THE TALLEST GREEN BUILDING IN THE WEST IS BEING BUILT IN LOS ANGELES
May 16, 2013 on 9:30 pm | In all, Green Building, Reasons to Love L.A., Uncategorized | 1 Commentby Jodi Summers
It’s bigger in Los Angeles, thanks to the construction of the tallest office building west of Chicago, and it will adhere to L.A.’s strict green construction standards. It was recently announced that the 73-story Wilshire Grand hotel and office building to be constructed in downtown Los Angeles. The $1-billion hotel and office skyscraper by developer Korean Airlines will live at Wilshire Boulevard and Figueroa Street. It will be a dramatic addition to the city skyline when it completed in 2017.
The Los Angeles Green Building ordinance has been heralded as “the most far reaching plan of any big city in America to promote green building practices in the private sector.”
L.A. is on track to reduce the city’s carbon emissions 35% below 1990 levels by 2030. Our goal is the greatest reduction target of any large US city. It takes the state’s stringent CalGreen building codes a step further.
The Wilshire Grand is designed by L.A.-based architect David Martin, a principal at AC Martin Partners. The 1,100-foot, glass-skin building will feature three floors of shops and restaurants at ground level, 400,000 square feet of office space, and a hotel with a “sky lobby” on the 70th floor. Guests will rise by high-speed elevators for check-in to one of the hotel’s 900 rooms. A restaurant will take over the 71st floor, and on the top floor, there will be an “infinity” pool and recreation area. The hotel brand has yet to be selected. 
Martin designed the Figueroa-at-Wilshire high-rise across the street from the Wilshire Grand in 1990. The family firm was the primary architect of Los Angles City Hall in the 1920s.
The property is located just north of the STAPLES Center and The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE, the luxury residential tower where residents enjoy access to the five-star lifestyle services of The Ritz-Carlton.
The 936-room Wilshire Grand, built in 1952, was originally known as Hotel Statler and later a Hilton. Before it closed at the end of 2011, the property was a mid-market hotel catering to conventioneers and tour groups from overseas.
The new building will be far larger and greener.
Politically, the Wilshire Grand will be a symbol of South Korea’s growing status as a global economic powerhouse.
Korean Air is the flagship company for Hanjin Group, which has $20 billion in annual revenue from its interests in land, sea and air transportation as well as construction, heavy industry, finance and formation services.
The new Wilshire Grand is an investment that makes sense and we are excited to continue our relationship with this great city,” Korean Air Chairman Y.H. Cho said in the L.A. Times.
The Wilshire Grand will slightly surpass in height the 72-story U.S. Bank Tower on Bunker Hill that has held the title of tallest west of Chicago since 1989.
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http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-downtown-skyscraper-20130207,0,295662.story
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http://www.socalgreenrealestateblog.com/?p=2603
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http://www.theagencyre.com/2013/02/west-coasts-tallest-building-to-be-built-in-downtown-l-a/
THE BIGGER GREEN PICTURE
April 6, 2013 on 8:19 am | In Act Locally, Green Building, Green Cities, Green Houses, Green Workplace, Greenhouse Gas, Net Zero, Reasons to Love L.A., Solutions, Trends, Uncategorized | No Commentsby Jodi Summers 
California is an example of green construction. In 2008, state energy regulators adopted a long-term plan that called for having all new residential buildings achieve zero net energy use by 2020 and having all commercial buildings achieve zero net energy use by 2030. The provisions also reduce water use by 20% and divert 50% of construction waste from landfills.
The Los Angeles Green Building ordinance has been heralded as “the most far reaching plan of any big city in America to promote green building practices in the private sector.”
L.A. is on track to reduce the city’s carbon emissions 35% below 1990 levels by 2030. Our goal is the greatest reduction target of any large US city. It takes the state’s stringent CalGreen building codes a step further.
So going forward, we’re good, but we’re still dealing with an existing building stock, and some antiquated customs and equipment all the way around. Restructuring a structure’s infrastructure (say that 3x fast) is not an overnight process. We are sprinting toward net zero construction, yet large parts of the old-style building infrastructure will still dominate the landscape for the next century.
