USGBC Names Nation's First Green-Certified Town Center/BCS Creates New Certification/AEM Forecast Predicts Smaller Gains in 2007

The U.S. Green Building Council granted LEED-CS silver certification this fall to Main Street at Northfield Stapleton, making the newly opened project the first main street shopping center in the nation to earn the designation.

USGBC Names Nation's First Green-Certified Town Center

Main Street at Northfield Stapleton received LEED-CS silver certification this fall from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The Main Street Town Center, which opened on Oct. 26, is the first main street shopping center to receive LEED-CS silver certification in the United States. The center was selected in December 2004 as a pilot project for USGBC's core-and-shell program.

The five criteria upon which the project was rated include sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere efficiency, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality. The CS designation recognizes that developers cannot mandate building procedures for individual retailers.

Northfield Stapleton is the largest retail center ever to enroll in the Xcel Design Assistance Program, which makes cash incentives available to building owners who follow their green building recommendations.

Forest City officials said they see sustainability as an opportunity to educate visitors to the center. As such, the center will feature 20 14-ft-by-20-ft signs at relevant locations to point out and explain the green features in consumer-friendly language and directional images. The signs, created from salvaged runway signage at the former Stapleton airport, indicate resource savings from specific sustainability programs at the center.

BSC Creates New Certification for Building Security Professionals

The Building Security Council has established a new Building Security Certified Professional certification that address the security of buildings against the threat of terrorism, public safety and building security.

Key building security areas covered by the certification exam include project process, risk assessment, site considerations, building envelope, interior space and facility operations. The first BSCP examination was held on Nov. 29. The next exam is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2007.

BSCP certification is open to individuals licensed to practice engineering, architecture or landscape architecture in a U.S. jurisdiction or who possess the ASIS International CPP or PSP credential.

For more information on the BSC, including details on applying on the seminar and certification, go to www.buildingsecuritycouncil.org.

AEM Forecast: Smaller Gains Expected in 2007

Construction machinery manufacturers predict smaller gains in overall industry business in 2007, following expected double-digit growth in 2006, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers' annual forecast.

Machinery manufacturers participating in the AEM outlook survey expect overall construction equipment in the United States to close out 2006 with increases of 11.2 percent compared to the previous year, and business volume in Canada will gain 12.7 percent by year-end 2006. Sales to other worldwide markets for 2006 are anticipated to grow 10.9 percent.

Looking to 2007, survey participants forecast increases of 3.9 percent for the U.S. and expect business volume in Canada to increase by 5 percent.

The AEM survey asked respondents to rank the influence of several factors on future construction equipment sales; the state of the economy and consumer confidence were cited as top factors. Housing starts and highway funding will also have a major impact on the continued strength of the industry, respondents said.

Other key issues noted are steel prices and energy costs.

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