ASHRAE New York Tech Program to Focus on Tall Buildings
It’s only appropriate that in a city known for skyscrapers—home to nearly 600—that the 2014 ASHRAE Winter Conference Technical Program puts a special focus on the design, development and operation of tall buildings when it visits New York City, Jan. 18-22. “The ASHRAE Technical Program offers a great opportunity to learn from fellow professionals and [...]
Empire State Building, Radio Stations Plan Halloween Light and Music Show
The Empire State Building and Clear Channel Media will join together to give New York City and the world a special Halloween Trick and Treat. The skyscraper will synchronize its LED tower lights to Halloween-themed music broadcast on Clear Channel’s radio stations Z100 and 103.5 KTU at 8:30 p.m. EST, on October 31, 2013. The [...]
Developers Settle Dispute, Clearing Way for New Central Park South Tower
Vornado Realty Trust has completed the assemblage of its 220 Central Park South site in Manhattan, settling a dispute with Extell Development and clearing the way for construction of a 920 foot luxury residential condominium tower containing 472,000 square feet. Extell sold 225 West 58th Street and its development rights to Vornado for $194-million and [...]
NIFSAB Questions High-Rise Fire Safety Ten Years After Deadly Fire
Ten years have passed since six people died in a high-rise fire that did not have fire sprinklers at the Cook County Administration Building, 69 W. Washington, October 17, 2003. The City has since established additional fire- and life-safety measures to prevent future tragedies in commercial high-rise buildings. The nonprofit Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory [...]
This Weekend See Chicago from the Inside Out
The Kemper Building in downtown Chicago is sending out a message. City residents and visitors can see “OPEN HOUSE” spelled out in the skyscraper’s windows at night, and it is all in support of the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s “Open House Chicago 2013″ event coming up this weekend. Open House Chicago offers a chance to discover [...]
Newcastle Limited Closes on $79.5 Million Loan for Gold Coast Apartment Tower
Newcastle Limited has secured a $79.5 million construction loan to support development of the firm’s apartment tower at 845 North State Street in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. JPMorgan Chase is the administrative agent, Fifth Third Bank is the syndication agent, and The Private Bank is a loan participant.
Site demolition has been completed and construction of the 35-story, 367-unit apartment tower commenced on September 6. The project will offer studio, convertible, one- and two-bedroom apartments, along with 188 parking spaces, indoor and outdoor amenity areas, and 3,300 square feet of street-level retail space. Occupancy is slated for Spring 2015.
Firefighter Air Replenishment System Requirement Dropped for S.F. High-Rises
A vote by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has overturned a nine-year-old requirement to install Firefighter Air Replenishment Systems (FARS) for firefighters in new high-rise buildings. The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to allow owners of buildings between 75 and 120 feet the option to install a firefighter service elevator instead of an ARS. [...]
Harvest Properties Acquires 555 City Center in Oakland, California
Emeryville, California-based Harvest Properties has purchased 555 City Center in Oakland, California for an undisclosed sum. The seller was CBRE Investors with partner Prudential Real Estate Investors. Investment brokers involved in the transaction include Jeffrey Weber, Stephen Van Dusen, Mark Penrod, Darin Rodriguez and Daniel Cichocki of Eastdil Secured. 555 City Center is a 20-story, [...]
San Francisco Association of Realtors Announces New Officers
San Francisco Association of Realtors (SFAR) today announced newly elected officers and board of director members who will begin their terms on January 1, 2014. Betty A. Taisch, Broker Associate with Coldwell Banker, will serve as the Association’s 2014 Board President. Taisch is well known in the real estate industry not only in the San [...]
Riverstone Retains Management of Bellevue Residential Tower
Riverstone Residential Group, one of the largest privately owned, third-party multifamily property management companies in the United States, has once again been awarded a management contract for The Bravern, a luxury two-tower, 33-story property in Bellevue, Washington, after the property’s sale to a new owner. Previously, Riverstone managed The Bravern on behalf of Seattle-based developer [...]
Switch Automation Opens Seattle Office
Switch Automation’s CEO Deb Noller announced today the opening of the company’s second West Coast office, in Seattle, to serve clients in the Pacific Northwest. The office will be headed up by Peter Rake, Chief Operations Officer.
Noller said, “We have seen building owners in Seattle realize the time and cost-saving benefits of the Switch platform, designed to monitor building portfolios. Our engaging and interactive user interface, scalability of solutions, tools for importing real-time operations data, ease of data handling for multiple formats from dozens of sources, and the robustness of working with the Microsoft Azure cloud platform have really struck a chord with company executives who are currently struggling with large amounts of building data kept in multiple systems or even in spreadsheets.”
Seattle’s 47-Story Wells Fargo Center Acquired by Ivanhoé Cambridge
Ivanhoé Cambridge continues to deploy its growth strategy in the United States with the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Wells Fargo Center, a 47-story, Class A, office tower with 983,600 square-feet of leasable space. The company’s investment of approximately $390 million brings Ivanhoé Cambridge’s share of leasable Class A space in Seattle’s financial district to nearly 8%.
“This acquisition, an excellent investment opportunity brought to our attention through our partner, Callahan Capital Properties, contributes to our strategy aimed at building a national platform…
Watt Plaza in Century City Receives LEED Platinum Certification
0 Shares 0 Shares × Watt Plaza’s twin 23-story office tower in Century City has earned LEED Platinum for Existing Buildings Operating and Maintenance from the U.S. Green Building Council. Watt Plaza is one of four high-rise office buildings in the City of Los Angeles to achieve this distinction, one of 46 in the state [...]
Brookfield Office Properties Completes Acquisition of 4 L.A. High-Rises
Brookfield Office Properties, through its newly formed fund DTLA Holdings, today completed the acquisition of MPG Office Trust. The transaction was contingent upon several conditions, including the approval of MPG’s common stockholders, the receipt of certain consents from MPG’s lenders, and certain regulatory approvals, all of which have been met. MPG common shares will be [...]
Madison International Acquires 49% Interest in L.A.’s One California Plaza
Madison International Realty, a leading real estate private equity firm, has acquired a 49% ownership interest in One California Plaza, a 42-story trophy office tower in downtown Los Angeles, for $295 million, the firm announced. An affiliate of Beacon Capital Partners, LLC, formerly full owner, holds the remaining majority interest and will continue to manage [...]
Lerch Bates to Consult on Planned 58-Story Boston High-Rise
Lerch Bates has been selected by developer Carpenter & Company, Inc. to join the team designing and constructing a landmark project adjacent to Christian Science Plaza in Boston. The development includes a mid-rise structure and a high-rise tower that will be the tallest building built in Boston in more than 20 years. Lerch Bates will [...]
$112 Million Refinance Secured for Seaport Square in Boston
$112 million in refinancing has been secured by the developers of Seaport Square, a master-planned development area in Boston’s Seaport District. HFF worked on behalf of the borrower, a venture between Boston Global Investors and Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing, to secure a six-year loan through Starwood Property Trust. The loan was structured to allow [...]
Construction Begins at $630 Million Millennium Tower Boston Development
Construction has commenced at the site of the Millennium Tower/Burnham Building in Boston. Located in the City’s Downtown Crossing at the site of the former Filene’s Department Store, the $630 million project consists of the landmark 1912 Burnham Building and a dramatic, new, mixed-use tower that will rise 625 feet into the Boston skyline. Showcasing [...]
Hanover Sells Houston’s 41-Story Marathon Oil Tower
Greenwich, Connecticut-based Hanover Real Estate Partners, a privately held real estate investment company has sold Marathon Oil Tower, one of Houston, Texas’ most iconic office buildings, to CBRE Strategic Partners U.S. Value 6, a fund sponsored by CBRE Global Investors. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “We sought an opportune time to sell this [...]
Houston’s Historic JP Morgan Chase Building Changes Hands
The Lionstone Group has acquired 712 Main Street, also known as the JPMorgan Chase Building, a 794,186-square-foot office tower in the central business district of Houston, Texas. This acquisition marks the first time 712 Main has been offered for sale on an individual basis since its construction in 1929. A purchase price has not been [...]
Construction Begins on 30-Story BHP Billiton Office Tower in Houston
Financial services firm TIAA-CREF and Transwestern began construction today on BHP Billiton Tower, a 600,000-square-foot Class AA office tower within the Galleria submarket of Houston. The development will be situated on a 2.72-acre tract fronting on Post Oak Boulevard within the existing Four Oaks Place office complex. The development is 100 percent preleased to BHP [...]
Avison Young Acquires Dallas Tenant Rep Firm Cresa Dallas
Avison Young has acquired Dallas, TX-based commercial real estate firm Dillon Corporate Services, Inc. (doing business as Cresa Dallas) in an asset sale. The change in ownership adds 40 employees to Avison Young’s Dallas operations. Effective immediately, Dillon Corporate Services founders Greg Langston and Terry Quinn, along with Mike McElwee, Art Green, Curt Linn, Kevin [...]
