Posted on Wed, May 16, 2012 @ 03:00 PM
By Jonathon Barge, vice president of program development services, Carter
ATLANTA (May 16, 2012) – At Carter, we are committed to sustainability and take pride in improving efficiency in many of our buildings.
As part of the Carter Program Development Services group, we provide LEED consulting services to improve a building’s operations and maintenance practices. Working alongside property managers, we act as LEED Administrator and develop, execute and document the overall sustainable strategy in order to achieve certification.
As an example, Alecta Real Estate recently hired Carter to take one of its non-LEED certified buildings - Hartsfield Centre - and achieve LEED certification. Built in 1990, Hartsfield Centre is an eight-story, 147,000- square-foot office tower adjacent to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport owned by Alecta and managed by Cassidy Turley. The building earned ENERGY STAR certification in 2010 and maintained it with an improved score in 2011. To further its green footprint and commitment to sustainability, Alecta enlisted Carter to serve as LEED Administrator and execute a sustainable strategy that would ultimately lead to certification.
Working closely with Cassidy Turley General Manager Sarah Matthews and Ernest Carson, chief engineer, we completed several projects to improve the building’s utility efficiency, including replacing all toilets and urinals with low-flow fixtures to improve water efficiency by more than 30 percent. We also determined the building was a candidate for retro-commissioning, which continues to be a growing trend for building owners. Retro-commissioning is the process of tuning up a building to get peak performance out of all the systems and ultimately reduce energy consumption and operating costs. Read more on retro-commissioning here.
In addition to greater utility efficiency, the team implemented sustainable practices in the daily operation of the building, including the use of recycled paper products as well as green cleaning supplies and pest control products. Enhanced refrigerant management, reduced mercury in lighting, waste recycling, and renewable energy were other sustainable building features that contributed to the certification.
Our work on the project was critical to achieving LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Carter’s “go beyond green” mission, or Environmental Optimization practice, is one we exercise regularly and also strive towards on all our new and existing building projects. Hartsfield Centre is a prime example of how organizations can work together to make sustainability an ongoing priority. When an owner and a management team are committed to sustainable improvements the way Alecta and Cassidy Turley demonstrated, it generates positive environmental and operational cost impact. The sustainable practices and building improvements not only reduced the operational costs of Hartsfield Centre, but also provided building tenants with a healthier indoor environment.
Our experience in developing more than 40 LEED projects across multiple LEED programs enables clients like Alecta to better achieve sustainable success.
Sustainable Investment Group also assisted with the ENERGY STAR certification and retro-commissioning efforts.
Posted on Fri, May 11, 2012 @ 10:29 AM
CINCINNATI (May 11, 2012) - Carter announced today it will be the first to bring the popular Yard House restaurant to Ohio. The American-fusion, L.A.-based chain has signed on as a tenant at The Banks, Carter’s mixed-use development along the Ohio River in Cincinnati.
This exciting new addition makes phase one of The Banks project nearly 90 percent leased.
Yard House, known for its endless selection of draft beers, will feature 100 to 250 taps of imported, craft and specialty ales and lagers, as well as a diverse menu of grilled burgers, street tacos, steaks, seafood, sandwiches and ribs. The 11,000 square-foot building will truly create a dining experience for guests – with abstract artwork, classic rock music and plenty of flat screens for the sports enthusiasts. Its corner space with decks and patios overlooking the Ohio River and Roebling Bridge offer awesome waterfront views.
As master developer of The Banks, Carter has sought out high-quality tenants that have both boosted the local economy and provided hundreds of full-time positions to the area. Yard House joins the long list of great restaurants at The Banks, including Moerlein Lager House, Johnny Rocket’s, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill and Mahogany’s Café and Grill. Tin Roof, The Wine Guy Wine Shop, Crave Restaurant, and a two-story Ruth’s Chris Steak House have signed leases and are slated to open later this year.
For more information about opportunities at The Banks, contact Laura Swadel of Carter at lswadel@carterusa.com.
Posted on Thu, May 03, 2012 @ 10:59 AM
ATLANTA (May 3, 2012) – Carter’s new focus on development, investment and advisory services has led to new opportunities across the country – and perhaps beyond, company President Scott Taylor told the audience at Bisnow’s Third Annual State of the Atlanta market summit held last week.
“Most of our activity right now is outside of Atlanta,” Taylor said. “The job growth we all enjoyed here, we’re now seeing it in other parts of the country, including the Midwest.”
Carter is particularly busy with development in the Midwest, where it is the master developer of The Banks, a major mixed-use project on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati. In Columbus, Ohio, Carter was selected as developer of Columbus Commons, a new mixed-use project in downtown.
“We’re eyeing markets like Columbus for many reasons, but especially because of the momentum we’re seeing there right now,” Taylor said.
