Construction Continues at Lakes of Valparaiso in Northwest Indiana

Construction Continues at Lakes of Valparaiso in Northwest IndianaIn August of 2014, developers broke ground on a massive 146-acre mixed-use project in Valparaiso, Indiana. 90 acres were allotted for a business park, while the remainder of the land was set aside for a 400-unit luxury apartment complex. Local developer Weiss Entities, LLC invested $50 million in the project.

Now, less than two years later, work on the residential portion is well underway and Weiss Entities is beginning to sell small parcels of the land to commercial developers who will contribute further additions to the project. The largest development project in the city in recent memory, Lakes of Valparaiso promises to offer local residents a host of new housing and employment opportunities.

“The Lakes of Valparaiso will provide a category of housing not currently available in the area, appealing to those who don’t wish to own a home but are looking for high-end amenities like stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, their own connected parking and a country club quality clubhouse,” said Don Weiss, principal of Weiss Entities in a statement. “Similarly, the business park will provide users with a number of advantages, including access and visibility, design flexibility and state of the art technology-enabled infrastructure.”

These infrastructure upgrades include the extension of the city’s main street through the development, as well as the installation of a high-speed fiber optic internet system. City officials are optimistic that the project will provide powerful new incentives for businesses to set up shop in Valparaiso.

“The business park will be excellent for economic development. The shovel-ready park gives the city just what incoming and expanding businesses are looking for in a location for commercial growth,” said city economic development director Patrick Lyp.

Some of the apartments at Lakes of Valparaiso have already been leased, and the first phase of the commercial portion of the project is expected to be complete by the end of this year.

Here at Construction Protection Systems we’re proud to have had the opportunity to play a part, however small, in the development of this growing city in America’s heartland. Stay tuned for more updates from the makers of 1-2-3 Door Shield – the original, reusable door protection system.

State Farm Regional Headquarters in Atlanta Nears Completion

State Farm Regional Headquarters in Atlanta Nears CompletionOne of the largest insurance providers in the country is preparing to settle into some impressive new digs in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. State Farm’s new regional headquarters will be housed in a 13 story tower with 2.2 million square feet of office space. The building will include an additional 100,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, entertainment space and a hotel. It’s conveniently located next to a MARTA transit station, providing the company’s employees with an efficient and cost-effective way to commute to and from work. The headquarters was designed by architecture firm Cooper Carry & Associates, and is being constructed by Dallas-based developer KDC.

State Farm currently employees about 5,000 employees throughout the Atlanta area, and they plan to increase than number to 8,000 once the new headquarters is complete. They’re currently working to fill 1,500 new positions in anticipation of the tower’s completion.

The company’s extensive growth in the Atlanta metro area began in 2013 when they purchased roughly 300,000 square feet of office space in a building in the nearby suburb of Dunwoody. Now, State Farm is subleasing some of that space to other companies as they prepare to migrate the bulk of their local workforce to the new headquarters. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

Here at Construction Protection Systems we’re proud to have had the opportunity to play a part, however small, in the development of what is sure to be a major economic boon to the Atlanta metro area. Stay tuned for more updates from the makers of 1-2-3 Door Shield – the original, reusable door protection system.

Penn State’s New Data Center Facilitates Academic Research

Penn State’s New Data Center Facilitates Academic ResearchIn January, 2015 Penn State Hershey broke ground on a $54 million data center devoted to advancing medical research and improving patient care. Then, just two months later, the largest university in Pennsylvania announced that it had plans to build another even bigger data center at its flagship campus, University Park.

This two-story, $58 million facility will serve a 1.75 megawatt load with room for an additional 1 megawatt of growth. The site can also be expanded to accommodate an impressive 8 megawatt load in the future if necessary. To put this kind of energy load in perspective, the power supply in your home’s desktop computer probably tops out at a meager 400-500 watts. So what does Penn State plan to do with all that power?

“State-of-the-art, high-performance computing and data storage are absolutely essential elements of any research-intensive university,” said Vice President of Research Neil Sharkey in a statement in which he further added, “Advanced computational models employing big data are now commonplace across academic disciplines, with advances in virtually all fields dependent upon cyberscience.”