$25 Million Renovation Completed at Dallas’ Lincoln Plaza, Renamed Ross Tower
Dallas’ Lincoln Plaza will be renamed Ross Tower to more accurately reflect its prime downtown location at the corner of Ross Avenue and Akard Street.
“The core of downtown and its amenity base has shifted north with the recent completion of the Dallas Arts District and Klyde Warren Park,” said Lionstone Partner Dan Dubrowski. “We believe the name Ross Tower better highlights the building’s excellent location on Ross Avenue in the Arts District.”
The Lionstone Group selected PegasusAblon, its local operating partner, to provide agency leasing and lead new improvements at the building.
Parallel Capital Partners Re-Enters Texas Market with High-Rise Office Acquisition
Parallel Capital Partners, Inc. has acquired Urban Towers in Irving, Texas – two Class AA high-rise office towers – from CB Richard Ellis Strategic Partners U.S. The concrete and steel mirrored glass complex totals more than 850,000 square feet and sits on 11.2 acres in Las Colinas – a premier Irving business district and master [...]
IFMA Announces Strong Registration for World Workplace in Philadelphia
With just days until World Workplace 2013 in Philadelphia, Pa., USA, the International Facility Management Association announced it is on pace to surpass attendance of the past five years. The World Workplace conference and expo is the most longstanding, well-respected learning and networking event for facility management and related professionals. It runs from Oct. 2-4. [...]
Philadelphia’s 41-Story Commerce Square Sold to Brandywine for $331.8-Million
Brandywine Realty Trust has entered into an agreement with Parkway Properties, Inc. to acquire two Trophy-class high-rise assets located in Philadelphia’s CBD, One and Two Commerce Square, based on a $331.8 million valuation, or $175 per square foot.
Commerce Square consists of two 41-story trophy-class towers comprising a full city block on Market Street between 20th and 21st Streets and totals 1,896,142 square feet. The buildings were built in 1987 and 1992 and, through a recent extensive capital redevelopment program, Commerce Square achieved LEED-Silver status. Commerce Square has a central plaza, The Court at Commerce Square, including ground-level retail, restaurant space and a 525-space underground garage. Upon completion of the transaction, Brandywine will assume full management responsibilities, including property management and leasing.
U.S. Steel Tower in Pittsburgh Offers Electric Vehicle Charging Service
Central Parking Systems, now provides EV (electric vehicle) charging services from Car Charging Group at U.S. Steel Tower in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. U.S. Steel Tower, at 600 Grant Street, is a 64-story Class “A” office building in the Central Business District of Pittsburgh. The property provides access to various service providers, restaurants, and retailers including PNC [...]
TotalBank Secures Naming Rights to Iconic Miami High-Rise
TotalBank will relocate its headquarters to the iconic Miami Tower and rename it TotalBank Tower. The bank is a $2.47 billion-asset subsidiary of Spanish banking giant Banco Popular Espanol SA with current headquarters located at 2720 Coral Way. In May TotalBank plans to move into 60,000 square-feet of Miami Tower’s 503,000 square-feet of office space [...]
Construction Underway on Downtown Fort Lauderdale Residential High-Rise
ADD Inc in Miami was selected by developer American Land Ventures to spearhead the architecture and design of New River Village Phase III, a residential tower that will be located at 501 S.E. 5 Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale, along the New River. Phase III is the last phase of the New River Village development. [...]
$214 Million Construction Loan Secured for Porsche Design Tower
New York/South Florida-based Dezer Development today announced that it had closed a $214 million loan from Wells Fargo for construction of the iconic Porsche Design Tower Miami, located in Sunny Isles Beach. It is the largest loan approved for a major construction project in the Southeast United States since the real estate recession, and exponentially [...]
146-Year-Old Law Firms Inks 2-Floor Lease in Atlanta High-Rise
One of the Southeast’s most venerable law firms, Miller & Martin PLLC, is solidifying its long-term commitment to the Atlanta market, making Crocker Partners’ Regions Plaza (formerly Atlantic Center Plaza) its new Atlanta regional home. The 146-year-old law firm has signed a 12-year lease for the 21st floor and half of the 20th, comprising 36,000 [...]
Newest Apartment Tower at Atlanta’s 12th and Midtown Development
Birmingham, Georgia-based developer Daniel Corporation and Selig Enterprises has completed 77 12th Street, a high-end residential apartment complex in Midtown Atlanta. The $57 million construction project is comprised of a 615,000 sq ft, 23-story apartment tower with 330 residential units, and 23,000 sq ft of retail space. The builder was Brasfield & Gorrie According to [...]
Columbia Property Trust to List Shares on New York Stock Exchange
Atlanta-based Columbia Property Trust, one of the nation’s largest office REITs, today announced that it expects to list its shares of common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “CXP” on or about October 10, 2013. Among Columbia’s properties are 333 Market Street, a recently renovated, 33-story, Class A+ trophy office [...]
Lerch Bates to Consult on Planned 58-Story Boston High-Rise
Lerch Bates has been selected by developer Carpenter & Company, Inc. to join the team designing and constructing a landmark project adjacent to Christian Science Plaza in Boston. The development includes a mid-rise structure and a high-rise tower that will be the tallest building built in Boston in more than 20 years. Lerch Bates will [...]
Schindler Elevator Acquires Ontario-Based Skyline Elevator
Schindler Elevator Corporation (Canada), a leading elevator and escalator company in North America, has acquired Skyline Elevator Inc. based in London, Ontario. Established in 1975, Skyline Elevator Inc. focuses primarily on elevator maintenance, repair and modernization. Skyline Elevator Inc. will continue to operate under its existing name and all of its employees will remain with [...]
First KONE UltraRope Installed at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
KONE has announced the first customer installation of its new, super-light and durable UltraRope elevator hoisting technology at Marina Bay Sands integrated luxury resort in Singapore. The new elevator hoisting ropes were installed in a passenger elevator that travels from the ground floor to floors 34-57, or 195 meters, in Tower 3 of the hotel. [...]
Securitas Partners with Iverify to Provide Interactive Remote Video Monitoring
Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. has established a strategic alliance with Iverify Inc., the leading provider of intelligent video and audio remote monitoring services. Businesses can receive a complete security solution by integrating Securitas USA officers and mobile response with remote monitoring powered by Iverify. According to Chris Hammond, vice president of Technical Solutions for [...]
Brooklyn Residential Complex Upgrades Building Management System
A massive residential development known as Spring Creek Towers in Brooklyn, New York has completed a $2-million smart building retrofit. The project will help facility personnel more effectively manage energy use, and increase safety and security across the development’s 46 apartment towers and multiple parking garages, retail centers and other amenities.
Opened in 1974, the housing development was originally known as Starret City, before being renamed in 2002. It contains 5,881 apartment units in buildings ranging from 11-stories to 20-stories and is said to be the largest federally assisted rental property in the United States.
Worker and Resident Safety Top Priority During Denver High-Rise Retrofit
Completed in 2003, Penterra Plaza in Denver includes 266 residential units, a seven-story office building, a three-story underground parking garage, and 21,310 square feet of retail space. The 23-story residential tower includes a community sun terrace, a game room, and a guest suite for visitors.
When residents discovered condensation on their window frames during cold outdoor temperatures, the engineers of Raths, Raths, and Johnson were called upon to develop a system to mitigate the condensation issue and Reconstruction Experts was contracted by the HOA to perform the repairs.
ASHRAE New York Tech Program to Focus on Tall Buildings
It’s only appropriate that in a city known for skyscrapers—home to nearly 600—that the 2014 ASHRAE Winter Conference Technical Program puts a special focus on the design, development and operation of tall buildings when it visits New York City, Jan. 18-22. “The ASHRAE Technical Program offers a great opportunity to learn from fellow professionals and [...]
New Senior VP of Sales at Mitsubishi Electric US Cooling & Heating
Mitsubishi Electric US Cooling & Heating Division, America’s No. 1 selling brand of ductless cooling and heating systems, announced the appointment of Allan Dziwoki as senior vice president of sales, marketing and operations.
In this role, Dziwoki is responsible for all aspects of the Division’s sales, marketing, customer service and operations, including the strategic planning, implementation and management of key initiatives and objectives.
Atlanta High-Rise to Rely Solely on Natural Gas for Heat, Cooking, Hot Water
Wood Partners will break ground in the first half of 2014 on the first high-rise multifamily project in Midtown Atlanta to solely use natural gas for home heating, hot water and cooking. The residential/retail development will be located on West Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta and will include a 19-story high-rise along with mid-rise residential buildings and approximately 20,000 square feet of retail space.
“Wood Partners has done an extensive cost-benefit analysis on the use of natural gas, and we are confident that natural gas will not only generate long-term savings to the project but it will also provide our residents with added benefits that come with using a clean, efficient and cost-effective fuel,” said Bennett Sands, director in Wood Partners’ Atlanta office.
