed, a new air conditioning system has been installed in the kitchen area, and new fencing has also been installed.

Glades Middle Total investment of $2.9 million. This project includes construction of a newone-story classroom building addition consisting of three classrooms and one collaborative space, housing 110 student stations, covered walkway connecting the new building, bathroom renovations, and resurfacing of play courts.

Barbara Goleman Senior High Total investment of $1.2 million. This project includes the remodeling of nine classrooms for use as magnet program labs, including cyber security, Bloomberg stock market training, forensic science and others.

Gulfstream Elementary Total investment of $1.4 million. The project includes a new bus drop-off area with a covered walkway, new parking spaces, new playground and a fitness area.

Barbara Hawkins Elementary Total investment of $2.9 million. This project includes the updating of classrooms with new impact windows, renovation of all group restrooms throughout the school, new air conditioning units in the cafeteria and administration building. The school also features a new PE shelter, playground and water fountains. The entire exterior of the school has also been painted.

Lake Stevens Elementary Total investment of $2.5 million. Project includes new HVAC upgrades throughout the facility, restroom renovation, covered walkways, new ceiling, flooring, lighting, fire alarm, public address (PA) and security alarm systems, playground, selective painting, portable removal, resurfacing and restriping of paved play areas and parking.

Miami Gardens Elementary School Total investment of $1.2 million. This project includesrestroom renovations, painting of interior and exterior buildings, resurfacing and restriping hardcourt, and replacement of basketball goals, drinking fountains and security camera system.

Miami Palmetto Senior High Total Investment of $53.1 million. Phase I of this project delivered a new three-story addition, which includes administrative offices, student services, newgeneral-purpose classroom, vocational labs for subjects such as web design, drafting and design, health science and business technology education totaling 1,554 student stations. This project has also completed the renovation and remodeling of the media center and science buildings with a new reading room, CCTV suite, computer labs, science labs, two science classrooms and supportspaces totaling an additional 248 student stations. Additional phases are under construction and will be completed in 2021.

Miami Springs Middle Total investment of $5.6 million. This project includes the provision of new windows and storefront doors, new air conditioning upgrades and restroom renovations in three buildings, fire alarm replacement, miscellaneous electrical upgrades, selective demolition of portables, restriping of the parking lot and new exterior painting of the entire campus.

North Miami Elementary Total investment of $3.4 million. This project includes complete classroom renovations, new air conditioning, new fire alarm and miscellaneous upgradesthroughout.

Palmetto Middle Total investment of $863,000. This project includes a complete band roomrenovation with new practice rooms, office, furniture, air conditioning, paint, ceiling and roofing. Additionally, the main GOB renovation project with a total investment of $5,934,840, which includes window replacement, HVAC upgrades, flooring and lighting replacement, re-roofing of various buildings, exterior painting and other miscellaneous improvements, will begin construction in early 2021.

Pinecrest Elementary Total investment of $3.9 million. This project includes the completerenovation of classrooms with impact window replacement, air conditioning, new ceilings, lighting, interior painting and cabinet replacement in three buildings. Some renovations were also completed in the cafeteria and administration office. Full air-conditioning replacement in the media center and all classrooms in Building 4 were completed, as well as renovation of grouprestrooms in Building 1 and single occupancy restrooms in Building 3. This project also included the exterior painting of the entire school.

Rainbow Park Elementary Total investment of $2.6 million. This project includes a new HVAC system, window replacement, covered walkways, restroom renovations, new ceiling, lighting, flooring and playground, portable demolition and a resurfaced basketball area.

Redland Middle Total investment of $2.9 million. This project includes replacement of selectwindows, air conditioning, ceiling tiles and flooring. New auditorium seating, a new air-conditioning system in the gymnasium, restroom renovations, new exterior paint throughout the campus and many more miscellaneous upgrades throughout are also included as part of the project.

Shenandoah Middle Total investment of $3.2 million. This project includes construction of a new one-story building addition, consisting of seven classrooms, 154 student stations, group and staff restrooms, office administration area, covered walkway and an attached PE shelter.

South Miami Middle Total investment of $4.8 million. This project includes installation ofselective window and air conditioning replacements, as well as group restroom renovations and selective interior paint.

Frances S. Tucker Elementary Total investment of $2.6 million. This project includes replacement of exterior windows, installation of new HVAC upgrades, restroom renovations and exterior painting of the whole campus.

The District-established Small/Micro Business Enterprise (S/MBE) utilization goals were met or exceeded by the architects and contractors on these projects with highly diverse sub-consultant and sub-contractor teams. This was further strengthened by a strong commitment to local workforce utilization.

Continued fidelity to the implementation of the GOB program and the District's steadycommitment to inclusivity and diversity in its procurement process are positively impacting the quality of the educational environment and the local economy.

For the most up-to-date information, please download the Dadeschools mobile app to your iPhone or Android device. Follow us on Twitter @mdcps and @miamisup, on Instagram @miamischools and @miamisup, and on Facebook at MiamiSchools and AlbertoCarvalho

This press release was produced by the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author's own.

