Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Historically, professional cleaners have used diverse protocols to clean, sanitize, and disinfect each aspect of a facility. Add mold remediation, odor control, and other tasks to the list and the prospect of success was even more daunting. Implementing separate procedures for every need usually leads to employing a range of specialized chemicals, making it easy for facility managers to lose control of the numerous products cluttering housekeeping closets. Now that weve entered the new normal, there are even more considerations for addressing COVID-19, creating further chemical confusion.

Cleaning a facility often involved numerous chemicals, including neutral floor cleaner, general hard-surface disinfectant, sporicidal, bleach, food-safe sanitizer, mold remover, odor eliminator, and more. Managing labels, safety data sheets, usage guidelines, and expiration records for all these products required countless hours, and requires even more with the addition of coronavirus.

To complicate matters, each chemical is applied differently and often requires dilution. Some facilities use dilution stations for full-concentrate chemicals. This approach raises various concerns, mainly human or equipment error. Sometimes leftover chemical in the lines, material wear on components, and changes in water pressure can lead to wide variations in the concentration of the chemicals dispensed from these units. At times these variations can render the disinfectant ineffective for its intended purpose.

Some of the most widely used chemicals can be toxic to humans and/or the environment at different concentrations. Other disinfectants may lose their effectiveness if mixed at the wrong concentration.

Facility managers already had complex jobs, compounded by time limitations, labor issues, worker safety, and budget restrictions but now pandemic concerns are added to the mix. If managers dont find ways to simplify current cleaning processes, their facilities may face increased health, safety, and compliance issues.

You may be wondering how its possible to replace the multitude of specialized chemicals used to clean and disinfect a typical facility. In recent years, a chemistry composed of sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) has shown promise as a streamlined solution. NaDCC is available in tablet concentrate form and, when mixed with normal tap water, creates hypochlorous acid (HOCI) solutions.

NaDCC is a noncaustic, organic chlorine donor. It is environmentally safe for people, equipment, and floors, and as a flexible, broad-spectrum disinfectant can be used throughout the cleaning process. When diluted at different strengths, NaDCC can act as sanitizer, hospital-grade disinfectant, sporicidal, or tuberculocidal. This multipurpose solution allows facilities to use one chemical from the beginning to the end of the cleaning process, and everything in between.

Eliminating a half-dozen chemicals from individual cleaning protocols would simplify processes and improve workflows. In addition to higher efficiencies, chemical simplification would result in various other benefits.

Standardizing processes around one broad-spectrum chemistry can increase safety for all stakeholders, as well as protect equipment and the environment, in the following ways:

At sporicidal strength, NaDCC is proven to kill C. difficile in 4 minutes, is on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) list K of recommended products by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for C. auris, etc., and on list N of antimicrobials with emerging viral pathogen claims that are approved for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes of COVID-19. The chemical equilibrium of an NaDCC-derived hypochlorous acid solution is approximately 50/50 free chlorine/bound chlorine. When the solution is in the presence of microbes or organic material, the free chlorine is used up, triggering the release of more free chlorine to restore equilibrium. Therefore, a reservoir of chlorine is available for biocidal action, or reserve killing power, that continues for up to three days after mixing.

Switching to NaDCC tablet form also allows facilities to leverage new electrostatic technologies. Electrostatic sprayers are capable of up to 10-times faster application times and virtually 100% wrap-around disinfection, which has been a game changer for every sector of the cleaning business.

This efficient application process can make it tempting to use more chemicals. However, when used responsibly, these new technologies will reduce the amount of chemicals needed to clean and disinfect while achieving improved outcomes.

Standardization of cleaning and disinfection processes also can solve many compliance concerns. Levels of compliance are directly proportional to cleaning success. Best practices include consolidating around a universal disinfectant that achieves maximum safety and efficacy and eliminates persistent industry risks, like chemical binding. Less chemical variation also leads to better tracking and monitoring, as well as simpler training programs that can be easily replicated and scaled, which is crucial in an industry where multilingual staff and high turnover are prevalent. The end goal is to improve outcomes and raise levels of compliance.

The cleaning industry embraces reinvention. Revamping for improvement involves streamlining processes, starting with the chemicals we use. Ultimately, these streamlined processes can result in more efficient and effective sanitation, increased compliance, and proactive prevention of contagious outbreaks like COVID-19.

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Streamlining Cleaning Chemistries in the New Normal - CMM

This video frame grab shows John Oliver from his Last Week Tonight with John Oliver program on HBO, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. On Aug. 22, Danbury, Conn., Mayor Mark Boughton announced a tongue-in-cheek move posted on his Facebook page to rename Danburys local sewage treatment plant after Oliver following the comedian's expletive-filled rant about the city. Oliver then offered to donate $55,000 to charity if the city actually followed through with it. On Thursday, Oct. 8, the Danbury City Council voted 18-1 to rename the sewage plant after the comedian.

This video frame grab shows John Oliver from his Last Week...