80-Story WTC Tower 3 to Utilize Custom Back-up Fuel Delivery System
The September 11th terrorist attacks of 2001 brought a level of destruction to America that had not been witnessed since the bombing of Pearl Harbor. As reconstruction efforts continue in New York City, Preferred Utilities Manufacturing Corporation is helping the city rebuild its World Trade Center complex by designing and delivering a new mission critical back-up fuel delivery systems for World Trade Center 3.
Chicago City Council: Building Owners Must Disclose Energy Use
The Chicago City Council has approved a controversial ordinance, introduced by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, that will require the city’s largest buildings to benchmark their energy use and authorize the City to disclose the energy efficiency for these buildings publicly. The ordinance passed the City Council in a 32-17 vote. Mayor Emanuel claims that through benchmarking [...]
Report Shows Year Over Year Improvement in Building Performance
A new report published by the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Greenprint Center for Building Performance suggests that the global real estate industry continues to make progress in improving the environmental performance of existing buildings. Volume 4 of the Greenprint Performance Report, which measures and tracks the performance of 3,232 buildings owned by Greenprint’s members, demonstrates [...]
Hubbell Lighting Offers Audit Tools and Retrofit Sample Products
Commercial buildings represent over 80 billion square feet of space in the U.S. and consume 36% of all electricity, making them one of the largest generators of greenhouse gases. Hubbell Lighting today announced a new solution to cut electricity costs, enhance the quality of light and reduce the financial risk of upgrades–resulting in up to [...]
Interior Design Company dPOP! Launches in Basement of Historic Detroit High-Rise
A new company focused on bringing creativity and collaboration to workplaces launched today in downtown Detroit. Born from the experience of designing Quicken Loans’ award-winning office spaces, dPOP! provides businesses with innovative opportunities and inspiration to make their offices more fun and functional.
dPOP! – standing for People, Office and Places – is part of the Rock Ventures Family of Companies. The new company combines the talents of Quicken Loans’ expert facilities team and Doodle Commercial design professionals.
ComEd Offering Chicago Building Owners Rebates on Full Spectrum LED Lighting
To accelerate the adoption of high quality, energy efficient LED lighting; ComEd is offering substantial rebates on Soraa’s gallium-nitride on gallium-nitride (GaN on GaN™), full visible spectrum LED MR16 lamps. With the rebates, Chicago businesses now have another incentive to install Soraa’s MR16 LED lamps, well known as the best LED MR16 retrofit lamp available, [...]
Lerch Bates to Consult on Planned 58-Story Boston High-Rise
Lerch Bates has been selected by developer Carpenter & Company, Inc. to join the team designing and constructing a landmark project adjacent to Christian Science Plaza in Boston. The development includes a mid-rise structure and a high-rise tower that will be the tallest building built in Boston in more than 20 years. Lerch Bates will [...]
W.S. Tyler To Host Webinar: Designing Facades for Parking Facilities
On October 30 at 2:00 pm ET, the W.S. Tyler Architectural Group will host a complimentary hour-long webinar, “Designing Facades for Parking Facilities: Where Beauty, Safety and Security Merge.” Featuring a panel of industry experts including Wendy DeCapite, Sales Manager of Architectural Products for W.S. Tyler, Marcy Marro, Editor of Metal Architecture and Metal Construction [...]
Facade Restoration Completed on Atlanta’s Equitable Building
A signature landmark in downtown Atlanta has been given new life and renewed curb appeal. Stuart Dean restored 136,000 sq. ft. of anodized aluminum curtain wall panels on the Equitable Building at 100 Peachtree Street NW. In addition to the cleaning and restoration of the anodized aluminum panels, the company also applied a high-performance fluropolymer coating to approximately 9,100 sq. ft. of columns and panels on the ground and second floors.
Located in the Fairlie-Poplar neighborhood of downtown Atlanta, the Equitable Building is 33 stories high and 453 feet tall.
The Difference Between Real and Apparent Carpet Soiling
When it comes to carpets, often commercial and residential consumers confuse apparent soiling with real soiling. Real soiling is often defined as “any matter that is foreign to the construction of the carpet and that can actually be removed from the carpet.” On the other hand, apparent soiling is when a carpet only appears soiled; [...]
As Weather Changes, Ensure Floor Mats are Used Properly
While entry and floor mats provide facilities with many benefits, care is required to make sure they are working properly, promoting safety, and protecting the indoor environment. Here are some mat guidelines provided by Crown Mats and Matting, the oldest and one of the largest manufacturers of mats in the world: Placement: Mats must be [...]
Changing the Mind-Set Behind Recycling
The recycling rate in the U.S. has risen less than six percent in the past decade and researchers have been trying to figure out why. A possible explanation was recently published in the Journal of Electronic Commerce Research. Instead of the typical excuses, such as recycling bins are not handy or recycling options are too [...]
NIFSAB Questions High-Rise Fire Safety Ten Years After Deadly Fire
Ten years have passed since six people died in a high-rise fire that did not have fire sprinklers at the Cook County Administration Building, 69 W. Washington, October 17, 2003. The City has since established additional fire- and life-safety measures to prevent future tragedies in commercial high-rise buildings. The nonprofit Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory [...]
Honeywell Power Fire Alarm Communicator Earns FDNY Approval
Honeywell Power’s IPGSM-4G fire alarm communicator has received approval from the City of New York Fire Department for use in commercial facilities throughout the city. The IPGSM-4G can report fire alarm signals to a central station over IP (Internet) or GSM (cellular). For optimum reliability, it can be easily configured to report primarily over the [...]
Firefighter Air Replenishment System Requirement Dropped for S.F. High-Rises
A vote by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has overturned a nine-year-old requirement to install Firefighter Air Replenishment Systems (FARS) for firefighters in new high-rise buildings. The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to allow owners of buildings between 75 and 120 feet the option to install a firefighter service elevator instead of an ARS. [...]
WiredNYC “LEED for Broadband” Certification Launches with 150 Buildings
Today marks the launch of WiredNYC, a rating platform that evaluates the broadband connectivity and infrastructure of office buildings. The program is designed to encourage and accelerate deployment of broadband technologies and create transparency about broadband infrastructure in the commercial real estate market by creating a “LEED for broadband” certification, giving businesses information about a [...]
Building Automation System Control’s World’s Tallest Data Center
Intergate.Manhattan, the world’s tallest high-rise data center, requires innovative building automation solutions to maximize energy efficiency, while providing critical building monitoring and control. Previously known as the Verizon Building, this 32-story, 1.2 million-square-foot tower located in lower Manhattan is owned by Sabey Data Center Properties, a Seattle-based multi-tenant data center infrastructure specialist and co-location provider.
Automated Logic Corporation (ALC), part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., is providing the building automation systems for Integrate.Manhattan. “We understand the mission-critical challenges data center building owners face in providing optimal environments for their facilities,” said Mead Rusert, president, Automated Logic.
Empire State Building to Receive Secure Wireless Coverage Up to the 102nd Floor
Skyscrapers in Manhattan typically offer spectacular views from high floors, but not always great wireless reception, which can be problematic in buildings higher than 20 stories. The Empire State Building, however, will soon be a notable exception, thanks to a new agreement with ExteNet Systems, Inc. Per the agreement, ExteNet will design, own and operate [...]
New York Remains World’s Largest Real Estate Investment Market
New York attracted the most commercial property investment during the last year, as the global real estate investment market saw volumes increase by 16.7% to US$649 billion, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s annual Winning in Growth Cities report launched today at the EXPO REAL trade fair in Munich, Germany. The top 25 global cities saw [...]
Vancouver B.C.’s Next Tallest Tower Unveiled
Blexo Developments unveiled what will become Vancouver, British Columbia’s tallest tower - Delta Rise. Located in Delta, a district municipality and part of Metro Vancouver, Delta Rise will be 37-stories tall and feature expansive 360-degree views. Mayor Lois E. Jackson and members of Delta Council were on hand to celebrate the opening of the Delta [...]
World’s Highest Hotel Suite Opens at New St. Regis Abu Dhabi
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc. has opened The St. Regis Abu Dhabi in the capital of the U.A.E, boasting the world’s highest suspended hotel suite, the Abu Dhabi Suite. The hotel, owned by International Capital Trading, is part of Nation Towers on the vibrant Corniche. The hotel features [...]
Construction Begins on 30-Story BHP Billiton Office Tower in Houston
Financial services firm TIAA-CREF and Transwestern began construction today on BHP Billiton Tower, a 600,000-square-foot Class AA office tower within the Galleria submarket of Houston. The development will be situated on a 2.72-acre tract fronting on Post Oak Boulevard within the existing Four Oaks Place office complex. The development is 100 percent preleased to BHP [...]
Construction Underway on Downtown Fort Lauderdale Residential High-Rise
ADD Inc in Miami was selected by developer American Land Ventures to spearhead the architecture and design of New River Village Phase III, a residential tower that will be located at 501 S.E. 5 Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale, along the New River. Phase III is the last phase of the New River Village development. [...]
