Range Resources plans to add staff, build office complex in Pennsylvania

Fort Worth Star Telegram

 

Range Resources Corp. plans to more than double its regional headquarters staff in the Marcellus Shale natural gas field to about 500 employees "over the next several years" as it moves into a new $30 million office development in southwestern Pennsylvania, the Fort Worth-based company said Monday.

Range, a leading producer in the Marcellus, has 225 employees in its regional office in Canonsburg, Pa., said Ray Walker, senior vice president for Appalachia operations. The new facility will be a quarter-mile away in Canonsburg, 20 miles south of Pittsburgh.

Most of the new jobs "will go to local residents, demonstrating the positive impact that Range is having on the community," Walker said.

Range said it has contracted with Horizon Properties Group of Pennsylvania to develop and lease its new headquarters. Construction is to begin immediately in the Southpointe II development and is expected to be finished by November 2011.

Canonsburg has become a hotbed for dozens of energy companies operating in the Marcellus, a geological formation thousands of feet beneath large chunks of Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Ohio.

The initial phase of Range's project calls for construction of a five-story, 180,000-square-foot Class A office building on 13 acres. The facility is to include a 225-seat auditorium, cafe and outdoor event plaza.

The second phase calls for a building expansion of up to 100,000 square feet.

Walker said Range has authorized Horizon to develop the project for designation under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, program, certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

"Our plans call for a state-of-the-art 'green' facility, designed to accommodate what is anticipated to be dramatic growth in our office staff, while incorporating the latest in energy-efficient technologies to help us minimize our environmental impact," he said. The building will feature reflective roof material, energy-conserving glass, recycled waste material and advanced energy-management systems.

Kyle Poulson and Jack Huff of Huff Partners in Fort Worth represented Range in the selection of Horizon Properties for the project and in contract negotiations.

Range is producing the equivalent of about 160 million cubic feet of natural gas per day in the Marcellus, "which is ahead of its midyear target," company spokesman Matt Pitzarella said Monday.

Range said in late July that it plans an additional $210 million in capital expenditures in the Marcellus this year.

With the spending boost, the company said it expects to double its net production from the equivalent of 200 million to 210 million cubic feet of gas per day by year's end to 400 million to 420 million cubic feet by the end of 2011.

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Kuwait National Assembly Building | Arabian Gulf Street

The National Assembly of Kuwait, known as the Majlis Al-Umma ("House of the Nation") (Arabic: مجلس الأمة‎), is the legislature of Kuwait. The current speaker of the Assembly is Jassem Al-Kharafi. The Emir unconstitutionally dissolved the National Assembly in 1986 and restored it after the Gulf War in 1992. The Emir has also constitutionally dissolved the Assembly several times—meaning that he dissolved it but allowed for elections immediately afterward.

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Digital Beijing at Beijing Olympic Park | Studio Pei Zhu

This is Digital beijing Building at olympic park,The building, located on the northern end of the cities central axis, servea as the control and data center for the 2008 Olympic Games. At other times it will accommodate a virtual museum and an exhibition center for manufacturers of digital products.

The concept for Digital Beijing was developed through reconsideration and reflection on the role of contemporary architecture in the information era. Unlike its neighbors, PTW’s Water Cube and Herzog & de Meuron’s Bird’s Nest, Digital Beijing looks to use simple building construction and materials. A dark stone, quarried in the northern part of China, covers most of the exterior, with a glass curtain wall covering the east façade.In contrast, the interior is covered with a composite fiberglass material develop by the architect.

In the future, it is expected that the building will be constantly under renovation as it evolves to keep pace with technology.The project has been widely regarded as one of the great, yet unknown, structures on the Olympic campus, but also has its critics:"Next door is Digital Beijing, an ominous-sounding "data and control centre" by the Chinese architect Pei Zhu. It is shaped, cheesily, like a mainframe computer from the 1960s, cut with linear glass strips evoking a circuit board. Four gloomy stone slabs, divided by glass atria, do an excellent Orwellian Ministry of Truth impression. It's slightly less spirit-crushing inside." - Tom Dyckhoff of Times Online

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Blur Hotel | Hotel Kapok | Studio Pei Zhu Design

This is Blur Hotel | Hotel Kapok | Studio Pei Zhu Design.Considered to be one of the first boutique hotels in Beijing, the Blur Hotel looks at its historic context to create a stylishly modern hotel. Blur Hotel is a refurbishment of a former governmental office beside the western gate of the Forbidden City.