With the Danbury wastewater plant being renamed after a comedian in exchange for his giving local charities $55,000 (with more on the way a community fundraiser launched this week to celebrate the newly christened John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant has already netted another $50,000), it made me wonder if some needy causes elsewhere in the state could benefit from a bit of name-brand rebranding.

For example ...

Construction continues at Westover Elementary School in Stamford, Conn. Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. The magnet elementary school, which had been closed for the last two years for mold remediation, will reopen this year. The school had been housed inside an office building in the South End for the last two years.

Construction continues at Westover Elementary School in Stamford,...

The gazillionare hedge fund owner wanted to move his Bridgewater Associates headquarters to Stamford a few years ago in exchange for a literal boatyard of coastal destruction and state tax breaks. The locals put up too big of a fight, and he stayed in Westport. Through his educational philanthropic foundation, Dalio later wanted to pump $100 million into Connecticuts underperforming schools through a questionable partnership with the state mired in constant controversy. That was scuttled earlier this year. Dalio, however, says he still wants to make the donation.

Lets offer him Westover Magnet Elementary School in Stamford. The school was closed for two years to undergo $24 million in renovations to combat mold issues. Right before it reopened for this autumn, more moisture problems bubbled up. Dalios generosity would let him fulfill both his desires: a major tax write-off that helps Connecticut students and getting a deal on a nice piece of soggy Stamford property.

A view of a part of the Bridgeport Correctional Center located on North Avenue in Bridgeport, Conn., on Friday July 10, 2015. The BCC is a high-security facility which houses about 950 inmates. Due to a decline in the prison population, the Connecticut Department of Correction with be closing down the center's Fairmont Unit.

A view of a part of the Bridgeport Correctional Center located on...

The seven-term Bridgeport mayor spent a stretch of time between terms five and six in federal prison for public corruption related to a kickback scheme. Now his administration is again being scrutinized by the FBI. His police chief (a longtime Ganim friend and his former driver/bodyguard) and the citys personal director have been charged by the feds with rigging the search for the citys top law enforcement officer, possibly to appease the mayor.

Yeah the local hoosegow a little obvious of a choice but Ganim is too far tarnished at this point to hope to have his name put on a redemption center. Certainly some of the numbskulls who have continued to vote this ex-con into office can pony up the bucks for the naming rights and a good cause such as ethics training for Bridgeport officials.

The Cardinal Stadium home bleachers are closed during a lacrosse game at Greenwich High School in Greenwich, Conn. in April of 2019. The Board of Estimate and Taxations Budget Committee has authorized money to be spent on moving forward new bleachers for Greenwich High Schools Cardinal Stadium and design for a new municipal ice rink.

The Cardinal Stadium home bleachers are closed during a lacrosse...

The quarterback of six Super Bowl winning New England Patriots teams fired up locals for months when rumors swirled about him and model wife Gisele Bndchen buying a mansion in a certain tony southern Connecticut town. Alas, it didnt happen. Now it looks like the couple will instead buy a palace closer to his new job in Florida, running the offense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

However, Brady still has strong ties along with some loyalty to his old club and boss, massage aficionado Robert Kraft, who would love to capture the hearts and dollars of the one corner of the New England region that still roots for the New York football clubs, no matter how lousy they are. With Greenwich High Schools football stadium in need of repairs and funding for them, it sounds like a match made in a NFL marketing executives red, white and blue dream.

The Heroes Tunnel, formerly the West Rock Tunnel, on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in New Haven.

The Heroes Tunnel, formerly the West Rock Tunnel, on the Wilbur...

The 1,200-foot Heroes Tunnel on the Wilbur Cross Parkway offers the perfect naming opportunity for any Connecticut commentator, be they conservative, liberal or just a boy pounding out 628 silly words every two weeks for the regional media monopoly, uh reputable raker of Nutmeg State muck. Why? Because when the summer breezes around this West Rock Ridge locale pick up, it offers the perfect summary of the profession in the eyes of its many naysayers: one end blows hot air while the other just sucks.

On second thought, whod ever pay for that?

Stamford native Kevin McKeever, whose nationally award-winning column appears here every other Friday, is a freelance writer. Tweet him at @homeanduncool or email him at kevin@writeonkevin.com.

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Kevin McKeever: Who wants to put their name on a moldy CT school? - Laredo Morning Times

CASSVILLE, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Midwest Retail Properties (MRP) is excited to announce a 10-year lease with Westco Home Furnishings Co. for 13,325 square feet in Cassville, MO. Westco Home Furnishings is a well-established regional furniture retailer with 12 Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma locations. MRP owns and manages Cassville Plaza, a Walmart-Anchored retail center with national credit tenants, Tractor Supply and Dollar Tree, in Cassville, Missouri. Westco Home Furnishings is relocating from its current location on 8th Street to Cassville Plaza.

MRPs construction administrator, Tom Heintz, is working with the team at Westco to manage the retailer's build-out. Westco hopes to be open for business in February 2021 at their new location.

