Wastewater utilities and contractors and designers that work in the wastewater sector must be prepared to adapt to a changing regulatory environment and a volatile economy in order to stay afloat, according to speakers and attendees at the Water Environment Federation’s annual conference, held Oct. 11-14 in Orlando. Greater regulatory enforcement, the current economy, technology advances and the need for sustainability-based measures are clearly pressing WEF members to make short- and long-term changes. Related Links: ULI Presents Project of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Awards Baker Roofing Co. Launches Renewable Energy Division Maschmeyer Concrete Acquires Central Florida-based Company Peter Silva, assistant
McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Southeast Construction, reported that the value of new Florida contracts signed in August for future construction declined by 42% overall, compared to the same period of a year ago. The total of all new contracts was nearly $1.7 billion, compared to the nearly $2.9 billion of last August. Related Links: Keys Resort Expands With Green, Modular Techniques MIC Roadways Program Named ASCE Project of the Year JCON Group Named GC for Villa Majorca J.L. Wallace Begins Partial Renovation of Bentley Village All three construction categories declined by significant double-digit percentage points. The nonbuilding sector fell 19%
There is widespread acceptance that the renewed focus on green building is good for the planet, but current tax legislation is also making it good for your wallet. The stimulus package signed into law earlier this year extended a key provision of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (the “Act”) that allows a tax deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot for certain energy efficiency improvements. The Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction, included in Section 179D of the Internal Revenue Code, allows building owners or lessees to deduct up to $1.80 per square foot for energy efficiency improvements to
So far, the way that an owner and contractor team decides to build a “green” building has been fairly standard. But that may change. Historically, the most successful green initiatives were those driven by tax abatements and credits, expedited permitting, density incentives, utility credits and other incentives. The majority of these came through the U.S. Green Building Council rating system for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. In this voluntary framework, the project is ultimately evaluated by the benefits weighed against the costs for achieving those benefits. Under these circumstances, the responsibility of a general contractor was detailed by the
There is no question that green building is moving into the mainstream of construction in the United States. Both private and public owners are frequently requiring that their new or renovated projects obtain recognition as “green” buildings—a label achieved by meeting certain standards of third-party rating entities such as the U.S. Green Building Council and its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. While many owners decide to build green voluntarily, some governments now require, or at least incentivize, green certification. Contractors should be aware of the green nuances of public projects. Due in major part to political considerations, public
Skanska USA Building of Atlanta is overseeing a massive undertaking to replace all of the windows in the tornado-damaged Westin Peachtree Plaza of Atlanta. All 6,350 windows in the 73-story hotel will be replaced over a period of approximately 15 months. Hotel operations will continue throughout the replacement. Related Links: Value of Georgia’s New Contracts Fell 16% in August Evergreen Starts Work on $16-Million Cherokee Co. School Damage to the hotel occurred in March 2008 when a tornado hit downtown Atlanta and struck the Westin. The storm initially disabled 320 of the hotel’s 1,068 rooms. Skanska is working with architect
In building its own $3-million, LEED gold-certified headquarters in Sarasota, Fla., general contractor Willis A. Smith Construction sought to make a statement, both to its employees and prospective clients. Slide Show Photo: Willis A. Smith Construction Willis A. Smith Construction of Sarasota, Fla., recently obtained LEED Gold certification for its new headquarters building. The contractor is focusing more on opportunities in the green building market. “Sustainability is sweeping the country,” says David E. Sessions, the firm’s president. “We wanted, as a firm, to become a leader in sustainability and be recognized for that. Importantly, we wanted to educate ourselves and
Related Links: Top Green Design Firms Seeking More Green from Green Gold Honors LEED to Become More Stringent Green Building Standards Being Written into Building Codes Construction�s Legal Risks in the New Green Paradigm There’s no doubt about it. The movement to build “green” is becoming mainstream. Private owners are calling for green buildings with greater frequency, and some public entities are beginning to mandate it. In this collection of features dealing with green building and design–and elsewhere in this issue–Southeast Construction provides a look at a couple of recent green projects, one at the University of South Carolina, and
The University of South Carolina’s $40-million Honors Residence Hall in Columbia extends the school’s commitment to the environment and sustainability, while integrating classrooms and study areas into students’ living quarters. Photo: Garvin Design Group Large overhangs block direct sunlight from heating the upper-floor interiors. Photo: Garvin Design Group The new facility was designed by Garvin Design Group of Columbia, S.C. China Construction, also of Columbia, was the general contractor. “‘Living and learning’ has emerged in the last few years as a national trend,” says project architect Mark L. Timbes, a principal with Garvin Design Group of Columbia. “We did everything
Though green-building experts and construction lawyers laud the good intentions of the U.S. Green Building Council about its popular Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green-building rating system, many have serious concerns about at least one new requirement in the latest version of LEED, which went into effect on July 1. The requirement, a “precondition” of certification for all buildings under LEED Version 3, says owners must commit to sharing building energy and water-usage data for at least five years after a new building is occupied or an existing building is certified. Another change sending shudders down the spine of
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