LEEDing the Charge: Downtown Seattles 901 Fifth Avenue Building Achieves LEED-EB SilverTM Certification

RREEF Real Estate and Kennedy Wilson today announced that 901 Fifth Avenue in Seattle, WA, a 41-story 558,607 sq. ft office tower has achieved LEED-EB™ (existing building) Silver certification. The certification marks the completion of one of the largest environmental retrofits in the industry for an existing property and Seattle’s first full city block targeting LEED certification. The new ownership and management of Seattle’s 901 Fifth Avenue... 

4th Annual Modernism Week Dates (February 13-21, 2009) and Event Schedule is Announced

The schedule of events for the next highly-anticipated Modernism Week was announced today by the event organizers. The 4th Annual Modernism Week is slated to take place February 13 – 21, 2009 and will be include a wide variety of events over a 9-day period. As in previous years, Modernism Week will kick off with the two-day Modernism Show (February 15 and 16) at the Palm Springs Convention Center, preceded by a public Preview Reception the evening... 

South Korea’s Songdo International Business District Sets Global Standard as ‘Eco-City’

New international standards are being set by Gale International in sustainable building design, systems engineering, and urban infrastructure and planning with Songdo International Business District (IBD), a new city currently under construction off Incheon, South Korea, on the Yellow Sea. Songdo IBD is a joint venture between Gale International and Posco Engineering & Construction and is the largest private development in the world. Songdo IBD,... 

TIAA-CREF Global Real Estate’s One Boston Place Awarded First LEED-EB Gold Certification for Operations and Maintenance

TIAA-CREF Global Real Estate announced today that One Boston Place in Boston is the first building to earn the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold designation from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance. LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance is a rating system that recognizes buildings with maximum operational efficiency and minimal environmental... 

Watt Plaza Is First Class A High Rise in LA Area to Go 100% Waterfree With Urinal Retrofit, Saving 2.2 Million Gallons Per Year

The twin office towers of Watt Plaza in Century City are the first Class A commercial high rises in Los Angeles to undergo a 100% retrofit with Falcon Waterfree urinals. The resulting 2.2 million gallon per year water savings at this single building provides welcome relief for the drought stricken area and exemplifies the success of comprehensive planning by local officials. This retrofit of Watt Plaza’s urinals comes as Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa,... 

L.A.’s First Solar-Powered, All-Green Urban Community Premieres in Hollywood

Utility costs may be rising, but utility rates will remain at an all-time low at one eco-friendly Southern California community. The Gatsby Hollywood has announced it will be Metro L.A.’s first all solar-powered, all-green urban community. The enclave is now under construction on the corner of Hollywood’s Fountain and Wilcox Avenues. A first for the area, the all-new, single-family-home community offers premier sun-powered features and... 

Rubenstein Public Relations Retained to Publicize the Laurel on Manhattan’s Upper East Side

Alexico Group has hired Rubenstein Public Relations (RPR) for its 31-story luxury condominium tower at 67th Street and First Avenue, Richard Rubenstein, president of Rubenstein Public Relations, announced today. Designed by the renowned Costas Kondylis & Partners, the Laurel is constructed of glass and Indiana Limestone and has earned LEED certification from U.S. Green Building Council. The building’s 129 residences feature high ceilings,... 

Building Contractors, Labor and Education Form Partnership to Build California Construction College in San Jose

A coalition of construction employers, labor and the San Jose/Evergreen Community College District has been working for four years to develop a solution to the construction industry’s need for more highly trained construction managers, project engineers, job estimators and supervisors to replace retiring Baby Boomers. The group, operating under the imprimatur of the Santa Clara County Construction Careers Association (S4CA), today announced the... 

Purdue Research Foundation Receives 3 International Awards for Economic Development

The International Economic Development Council awarded the Purdue Research Foundation with three 2008 IEDC Excellence in Economic Development Awards at its annual conference in Atlanta. The IEDC is the largest professional association of economic development practitioners in the world, with members in the United States, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and other nations. “The IEDC is one of the most well-regarded and prestigious economic... 

NAR, Mayors Recognize Allentown, Pa., for Helping Hometown Heroes Become Homeowners

The National Association of Realtors® and the U.S. Conference of Mayors have named Allentown, Pa., an Ambassador City for its Hometown Heroes program, which creates homeownership opportunities for the city’s police officers, firefighters and emergency services personnel. The Hometown Heroes program was created through a partnership between the Lehigh Valley Association of Realtors® and the city of Allentown. The program provides need-based...