Westco Home Furnishings was founded by Mr. Dail West in 1944. The first small store was located on Main Street in Miami, Oklahoma and was known as Miami Sales Company. Furniture was added in 1955 with the opening of Commerce Sales Company in Commerce, Oklahoma. Westco has continued to grow over the years and now has stores in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. Additional information can be found at westcohomefurnishings.com.

Midwest Retail Properties is a St. Louis-based private equity real estate firm that owns and manages Walmart-Anchored Shadow Centers in secondary and tertiary locations nationwide. MRPs current portfolio is comprised of over 1 million square feet of retail space across 15 states. Additional information can be found at http://www.mrpstl.com.

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Midwest Retail Properties Signs 10-Year Lease With Regional Furniture Chain for 13325 sf - Business Wire

The Floyd County Jail medical wing is on track for completion at the end of November, despite the initial worry that the coronavirus pandemic might slow the process down.

The remaining construction is mostly electrical, plumbing, drywall installation and painting the walls, but both Floyd County Jail Administrator Maj. Bob Sapp and Carroll Daniel Construction Superintendent John Dooly feel good about the process and timing.

Weve been assisting with inmate labor, which has helped tremendously, Sapp said. In fact, right now we have inmates priming the walls and helping set sheet rock.

The renovation is phase one of a 2017 special purpose, local option sales tax project. Construction began in the spring, right when the pandemic hit Northwest Georgia.

It (the pandemic) puts a damper on things, trying to keep people at a distance, Dooly said. It does slow things down a little bit trying to get everyone to work safely, which theyve been doing great at. Probably the biggest thing is getting the products and materials out there, because a lot of those companies have shut down so that throws us a little bit behind... Other than that, weve been doing pretty good.

For a jail, a medical facility has to be just as impregnable and secure as the other parts of the building.

Any kind of mechanical, electrical or plumbing is very specialized, Sapp said. Every piece of equipment in here is extremely sophisticated... you cant just call a plumber to fix something at the jail because its unlike anything a regular plumber has ever seen.

The ceiling itself has an iron mesh grid to prevent inmates from breaking through. The walls are also reinforced with metal studs and high velocity impact sheetrock.

Its extremely heavy, it takes two to three guys to just carry a sheet of it, Sapp said. And it goes over the iron mesh on both sides of the wall and the steel beams inside.

The floor itself is 12 inches of solid concrete to prevent any further breaking.

The medical facility will have about 16 to 20 beds on both the male and female sides, as well as two isolation rooms for inmates with infectious diseases, a dentistry room, a break room and offices for the doctors.

Every cell and bed will be suicide-resistant as well, which includes bolted down beds and reinforced utilities. This is to prevent anyone from intentionally hurting themselves or fashioning any sort of weapon from the bed frame, bathroom mirror or other parts of the cell.

Were lucky to have had Carroll Daniel Construction oversee this because theyve done such a special job with this project, Sapp said.

Staff is currently in the process of getting phase two of the SPLOST project started, which will begin converting side five of the jail into a mental health wing. The mental health wing will be able to house 40 to 45 inmates.

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Jail medical wing renovation expected to be ready end of November - Rome News-Tribune

Rusty Bienvenue, executive director of both the AIA Houston and the Architecture Center Houston, poses at the reception desk in the newly renovated center, which is home to AIA Houston. Renovations on the site -- a historic downtown building -- were nearly complete in 2017 when Hurricane Harvey flooded it. They had to start completely over, including installing more flood mitigation.

Rusty Bienvenue, executive director of both the AIA Houston and the Architecture Center Houston, poses at the reception desk in the newly renovated center, which is home to AIA Houston. Renovations on the site

Photo: Gary Fountain, Houston Chronicle / Contributor

Rusty Bienvenue, executive director of both the AIA Houston and the Architecture Center Houston, poses at the reception desk in the newly renovated center, which is home to AIA Houston. Renovations on the site -- a historic downtown building -- were nearly complete in 2017 when Hurricane Harvey flooded it. They had to start completely over, including installing more flood mitigation.

Rusty Bienvenue, executive director of both the AIA Houston and the Architecture Center Houston, poses at the reception desk in the newly renovated center, which is home to AIA Houston. Renovations on the site

Once flooded by Harvey, the new home of AIA Houston and the Architecture Center is almost open

For seven years now, Rusty Bienvenue has been steeped in issues of construction, engineering, raw materials, fund raising, insurance and grant applications. He never imagined hed have to seek advice on flood mitigation, navigate intricate insurance channels or search for the best acoustician he could find.

Late in the summer of 2017, Bienvenue, executive director of both the Architecture Center Houston and the Houston chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and his staff were just a few weeks away from moving into their new home in the historical B.A. Reasoner Building after a lengthy and intricate buildout.

