Building Industry Magazine - June 2012 - (Page 11)

Vitus Group Completes $3.1 Million Renovation to rebuild a sense of pride and community among our Banyan residents, many who have lived here for decades,” says Makani Maeva, director of Vitus Group’s Hawaii office. “We are also committed to providing high-quality features not traditionally found in comparable affordable housing projects.” All 55 apartments (12 one-bedroom and 43 two-bedroom units) include upgraded finishes such as solid wood kitchen cabinets, granite countertops, vinyl plank flooring and Energy Star appliances. Improvements to the common areas include a new on-site manager’s office, new laundry facilities and green design features including two of the largest vertical living walls in the state and a 15.3-kilowatt photovoltaic system. Additionally, innovative amenities include a secure children’s play area that doubles as a loading zone, complete with synthetic grass, chalkboard walls and a basketball hoop. Renovations were performed by general contractor Hunt Building Co., Ltd. In addition, the project also included Hawaii’s first U.S. Department of Agriculture certified organic rooftop farm on an affordable housing project. Created in partnership with 1st Look Exteriors, the company will manage and maintain the rooftop farm that will grow more than 20 types of produce including tomatoes, lettuce, eggplant, green beans and strawberries. “Our partnership with Vitus Group … will provide 40 percent of the produce grown, free of charge to building residents and the balance will be sold to grocery stores to offset our labor costs,” says Greg Lee, co-owner of 1st Look Exteriors. “This project is really about creating food sustainability and healthy living where folks in urban areas like this one can have fresh produce, all grown right where they live.” Besides upgrades to 55 apartments and public spaces, the renovation of the Banyan Street Manor complex included two living walls located at the front and rear of the project totalling 740 square feet. A blessing and rededication ceremony was held on April 26 at the Banyan Street Manor Apartments, a 55-unit, four-story low-income housing complex in Kalihi. Property owner, Vitus Group purchased the property in May 2011 and has spent more than $3.1 million to renovate it. “Our focus is revitalization of existing affordable housing and through this investment we help This rooftop garden created in partnership with 1st Look Interiors will grow more than 20 types of produce, 40 percent of which will be available for free to building residents. HSWAC Selects Contractor In the early stages of forming its construction team, Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning, LLC (HSWAC) announced on May 4 that it has selected Healy Tibbitts Builders, Inc. as its contractor for the installation of the offshore seawater pipes portion of the project. With construction expected to start in the second half of 2012, the project is estimated to generate more than $200 million in construction spending and create 900-plus construction jobs. “As a local Hawaii firm, we are excited to be part of this effort to build a sustainable cooling system for Honolulu,” says Rick Heltzel, president of Healy Tibbitts. “This deep water pipeline project will provide over 40 jobs for our (own) local skilled work force. During construction, we also will deploy over a dozen vessels from barges to large tugboats, which will have a positive impact on Hawaii’s maritime industry.” The HSWAC cooling system is expected to eliminate the need for 178,000 barrels of oil by saving JUNE 2012 | BUILDING INDUSTRY | 11 enough electricity to power more than 10,000 homes a year. It also reduces potable water consumption for air conditioning by more than 260 million gallons, reduces sewage discharge by up to 84 million gallons, and avoids emissions of 84,000 tons of carbon dioxide – the equivalent of removing 15,000 cars from the road – each year. Healy Tibbitts has previously constructed the 55-inch deepwater intake pipeline project for the state Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii at Keahole Point.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Building Industry Magazine - June 2012

Cover June 2012, Drilling for the first column
HLPA RESOURCE GUIDE
INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE
FINANCE & BONDING
HEALTH & SAFETY
GUAM
News Beat
BIA Gala Honors Renaissance Winners
Southeast Maui to Get Wind Power
LCC Breaks Ground for Education Building
REHAB Completes First Phase of Rebuild Campaign
GCA Salutes Build Hawaii Winners
Vitus Group Completes $3.1 Million Renovation
HSA Celebrates Milestone Year
Departments
Datebook
Contracts Awarded
Spotlight on Success: Pearl Harbor Fitness Center
Best Practices
Low Bids
Concept to Completion: Hilton Hawaiian Village Renovations
New Products

Building Industry Magazine - June 2012