Construction Begins at $630 Million Millennium Tower Boston Development
Construction has commenced at the site of the Millennium Tower/Burnham Building in Boston. Located in the City’s Downtown Crossing at the site of the former Filene’s Department Store, the $630 million project consists of the landmark 1912 Burnham Building and a dramatic, new, mixed-use tower that will rise 625 feet into the Boston skyline. Showcasing [...]
Atlas PACSlim-5 Portable Heat Pump Offers Versatile Heating/Cooling Options
Atlas Sales & Rentals, Inc. has introduced a portable heat pump that combines a compact design with powerful performance and versatile heating and cooling options. The new PACSlim-5 heat pump delivers 57,100 BTU/hr cooling capacity and 55,700 BTU/hr heating capacity, yet is less than 30″ wide, allowing it to roll into narrow spaces where other [...]
Honeywell Power Fire Alarm Communicator Earns FDNY Approval
Honeywell Power’s IPGSM-4G fire alarm communicator has received approval from the City of New York Fire Department for use in commercial facilities throughout the city. The IPGSM-4G can report fire alarm signals to a central station over IP (Internet) or GSM (cellular). For optimum reliability, it can be easily configured to report primarily over the [...]
Hubbell Lighting Offers Audit Tools and Retrofit Sample Products
Commercial buildings represent over 80 billion square feet of space in the U.S. and consume 36% of all electricity, making them one of the largest generators of greenhouse gases. Hubbell Lighting today announced a new solution to cut electricity costs, enhance the quality of light and reduce the financial risk of upgrades–resulting in up to [...]
Destination Dispatch Streamlines Travel in Office and Residential High-Rises
Along with the cities of Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh forms one of the points of the Research Triangle, home to three major universities and numerous corporations engaged in advanced research and development. Thanks to its outstanding quality of life and business-friendly approach, Raleigh is a fast-growing area and frequently listed as one of the [...]
Ensuring the Long-Term Dependability of Your Elevators
It’s been said that what goes up inevitably must come down. But when it comes to the ups and downs of a building’s elevators, it’s critical that building owners and property managers keep up with equipment testing to ensure the safety of tenants and prevent costly repairs. The most effective way to accomplish this maintenance component for any high-rise building is through a process known as “elevator commissioning.”
The Commissioning Process Explained
Elevator commissioning is a broad, systematic review of the system to ensure that all mechanisms are performing as designed.
John Moran is a senior vice president with the Syska Hennessey Group San Francisco office, and has been with the company for almost three decades.
Destination Control Improves Tenant Comfort and Security
Destination control systems can further optimize system performance with artificial intelligence that is capable of learning and forecasting the traffic flows of a building. When the traffic intensity alters, the control system measures the changed traffic patterns and switches its optimization routines accordingly.
Enhance Tenant Experiences
Any time elevator efficiency increases, customer experience is enhanced; however, the unique benefits of destination control systems increase passenger comfort from floor selection to destination arrival.
Kellie Lindquist, LEED Green Associate, is marketing manager at Lisle, IL-based KONE.
Stand-Outs: High-Rise Managers Share Their Team’s Best Practices
Owning or managing a tall building is a lot like operating a small city. Being responsible for the services and infrastructure that keep occupants and tenants in business is a big job. So why not take some suggestions and help from your colleagues when you can get it?
We found some examples of best practices that are being incorporated in high-rise facilities, and arranged them into categories.
An award winning editor, Leah spent over eight years in senior
editorial positions at both BUILDINGS magazine and ARCHI-TECH
magazine. Her work has been incorporated into training and
educational programs around the country. She is a graduate of
University of Iowa. She is Editor at Large for High Rise Facilities.
High-def flat screens embedded into bathroom mirrors. Electronic doorbell systems that feature guest presence detection and tray removal tracking. Energy management systems that set lighting and temperature levels based on whether guests are in the room, out of the room, or checked out.
All of these technologies are being incorporated into upscale high-rise hotels, according to Jeremy Rock, president of RockIT Group in Anaheim, CA. These amenities bring added comfort and satisfaction to guests, and can offer productivity advantages for hotel staff members as well.
An award winning editor, Leah spent over eight years in senior
editorial positions at both BUILDINGS magazine and ARCHI-TECH
magazine. Her work has been incorporated into training and
educational programs around the country. She is a graduate of
University of Iowa. She is Editor at Large for High Rise Facilities.
The 5 Rings of High-Rise Residential Security
Tenants living in residential high-rises have different security expectations based on a wide variety of factors, says Daun St. Amand, vice president at RTKL Associates. “They ebb and flow relative to several things.”
Security levels and expectations vary…
An award winning editor, Leah spent over eight years in senior
editorial positions at both BUILDINGS magazine and ARCHI-TECH
magazine. Her work has been incorporated into training and
educational programs around the country. She is a graduate of
University of Iowa. She is Editor at Large for High Rise Facilities.
Texas’s Tallest Residential Tower Solves Hot Water Delivery Problem
The Austonian is Austin, Texas’s premiere luxury residence. Located in the heart of Austin’s eclectic culture, it offers 360° views and unparalleled amenities to its residents, and has received a Four Star rating from Austin Energy Green Building. At more than 680 feet tall, The Austonian is the tallest residential tower West of the Mississippi River.
Shortly after opening, in 2010, homeowners noticed a plumbing problem. In some cases, 2-3 minutes were needed for warm water to reach the fixtures.
Thermal Energy Storage: A Peak Performer
Facilities across the globe are using thermal energy storage to air-condition spaces, from one of the tallest buildings in the world (the T&C Tower in Taiwan) to the first U.S. commercial skyscraper to achieve LEED Platinum certification (Bank of America Tower in New York).
Paul Valenta, LEED AP, is the vice president of sales and marketing for CALMAC, based in Fair Lawn, NJ.
Restroom Trends Cater to Cleaning & Conservation
If I were to write an article on restroom trends in high-rise properties in the mid-1990s or 2000s, the emphasis would likely have been on luxury. The “functional look” of commercial restrooms, commonly found in the 1980s and earlier, was no longer en vogue. It had been replaced with marble, granite, and high-end restroom fixture designs.
Klaus Reichardt is founder and CEO of Waterless Co. Inc, in Vista, CA, makers of waterless urinals and other restroom products. He founded the company in 1991 to establish a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water conservation in mind. He may be reached at [email protected].
Turn Building System Data into Actionable Insight
Many high-rise facilities have evolved to become multi-function, multi-tenant spaces where tenants can live, work, and shop all in one building. Managing a large space can be a challenge when trying to provide a comfortable environment while maximizing energy efficiency and keeping building costs low. The balance between happy tenants and reasonable costs can be [...]
Mark Hendrickson is the director of installation support and customer service for Panoptix, Johnson Controls’ smart building energy management platform.
Fine-Tune Your High-Rise’s Control Systems to Achieve Maximum Efficiency
Many high-rise buildings with advanced systems and controls use more energy than their less-advanced peers due in equal part to design oversights, installation variances, inefficient operating methods, and even maintenance issues. That’s pretty discouraging considering that a fair amount of capital has been deployed in these buildings when trying to achieve exactly the opposite effect. [...]
Jim Gieselman, PE, is vice president, engineering, at Servidyne in Atlanta.
ENERGY STAR Focuses on Multifamily High-Rises
Until August 2011, residential high-rises didn’t really fit in when it came to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program.
“Multifamily high-rises lie at the intersection of commercial and residential,” explains Ted Leopkey, program manager for ENERGY STAR’s Multifamily High-Rise (MFHR) program. “In 2004, when EPA started investigating how to leverage the ENERGY STAR in the high-rise sector, we didn’t have a model of national whole building energy use in our commercial program to allow Portfolio Manager to compare a multifamily high-rise to other buildings like it. And our residential program requirements applied only to single-family homes and low-rise multifamily units.”
An award winning editor, Leah spent over eight years in senior
editorial positions at both BUILDINGS magazine and ARCHI-TECH
magazine. Her work has been incorporated into training and
educational programs around the country. She is a graduate of
University of Iowa. She is Editor at Large for High Rise Facilities.
Increase Your High-Rise Building’s Value With Efficient Lighting
While high-rise buildings have unique energy-efficiency challenges relative to occupancy and ownership, there is significant evidence that energy reduction not only saves money for building owners and operators, but also increases property value. According to the Institute for Market Transformation, lower energy costs translate to higher returns. Energy-efficient properties have higher occupancy levels, lease-up rates, [...]
Ashley Conger is director of communications for Lime Energy in Huntersville, NC.
Benching Shatters “One-Size-Fits-All” Concept
Today’s workplace is drastically different from the workplaces of just five or 10 years ago. Thanks to the ubiquitous nature of technology, an increasing number of workers have the flexibility to work remotely, which frees up an office’s dedicated workspace. Additionally, the economy has put an increased strain on businesses of all sizes. Business leaders [...]