What: virtual home tour using videos of 15 home projects by Houston architects

When: Oct. 24

Where: AIAHoustonhometour.org

Cost: free

Like much of downtown, the building was flooded by Hurricane Harveys relentless rain that left 4 feet of water in what was to be the centers new home at 900 Commerce. Originally known as the B.A. Reasoner Building, it went up in 1906, just a block from the historical marker that recognizes Allens Landing, where the Allen brothers founded the city of Houston.

AIA Houston and the Architecture Center are separate organizations but are intricately linked, as AIA Houston makes its home in the center. For a decade, they had saved money from programs and galas to pay for their $1.3 million building and its initial $950,000 renovation.

Hurricane Harvey sent them back to the drawing board, having to start over and incorporate more flood mitigation, all of which cost $1.6 million. Though they had flood insurance, their settlement with FEMA was a mere $248,000, leaving them on the hunt for grants including some from the Brown and Elkins Foundations and the Downtown Management District and other donations.

MORE FROM DIANE COWEN: Texas architects help Houston couple build modern farmhouse in Washington County

AIA Houston had its own competition to determine which local architecture firm would reimagine the space, and Murphy Mears Architects won; Cardno and Walter P Moore handled engineering.

Bienvenue and his staff will move in at the end of October, and on Nov. 9 the 5,400-square-foot center will debut its first exhibit by reservation only and in very small groups Houston 2020 Visions, an exhibit about flooding, resiliency and the citys future. Already it is online at Houston2020Visions.org.

We own it and feel like it could be a model of resilience strategy for how you live in a floodplain, Bienvenue said of the new Architecture Center Houston. We think its unethical and immoral to abandon old buildings if you can figure out how to save them.

On Oct. 24, the groups annual home tour will be conducted virtually online at AIAHoustonhometour.org. The tour is one of the citys most prestigious, a juried collection of homes designed by local architects and open to the public.

This years tour, however, is virtual and includes videos of 15 homes, most of which are local. There are a few country homes and one in Australia, but they all represent the work of Houston architects.

They include a tiny home, others on the small side and some that are considerably larger and more luxurious. A video of New Hope Housing, an award-winning apartment building for those with very low income, is included.

Bienvenues tour of the new Architecture Center still shows some work to be done, but its mostly cleanup. The concrete floors will be sealed and polished, but speckles of darker aggregate in the mix show through.

Most of the cast-in-place concrete walls will remain bare, though some have plaster and a couple have drywall. One of those is a panel with drywall front and back installed on a track that moves through the main exhibit space.

MORE FROM DIANE COWEN: First look: Houstons Giorgetti building makes a sleek statement

The new Architecture Center Houston, home of AIA Houston, is in the B.A. Reasoner Building, built in 1909.

The new Architecture Center Houston, home of AIA Houston, is in the...

Flood mitigation measures installed beyond their first buildout include exterior steel panels with caulking, round plugs in the floor that would pop up to relieve hydrostatic pressure should floodwater come from underneath the building and a protective bathtub in the center of the main space.

Its meant to withstand 8 or 9 feet of water, allowing some to go in to protect the buildings structure. Bienvenue explained that the pressure of floodwater on a water-tight building would cause the walls to collapse. Allowing some water in causes damage but prevents destruction, he said.

That bathtub or submarine, as Bienvenue calls it, is a watertight, bunker-like cube in the center, with flood doors to keep its contents dry and safe. Its where the computers and equipment are located, so they wouldnt be ruined in flooding.

The main part of the centers space is for exhibits a big open room with concrete floors and walls and smaller tracks in the ceiling from which exhibit panels could hang.

A reception desk near the center bathtub was pushed back to be more welcoming, inviting people in instead of stopping them at the door. Its a work of art on its own, a Murphy Mears design with a Corten steel envelope fabricated by artist George Sacaris on a wooden base created by Brochsteins, a Houston firm known for its fine woodwork and cabinet making.

Meeting space on the side has panels that can open or close to allow one large space or two smaller rooms; its furniture is on wheels and modular so it can be reshaped to any groups need.

One of the biggest visual changes is the lack of drywall. The Harvey flooding caused the architects to rip out drywall everywhere. In their second go-around, drywall was kept to a minimum for easier cleanup in case of future flooding.

There are also interesting panels on the ceiling, with beveled holes cut in what looks like a celestial pattern. Theyre simply plywood panels painted white, with the holes cut both to allow light to come through and to maximize acoustics. Bienvenue said the panels manage sound so well that events wont even require microphones.

The Houston 2020 Visions exhibit will be the next event held here, and when the coronavirus pandemic has waned enough, Bienvenue said that AIA and the Architecture Center hope this can be a venue for other groups.

Its built for architecture and design, and well define that broadly. We dont mind if parties and weddings are held here, Bienvenue said. We want the space to be activated.

diane.cowen@chron.com

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Once flooded by Harvey, the new home of AIA Houston and the Architecture Center is almost open - Laredo Morning Times

Before the coronavirus pandemic hit the US, working from home was seen by some as a once-in-a-while luxury, something you had to clear with supervisors to make sure your work production didn't suffer. But since mid-March, millions of people have been working remotely from home. Now, companies like Dropbox and Microsoft are letting their employees work from home permanently, and many other companies are considering letting employees continue to work from home after the pandemic.

