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Renovations
Noise complaints
The Canadian building code lacks regulation to protect condominium buyers from noise issues. It doesn’t specify a limit to impact isolation class (IIC), the sound of a heel hitting the hardwood floor in the unit above. It does specify that condos must meet a sound transmission class (STC) of 50, which applies to airborne noise but even this test is out of date and inadequate according to Bill Wilkinson Jr., Co-owner of Wilrep Ltd. a 35-year old sound and vibration control company.
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Whole Building Energy Modeling
Assessing the energy footprint and performance of buildings is becoming an important part of building design, with energy performance exerting huge influence on building costs, occupant comfort, and environmental impacts.
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Guidelines for a stress-free lighting retrofit
Condominiums update their current lighting systems to reduce electricity consumption. In many older condominiums a corridor refurbishing takes place to restore carpets, lighting and walls to their original glory.
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Plan for the worst and you’ll come out the best
An overflowing toilet is undoubtedly a messy situation. Depending on the severity, it can also be a costly one too. Handling this type of situation doesn’t take a tremendous amount of skill - one can shut off the water to the toilet, clean up the water and check for any possible long term damage. For the most part, an incident like this will only affect a contained area.
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When to utilize a professional contractor for condo remodeling projects
When it comes to remodeling condominium exteriors, property managers face crucial decisions. From managing costs to following building codes, decision makers in the condominium industry must execute renovations that will stay within budget, have a lasting impact and appeal to residents.
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Make room for generation Y
Move over Baby Boomers, Generation Y is grown up and ready to take on the real estate market. Greater metropolitan areas are seeing a large influx of young professionals and recent graduates, referred to as Generation Y, moving in. They have just completed their studies or are entering the work force, and coupled with their success and new sense of adulthood, they are prepared to take that next big step: moving out.
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Think about condo design
By now most purchasers are well versed on what to look for when buying- and know all about location, location, location and of course the right choice of amenities, but do they ever give any thought to architectural and interior design?
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Cool roofs
No, this is not the name of a new band, an interesting coffee shop or a local pub, rather “Cool roofs” is a term being used to describe the hot, new green technology for flat (low slope) roof designs. Since the beginning of high and low rise building construction, the maintenance requirements of roof systems have always been a major issue.
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Dabbling in hues
How does colour affect the way we buy or sell condos? Can the colour of a display room, common area, the walls of a unit, or even the exterior of a building sway a potential buyer? Condo developers are searching for a way to appeal to a broad audience and compete with new developments popping up all over cities. While condo managers are looking for ways to ensure their residents feel at home. Is colour the new frontier?
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Condo developments – integrating architecture and interior design
This month’s general theme of architecture and design sparked our desire to elaborate a little bit on the integration of architecture and interior design as it pertains to condominium developments. Luxury developers retain the services of a team of prime consultants: architects, interior designers, marketing agents, advertising firms, project managers/builders and landscape architects. As a collective group they establish a solid path with the developer to produce a product that not only will sell but will also be memorable.
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Parking garage deterioration
Parking garages are exposed to the most severe environmental and user-related conditions of almost any building type. They are subjected to constant soaking, road salt contamination, severe temperature fluctuations, snowploughing, tire wear and vandalism but are expected to offer trouble free operations over the course of their service lives. Deterioration of parking garages leads to millions of dollars in repair costs annually in Canada alone.
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Textiles spice up common areas
One of the most challenging hurtles to overcome when designing condominium common spaces is satisfying regulations and code requirements established by the city. As Interior Designers, we are compelled to aesthetically push the envelope striving for uniqueness through creative space planning, specifications of luxurious materials and finishes and careful selections of exquisite furnishings, art, decorative lighting and accessories. A successful end product is a happy marriage between strict city regulations and the designers’ aesthetic vision.
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Design detox
Pending federal regulations to reduce or outright ban certain environmentally harmful substances will necessitate new chemical formulations for many common building products and flame retardants used in interior furnishings. However, design experts note that many less detrimental alternatives are already available, while some of the proposed new standards fall short of specifications that sustainable design advocates have voluntarily adopted.
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A building renewed: part II of a refurbishment story
The story began in the March 2007 issue of CondoBusiness where I presented New and Improved: A Refurbishment Story. The article outlined the process involved to complete an interior refurbishment of 150 Heath St., a building built in the mid-70s in the heart of Foresthill, Ont. Originally built by The Cadillac Fairview Corporation, the building had many of its original architectural finishes.
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Restoration of domestic water pipes in high-rise buildings
One of the main objectives for the conscious property manager is a well thought out preventative maintenance program. In Ontario’s housing market, long postponed capital upgrades have begun.
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