Any improvements and renovations made to your properties can impact the environment. Be conscious of your choices in paint and floor coverings. Anything you upgrade on your properties can be done with green in mind heating, plumbing, and electric all offer green fixes that can save the business money on the long term, and increase profitability on resale.
But some things are a slow fix…we may be building green buildings, but the machinery used to construct the property may not be. You’ve seen those backhoes and cranes bellowing black diesel carbon fumes. Around the shop, some old power tools use 3x the needed energy.
Construction equipment companies are catching on. JCB is aware of their duty to make their plant machinery more environmentally sound. For example, the Scot JCB Digger has numerous variations including the brand new 3CX-ECO with increased fuel efficiency in all aspects of its functionality.
Construction companies – particularly in Southern California – are up to speed on CalGreen construction, ICC codes, and other modern methods. Our fair county is an example of sound building, with cities like West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica offering some of the strictest green construction codes in the country, if not the world. And we’re setting an example for going forward. Today’s green apprentice may someday become the foremen of their own company, selling jobs and their bids.
Green building goes beyond the edifice, it includes the source of the raw materials, and the distance they travelled, the equipment that goes into the building and that goes into building the building. Society is progressing forward at warp speed, and we’re along for the ride. Let’s do our best to contribute to the greater good for now and for generations to come.
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BIG GREEN > NO MORE PLASTIC BAGS FOR LOS ANGELES
September 7, 2012 on 12:34 am | In Act Locally, all, Green Cities, Reasons to Love L.A., Recycling, Solutions, Uncategorized | 3 Commentsby Jodi Summers
Los Angeles will soon become the largest city in the country to approve a ban on plastic bags. The decision came down in May, as a standing-room-only crowd packed City Hall as the Los Angeles City Council voted 13-1 to approve a ban on plastic bags and impose a 10-cent charge on paper bags at convenience stores and supermarkets in the nation’s second-largest city.
With the council’s action, Los Angeles and our 3.8 million residents become the largest group in the United States to formally endorse a sweeping ban on single-use plastic shopping bags.
“The Los Angeles City Council took a prudent step to protect our environment and bolster our economy,” said Kirsten James, director of water quality for the Santa Monica-based nonprofit group Heal the Bay. “The vote further emphasizes the fact that the days are numbered for single-use bags in California.”
Nearly 50 other municipalities in California have adopted ordinances in the state banning single-use plastic bags and most also ban or impose fees for paper bags. Cal cities that have passed single-use plastic bag bans include San Francisco, Santa Monica, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Calabasas, Long Beach and Carpinteria. Environmentalists hope the move by the Los Angeles City Council will provide momentum for a statewide ban.
“I’m deliriously excited about the passage of this measure. Ever since I first heard about the floating plastic island in the Pacific, while I was still in the state legislature, I have been trying to move the ball forward on banning plastic bags in this state,” said Councilman Paul Koretz, a chief sponsor of the measure, in a statement.
It is estimated that 1.2 to 2.3 billion single-use plastic carryout bags and 400 million single-use paper bags are used annually in Los Angeles. A report by the Board of Public Works cited studies showing that single-use paper bags have greater greenhouse gas emissions through their production and use tan a single-use plastic bag, prompting paper bags to also be targeted.
This concept became too much too soon, and then the bill stalled until City Councilman Eric Garcetti co-introduced a motion that imposed a 10-cent fee on paper bags instead of an outright ban. The proposal is very similar to what has been working effectively in Santa Monica for the past year. Impressed by the model, Los Angeles City Council voted nearly unanimously to endorse the substitute motion.
The new ordinance will likely be approved before the end of the year. Large retailers can anticipate a six-month phase-out of single-use plastic bags. There will be a one-year grace period for smaller retailers. All retailers would be required to charge 10 cents for a paper bag as an incentive for shoppers to bring reusable bags to the market beginning one year after the program’s enactment.
“City Council approved a motion that will move us one step closer to making Los Angeles a greener, cleaner, more sustainable city,” noted Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “The little things matter—removing plastic bags that clutter our streets and damage our waterways will go a long way towards protecting Angelenos and Los Angeles wildlife for generations.”