In addition to raw computing power, The University Park Data Center’s design is heavily focused on energy efficiency. A data center pulling a few megawatts of power generates a whole lot of heat, and it can take almost as much power to keep computing components cool. That’s why engineers developed an innovative three-stage cooling process to reduce the amount of energy it takes to regulate the temperature in the new facility.

First, heat exchangers continuously circulate indoor air to minimize heat buildup. Then, water is sprayed onto the heat exchangers to reduce the initial temperature of the incoming air. Finally, a third mechanical cooling system using a series of compressors will provide supplementary cooling in case temperatures exceed acceptable limits. On average, data centers operate at a power usage effectiveness (PUE) of about 1.7. An inefficient data center might operate closer to 3.0 PUE. The University Park Data Center, on the other hand, is projected to operate at just 1.19 PUE.

Here at Construction Protection Systems we’re proud to have had the opportunity to play a part, however small, in the development of this powerful research tool. Stay tuned for more updates from the makers of 1-2-3 Door Shield – the original, reusable door protection system.

Lamberts Path Offers Townhome Living on Staten Island

Lamberts Path Offers Townhome Living on Staten IslandTwo years ago, the 1600 block of Lamberts Avenue in the Graniteville neighborhood of Staten Island was little more than a vacant lot and makeshift landfill. Today, it’s the site of Staten Island’s newest luxury townhome community. Completed late last year, Lamberts Path has transformed a long-neglected nine-acre tract of land into a comfortable, attractive place for New Yorkers to raise a family. The project’s construction was managed by the Brooklyn-based firm Farr Properties LLC.

According to the community’s website, Lamberts path offers “serenity and convenience, a blend that young professionals and families yearn for.” The single-family units in Lamberts Path, which start at around $400k, were designed to strike a balance between luxury and affordability. Townhomes are available in four distinct floor plans, one of which features a finished basement apartment for guests or tenants.

Located near two major commuter thoroughfares – Routes I-278 and 440 – Lambert’s path provides residents with easy access to both New Jersey and Manhattan. Local landmarks in the vicinity of Lambert’s Path include the Staten Island Zoo and C.U.N.Y. Staten Island.

You can watch the progression of Lamberts Path from an empty lot to a thriving suburban community in the video below.

Here at Construction Protection Systems we’re proud to have had the opportunity to play a part, however small, in the revitalization of this property on Staten Island. Stay tuned for more updates from the makers of 1-2-3 Door Shield – The original, reusable door protection system.

Stein Eriksen Residences Bring Rustic Luxury to Park City, UT

Stein Eriksen Residences Bring Rustic Luxury to Park City, UTIn 1952, Norwegian skier Stein Eriksen captured the attention of sports fans all over the world when he took the Olympic gold medal in the giant slalom in his hometown of Oslo. A charismatic figure with impeccable style and grace on the slopes, Eriksen quickly established himself as one of the sport’s first stars. Following his retirement from competitive skiing, Erik moved to the United States where he worked as a ski instructor at a number of different resorts. He passed away in December, 2015 at the age of 88 in Park City, Utah. At the time of his death he was the director of skiing at the nearby Deer Valley Resort. Now, his legacy is commemorated in a luxury residential complex at Deer Valley which bears his name.

The Stein Eriksen Residences consist of a sprawling group of alpine ski chateaus which house 14 single family homes, 40 condominiums, a restaurant, pool, spa and gymnasium. The residential units feature a variety of luxury details and amenities including radiant-heat floors, steel floating stairways and wraparound windows which offer expansive views of Deer Valley. The residences’ aesthetic blends classic and contemporary elements in a style its designers refer to as “Modern Mountain.”

Deer Valley Resort was originally established in the 1930s and has since grown to become one of the premier skiing destinations in the Central Rockies. Well-known for its upscale amenities, the Stein Eriksen Residences constitute the latest addition to the many housing and lodging accommodations at Deer Valley.