For some, the transition to working from home was seamless and even benefited their mental health, but for others, trying to balance family life and work life under one roof has been challenging. Enter backyard offices, the newest trend in the tiny living world hoping to spice up the work-from-home game.

With companies looking for an alternative to office space and people in need of a new home office, here are five tiny office companies around the world offering a fresh perspective on working from home.

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5 tiny offices that let you work from your own backyard - Insider - INSIDER

The first phase of construction will be complete by fall 2021. Photo by Meghan Stratton.

MEGHAN STRATTON | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | mrstratt@butler.edu

Since breaking ground over a year ago, the massive, cordoned construction zone between Gallahue Hall and the Holcomb Building has given way to a brand-new connector building and the beginnings of a glittering glass atrium. The 96,000-square-foot project is the result of over ten years of planning, and as the metal framework grows every day, Butlers vision for a cutting-edge new science complex is coming to life.

There were several different groups involved in the initial project proposal, but it wasnt until June 2019 that the Board of Trustees officially approved the plans. LuAnne McNulty, associate dean and chemistry department chair, said she and Jay Howard, dean of the college of liberal arts and sciences, were on pins and needles awaiting the results of the Boards decision.

And I think, for days, both of us just walked around on a cloud of air because it was so exciting, McNulty, also a chemistry professor, said. And it was also, I think, for a lot of people, kind of an emotional moment, because so many of us came here and have been working in these facilities that we were told would be eventually upgraded. And so when it finally happened, it was just like, Oh my gosh.

After the announcement, Butler worked to solidify its plans and divided the construction process into three phases. Phase I will be completed in fall 2021, and the construction of the remaining two phases is on track to be completed by 2023. The project will add 11 classrooms of different sizes, the largest of which will be able to seat 75 students. Additionally, the complex will provide dedicated spaces for biology, chemistry, psychology, physics and engineering dual degree program majors.

Butler is hoping to raise $42 million of the $100 million renovation budget from donors. Meagan Burton-Krieger, development officer for university advancement, said donors have already contributed around $30 million in gifts and commitments.

The beauty of that is that we have so many passionate alumni and friends who are into what this building will mean, both to our students and our faculty but also to the city and to the industry around town, Burton-Krieger said.

Phase I

Phase I of the science complex construction project focuses on connecting Gallahue Hall and the Holcomb Building through the creation of a new connector building. This building will house classrooms, private study areas, a completely renovated science library, research labs and common spaces.

The buildings central focus is a large glass atrium, which is currently in the final stages of installation and completion. The atrium will serve as a common collaboration space, designed for students to casually socialize or to gather for larger assemblies like poster sessions and guest speakers.

Burton-Krieger said this space is designed intentionally; the science departments have traditionally struggled to figure out where to hold these types of events, as there is currently no large gathering space located near the science buildings.

The new science complex will feature an atrium with glass windows. Photo by Xan Korman.

Furniture for the atrium, which is currently being finalized, will include several small tables and chairs for gathering, as well as larger couches and individual chairs by the windows. Toward the west end, the atrium will also feature risers for students to gather on, as part of the Fenneman Gateway donor space.

Construction has begun on the risers that students will be able to gather on. Photo by Xan Korman.

Once completed, the risers will look similar to depiction in the renderings. Rendering courtesy of Butler University Office of Advancement.

The second floor of the connector building will hold the newly-renovated science library, which is now one floor instead of two. The library will feature a back wall made entirely of glass windows, collaborative group study spaces and individual study hubs. The science library is scheduled to open in March 2021, but the details of how students will enter amid construction is still being determined.

There are a couple of ways in, so were just trying to figure it out at that point with where we are construction wise, Burton-Krieger said.

The complex will feature a renovated science library. Photo by Xan Korman.

The renovated science library will feature study spaces for groups and individuals. Rendering courtesy of Butler University Office of Advancement.

Next to the science library, there will be a classroom computer lab. There will also be a study space walled off by glass, similar to the Lacy School of Business Innovation Commons. Additionally, on the second floor there will be a classroom with a retractable glass wall meant to accommodate both open and closed environments, depending on the need. Burton-Krieger said this points back to the idea of collaboration within the sciences.

In the complex, there will be a classroom with a retractable glass wall for open and closed environments. Rendering courtesy of Butler University Office of Advancement.

NcNulty said the research and teaching labs were designed with the future of science in mind. Even if science changes drastically in the next 20 years, McNulty said the facilities were designed to be changeable which translates to the implementation of pod seating and moveable coursework.

Construction has begun on chemistry and biochemistry resources and classrooms within the complex. Photo by Xan Korman.

New biochemistry research labs will be included in the new complex. Rendering courtesy of Butler University Office of Advancement.