Katie Hasse is a senior public relations specialist for Steelcase. Steelcase offers a portfolio of solutions that address three elements of the office environment: interior architecture, furniture, and technology. Learn more at www.steelcase.com.
Smoke-Free: How One New York City High-Rise Kicked the Habit
Looking for a way no-cost way to reduce operating costs in a residential high-rise without sacrificing tenant comfort or satisfaction? Try implementing a smoke-free policy.
Studies now show that smoke-free policies could save residential landlords millions (if not billions) of dollars per year in cleaning costs alone.
An award winning editor, Leah spent over eight years in senior
editorial positions at both BUILDINGS magazine and ARCHI-TECH
magazine. Her work has been incorporated into training and
educational programs around the country. She is a graduate of
University of Iowa. She is Editor at Large for High Rise Facilities.
High-Rise Hotel Analyzes Window Film Effectiveness
What’s the best way to prove that your green investments are paying off? To measure the savings on utility bills, and improvements that tenants are experiencing as a result of your investment.
Whether you’re cutting back on energy use due to mandates or voluntary efforts, quantifying the savings from your green initiatives can help determine whether the purchases are truly worth it (or at least offset implementation costs). This data can go a long way toward supporting other green investments in the future as well. It can also be a solid indicator of improved building performance, which could make your facility more attractive to tenants or prospective buyers.
Steve DeBusk is global energy solutions manager for the window film division at Eastman Chemical Company. DeBusk has 29 years of experience in the energy-efficiency business. He is a Certified Energy Manager, a Certified Measurement and Verification Professional, and a Certified Sustainable Development Professional. You can visit his blog at blog.vista-films.com or follow him on Twitter @greenbldgs.
Media Facades are Multi-Faceted 21st-Century Communicators
Media facades have become a firm feature of the 21st century metropolis, increasingly bathing gray cities in an imposing play of light and color. What once began with lurid neon advertising hoardings in New York’s Times Square has grown beyond its initial purpose as a pure advertising medium to present itself today as a conveyor of artistic and social messages, transforming buildings into giant screens. There are now even architecture practices specializing in “mediatecture”.
Fire Hazards Associated with Dubai’s Aluminum Clad High-Rises
The rapid development of scores of spectacular high-rise buildings in Dubai between 1994 and 2009 was unsurprisingly not without some growing pains. 1994 saw the start of the Burj Al Arab, the lemon-wedge-shaped building on whose heli-deck we see international sports stars hitting tennis and golf balls, which I think makes a fitting start to [...]
Tom Bell-Wright is founder, CEO & CTO of Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants of Dubai, an engineering firm providing independent quality assurance and testing services for exterior wall systems, fire containment systems and fire resistant materials in large buildings.
Stand-Outs: High-Rise Managers Share Their Team’s Best Practices
Owning or managing a tall building is a lot like operating a small city. Being responsible for the services and infrastructure that keep occupants and tenants in business is a big job. So why not take some suggestions and help from your colleagues when you can get it?
We found some examples of best practices that are being incorporated in high-rise facilities, and arranged them into categories.
An award winning editor, Leah spent over eight years in senior
editorial positions at both BUILDINGS magazine and ARCHI-TECH
magazine. Her work has been incorporated into training and
educational programs around the country. She is a graduate of
University of Iowa. She is Editor at Large for High Rise Facilities.
38-Story Residential High-Rise is First in NYC to Offer Composting Program
The 38-story Helena apartment building on Manhattan’s West Side is the first in the city to offer its residents regular food scrap collection through the city’s Organics Collection Program. The program takes “organic materials” such as food scraps, soiled paper and plants out of the trash stream, and recycles them , helping the City reduce [...]
Restroom Trends Cater to Cleaning & Conservation
If I were to write an article on restroom trends in high-rise properties in the mid-1990s or 2000s, the emphasis would likely have been on luxury. The “functional look” of commercial restrooms, commonly found in the 1980s and earlier, was no longer en vogue. It had been replaced with marble, granite, and high-end restroom fixture designs.
Klaus Reichardt is founder and CEO of Waterless Co. Inc, in Vista, CA, makers of waterless urinals and other restroom products. He founded the company in 1991 to establish a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water conservation in mind. He may be reached at [email protected].
Preparing for the Next Big Storm: NYC Task Force Examines Disaster Readiness
A few obvious factors come to mind when high-rise building owners and managers think about preparing for and recovering from a natural disaster: creating emergency plans, establishing reliable back-up power, forming business continuity strategies to preserve data… and the list goes on. But as New York continues its recovery from Hurricane Sandy, the recommendations released in a report from Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn are a good reminder that there are other things to think about when preparing your facility for a possible disaster.
An award winning editor, Leah spent over eight years in senior
editorial positions at both BUILDINGS magazine and ARCHI-TECH
magazine. Her work has been incorporated into training and
educational programs around the country. She is a graduate of
University of Iowa. She is Editor at Large for High Rise Facilities.
Fire Hazards Associated with Dubai’s Aluminum Clad High-Rises
The rapid development of scores of spectacular high-rise buildings in Dubai between 1994 and 2009 was unsurprisingly not without some growing pains. 1994 saw the start of the Burj Al Arab, the lemon-wedge-shaped building on whose heli-deck we see international sports stars hitting tennis and golf balls, which I think makes a fitting start to [...]
Tom Bell-Wright is founder, CEO & CTO of Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants of Dubai, an engineering firm providing independent quality assurance and testing services for exterior wall systems, fire containment systems and fire resistant materials in large buildings.
Landmark High-Rise Fire Study Evaluates Effectiveness of Crew Sizes, Elevator Use
When responding to fires in high-rise buildings, firefighting crews of five or six members—instead of three or four—are significantly faster in putting out fires and completing search-and-rescue operations, concludes a major new study carried out by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in cooperation with five other organizations. Results of the study, conducted [...]
Stand-Outs: High-Rise Managers Share Their Team’s Best Practices
Owning or managing a tall building is a lot like operating a small city. Being responsible for the services and infrastructure that keep occupants and tenants in business is a big job. So why not take some suggestions and help from your colleagues when you can get it?
We found some examples of best practices that are being incorporated in high-rise facilities, and arranged them into categories.
An award winning editor, Leah spent over eight years in senior
editorial positions at both BUILDINGS magazine and ARCHI-TECH
magazine. Her work has been incorporated into training and
educational programs around the country. She is a graduate of
University of Iowa. She is Editor at Large for High Rise Facilities.
32 Avenue of the Americas to Host New State-of-the-Art Data Center
In a significant transaction for the technology industry in New York City and Lower Manhattan, Telx, a leading provider of interconnection and data center services, has “plugged in” to the Rudin Family’s 32 Avenue of the Americas in TriBeCa. The cloud enablement provider has signed a 20-year, 45,000 square-foot lease for the entire 10th floor [...]
M2M Technology Convergence Making Smart Buildings Even Smarter
Smart buildings are leveraging emerging machine-to-machine (M2M) technologies to become even smarter. According to a report from Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), six advances in smart building technology are enabling a new era in building energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction, yielding a return on investment for building owners within one to two years. “M2M technologies [...]
605 Third Avenue And Park Avenue Plaza Achieve Leed Certification
605 Third Avenue, a 1.1 million square-foot tower between 39th and 40th streets in Manhattan, has earned the LEED for Existing Buildings (EB) certification at the Gold level by the U.S. Green Building Council, and Park Avenue Plaza, a 1.2 million square-foot building at Park Avenue between 52nd and 53rd streets in Manhattan, has achieved LEED-EB certification at the Silver level. Both properties are owned by Fisher Brothers.
Located in the heart of Midtown, the Fisher Brothers’ buildings are desirable locations for high-profile tenants. In 2012, both buildings earned Energy Star Labels from the United States Environmental Protection Agency for energy efficiency, with 605 Third Avenue earning an Energy Star rating of 80 and Park Avenue Plaza earning a score of 75.
NYC’s Organic Food Waste Recycling Program for High-Rises Continues to Grow
As part of New York City Mayor Bloomberg’s initiative ‘Recycle Everything’, a successful organic food waste recycling program has been expanded to select buildings in Manhattan with communities in Brooklyn and the Bronx to follow this fall. The Mayor first announced the development of the residential organic recycling program in his 2013 State of the [...]
USGBC’s LEED v4 Passes Ballot, Will Launch This Fall
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced today that its membership has voted to adopt LEED v4, the next update to the world’s premier green building rating system. The final overall vote was 86 percent in favor of adopting LEED v4. This includes 90 percent approval from the user category of the voting body, 77 [...]
Higher Purpose: An Enterprising Company is Leading Detroit’s Downtown Revival
Rock Ventures – the umbrella entity that manages a diverse portfolio made up of companies like Quicken Loans – first entered the commercial real estate world as a developer.
“As our development work grew, we knew we needed to start a real estate company,” explains Vice President of Bedrock Real Estate Services Dan Mullen.