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New And Renovated Schools Ready For M-DCPS Students For 2020-2021 School Year - Patch.com

The Fox Cities fall lineup of new retail and restaurant businesses is noticeably leaner this year as some projects have been put on hold during the pandemic.

The uncertainty, however, hasnt stopped a handful of local and national companies from forging ahead with their plans.

Construction has also started on a few ventures that will debut in 2021.

At the same time, several businesses are calling it quits.

Acoca Coffeesfall opening will be both a reopening and an expansion. The locally owned coffee shop is immediately north of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center on College Avenue in downtown Appleton. Its remodeling its original space and expanding next door. An exact opening date has not been announced yet.

Aldiis estimated to open the doors of its newest Appleton location around late October or early November. The new grocery store is on Richmond Street south of the roundabout at Northland Avenue.

Appleton Axeis the new entertainment venue under construction at 1400 W. College Ave. in Appleton, the former Barstools Direct space. Were marching ahead despite all the uncertainty, said Pat Van Abel, partner in the venture with Joe Van Abel and Tim Bruecker. We want to open mid to late October. The business has eight lanes where people throw axes at bullseyes and drink beer. The partners also own Green Bay Axe. Its lanes are frequently rented for birthday parties, bachelor or bachelorette parties, corporate team-building gatherings and leagues.

Bare Bones Brewerys tap room is slated to go into 226 Main St., part of the former Wreath Factory space, in downtown Menasha. Co-owner Dan Dringoli said his contractor is waiting for state-approved plans, and work should get underway in the next few weeks. He aims for a Nov. 1 soft opening. Future plans include adding food service and a separately owned distillery.

Burlingtonreopened its off-price clothing store Friday. It had been shut down since spring because of flood damage caused by a broken sprinkler line. The store is at 697 N. Westhill Boulevard in Grand Chute.

Jersey Mikes Subsis a local franchise of the national sub shop chain. Its opening day is currently slated for Sept. 30 at 149 N. Mall Drive, on the south side of the Fox River Mall in Grand Chute. It took half of the former World of Beer space.

Pizza Ranchplans to open its second Fox Cities location in October and is hiring now. The new location is on Integrity Way in Grand Chute, across the street from Costco. Its a locally owned franchise of a national brand. See its Facebook page, facebook.com/PizzaRanchAppletonWest, for hiring information.

A new banquet/convert venue is under construction now at RiverHeath on Appleton's riverfront. The building in the background of the rendering is RiverHeath's Willow mixed-use building.(Photo: Submitted)

RiverHeaths latest project, underway now, is a $5 million concert/event venue located between the recently completed Willow mixed-use building and the Courtyard by Marriott hotel. The illustration above looks south, with Willow in the background and Fox River to the right. The building will be ready by next summer.

Our goal with the event space is to bring a wide range of music, community and artistic events to the Fox Valley. We plan to host concerts, weddings, business meetings, yoga retreats and town halls along the riverfront, said Mark Geall, principal of Tansesay Development, the developer of the property. Reservations are being taken for events starting next summer. Contact information can be found at Riverheath.com.

The vacant The Source Public Houserestaurant building in Menasha could have new life shortly. The buildings ownership group is currently negotiating with two interested parties. We have been working on interior demolition and reconstruction of the bar, walls, etc., said building co-owner Bob Rossi. With the work yet to be done, we anticipate opening the restaurant January to February 2021.

This OfficeMax on Appleton's east side and the Office Depot on College Avenue will both close in November.(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Office Depotat 2700 W. College Ave. and OfficeMaxat 2401 S. Kensington Dr. in Appleton will close in November. An OfficeMax at 4683 W. College Ave. remains open. The stores are owned by ODP Corp., which said in SEC filings in May that it planned to layoff 13,100 workers and close an unspecified number of stores by 2023.

More: UPDATED The Buzz: Office Depot and one OfficeMax to close in Appleton

Town Council Kitchen & Barannounced lastweek is has closed indefinitely. The restaurant had an employee test positive for the coronavirus. Chef/owner Jon Horan said the uncertainty of the pandemic and unavoidable temporary closures make it tough for small businesses to keep going and maintain a staff.

More: The Buzz: Town Council Kitchen & Bar closes indefinitely in Neenah

Pier 1 Importswraps up its going-out-of-business sale this week at 4717 W. Michaels Drive in Grand Chute. The company filed for bankruptcy in February and liquidated all of its stores. It had been in the Fox Cities for 47 years, starting with its first shop in downtown Appleton.

Pier 1 Imports wraps up its going out of business sale in the next few days in Grand Chute.(Photo: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Contact reporter Maureen Wallenfang at 920-993-7116 or mwallenfang@postcrescent.com. Followher on Twitter at@wallenfang.

More: The Buzz: Restaurants worry about winter

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The Buzz: Fall preview of coming attractions, construction projects and closures - Post-Crescent