The

The science complex will also feature new organic chemistry labs. Rendering courtesy of Butler University Office of Advancement.

Phase I of the construction process has not come without outside influences: first, the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March and sent students home from campus. However, Eric Zeronik, senior superintendent at Pepper Construction of Indiana, said the pandemic has not had a big impact on the construction.

We were back here on our own and able to work, not outside of the limits or anything, but we were able to take advantage of a quiet campus, Zeronik said.

Despite the pandemic, the project is still on schedule for the original 2023 completion date, although the company did see a few minor delays for materials like glass. The construction project is essentially following the same health policy as Butler: workers are required to do a health check with temperature monitoring each day. Zeronik said they have only had about five workers self-quarantine, but that there havent been any positive COVID-19 cases on the project.

Pepper Construction is also currently priming to conduct construction in the cold winter months. To prepare, they are currently completely renovating the Holcomb Building roof and adding drywall to the connector building at a rate of 170 drywall sheets per day. Zeronik said the construction company is in the process of getting air handler units, what he calls the heart and lungs of the building, so the project will have hot air for the winter.

We have it to the point now where the main structure is up, were really getting the envelope buttoned up for the winter, Zeronik said. So when the colder weather comes in, well be dry.

Phase II

After the connector building is completed for fall 2021, the construction will shift focus to renovating and repurposing the Holcomb Building. The first floor of Holcomb will house the psychology major and neuroscience minor departments, while the physics department will be on the second floor. Finally, Butlers IT department and the dual-engineering program will be located on the third floor.

The Holcomb renovation will add classrooms and research labs in addition to common work spaces. Holcomb was the previous home of the Lacy School of Business until fall 2019, and thus the entire construction project needed to wait until the business school moved into their new building.

Phase III

After Holcomb is completely renovated, Gallahue Hall will be the next construction focal point. The biology and microbiology departments will be housed in the basement and ground floor of Gallahue, and the chemistry and biochemistry departments will occupy the second and third floors.

There will be several added classrooms and research labs in Gallahue as well. Specifically, one lab on the second floor will be dedicated to biochemical research.

It really is an interdisciplinary space Burton-Krieger said. Theres going to be a research space in there that really puts faculty who work together on the same topic together, versus by discipline.

Additionally, the current auditorium in Gallahue will receive considerable renovations and refreshments to the space. It will continue to serve as a classroom for large lectures.

Looking toward future phases

As Butler has seen a 50% enrollment increase in the past decade, Burton-Krieger said the science departments will be at capacity upon completion of the science complex expansion and renovation. The college of liberal arts and sciences is the largest college on campus, with over 35 programs.

Burton-Krieger said Butler has done two things intentionally in the construction process: allocated potential expansion room on the roof for a fourth floor, and left room at the back of the current expansion.

The complex will have a campus-wide impact, since all Butler students are required to take a Natural World class with a lab element as part of the core curriculum.

Not only does it impact our science majors and our COPHS majors, but also with the core requirement, every student will benefit from this building, which is one of the very few places on campus that actually happens, Burton-Krieger said. So this is a project that is for all Butler students.

Related

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Behind the scenes of Butler's science complex construction - The Butler Collegian

With a home equity loan from Alpine Credits, you can upgrade your living conditions and increase your homes value

As the current global situation keeps us physically distanced from each other and the world outside, were focusing more on the safety and comfort of home life. Since we dont know how long the current situation may last, some of us are looking to make our homes as comfortable as possible.

Many homes have an underutilized space, whether its a spare room, large attic, or unfinished basement, and theres never been a better time to renovate that space and put it to use. A renovation wont just make your living conditions more enjoyable, itll also add value to your home.

Of course, home renovations cost more than most of us have sitting around. One way to finance your renovation is by leveraging your homes equity. Your home can be your best collateral: lenders view borrowing against it as low-risk, which means youre likely to get lower ratesand make smaller monthly interest payments as a result.

There are other ways to save money during a home renovation too, such as taking advantage of home renovation tax credits. We asked Alpine Creditsa pioneer in the private lending marketto help us examine the costs of finishing a basement and advise us on the best ways to finance it. Heres what they told us:

The costs of finishing a basement

Basement renovations are among the most common types home modifications in Canada. Finishing your basement can cost, on average, between $35 and $55 per square foot, depending on your planned usage. Obviously, turning a basement into a standalone living area with its own bathroom and kitchen will cost more than building a simple rec room or office space. A full basement renovation can cost between $22,000 and $82,000, depending on the size (square feet), while renovating your basement for use as a recreational or home office space is more in the $14,000 to $50,000 range.

The benefits of finishing your basement

Whatever way you decide to go, finishing your basement is one of the best investments you can make in your home. For one, it raises your propertys value, making it more attractive to a future buyer who wont have to worry about doing the work themselves. Finishing your basement can also be a way to bring in a bit of extra incomeup to tens of thousands of dollars a year!by creating a standalone rental apartment.