Here at Construction Protection Systems we’re proud to have had the opportunity to play a part, however small, in the development of the namesake residences of one of skiing’s most beloved figures. Stay tuned for more updates from the makers of 1-2-3 Door Shield – The original, reusable door protection system.

 

Texas Advanced Computing Center Enables Advanced Research

Texas Advanced Computing Center Enables Advanced ResearchIn July of 1990, a massive hail storm suddenly descended on Boulder, Colorado. Baseball-sized hunks of ice totaled cars and caused extensive roof and window damage to homes in the area. Storms like this are rare, but they can be very costly and destructive. Because they’re rare, scientists don’t know much about how or why they form. Likewise, they’re very hard to predict. Thanks to a supercomputer cluster at the University of Texas, however, meteorologists are now able to create detailed simulations of weather events that offer new insights into their formation and behavior. Rather than waiting around for the next freak hailstorm to hit Colorado, scientists can now study these phenomena in a virtual environment.

This is just one of the many applications of the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) in Austin. Recently, students at the TACC’s visualization laboratory used the supercomputers to create a detailed, interactive virtual tour of the surface of Mars. Meanwhile, another team of researchers is using the TACC’s Wrangler supercomputer to unravel the mysteries of the elusive “dark energy” that pervades the universe.

The TACC is maintained through a joint effort between the University of Texas at Austin and the National Science Foundation. Since it was founded in 2001, the TACC has made numerous contributions to a variety of research fields. According to their website, the center’s mission is to “enable discoveries that advance science and society through the application of advanced computing technologies.”

Here at Construction Protection Systems, we’re proud to have played a part, however small, in the development of the new home for this remarkable research tool. Stay tuned for more updates from the makers of 1-2-3 Door Shield – the original, reusable door protection system.

CHI St. Luke’s Health Completes New Suburban Hospital

CHI St. Luke’s Health Completes New Suburban HospitalSince the organization was founded in 1954 as a division of Catholic Health Initiatives, CHI St. Luke’s Health has been providing the people of the Greater Houston area with comprehensive medical care from a number of different health facilities. Among these are seven hospitals, six medical groups and four outpatient and specialty clinics.

The latest addition to the St. Luke’s Health system is the Springwoods Village Hospital which was just completed in January, 2016. This 55,000-square-foot ambulatory medical center is now home to inpatient and outpatient surgical rooms, an emergency department, diagnostic imaging services and more than 30 offices for primary care and specialist physicians. This hospital is the second component of what will become an expansive medical campus in the suburban community of Springwoods Village. A primary care clinic was completed on the site earlier in 2015, and construction is continuing on a 100,000-square-foot medical office building adjacent to the hospital. St. Luke’s has committed an additional $70 million to further developments over the next five years.

Springwoods Village is a 2,000 acre master-planned community that was designed to be as environmentally sustainable and energy efficient as possible. When St. Luke’s chose the community as the site of its new medical campus, they were intent on adhering to these same principals of sustainability.

“Springwoods Village exemplifies sustainable, healthy living – a goal we share – promoting work-life balance, prevention and community health,” Said Debra Sukin, senior vice president of CHI St. Luke’s Health, in a statement. The health system plans to pursue LEED certification for all of the buildings on the burgeoning medical campus.

Here at Construction Protection Systems, we’re proud to have had the opportunity to play a part, however small, in the development of Houston’s newest hospital. Stay tuned for more updates from the makers of 1-2-3 Door Shield – The original, reusable door protection system.

In Miami, Alta Dadeland Residences Begin Welcoming Tenants

In Miami, Alta Dadeland Residences Begin Welcoming TenantsThanks to a windfall of foreign investments in the city, downtown Miami has been in the midst of a luxury condo boom for the better part of the last two years. Surging real estate sales are changing the landscape of South Florida’s biggest city, and for all the benefits the boom has had on the regional economy, it’s left some renters in need of apartment space. Now, developers are beginning to capitalize on this renewed demand for rentals as well.

 
Completed late last year, Alta Dadeland is a $128 million mixed-use property that features 431 apartment units and 2,000 square feet of adjacent retail space. It was designed by the Houston-based firm EDI-International and built by Wood Partners L.L.C.