In 2010, Quicken Loans Visionary, Founder, and Chairman Dan Gilbert partnered with 30-year real estate veteran Jim Ketai to form Bedrock Real Estate Services. At that time, the company also established its office space in downtown Detroit.
An award winning editor, Leah spent over eight years in senior
editorial positions at both BUILDINGS magazine and ARCHI-TECH
magazine. Her work has been incorporated into training and
educational programs around the country. She is a graduate of
University of Iowa. She is Editor at Large for High Rise Facilities.
‘Unbuilt San Francisco’ Exhibit Explores What Might Have Been
If San Franciscans like to describe their city as “49 square miles surrounded by reality,” the visionary ideas that were too grandiose for even San Franciscans to consider remain some of the most fantastic designs for any city in the world. Imagine the Ferry Building surrounded by office towers, a grand casino on Alcatraz, the city wrapped in freeways and a subdivision covering flattened hills north of the Golden Gate Bridge.
AIA San Francisco, Center for Architecture + Design, Environmental Design Archives at UC Berkeley, California Historical Society, SPUR and the San Francisco Public Library are presenting “Unbuilt San Francisco,” a collaborative exhibition on view August – November, 2013.
Museum Exhibit Displays L.A. Developments that Were Never Built
‘Never Built: Los Angeles’ is a new show at the A+D Architecture and Design Museum that examines over a century of ambitious projects that never materialized in the city of Los Angeles.
Never Built: Los Angeles explores the “what if” Los Angeles. A thorough compendium of projects that only saw the drawing board, the exhibition asks: Why is Los Angeles a hotbed of great architects, yet so lacking in urban innovation?
Holly Hughes, Senior Managing Director, Principal, for Cassidy Turley
No matter who her clients are, Holly Hughes says it’s her job to make their work environment a better place. As senior managing director, principal, for Cassidy Turley in Atlanta, Hughes leads a team of professionals who believe they should treat each property like it’s their own … especially since they essentially work inside the world of another corporation, dealing with everyone from CEOs and CFOs to painters, day porters, and accounting clerks.…
An award winning editor, Leah spent over eight years in senior
editorial positions at both BUILDINGS magazine and ARCHI-TECH
magazine. Her work has been incorporated into training and
educational programs around the country. She is a graduate of
University of Iowa. She is Editor at Large for High Rise Facilities.
Colliers’ President and COO Karen Whitt Talks Property Management
Karen Whitt, president and COO of Colliers International’s U.S. real estate management services, says she owes a lot to her industry mentors.
Starting her career at San Diego-based Janez Properties, Whitt has also worked for Faison & Associates, Trammell Crow Company, and Grubb & Ellis. She has directly managed for large clients such as TIAA, Clarion UBS, and Principal, and she credits mentoring and training for her success in each of these roles.
An award winning editor, Leah spent over eight years in senior
editorial positions at both BUILDINGS magazine and ARCHI-TECH
magazine. Her work has been incorporated into training and
educational programs around the country. She is a graduate of
University of Iowa. She is Editor at Large for High Rise Facilities.
Bill Grillo, Cassidy Turley’s Senior Managing Director
When Bill Grillo, senior managing director, talks about his portfolio at Cassidy Turley in Washington, D.C., he says it’s comprised of 223 buildings. But he doesn’t stop there. “That’s 223 roofs, 223 four-sided buildings with windows (for the most part), 83 clients, and 2,400 tenants.”
As he points out, that seemingly simple number actually represents much more than building quantity. “And not only are we taking care of the buildings themselves, but the reports, manuals, and tenant services.”
An award winning editor, Leah spent over eight years in senior
editorial positions at both BUILDINGS magazine and ARCHI-TECH
magazine. Her work has been incorporated into training and
educational programs around the country. She is a graduate of
University of Iowa. She is Editor at Large for High Rise Facilities.
Atlas PACSlim-5 Portable Heat Pump Offers Versatile Heating/Cooling Options
Atlas Sales & Rentals, Inc. has introduced a portable heat pump that combines a compact design with powerful performance and versatile heating and cooling options. The new PACSlim-5 heat pump delivers 57,100 BTU/hr cooling capacity and 55,700 BTU/hr heating capacity, yet is less than 30″ wide, allowing it to roll into narrow spaces where other [...]
Honeywell Power Fire Alarm Communicator Earns FDNY Approval
Honeywell Power’s IPGSM-4G fire alarm communicator has received approval from the City of New York Fire Department for use in commercial facilities throughout the city. The IPGSM-4G can report fire alarm signals to a central station over IP (Internet) or GSM (cellular). For optimum reliability, it can be easily configured to report primarily over the [...]
Hubbell Lighting Offers Audit Tools and Retrofit Sample Products
Commercial buildings represent over 80 billion square feet of space in the U.S. and consume 36% of all electricity, making them one of the largest generators of greenhouse gases. Hubbell Lighting today announced a new solution to cut electricity costs, enhance the quality of light and reduce the financial risk of upgrades–resulting in up to [...]
ASHRAE New York Tech Program to Focus on Tall Buildings
It’s only appropriate that in a city known for skyscrapers—home to nearly 600—that the 2014 ASHRAE Winter Conference Technical Program puts a special focus on the design, development and operation of tall buildings when it visits New York City, Jan. 18-22. “The ASHRAE Technical Program offers a great opportunity to learn from fellow professionals and [...]
Empire State Building, Radio Stations Plan Halloween Light and Music Show
The Empire State Building and Clear Channel Media will join together to give New York City and the world a special Halloween Trick and Treat. The skyscraper will synchronize its LED tower lights to Halloween-themed music broadcast on Clear Channel’s radio stations Z100 and 103.5 KTU at 8:30 p.m. EST, on October 31, 2013. The [...]
Developers Settle Dispute, Clearing Way for New Central Park South Tower
Vornado Realty Trust has completed the assemblage of its 220 Central Park South site in Manhattan, settling a dispute with Extell Development and clearing the way for construction of a 920 foot luxury residential condominium tower containing 472,000 square feet. Extell sold 225 West 58th Street and its development rights to Vornado for $194-million and [...]
NIFSAB Questions High-Rise Fire Safety Ten Years After Deadly Fire
Ten years have passed since six people died in a high-rise fire that did not have fire sprinklers at the Cook County Administration Building, 69 W. Washington, October 17, 2003. The City has since established additional fire- and life-safety measures to prevent future tragedies in commercial high-rise buildings. The nonprofit Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory [...]
This Weekend See Chicago from the Inside Out
The Kemper Building in downtown Chicago is sending out a message. City residents and visitors can see “OPEN HOUSE” spelled out in the skyscraper’s windows at night, and it is all in support of the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s “Open House Chicago 2013″ event coming up this weekend. Open House Chicago offers a chance to discover [...]
Newcastle Limited Closes on $79.5 Million Loan for Gold Coast Apartment Tower
Newcastle Limited has secured a $79.5 million construction loan to support development of the firm’s apartment tower at 845 North State Street in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. JPMorgan Chase is the administrative agent, Fifth Third Bank is the syndication agent, and The Private Bank is a loan participant.
Site demolition has been completed and construction of the 35-story, 367-unit apartment tower commenced on September 6. The project will offer studio, convertible, one- and two-bedroom apartments, along with 188 parking spaces, indoor and outdoor amenity areas, and 3,300 square feet of street-level retail space. Occupancy is slated for Spring 2015.
Firefighter Air Replenishment System Requirement Dropped for S.F. High-Rises
A vote by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has overturned a nine-year-old requirement to install Firefighter Air Replenishment Systems (FARS) for firefighters in new high-rise buildings. The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to allow owners of buildings between 75 and 120 feet the option to install a firefighter service elevator instead of an ARS. [...]
Harvest Properties Acquires 555 City Center in Oakland, California
Emeryville, California-based Harvest Properties has purchased 555 City Center in Oakland, California for an undisclosed sum. The seller was CBRE Investors with partner Prudential Real Estate Investors. Investment brokers involved in the transaction include Jeffrey Weber, Stephen Van Dusen, Mark Penrod, Darin Rodriguez and Daniel Cichocki of Eastdil Secured. 555 City Center is a 20-story, [...]
San Francisco Association of Realtors Announces New Officers
San Francisco Association of Realtors (SFAR) today announced newly elected officers and board of director members who will begin their terms on January 1, 2014. Betty A. Taisch, Broker Associate with Coldwell Banker, will serve as the Association’s 2014 Board President. Taisch is well known in the real estate industry not only in the San [...]
Riverstone Retains Management of Bellevue Residential Tower
Riverstone Residential Group, one of the largest privately owned, third-party multifamily property management companies in the United States, has once again been awarded a management contract for The Bravern, a luxury two-tower, 33-story property in Bellevue, Washington, after the property’s sale to a new owner. Previously, Riverstone managed The Bravern on behalf of Seattle-based developer [...]