Cathy Browne, general manager of plastic bag maker Crown Poly in Huntington Park, said the council shouldn’t be mandating consumer behavior and should let the market dictate consumer choice.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in November 2010 approved a plastic bag ban in unincorporated areas that went into effect July 1, 2011, at large stores and on Jan. 1, 2012, at smaller retailers. A lawsuit claimed the 10-cent fee on paper bags imposed by the county was an illegal tax under Proposition 26, but Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant in March rejected the argument in a tentative ruling.
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GREEN TECHNOLOGY IS DRIVING THE OFFICE REAL ESTATE MARKET
August 17, 2012 on 12:53 am | In Green Cities, Reasons to Love L.A., Solutions, Statistics, Trends, Uncategorized | 1 Comment
By Jodi Summers
The Los Angeles office real estate market is still unimpressive, but, believe it or not, we’ve got it better than most, thanks to our focus on green and technology.
“The energy and the tech-driven markets are the clear standouts right now. It has become a reoccurring theme that markets in Texas and California are leading the nation in most demand and rent growth metrics,” supports Kevin Thorpe, Cassidy Turley’s chief economist.
While San Francisco led the country in rent growth compared to a year-ago, Los Angeles ranked in the top 10 markets, along with San Jose, Seattle, Austin, Denver, Miami, Orlando and Raleigh, NC. Overall, the West region led the way with the largest amount of new net demand, followed by the South, then the Midwest and the Northeast, respectively. Nationwide, nearly one third of markets reporting an uptick in sales.
“We are at a point where there is healthy job creation, but over 50% of the jobs created in recent months using office space were temp jobs,” shares Thorpe. “These jobs don’t move the needle immediately for the office sector, but they do set the stage for much stronger demand numbers down the road.”
Export statistics note that U.S. office rents hit bottom at the end of 2010. But given that there are still high vacancy levels, lease rates are not expected to increase anytime soon. It’s anticipated that office asking will increase by approximately 1% this year.
“Overall, the first quarter presented a mixed bag of results and expectations for the rest of the year,” notes John Sikaitis, senior vice president of research at Jones Lang LaSalle. “While the recovery slowed during the quarter, it remains intact.”
Technology expansion and startup activity gained momentum in almost every market with prospects for growth. Additionally, energy-heavy markets posted some of the largest leases and witnessed sales momentum and speculative new construction.
“Looking ahead to the remainder of 2012, markets will continue to recover, and in some cases contract, at different rates of speed,” observes Sikaitis. “Overall rents across most markets will grow, but at slow and measured paces unless some significant cushion of technology or energy pockets exist.”
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THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES EXPANDS AND GREENS EAGLE MARINE
July 8, 2012 on 12:42 am | In all, Green Building, Green Cities, Green Workplace, Reasons to Love L.A., Solutions, Uncategorized, Water | 2 CommentsBy Jodi Summers
Los Angeles’ industrial capabilities keep growing… the Port of Los Angeles will undergo a $196 million expansion. Known as the Marine Terminal Redevelopment Project, the two-year project to green and grow the container terminal operated by long-time tenant Eagle Marine Services Ltd. This project is expected to generate nearly 3,400 jobs during construction and add nearly 8,000 permanent direct and indirect jobs to the Southern California economy over the next 15 years.
The Los Angeles Harbor Commission recently certified the final Environmental Impact Report for the proposed expansion of the facility commonly known as “Pier 300.”
Redevelopment will begin by late 2012. The approved the project that will modernize container terminal Berths 302-306, which are under long-term lease to Eagle Marine Services Ltd., a subsidiary of ocean carrier APL.
“Our investment in green growth continues to pay huge economic and social dividends,” praises Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, in the prepared statement “This project ensures the Port has the world-class infrastructure to remain competitive in the global marketplace, and everyone benefits—our customers, our markets and our communities.”
Green innovations are in accordance with San Pedro Bay Clean Air Action Plan measures, and include equipping the entire terminal with Alternative Marine Power electrical infrastructure to eliminate emissions from ships at berth. When completed, the $196 million project at the Port’s second-largest terminal is expected maximize use of the property by allowing APL to handle nearly 58% more ship calls and accommodate more than 65% more cargo, while growing the terminal footprint less than 20%. Those statistics translate into up to 390 ship calls and the capacity to move more than 3.2 million TEUs annually by 2027 on a 347-acre terminal.