Alta Dadeland’s residential space is housed in two separate towers joined by a pedestrian bridge. Behind the towers, residents can access a six-story parking structure with a resort-style pool deck on the roof.

“Since it’s still not easy to buy a home in today’s market, many young professionals are renting by choice, said Dave Thompson, the Florida development director for Wood Partners in an interview last year. “Renters like the flexibility that comes with renting. Also, in Miami-Dade there’s a shortage of new product since a vast amount of apartment stock was converted into condominiums.”

The location for Alta Dadeland was carefully chosen based on its proximity to public transit, entertainment venues and employment opportunities. Residents can commute to work via two nearby Metrorail stations, and shop at the popular Dadeland Mall which is within walking distance of the community. Alta Dadeland is also less than two miles from the region’s largest employers, Baptist Health South Florida and the University of Miami.

Here at Construction Protection Systems we’re proud to have had the opportunity to play a part, however small, in the development of this essential residential space in Miami-Dade County. Stay tuned for more updates from the makers of 1-2-3 Door Shield – the original, reusable door protection system.

Marina Palms Slated for Completion in Late 2016

Marina Palms Slated for Completion in Late 2016The face of North Miami Beach is changing. Recently, developers have begun purchasing large plots of inexpensive land in the blue collar neighborhood and revamping them with high-rise residential and mixed-use buildings. One such project is the Marina Palms Yacht Club & Residences at 172nd Street and Biscayne Boulevard. Construction at Marina Palms began in February of last year, and is due to be finished by the end of 2016. According to The Real Deal, this is the first luxury condo development with a yacht club and marina built in Miami-Dade County in more than 20 years.

Once it’s complete, the 468-unit complex will be the most expensive residential building in North Miami Beach. It will occupy two 25-story towers that flank a dock capable of housing 112 boats up to 100 feet in length. Unit prices begin at around $800,000. One 4,300 square-foot penthouse sold for a whopping $4.3 million last year. Residents of Miami Palms will have the opportunity to enjoy a diverse selection of luxury amenities including butler service, a spa, infinity edge pool and gated access with 24-7 valet service.

Completion of the project might still be months away, but Curbed Miami is reporting that the units are already 90 percent sold out. The only residences that have yet to be sold are in the south tower which is still under construction.

Here at Construction Protection Systems, we’re proud to have had the opportunity to play a part, however small, in this exciting new phase of growth in North Miami Beach. Stay tuned for more updates from the makers of 1-2-3 Door shield – the original, reusable door protection system.

Park Chelsea: The Latest Addition to DC’s Capitol Riverfront

Park Chelsea: The Latest Addition to DC’s Capitol RiverfrontJust a stone’s throw from Capitol Hill, the Park Chelsea luxury apartment building is now home to some of the most desirable residences in our nation’s capital. Park Chelsea constitutes one third of The Collective, a residential complex that offers “three distinct lifestyle options and limitless amenities.” Completed late last year, The Park Chelsea is the first of the three components of The Collective to open its doors to residents.

 

Of the three apartment buildings, the Park Chelsea boasts the most amenities by far. Among these are a rooftop pool and community gardens, a 20,000 square foot courtyard, a library and a 1,700 square foot fitness center. Once the other two components of The Collective are complete, residents will have access to the amenities in all three of the buildings. The complex will also house a Whole Foods Market in its ground floor.

Perhaps the most attractive feature of the Park Chelsea is not one of its myriad conveniences, but rather its location. From the rooftop, residents can take in stunning panoramic views of Capitol Hill, the Anacostia River and the iconic D.C. monuments.

The Park Chelsea was designed by Escohoff & Associates, a well-recognized architectural firm that has been responsible for a number of other high profile projects in the area over the course of its 20 year history. All three of the buildings in The Collective are being designed to LEED Silver specifications.

Here at Construction Protection Systems we’re proud to have had the opportunity to play a part, however small, in the development of these beautiful new residences in the heart of Washington, D.C. Stay tuned for more updates from the makers of 1-2-3 Door Shield – the original, reusable door protection system.