Switch Automation Opens Seattle Office
Switch Automation’s CEO Deb Noller announced today the opening of the company’s second West Coast office, in Seattle, to serve clients in the Pacific Northwest. The office will be headed up by Peter Rake, Chief Operations Officer.
Noller said, “We have seen building owners in Seattle realize the time and cost-saving benefits of the Switch platform, designed to monitor building portfolios. Our engaging and interactive user interface, scalability of solutions, tools for importing real-time operations data, ease of data handling for multiple formats from dozens of sources, and the robustness of working with the Microsoft Azure cloud platform have really struck a chord with company executives who are currently struggling with large amounts of building data kept in multiple systems or even in spreadsheets.”
Seattle’s 47-Story Wells Fargo Center Acquired by Ivanhoé Cambridge
Ivanhoé Cambridge continues to deploy its growth strategy in the United States with the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Wells Fargo Center, a 47-story, Class A, office tower with 983,600 square-feet of leasable space. The company’s investment of approximately $390 million brings Ivanhoé Cambridge’s share of leasable Class A space in Seattle’s financial district to nearly 8%.
“This acquisition, an excellent investment opportunity brought to our attention through our partner, Callahan Capital Properties, contributes to our strategy aimed at building a national platform…
Watt Plaza in Century City Receives LEED Platinum Certification
0 Shares 0 Shares × Watt Plaza’s twin 23-story office tower in Century City has earned LEED Platinum for Existing Buildings Operating and Maintenance from the U.S. Green Building Council. Watt Plaza is one of four high-rise office buildings in the City of Los Angeles to achieve this distinction, one of 46 in the state [...]
Brookfield Office Properties Completes Acquisition of 4 L.A. High-Rises
Brookfield Office Properties, through its newly formed fund DTLA Holdings, today completed the acquisition of MPG Office Trust. The transaction was contingent upon several conditions, including the approval of MPG’s common stockholders, the receipt of certain consents from MPG’s lenders, and certain regulatory approvals, all of which have been met. MPG common shares will be [...]
Madison International Acquires 49% Interest in L.A.’s One California Plaza
Madison International Realty, a leading real estate private equity firm, has acquired a 49% ownership interest in One California Plaza, a 42-story trophy office tower in downtown Los Angeles, for $295 million, the firm announced. An affiliate of Beacon Capital Partners, LLC, formerly full owner, holds the remaining majority interest and will continue to manage [...]
Lerch Bates to Consult on Planned 58-Story Boston High-Rise
Lerch Bates has been selected by developer Carpenter & Company, Inc. to join the team designing and constructing a landmark project adjacent to Christian Science Plaza in Boston. The development includes a mid-rise structure and a high-rise tower that will be the tallest building built in Boston in more than 20 years. Lerch Bates will [...]
$112 Million Refinance Secured for Seaport Square in Boston
$112 million in refinancing has been secured by the developers of Seaport Square, a master-planned development area in Boston’s Seaport District. HFF worked on behalf of the borrower, a venture between Boston Global Investors and Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing, to secure a six-year loan through Starwood Property Trust. The loan was structured to allow [...]
Construction Begins at $630 Million Millennium Tower Boston Development
Construction has commenced at the site of the Millennium Tower/Burnham Building in Boston. Located in the City’s Downtown Crossing at the site of the former Filene’s Department Store, the $630 million project consists of the landmark 1912 Burnham Building and a dramatic, new, mixed-use tower that will rise 625 feet into the Boston skyline. Showcasing [...]
Hanover Sells Houston’s 41-Story Marathon Oil Tower
Greenwich, Connecticut-based Hanover Real Estate Partners, a privately held real estate investment company has sold Marathon Oil Tower, one of Houston, Texas’ most iconic office buildings, to CBRE Strategic Partners U.S. Value 6, a fund sponsored by CBRE Global Investors. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “We sought an opportune time to sell this [...]
Houston’s Historic JP Morgan Chase Building Changes Hands
The Lionstone Group has acquired 712 Main Street, also known as the JPMorgan Chase Building, a 794,186-square-foot office tower in the central business district of Houston, Texas. This acquisition marks the first time 712 Main has been offered for sale on an individual basis since its construction in 1929. A purchase price has not been [...]
Construction Begins on 30-Story BHP Billiton Office Tower in Houston
Financial services firm TIAA-CREF and Transwestern began construction today on BHP Billiton Tower, a 600,000-square-foot Class AA office tower within the Galleria submarket of Houston. The development will be situated on a 2.72-acre tract fronting on Post Oak Boulevard within the existing Four Oaks Place office complex. The development is 100 percent preleased to BHP [...]
Avison Young Acquires Dallas Tenant Rep Firm Cresa Dallas
Avison Young has acquired Dallas, TX-based commercial real estate firm Dillon Corporate Services, Inc. (doing business as Cresa Dallas) in an asset sale. The change in ownership adds 40 employees to Avison Young’s Dallas operations. Effective immediately, Dillon Corporate Services founders Greg Langston and Terry Quinn, along with Mike McElwee, Art Green, Curt Linn, Kevin [...]
$25 Million Renovation Completed at Dallas’ Lincoln Plaza, Renamed Ross Tower
Dallas’ Lincoln Plaza will be renamed Ross Tower to more accurately reflect its prime downtown location at the corner of Ross Avenue and Akard Street.
“The core of downtown and its amenity base has shifted north with the recent completion of the Dallas Arts District and Klyde Warren Park,” said Lionstone Partner Dan Dubrowski. “We believe the name Ross Tower better highlights the building’s excellent location on Ross Avenue in the Arts District.”
The Lionstone Group selected PegasusAblon, its local operating partner, to provide agency leasing and lead new improvements at the building.
Parallel Capital Partners Re-Enters Texas Market with High-Rise Office Acquisition
Parallel Capital Partners, Inc. has acquired Urban Towers in Irving, Texas – two Class AA high-rise office towers – from CB Richard Ellis Strategic Partners U.S. The concrete and steel mirrored glass complex totals more than 850,000 square feet and sits on 11.2 acres in Las Colinas – a premier Irving business district and master [...]
IFMA Announces Strong Registration for World Workplace in Philadelphia
With just days until World Workplace 2013 in Philadelphia, Pa., USA, the International Facility Management Association announced it is on pace to surpass attendance of the past five years. The World Workplace conference and expo is the most longstanding, well-respected learning and networking event for facility management and related professionals. It runs from Oct. 2-4. [...]
Philadelphia’s 41-Story Commerce Square Sold to Brandywine for $331.8-Million
Brandywine Realty Trust has entered into an agreement with Parkway Properties, Inc. to acquire two Trophy-class high-rise assets located in Philadelphia’s CBD, One and Two Commerce Square, based on a $331.8 million valuation, or $175 per square foot.
Commerce Square consists of two 41-story trophy-class towers comprising a full city block on Market Street between 20th and 21st Streets and totals 1,896,142 square feet. The buildings were built in 1987 and 1992 and, through a recent extensive capital redevelopment program, Commerce Square achieved LEED-Silver status. Commerce Square has a central plaza, The Court at Commerce Square, including ground-level retail, restaurant space and a 525-space underground garage. Upon completion of the transaction, Brandywine will assume full management responsibilities, including property management and leasing.
U.S. Steel Tower in Pittsburgh Offers Electric Vehicle Charging Service
Central Parking Systems, now provides EV (electric vehicle) charging services from Car Charging Group at U.S. Steel Tower in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. U.S. Steel Tower, at 600 Grant Street, is a 64-story Class “A” office building in the Central Business District of Pittsburgh. The property provides access to various service providers, restaurants, and retailers including PNC [...]
TotalBank Secures Naming Rights to Iconic Miami High-Rise
TotalBank will relocate its headquarters to the iconic Miami Tower and rename it TotalBank Tower. The bank is a $2.47 billion-asset subsidiary of Spanish banking giant Banco Popular Espanol SA with current headquarters located at 2720 Coral Way. In May TotalBank plans to move into 60,000 square-feet of Miami Tower’s 503,000 square-feet of office space [...]
Construction Underway on Downtown Fort Lauderdale Residential High-Rise
ADD Inc in Miami was selected by developer American Land Ventures to spearhead the architecture and design of New River Village Phase III, a residential tower that will be located at 501 S.E. 5 Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale, along the New River. Phase III is the last phase of the New River Village development. [...]
$214 Million Construction Loan Secured for Porsche Design Tower
New York/South Florida-based Dezer Development today announced that it had closed a $214 million loan from Wells Fargo for construction of the iconic Porsche Design Tower Miami, located in Sunny Isles Beach. It is the largest loan approved for a major construction project in the Southeast United States since the real estate recession, and exponentially [...]
146-Year-Old Law Firms Inks 2-Floor Lease in Atlanta High-Rise
One of the Southeast’s most venerable law firms, Miller & Martin PLLC, is solidifying its long-term commitment to the Atlanta market, making Crocker Partners’ Regions Plaza (formerly Atlantic Center Plaza) its new Atlanta regional home. The 146-year-old law firm has signed a 12-year lease for the 21st floor and half of the 20th, comprising 36,000 [...]