Much of the work on the Eagle Marine Services terminal will be at Berth 306, where the Port will add 1,250 feet of new wharf and 41 acres of backlands on existing fill. Eagle Marine Services will add eight gantry cranes that span the width of the largest container ships in the global fleet. The number of cranes throughout the terminal will double, bringing the total to 24.
According to Gene Seroka, APL’s regional president of the Americas, this project strengthens APL’s ability to “continue providing the level and quality of service to meet our customers’ needs into the future. It represents the progressive approach that the City and the Port of Los Angeles take to working with their business partners.”
Port executive director Geraldine Knatz, the Port of L.A. is investing approximately $1.2 billion over the next five years in capital improvement projects. “We’re making sure that we optimize our facilities, green our operations and build on the advantages that make us America’s No. 1 trade gateway.”
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GREENING THE PORT OF LONG BEACH GROWS 14,000 JOBS
April 23, 2012 on 12:57 am | In Act Locally, all, Green Building, Green Workplace, Greenhouse Gas, LEED, Reasons to Love L.A., Solutions, Trends, Uncategorized | 1 Comment
By Jodi Summers
Kudos to the Port of Long Beach which is growing and greening in a big way. The Port has landed the largest deal of its kind for any U.S. seaport The Port of L.B. has inked a 40-year, $4.6-billion lease with Orient Overseas Container Line for the Middle Harbor property. Hooray for the SoCal economy > the Middle Harbor terminal is projected to generate more than 14,000 new, permanent jobs throughout Southern California by 2020.
And bravo to the Port of L.B. for investing $1.2-billion to develop the new 300-acre-plus Middle Harbor terminal. The lease would secure a tenant for the Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project, which combines Pier F and E into one state-of-the-art container terminal.
According to Long Beach Harbor Commission president Susan E. Anderson Wise, “This proposed agreement will enable the Port of Long Beach to maintain its competitive edge while bringing many benefits to the community.”
The Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project will combine two aging shipping terminals into one modern terminal which doubles the existing capacity. The project will utilize the most advanced cargo-handling technology in the world. The nine-year, $1.2 billion project will upgrade wharfs, water access and storage area; as well as add a greatly expanded on-dock rail yard.
“It will also be the greenest terminal in North America, cutting air pollution in half through the use of more on-dock rail, electrified cargo handling equipment and shore power, which allows vessels to draw electricity from a landside utility when docked rather than diesel-powered auxiliary engines,” affirms Anderson Wise.
And in signs of an economic comeback, long-term tenants, OOCL and LBCT will invest approximately $500 million in the latest cargo-handling equipment. FYI, LBCT ~ a.k.a. Long Beach Container Terminal Inc. ~ is a marine terminal full service container facility that has occupied Pier F since 1986.
OOCL is an ideal client. Their goal is, “To be the best and most innovative international container transport and logistics service provider; providing a Vital Link to world trade and creating value for our customers, employees, shareholders and partners.”
OOCL ships have a near 100% participation in the Port’s Green Flag Program, which provides rebates to vessel operators that slow down in and near the Port to cut down on air pollution.
The Port of L.B. Green Flag Program is a voluntary vessel speed reduction initiative that rewards vessel operators for slowing down to 12 knots or less within 40 nautical miles (nm) of Point Fermin (near the entrance to the Harbor).
Ships emit less when they travel more slowly > thus the program has been highly successful in reducing smog-forming emissions and diesel particulates from ships. In 2009, more than 90% of vessels participated in the program, slowing their ships in the 20 nautical mile zone. Even more impressive, more than 70% of incoming vessels to the POLB have decelerated within the 40 nm zone.
In return for their participation vessel operators can earn dockage rate reductions during most of the calendar year The Port will award about $2.5 million in dockage savings in 2010; and anticipates that 2011 awards will total in the $4 million range.
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http://www.polb.com/about/projects/middleharbor.asp
http://www.oocl.com/eng/aboutoocl/ourphilosophy/Pages/Default.aspx?site=usa&lang=eng
http://www.polb.com/environment/air/vessels/green_flag.asp
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