Financing your renovation

Even a simple home renovation can cost more than most people have on hand. One of the best ways to finance it is with a home equity loan. Home equity loansare among the most popular means of financing home renovations. They work by providing access to the equity youve built up in your home over the years. This equity can easily be enough to cover the cost of your renovation.

Why use a home equity loan rather than putting the cost on a credit card or line or credit? For one, interest rates on a home equity loan usually are much lower. And taking out a home equity loan with a lender like Alpine Credits, instead of a traditional bank, can save you even more money. Plus, lenders like Alpine Credits dont take your credit score into accountthe main criteria is that your home has enough equity to cover the cost of the loan.

Tax credits

Unlike most home renovation tax credits, a home equity loan from Alpine Credits doesnt come with a list of eligible and ineligible renovations. The equity youve built up in your home is yours, and you can use it as you see fit.

A home renovation is just one of the many ways a home equity loan can help change your lifeand Alpine Credits is here to support you along the way. For more than 50 years, Alpine Credits has helped Canadian homeowners get the home equity loans they need, when they need it, regardless of their credit, age or income.

Contact Alpine Credits today to make your financial dream a reality.

Excerpt from:
Why now is the perfect time to renovate your homeand add to its value - Toronto Life

The initial COVID-19 lockdowns were easier said than done. Staying home sounds great in theory, but what is a kid to do when theyve exhausted the activities around their house? For a 12-year-old named Bea, that meant sprucing up parts of her familys abode in Kent, UK. With her DIY-expert mom Susie Levache as a guide, Bea helped transform areas of the home into chic spaces on a budget. Over the course of a week, they spent just about $125 to renovate parts of the house by largely repurposing items and using supplies they had on hand.

Some of Beas additions include wood paneling placed in her moms office and making upgrades to hardware on cabinets. Susie taught her to use tools like a handsaw, electric drill, and tile cutter, giving Bea the confidence to take on her own DIY tasks while helping her mom, too. Ive pretty much been trucking through our house renovation solo, Susie tells My Modern Met, so when I had help and Bea took a very active role in the room updates, it was wonderful to go from solo to a team!

Despite teaching her some serious power tools (that many adults would be apprehensive to use), the most challenging lesson that Susie has taught her daughter is all in her head. The most difficult thing was to get her to believe in herself and let her know there was no jeopardy and that if something went wrong we could fix it together, she says. Once this was overcome there wasnt any work or project that she didnt want to tackle.

Bea is already developing her own decorating voice. Her style and the way she goes about the physical work is far more precise and clean than mine, Susie explains. Im very slapdash and do things impulsivelyshe thinks and plans because she wants to get things right the first time. She will also start with a color and build from that whereas I want to see the whole picture.

Working together and chronicling it on Susies Instagram has gained admirers throughout the world. Weve been over the moon at the responses and the messages we have received from as far and wide as China and Australia with photos of other peoples first-time projects, and we hope to add more how-to videos on our Instagram in the next school holiday.

Susie Levache: Instagram

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12-Year-Old Helps DIY Mom With Home Renovations During COVID-19 - My Modern Met

