Apple Prepares to Open New Facility in Austin, TX

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Apple Prepares to Open New Facility in Austin, TXAffectionately known as “Silicon Hills,” Austin, Texas was ranked as the number 1 city for tech job growth in a report published by Forbes last year. Now, thanks to a huge investment from Apple Inc., it doesn’t look like Austin’s tech boom is going to slow down anytime soon.

On April 24, 2015 Apple announced that they had signed a lease for the seven-story, 215,000-square foot Capital Ridge office building in Southwest Austin. The building, which was already under construction when Apple signed the lease, is slated to open in 2017.

This is the latest effort in Apple’s push to establish Austin as the company’s business operations hub for the Western Hemisphere. Just a few weeks before signing the lease on the Capital Ridge location, the company purchased another 350,000-square foot office complex in Northwest Austin. These facilities might be pretty big, but they’ll both be dwarfed by Apple’s main attraction – a 1.1 million-square foot campus that will cover 38 acres in Northwest Austin.

The campus will employ workers in a variety of different positions including human resources, customer support, corporate sales, finance and accounting. Once the campus is complete, Apple will be the second-largest employer in Central Texas. As of the end of 2014, Apple employed about 4,500 employees in Austin. Once their new facilities are complete, they expect to employ 3,600 more people in the area as well.

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

US Lacrosse Moves Into New Headquarters in Sparks, Maryland

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US Lacrosse Moves Into New Headquarters in Sparks, MarylandUS Lacrosse was formed in 1998 following a merger of eight national lacrosse organizations, most of which were run by volunteers. Since then, the organizing body of American lacrosse has made great strides in their efforts to bring the sport to a wider audience and provide young athletes with opportunities to try it for themselves.

The organization has grown quite a lot since it was founded nearly 20 years ago, but it still relies heavily on volunteer efforts from devoted lacrosse fans.  Currently, US Lacrosse employs more than 80 full-time employees, and works with more than 300 volunteers engaged in various administrative capacities. Until earlier this year, US Lacrosse had occupied the same facility on the campus of Johns Hopkins University for its entire history.

Now, thanks to a huge fundraising effort that generated more than $14 million in private donations, US Lacrosse has a new home in the Baltimore suburb of Sparks, Maryland. At the heart of the headquarters lies a three-story 45,000 square foot building that houses office and meeting space, an education and training center, and locker rooms. Adjacent to the building is the William G. Tierney Field which the US National Teams Program will use for training. Later this year, a new National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Museum will host its grand opening at the site as well.

Here at Construction Protection Systems we’re proud to have had the opportunity to play a part, however small, in this remarkable grassroots effort to build a new space for the sport of lacrosse to grow in America. Stay tuned for more updates from the makers of 1-2-3 Door Shield – the original, reusable door protection system.

At UC Berkeley, Historic Bowles Hall Gets a New Lease on Life

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At UC Berkeley, Historic Bowles Hall Gets a New Lease on Life87 years ago, Bowles Hall became the first residence hall on the University of California, Berkeley campus. Founded on distinctly egalitarian principles, Bowles Hall was self-governed by the students who occupied it until the mid-1970’s. Residents lived there for the duration of their undergraduate careers. They ate together, learned together, and established time-honored traditions that remain near and dear to the collective heart of the campus.

By the 1980’s, however, Bowles had become much like any other dorm on campus. It was distinguished only by its elegant façade, which has been compared to Hogwarts by more recent students. In the latter part of the decade, under threat of demolition from the school, a fraternity of former residents known as the Bowlesmen petitioned to have the building added to the National Register of Historic Places. They were able to save the building, but not the tradition of self-governance. It became an all-men’s freshman dormitory, and gradually it fell into disrepair.

Then, last year, an alumni organization known as the Bowles Hall Foundation offered to purchase the building from UC Berkeley and maintain its operations as a student residence. Now they’re funding a $40 million repair and renovation project and restoring Bowles’ status as a self-governing institution. In the fall of 2016, 186 students, three graduate students and two professors will move in become a new generation of Bowles residents. This will be the first time in Bowles’ history that it has been a co-ed residence hall.

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

Navy Federal Credit Union Extends Its Presence in Pensacola

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Navy Federal Credit Union Extends Its Presence in PensacolaIn 2003, the largest credit union in the country opened a branch office in Pensacola, Florida with just 60 employees. Today, their Northwest Florida office employs more than 4,000 workers. By 2020, Navy Federal expects that number to reach 10,000. To accommodate this astounding growth, the credit union is building a new 1.5 million square foot facility in Pensacola. The first phase – a 400,000 square foot office building which will house 2,000 employees – is slated to open this summer. Once the second, 1.1 million square foot second phase is complete, the facility will have room for 7,000 employees. The entire project is expected to be finished in late 2018.

Navy Federal’s rapid growth began in 2008 when they relaxed their membership requirements to allow members of other branches of the U.S. Department of Defense and civilian contractors to join. Since then, they’ve opened about 12 new branch offices annually in places all across the globe.

“The reason for the expansion is for the significant growth in membership over the last several years,” said Debbie Calder Navy Federal’s executive vice president of Greater Pensacola operations in an interview. “We need to hire more people to take care of our members.” Calder then went on to say that the Pensacola branch is currently Navy Federal’s largest operation, and that they expect the bulk of their future growth to be centered in the Northwest Florida region as well.

This year, Navy Federal Credit Union ranked 44 in Fortune’s list of the 100 Best companies to Work For. This is the sixth time they’ve appeared on the list. Soon, thousands of people in Northwest Florida will have the opportunity to join the ranks of Navy Federal’s workforce.

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

Construction Continues at Lakes of Valparaiso in Northwest Indiana

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.