The interior layout of the hotel is based on the vernacular building typology of the sihueyuan, or courtyard house. By carving into concrete slab floors of the existing building, an arrangement of alternating vertical courtyards is created, replicating the spatial arrangement of the surrounding hutongs. The exterior is wrapped in a continuous and semi-transparent façade of panelized, extruded fiberglass. At night, the building is transformed by light to resemble a Chinese lantern.

Combining the exterior screen and internal courtyard, the building appears as a single, yet permeable object. The project has received high acclaim from critics, and has become a major stop for designers visiting Beijing.

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Fun Sofa for Kids and Beautiful Chair for Adults

This Fun Sofa for Kids interesting furniture item is called Mussel Chair and was designed by Hanne Kortegaard with a multiple functionality. As it name suggests, it can serve as a comfortable chair for adults. But in the same time, kids can make the most of it by using it as a small bed, a sofa and even a miniature playground. Mussel Chair comes with a comfortably shaped pillow that can be a really handy item to have around, when watching TV on the floor or when needing a feet rest. We like to think of this product as one that can intermediate parents-children relationships, as this could be a fun “gathering place” for a child and one of his parents carrying an emotional value for both of them. On top of all this, its design is impeccable and makes it ideal for a modern interior with a personality design

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Philadelphia Inquirer Buyer Said to Cancel Purchase, Forcing New Auction

Bloomberg

 

A deal to sell the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper fell apart, forcing the publisher operating under bankruptcy protection to consider putting itself up for auction, a company attorney said today.

Philadelphia Newspapers LLC, the company that controls the Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News, is negotiating with the group of lenders who backed out of a contract to buy the newspapers today, Lawrence G. McMichael, a lawyer for the company, said in an interview. The company can continue to operate because it has enough cash and is approaching the busiest time for advertising sales in the newspaper industry, McMichael said.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do,” said McMichael, with the law firm Dilworth Paxson LLP. Fred Hodara, an attorney for the lenders, declined to comment.

Under the company’s plan to exit bankruptcy, a group of the newspapers’ lenders, including hedge fund Angelo Gordon & Co. and a unit of Credit Suisse Group AG, had until noon today to complete the purchase of the company.

The sale collapsed after members of the Teamsters union refused to agree to change their pension plan, a person familiar with the standoff said today. Under the contract to buy the newspapers, the lenders had the option to back out if they failed to win support from all of the unions.

Frank Sabatino, a lawyer for the Teamster Pension Trust Fund of Philadelphia & Vicinity, didn’t immediately return a call for comment.

‘No Worries’

Philadelphia Newspapers had planned to file court papers this afternoon seeking a new auction, McMichael said. Those plans are on hold while the company talks to the lenders and the lenders talk to the Teamsters, he said.

“There is no reason for panic by anyone,” McMichael said. “There are no worries about shutting down.”

The newspaper company filed for bankruptcy in February 2009, blaming the recession and a slowdown in advertising.

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Small House Apartment with Aesthetic Interior

Very Small House Apartment with Aesthetic Interior .“This 55 sq.m. apartment with aesthetic interior belongs highlight main interests of the owner: music, food and meeting with friends. Because of size the living space of apartment was combined so living room, kitchen and dining room are one place now. Interior colors is warm and natural besides small red highlights of speakers, wall art and bean bag comfy chair. The bathroom has a slightly move to more cool and modern design but that doesn’t break the mood. The most of furniture and accessories around the apartment are made in Italy. The apartment design created an illusion of a large apartment. The walls positions was changed in order to do that but who cares when the result is so good?”

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Small Apartment Design in Modern and Minimal Style

This is Small Apartment Design in Modern and Minimal Style.The transformation of this "mansion" flat in the outskirts of Tokyo is an excellent example of adaptation of housing after the war is not only affordable, but comfortable accommodation. Mansion flats, usually very small in the rental of one passenger. This apartment is 400 square feet of modern space minimal medium, where the participants can not only relax, but also to work. Internal walls were demolished to maximize light penetration and provide open-plan living conditions. Cabinets and other spaces hidden behind sliding doors. Integrated window factory is located above the kitchen strike line across the green space. The small waiting room is a bath-shower wet room and did not order a compact unit, vanity. In the bathroom wood and Hinoki wood, relaxed textures. Toilet not only has a matte black walls, which contrast with the almost entirely white interior of the apartment, but also has a water-saving technologies as a means of re-filter the water.