Newest Apartment Tower at Atlanta’s 12th and Midtown Development
Birmingham, Georgia-based developer Daniel Corporation and Selig Enterprises has completed 77 12th Street, a high-end residential apartment complex in Midtown Atlanta. The $57 million construction project is comprised of a 615,000 sq ft, 23-story apartment tower with 330 residential units, and 23,000 sq ft of retail space. The builder was Brasfield & Gorrie According to [...]
Columbia Property Trust to List Shares on New York Stock Exchange
Atlanta-based Columbia Property Trust, one of the nation’s largest office REITs, today announced that it expects to list its shares of common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “CXP” on or about October 10, 2013. Among Columbia’s properties are 333 Market Street, a recently renovated, 33-story, Class A+ trophy office [...]
Watt Plaza’s twin 23-story office tower in Century City has earned LEED Platinum for Existing Buildings Operating and Maintenance from the U.S. Green Building Council. Watt Plaza is one of four high-rise office buildings in the City of Los Angeles to achieve this distinction, one of 46 in the state of California and one of 110 nationwide.
LEED Certification of Watt Plaza was based on seven key categories of human and environmental health: Sustainable Site Development, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation in Operations and Regional Priority.
Realizing a reduction of over 35% in conventional transportation trips through an Alternative Commuting Transportation program, Watt Plaza is notably the first commercial office building in Century City to install electric vehicle charging stations in the parking facility to encourage the use of alternative fuels. The installation of a white roof to reduce the “heat island effect” was also part of its Sustainable Site Development measures.
The team at Watt Plaza has been very aggressive in their Water Efficiency Measures: Watt Plaza was the first Class A Office Building in Los Angeles to replace all traditional urinals with water-free fixtures. Low-flow faucet aerators and toilets were also installed throughout the building, resulting in a savings of millions of gallons of water each year and reducing the burden on potable water supply and wastewater systems.
Watt Plaza’s landscape palette focuses on a mixture of using drought-tolerant plant material, recycled ground covers and a web-based irrigation system. The recycled ground covers consist of color glass and rubber in various planting beds. These types of ground covers have a low water absorption rate, prevent weed growth, maintain soil moisture, safeguard against insect infestations, have extremely slow decomposition rates and are non-flammable. The web-based irrigation controller automatically adjusts the amount of water dispensed based on real time weather data, preventing over-watering and keeping the soil moisture content adequate for specific types of plants.
Watt Plaza has consistently achieved high Energy Star ratings (the benchmark of energy performance relative to similar buildings in similar climates) each year since 2004, thereby reducing the environmental impacts associated with excessive energy use.
In addition to e-waste, battery, bulb and ballast recycling programs, its implementation of a waste program that diverts over 60% of all building waste to a materials recovery facility has reduced 1,258 tons of GHG (Greenhouse Gas Emissions) to date, equal to removing 838 passenger cars from the roadways for a year.
As part of the Indoor Environmental Quality category, Occupancy Sensors were installed throughout offices, common areas corridors, stairwells and restrooms, realizing a drop in electrical consumption by 690,000 kWh and improving the environment with an annual reduction of 936,655 pounds of carbon dioxide, 6,849 pounds of sulfur and 3,624 pounds of nitrogen dioxide. Further, Watt Plaza takes great pride in their high performance cleaning program, consisting of green-certified products and equipment to reduce the environmental impacts of cleaning products, disposable janitorial paper products and trash bags.
Watt Plaza also demonstrated its commitment to renewable energy development by offsetting 100% of its annual energy consumption through the acquisition of renewable energy. This purchase ensures that the amount of energy consumed at Watt Plaza is replaced on the electric grid by renewable, responsible energy sources. Watt Plaza’s commitment to supporting renewable energy development and reduce carbon emissions has an impact similar to taking 1,817 passenger vehicles off of the road for a year, or planting 223,635 tree seedlings and growing them for ten years.
Category: Los Angeles
Construction Begins on 30-Story BHP Billiton Office Tower in Houston
Financial services firm TIAA-CREF and Transwestern began construction today on BHP Billiton Tower, a 600,000-square-foot Class AA office tower within the Galleria submarket of Houston. The development will be situated on a 2.72-acre tract fronting on Post Oak Boulevard within the existing Four Oaks Place office complex. The development is 100 percent preleased to BHP [...]
Construction Underway on Downtown Fort Lauderdale Residential High-Rise
ADD Inc in Miami was selected by developer American Land Ventures to spearhead the architecture and design of New River Village Phase III, a residential tower that will be located at 501 S.E. 5 Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale, along the New River. Phase III is the last phase of the New River Village development. [...]
Construction Begins at $630 Million Millennium Tower Boston Development
Construction has commenced at the site of the Millennium Tower/Burnham Building in Boston. Located in the City’s Downtown Crossing at the site of the former Filene’s Department Store, the $630 million project consists of the landmark 1912 Burnham Building and a dramatic, new, mixed-use tower that will rise 625 feet into the Boston skyline. Showcasing [...]
35-Story Apartment Tower Planned in Chicago’s Gold Coast Neighborhood
A 35-story, 367-unit apartment tower located at 845 N. State Street in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood has received permit approvals to begin construction immediately. The developer, Newcastle Limited, acquired the property at the southeast corner of State and Chestnut streets from Loyola University Chicago.
The project, which received City Council approval in April, will offer a mix of studio, convertible, one- and two-bedroom apartments, along with 165 parking spaces, indoor and outdoor amenity areas, and 3,300 square feet of street-level retail space. Occupancy is slated for Spring 2015.
Executive Hotels & Resorts Breaks Ground on New Flagship Hotel in New York City
The Executive Group announced today it has started construction on the Executive Hotel Le Soleil New York; a 163 suite boutique luxury hotel which will be a sister hotel to its already successful Executive Hotel Le Soleil Vancouver.
Building off the popularity of the Executive Le Soleil brand and style of design, this new location is under construction in the heart of Mid Town Manhattan at the prime intersection of 5th Avenue and W 36th St. The projected completion date for the Executive Hotel Le Soleil New York is late 2014 and when completed, will be the 17th location in the Executive Hotels & Resorts chain.
Media facades have become a firm feature of the 21st century metropolis, increasingly bathing gray cities in an imposing play of light and color. What once began with lurid neon advertising hoardings in New York's Times Square has grown beyond its initial purpose as a pure advertising medium to present itself today as a conveyor of artistic and social messages, transforming buildings into giant screens.
Stand-Outs: High-Rise Managers Share Their Team’s Best Practices
Owning or managing a tall building is a lot like operating a small city. Being responsible for the services and infrastructure that keep occupants and tenants in business is a big job. So why not take some suggestions and help from your colleagues when you can get it?
We found some examples of best practices that are being incorporated in high-rise facilities, and arranged them into categories.
An award winning editor, Leah spent over eight years in senior
editorial positions at both BUILDINGS magazine and ARCHI-TECH
magazine. Her work has been incorporated into training and
educational programs around the country. She is a graduate of
University of Iowa. She is Editor at Large for High Rise Facilities.
Higher Purpose: An Enterprising Company is Leading Detroit’s Downtown Revival
Rock Ventures – the umbrella entity that manages a diverse portfolio made up of companies like Quicken Loans – first entered the commercial real estate world as a developer.
“As our development work grew, we knew we needed to start a real estate company,” explains Vice President of Bedrock Real Estate Services Dan Mullen.
In 2010, Quicken Loans Visionary, Founder, and Chairman Dan Gilbert partnered with 30-year real estate veteran Jim Ketai to form Bedrock Real Estate Services. At that time, the company also established its office space in downtown Detroit.
An award winning editor, Leah spent over eight years in senior
editorial positions at both BUILDINGS magazine and ARCHI-TECH
magazine. Her work has been incorporated into training and
educational programs around the country. She is a graduate of
University of Iowa. She is Editor at Large for High Rise Facilities.
An Analysis of U.S. High-Rise Construction Activity in This Century
Skyscrapers and skylines have long played a role in the perception of major U.S. cities. The decision by an individual developer or company to “build high” is driven only in part by corporate office space needs or by local market demand for apartments, condominiums, or hotel rooms with a view. The construction of high-rise buildings is also influenced by ambition, ego, and other non-economic factors. Skyscrapers play a unique role in the urban landscape, serving as a source of civic pride for local residents (for whom the buildings can serve a physical embodiment of the economic vitality of their chosen home city), as a symbol of power and economic might for their developers, owners, or occupants, and as a visible manifestation of human ingenuity and engineering prowess.
David is an environmental scientist and grant writer specializing in the assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of brownfield sites. David is also currently pursuing a doctoral degree at the School of Freshwater Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. David was previously the coauthor of a book on the history of the Chinese community in Milwaukee (Chinese Milwaukee).