TipRanks

Its the final countdown. With the U.S. Presidential election only two weeks away, election year stress is making the rounds on Wall Street, but one pro argues that regardless of the outcome, opportunity could emerge.Oppenheimers Chief Investment Strategist John Stoltzfus notes that in the last leg of the race to the White House, the markets appear to be signaling that no matter how loud the rhetoric gets from either side and no matter which side wins, investment opportunity in some form is likely to prevail over risk beyond inauguration day in January 2021. He added, In our experience opportunity often arises from uncertainty while a perception of certainty often breeds complacency.As for Q3 earnings season, its already surprising to the upside. Although its still too early to tell how the season will play out, Stoltzfus says so far so good. Data from the past weekend shows 84% of companies that already reported have beat earnings expectations and 82% have exceeded revenue expectations for the quarter. Taking Stoltzfus outlook into consideration, Oppenheimers analysts are pounding the table on two under-the-radar stocks, noting that each could double or more in the next year. Using TipRanks database, we found out that the rest of the Street is also on board, as each boasts a Strong Buy consensus rating.NeuBase Therapeutics (NBSE)Developing the next generation of gene-silencing therapies with its flexible, highly specific synthetic antisense oligonucleotides, NeuBase Therapeutics wants to improve the lives of patients everywhere. Based on the strength of its platform, Oppenheimer thinks big things could be in store.Firm analyst Hartaj Singh highlights the company'sPeptide-nucleic acid (PNA) AnTisense OLigonucleotide (PATrOL) platform, which enables rapid drug design to treat various medical abnormalities, systemic delivery (IV), blood-brain barrier penetration, increased cell permeability, access to genomic loci and secondary RNA structures and the development of highly selective therapies, as overcoming the technical limitations to first-generation antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs).We believe that in the profound potential of ASOs to treat diseases, the current field of first-gen therapies has created a hurdle for a company like NBSE, whereby its technical advantages to ASOs through its PATrOL platform could lead to therapies with a better risk/benefit profile, Singh explained.Additionally, the long-tail redistribution of NBSE's PNAs could have significant implications in terms of the dosing regimens for these agents (potentially weeks to months). Singh mentioned, In combination with the enhanced druggability of targets via PNAs, we continue to view the PATrOL platform's potential highly, with the customary attention reserved for safety on such novel medicines.After the first half of 2020 helped shine additional validation on this platform, the company remains on track with its lead Huntington's disease (HD) candidate, NT0100. Additional preclinical results and candidate selection are set to come by YE20.Looking at the available preclinical NHP data, it supports broad biodistribution and rapid tissue uptake following systemic (IV) administration, an important feature of the platform, according to Singh. As the delivery of therapeutics and their penetration of deep brain structures remain of paramount importance for diseases such as HD, we are encouraged leading up to additional PD data from preclinical models (Q4 2020) Despite the early nature of these preclinical NHP PK data and in-vitro PD data, we believe that they strongly validate the approach NeuBase has taken to truly develop a better mousetrap, and differentiate its technology from conventional ASOs, he commented.These features are inheritable across the class of PNAs NeuBase hopes to bring forward, and thus, Singh has high hopes for NT0200, its product for HD and myotonic dystrophy (DM1). DM1 is trailing the HD program by approximately six months. Following candidate selection in 1H21, IND-enabling studies could kick off. Everything that NBSE has going for it prompted Singh to leave his Outperform (i.e. Buy) rating as is. Along with the call, he keeps the price target at $17, suggesting 104% upside potential. (To watch Singhs track record, click here)Are other analysts in agreement? They are. Only Buy ratings, 4 to be exact, have been issued in the last three months. Therefore, the message is clear: NBSE is a Strong Buy. Given the $16.50 average price target, shares could soar 97% in the next year. (See NBSE stock analysis on TipRanks)Prevail Therapeutics (PRVL)Next up we have Prevail Therapeutics, which is developing disease-modifying gene therapies for patients with Parkinsons disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. After an impressive update on the progress of its pipeline, Oppenheimer likes what its seeing.Representing the firm, analyst Jay Olson highlights the encouraging data from the Phase 1/2a PROPEL trial evaluating its lead candidate, PR001, in Parkinsons disease (PD) patients with the GBA1 mutation (PD-GBA). This mutation affects roughly 9% of all PD patients in the U.S.Looking more closely at the trial, it enrolled two patients, with preliminary data demonstrating normalization of CSF GCase activity at month-three from undetectable levels at baseline. According to Olson, this strongly suggests clinical improvement. It should be noted that there were serious adverse events (SAEs) at month-three, likely related to immune response to AAV9 capsid, that resolved. However, the analyst argues the immune response in AAV9 gene therapies is normal and transient.Additionally, PRVL submitted a protocol amendment for the PROPEL trial, and enrollment is expected to continue in 2H20. The company wants to change the design to an open-label study targeting 12 patients, including the two current patients, and plans to optimize the immunosuppresive regimen to spare steroid administration. To this end, two-month safety and biomarker data in a subset of patients is set to come by mid-2021. Should the therapy ultimately be approved for this indication, Olson sees possible 2035 risk-unadjusted sales of $8 billion.On top of this, a normalization of CSF GCase activity at month-four from undetectable levels at baseline was also seen in a Gaucher disease (GD2) patient on PR001 within compassionate use program. This rare inherited lysosomal disorder is also caused by autosomal recessive inheritance in the GBA1 gene.In Olsons opinion, this result provided positive read across to the Phase 1/2 PROVIDE study in GD2, initiating in 2H20. Because GD2 is an ultrarare disease that affects infants and results in a very short life expectancy, we believe the GD2 indication has a shorter regulatory pathway compared to other GBA1-related indications. We estimate PR001 approval, if clinically successful, may happen in 2024 given a lack of treatments for GD2 patients, he mentioned. Whats more, the Phase 1/2 PROCLAIM study of PR006, its therapy for GRN frontotemporal dementia (GRN-FTD), is expected to kick off in 2H20, with the two-month biomarker readout from a subset of patients slated for late 2020 or early 2021.Given all of the above, Olson stated, We view share price at an attractive entry point while PRVL remains well-capitalized with $131 million in cash providing runway into 1H22.It should come as no surprise, then, that Olson stays with the bulls. In addition to an Outperform (i.e. Buy) rating, he left a $25 price target on the stock. Investors could be pocketing a gain of 156%, should this target be met in the twelve months ahead. (To watch Olsons track record, click here)All in all, other analysts echo Olsons sentiment. 5 Buys and no Holds or Sells add up to a Strong Buy consensus rating. With an average price target of $23.25, the upside potential comes in at 139%. (See PRVL stock analysis on TipRanks)To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

Read more from the original source:
Qanvast Providing Peace of Mind on Home Renovation During Uncertain Times - Yahoo Finance