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Swedish 58 sqm apartment

Swedish interior design is usually very comfortable and practical. Apartment is located in a small town but very beautiful Linnéstaden. Building where it is located quite old, but the apartments are renovated contemporary interior design in addition to 3.40 feet ceilings create spacious 58 square meters of space that is very convenient for those who possess it. (Foto. By Alvhem Mäkleri & Interior)

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Warm, soft and minimalist apartment

This Warm, soft and minimalist apartment is located on Nob Hill in San Fancisco, California. The interior uses a warm and soft materials, colors and finishes with minimalism in mind. It not only looks very beautiful and comfortable but also help to see all the beauty of art collections. marble countertops, wood and stone fireplace podium to make the apartment also looks very luxurious. Interior designed by Garcia Tamjidi architecture and design studios.

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Red White Apartment Interior Design

This is a design which is currently more booming.Red White Apartment Interior Design ne always like when people use the color white as a neutral in their interiors. It's great in combination with almost any other color and looks much more modern than a warm beige or similar. This 80 square meter apartment in Tel Aviv is a good example of how to add the red part for such decorations can be made not only modern but also harmonious.

Although it is only 80 square meters studio apartment makes a big impression. These are open spaces which are separated by glass walls and folding doors. Just one click of a button can make the bedroom more private by closing the window-glass windows. Because the dominant owner is not afraid there's a lot of red colored with it: in the living room furniture, kitchen furniture, beds and walls in the bedroom above it and several other smaller objects. Slim furniture cabinet is responsible for adding a sense of space for apartments.

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Inspiring Fresh home full color

This Inspiring Fresh home full color,Designed by Jordi Vayreda, this is a comfortable learning in shades of gray, green and pink are used for industrial building into two levels. Fortunately, recently went to make a full-on and now it looks like a bed of life and funny. It's amazing how adding a little color can really turn around the way the house feels. This is probably what the designers had in mind when filling this place with a colorful decor elements such as soft cushion on the floor, a small carpet and rural small containers. Because the white background, these items stand out and make a nice visual contrast. The living room, dining room and kitchen are connected not only physically, but also design-wise. We like how this house seemed to appreciate the pattern is decorated with fun, involving color and youthfulness. Inspiring Interior-Through

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Feminine Appeal in Beautiful Apartment

Holiday vacation in Beautiful Apartment with a Feminine Appeal is fantastic,

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Futuristic Interior Design Gallery from Luxury House

Presenting the latest top pictures gallery Futuristic Interior Design Gallery from Luxury House about modern futuristic house interior design ideas with beautiful and colorful styles which can be your design inspiration. Creative living room interior decor designed by Amirko aka Amirkhan Abdurakhmanov, this room design is very enrich full of future technology design that can be applied in the bedroom, living room, or other room that you want. This modern home design concept will offer you the option to completely change the look of a room without having to reach for the paint buckets. Simple decor idea is mainly a big wall of small triangle panels that can be rotated to get the color schemes of your variety. Every triangle carries black, white, and rainbow shades. I think that in about 4 or 5 years this idea might be on the market, and then you will be changing the method your studio apartment design looks daily, and who knows maybe design like this will be the future of any modern building interior design, and where is your design 

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Incredible Loft Natural Light

see the incredible loft Natural light in your home own, maybe this 94 square meter apartment has a privileged location on the corner of the building. You are looking at a nicely arranged flat with three rooms, one beside the park, with unobstructed views over the green expanse outside, and one facing the street, while the kitchen overlooks the pleasant and peaceful courtyard. In the middle lies a spacious hall and in relation to this, a new bathroom. The overall floor plan with massive windows on three sides and the bright color scheme fills the apartment with light. It’s hard to decide which of these rooms we like best. Usually, when we present apartments on Freshome, we like to start with the living-room. But the bedroom in the first photo was just so inviting, that it deserved special treatment. incredible loft Natural light photo night

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2010 Residence in Slovakia Dom Zlomu

If you looking for enjoy residence, this is the one place you find out.The unusual looking residence comes from Paulíny Hovorka Architekti and is situated in the small village of Kynceľová, close to the town of Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. The house has a beautiful natural surrounding landscape and overlooks the Tatra mountains.

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How Philly's Navy Yard will become Mini-City of Energy Innovation

Philadelphia Inquirer

 

Congratulations. You've blown some insulation into the attic, screwed in some compact fluorescent lightbulbs. Perhaps you replaced those old, drafty windows.

Energy-saving moves, all of them.

But that's nothing compared to what is coming at the Navy Yard.

Pennsylvania State University and a slew of partners plan to implement and develop the very latest in eco-friendly technologies at the South Philadelphia site, with the help of $159 million in federal and state grants announced last week.

