A message from Michael Barnes, Publisher of High-Profile Monthly
Sandra L. Reynolds, Executive Vice President Associated Industries of Massachusetts, notes in a recent newsletter that research conducted by AIM shows “… employers are reversing two years of salary freezes, furloughs and benefit reductions and stepping up training initiatives to address employees who may for the first time in two years be receiving offers from competitors.”
This is good news. Its the kind of news that will eventually mean more activity in the facility development industry.
Its good news for owners that construction costs have not risen. Karl F. Almstead, the Turner vice president responsible for the Turner Building Cost Index said, “The fourth quarter forecast reflects increasing commodity and materials prices being offset by extremely competitive market conditions.”
Its good news to hear that the 2010 IFMA Boston Holiday Gala raised 20% more in donations than in 2009.
In last month’s editorial I noted that there has been an uptick in construction news stories. There are more rehires and restarts appearing on our news pages.. While bumping shoulders at industry meetings I have also noticed a new sense of optimism that we have bottomed out.
In his forecast article on page 13, Ray Frobosilo sourced McGraw-Hill Construction’s annual Construction Outlook survey, which projects an 8% growth in the industry.
In the section on economic conditions for the Boston area, The Beige Book said, “The outlook for 2011 is slightly more optimistic than last time, with somewhat less reference to downside possibilities.” The Federal Reserve publishes the Beige book eight times a year. Visit www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/Beigebook.
ASM will host Economic Outlook 2011 “What to Expect in the U.S. & New England” on Wednesday, February 2, with one of the country’s foremost economists – Mark Vitner, Managing Director and Senior Economist at Wells Fargo.
EVENTS 2011
2011 will see Boston’s local IFMA chapter host the IFMA Facility Fusion, March 23-25 at the Westin – Boston Waterfront. The Conference Program includes high-level, FM education and expert advice leading to better management of facilities, teams and projects.
You may join us at our booth for the two day expo while discovering the best solutions on the market for enhancing or improving facility operations, systems and programs. Visit http://www.ifmafacilityfusion.org.
Earlier in March 8-10 some 4,000 renewable energy and green building experts will bring their cutting edge thinking to Boston for the BuildingEnergy11 Conference and Tradeshow, the annual event organized by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA).
Now in its 36th year, BuildingEnergy is the oldest and largest regional high performance building and renewable energy event in the country, with participants coming from across the Northeast – from Maine to Washington, DC. We hope you will sign up online at www.nesea.org/be11 and say hello at High-Profile’s booth #462.
“Hospitals Going Green: Part II” is the theme for MHA’s fifth Annual Healthcare Construction Conference on Friday, April 8, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at the Waltham Woods Conference Center.
While large-scale construction projects have slowed down, hospitals continue to improve their facilities in many ways. The “green” movement is sweeping industries across America and healthcare is no exception. Aside from simply needing to comply with new legal and regulatory requirements, hospitals are taking the lead in innovation in areas such as energy, waste reduction, materials, and food. Environmental issues are requirements of the Joint Commission, but for patient-centered care reasons, hospitals are creating more aesthetically-pleasing environments of care. This year’s annual conference will look at how these initiatives are good for both patients and the bottom line, and will also highlight some exciting new possibilities for the near future. Visit www.mhalink.org.
6th Annual Northeast Buildings & Facilities Management Show & Conference (NEBFM) is scheduled for June 15th & 16th at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
Platinum Sponsor, IFMA – Boston Chapter, produces and monitors the Educational Conference featuring 28 one-hour sessions covering major topics of concern to New England’s facility engineers, property managers, building owners & managers and plant engineers.
NEBFM hosts a networking reception for attendees and exhibitors on the show floor that features complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks and hot hors d’oeuvres.
The NEXUS project of The Green Roundtable will conduct a one day seminar. The seminar is intended to increase the knowledge of green building practices for buildings and facilities professionals.
High-Profile is pleased to offer a free lunch (to the first 50 individuals who request) to those attending the show. Contact publisher@high-profile.com attn: NEBFM Lunch. You are also invited to visit our NEBFM booth #259. More info at http://www.proexpos.com/NEBFM/index.php.
Now is the Time to Build
The Berklee College of Music has plans for a new 16-story, 170,000sf dorm and dining facility at 168 Massachusetts Avenue. The existing structure will be razed. The new dorm will have 350 beds and indclude a two story dining facility seating 400.
William Rawn Architects is the designer. The project is part of the 750,000sf of plans for academic and student facilities at Berklee..
I read in the BBJReal Estate Round Up that MassDevelopment, a state-chartered lending and economic development entity, has issued $66.3 million in tax-exempt bonds to support the construction of a new 112,000sf academic facility at 20 Somerset St. in Boston.
The new Suffolk University building, slated to open in 2013, will house classrooms for the New England School of Art and Design, a part of the university specializing in programs for interior design and decorative arts.
To make room for the new site, Suffolk plans to raze a former Metropolitan District Commission building.
Street-Works is reviving the Quincy historic downtown district into the thriving center of shopping and commerce that it once was.
Hancock Adams Associates (HAA) is an entity created specifically to develop New Quincy Center, and is led by Street-Works Development LLC as the managing member.
When completed, the 40-acre, $1.2 billion redevelopment of downtown Quincy will include approximately 500,000 sf of retail, 700,000 sf of office, a 155,000 sf Wellness Center and health club, a 100,000 sf academic use, civic uses, a cinema, and approximately 1,100 residential units.
With over $250 million of City, State and Federal funding, downtown Quincy’s redevelopment is a exceptional model for public/private partnerships. For more information see NewQuincyCenter.com.