MultifamilyExecutive: Sitework

Architects See More Projects Cross the Finish Line, Start Hiring

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:36:37 EST

A year or two ago, at the height of the recession, Alfred Wojciechowski, a principal at CBT Architects in Boston, says he would get a project from a developer that would lead to a quick feasibility diagram on a site. But it hardly ever led to anything more substantial. That's changed this year.

Complaints Rise About Hazards of Halted Construction Sites

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:45:56 EST

Halted construction sites are not just nuisances to the cash-strapped developers of the properties, but they cause problems to surrounding neighborhoods as well. Complaints of scattered steel pipes, broken glass, and crumbling sheet rock seem to be rampant in overbuilt areas such as Florida. And residents are reportedly irate due to the safety and environmental hazards that these unfinished properties cause.

River of Life

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 05:33:08 EST

A project sensitive to its distinct surroundings, specifically its riverfront location and rolling meadows.

Planting Seeds: Gardens As Amenities

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:36:10 EST

Apartment owners and managers are adding wheelbarrows and shears to their amenity toolbox. According to the American Community Gardening Association, there are at least 18,000 community gardens throughout the United States and Canada. And more and more of them are in apartment communities.

A Train Runs Through It: West Loop Development

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:13:13 EST

Fifield Cos.' K Station development in Chicago's West Loop brings new meaning to the term “transitoriented site.” The incredibly complex transportation hub, which served as the original railroad terminal in Chicago called Kinzie Station, includes a subway tunnel and an adjacent rail line. But that's not all: Plans call for a high-speed rail line to run through the middle of the site and a bus depot to be built on the edge of the development.

Clear Vision

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:40:08 EST

Patty Rouse just turned 79 years old. But this spunky, bright-eyed lady certainly doesn't act her age. Each weekday, Rouse, the co-founder of The Enterprise Foundation, reports to work by 10 a.m. and never leaves before 6 p.m.—well, except for the one time she left early for her grandson's hockey game, she admits in her characteristic no-nonsense manner.

Powerful Connections

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:41:14 EST

It's 6:15 a.m. Pacific time when I dial Jeff Stack's number, inwardly wincing at the early hour. After all, it's three hours later in my Washington office, and I'm still slugging back my morning coffee. (Just ask my staff.) But Stack, managing director of the Sares•Regis Group, a multifamily owner, manager, and developer in Irvine, Calif., has been up for hours. Each morning, he awakens at 4:15 a.m. to give his youngest daughter the first of three shots she must receive each day to keep her alive.

High Hopes

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:56:40 EST

How would you like to cut construction costs by 20 percent without affecting the value of your project? That's what Genesis Real Estate Group, the Dallas-based developers of Ocean Villas, managed to do by continually evaluating design and construction options right up to the completion of the foundation. This process is known as value engineering. One of the main goals of the community, a two-tower, 19-story condominium project in Long Beach, Calif., was to reduce overall construction time so occupancy could begin as soon as possible. Genesis and EDI Architecture Inc. determined early in the development stage that using a tunnelform system would meet an aggressive construction schedule and save approximately 30 percent in direct construction costs. With the tunnelform system, walls and floors are poured simultaneously. This not only reduces construction time but also eliminates as much as 60 percent of interior partition framing and drywall.