"Dynamic" building facades that adjust in response to changes in outdoor temperature and sunlight. High-tech materials that remove humidity from the air without cooling it to the bone-chilling level of the typical air conditioner. Electronic sensors that perceive harmful particles in the air and activate filters when needed.

Some of this is still in the concept stage, while other elements are on the market. But they are rarely implemented as parts of a system in which buildings - even entire neighborhoods - can slash energy costs by engaging in a computer-controlled give-and-take with the environment and the electrical grid.

So-called smart buildings have been built here and there, but not in a way that can be replicated at low cost for a mass market, said James Freihaut, a professor of architectural engineering at Penn State. The goal is to develop technology that will pay for itself within five years, cutting energy costs by at least 50 percent.

"It's not rocket science," said Freihaut, the technical lead on the project. "It's actually a lot more difficult."

But he thinks it can be done, starting with several of the Navy Yard's redbrick structures as guinea pigs. Among the site's benefits is that it has its own power grid, said engineer Satish Narayanan of the Connecticut-based United Technologies Corp.

"It's sort of a mini-city," said Narayanan, whose employer is a project partner.

UTC makes Carrier air conditioners, among many other products, and this expertise is expected to be a big source of cost savings.

Today's air conditioners cool the air well below room temperature in order to remove humidity. In a typical commercial building, the air must then be reheated - a significant waste.

In a home with central air, the machine comes roaring to life every so often, emitting air at 55 degrees until the overall temperature is brought down to the desired level.

If the humidity were removed from the air in some other way, the air would not need to be cooled as much, and the machines could be smaller - saving energy and capital costs, Narayanan said.

Humidity could be lowered with some sort of membrane or chemical dehumidifier, perhaps by mimicking processes found in nature, said Penn State's Freihaut. For example, certain desert toads have skin that can capture water from the air, he said.

Other technologies that will be studied at the Navy Yard include window glass that can be electrically manipulated to admit different amounts of light depending on the time of day. Such a system would be automated to anticipate and respond to weather changes and how many people are in the building, said Narayanan.

The project's biggest recipient of federal funds is Penn State, with $34 million. UTC will receive $10 million for research and will chip in $5 million of its own, while Bayer MaterialScience is to get $2.5 million and contribute about $3 million. The partners include 11 universities and five corporations.

Several buildings at the Navy Yard will be retrofitted, among them Building 661 - a 30,000 square-foot edifice that once housed a gymnasium, swimming pool, and offices. A separate laboratory facility will be built from scratch.

Various forms of high-tech insulation will be used, but that requires more focus on indoor air quality, said Mike Gallagher, director of the government services group for Bayer MaterialScience. The air in a tightly sealed building can suffer from "off-gassing," chemicals emitted from synthetic materials.

So the company, part of the German-based Bayer Group, has developed eco-friendly urethane coatings and other materials with negligible levels of volatile organics.

Still another technology involves impregnating concrete or another rigid building material with a second substance, such as a waxlike polymer, that has a melting point near room temperature.

Called phase-change materials because they change back and forth from liquid to solid, melting or solidifying depending on the temperature, they serve as a sort of insulator.

They rely on the principle that a substance requires energy to change its phase - to melt (or boil, for that matter) - energy that is absorbed from the surrounding environment without changing the material's temperature.

The melting point of the substances used in building materials is typically above room temperature. So when the outdoor temperature exceeds that melting point, a certain amount of the heat is absorbed for the purpose of melting. Similarly, when the outdoor temperature comes back down at night, the heat from the material is released.

While these and other green materials already are available, rare is the building that has them all working in concert, said Thanos Tzempelikos, an assistant professor of architectural engineering at Purdue University - another project partner, which is getting $6 million.

A building has many complex subsystems, and they are generally designed and installed by different people. Unlike with say, an automobile, these professionals do not necessarily communicate with each other - from the developer to the architect to the subcontractor.

And the project leaders acknowledge that all the gee-whiz gadgetry in the world will not make a difference if no one uses it. The project officials will visit schools to describe their work and encourage people to enter the green-building field.

Business owners will be able to follow their work on an interactive website.

And some research will look at policies to encourage adoption of the technologies, such as incentives or regulation.

Still others will study energy generation and storage - for example, batteries to capture excess solar or wind energy for later use, when it is not sunny or windy.

Then there's a concept called combined heat and power - generating electricity on or near the site, perhaps with a gas-powered microturbine. Large power plants lose much of their energy in the form of waste heat, whereas the excess heat from a small, on-site plant can be used to heat the buildings.

The bottom line, said Freihaut, is that there is a lot of innovation to be done:

"I tell my students, 'Look, you can be richer than Bill Gates.' "

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