Taylor also stressed the nationwide investment activity Carter is involved in through its role in Carter Validus Mission Critical REIT. Carter Validus has acquired several data centers and medical-related properties in markets from Austin, Texas, to downtown Atlanta.
On the Bisnow panel, Taylor was in good company. Other panelists were Cousins Properties’ CEO Larry Gellerstedt, North American Properties’ Managing Partner Mark Toro and Don Henry of Wells Real Estate. They discussed the national real estate market before the audience of nearly 600 people in commercial real estate and other industries.
Overall, the main theme of the hour-long discussion was synopsized at the end by Taylor, who said, “We can’t think big enough. We’ve got to remain positive and think big.”
Taylor’s “Think Big” sentiment came shortly after he traveled to China with an Atlanta trade mission delegation and saw firsthand the vast opportunity the country represents for U.S firms. His recent trip to China with Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Invest Atlanta President and CEO Brian McGowan and other city and business leaders provided Carter with a unique opportunity to introduce our brand to a plethora of interested Chinese business people.
Speaking further on The Banks in Cincinnati, Taylor said these types of projects are indicative of the success Carter is having outside its hometown. In the past year alone, Current at The Banks has leased nearly 100 percent of its luxury apartments, 300-plus jobs have been created due to the influx of retail and restaurants to the development and the stimulus to the local economy is palatable.
Posted on Tue, Apr 24, 2012 @ 07:59 AM
Carter and King & Spalding collaborated once again on a just-completed project at the law firm’s Washington, D.C., offices. King & Spalding engaged the Carter Interiors Project Management Team to expand its fourth-floor office space – where attorney offices are located – at 1730 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Atlanta-based King & Spalding occupies office space in the 1730 building as well as 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue. The buildings are connected but managed separately. Tishman Speyer owns 1730 Pennsylvania Avenue, and Akridge owns the 1700 building, also known as The Mills Building.
Carter’s Interiors team managed the implementation of a new design concept for the expansion of King & Spalding’s floor space with an open, universal footprint with sufficient flexible space to accommodate future changes in the workplace. The design additionally features glass-front exterior offices to allow light to transmit into the corridor and interior spaces.
Carter has worked with some of the country’s top law firms and has a longstanding relationship with King & Spalding, dating back to 2006 when Carter managed the relocation of King & Spalding’s headquarters from downtown Atlanta to 1180 Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta.
“We also completed an expansion project for King & Spalding’s Washington office in 2008 and are delighted to continue our working relationship with such an acclaimed firm,” said Jennie Rusciano, project manager with the Carter Interiors Project Team.
The Carter Interiors Project Team
The Carter Interiors Project Team actively manages every aspect of clients’ interior projects, including build-outs and renovations. Delivering one million square feet each year, the team has a broad range of experience in a large variety of product types and client situations. With several LEED- and Green Globe-certified interiors projects, the team members are experts in creating sustainable interior environments. By maintaining a laser focus on their clients’ goals and objectives, they allow clients to spend their time on their core business.
Posted on Mon, Apr 16, 2012 @ 04:32 PM
ATLANTA (April 16, 2012) - "Tremendous progress" has been made in Enid (Okla.) Public Schools' major construction and renovation program, according to a recently released report.
Carter's Program Development Services K-12 team - led by Senior Vice President Danny Jardine - manages the program, which is funded by a $107 million bond referendum Enid voters approved in early 2010. Two years later, the system-wide project is "on time and under budget."
“We have made tremendous progress in the last 24 months, with even more exciting days ahead,” Enid Public Schools Superintendent Shawn Hime says in a letter to supporters. “This fall, Enid’s two new elementary schools will open their doors, and by August of 2013, renovations at all EPS sites will be complete.”
Superintendent Hime also noted that, “because of careful planning and competitive bids,” the district “will be able to do even more than originally planned with bond issue dollars.”
The K-12 team at Carter is proud to be a part of this monumental project and Enid Public Schools’ team.
Click here to view the 2010 Bond Program Report. To reach Danny Jardine and find out more about the K-12 team, click here.
Posted on Thu, Apr 12, 2012 @ 10:42 AM
ATLANTA (April 12, 2012) - Recently, Carter Vice President Scott Cloud spoke about attractive investment opportunities in the Atlanta market as well as in other Southeastern markets. Check out the first part of the two-part series here.
In the second part of the interview, Cloud expands on the office development market. "Amazingly, the office development market is slowly coming back," he said. To hear other thoughts from Cloud, check out this video.
Posted on Mon, Apr 09, 2012 @ 10:08 PM
CINCINNATI (April 9, 2012) - The scene at The Banks on Opening Day was incredible. A sea of Cincinnati Reds fans and red jerseys covered the streets of The Banks as fans and residents reveled in the return of Major League Baseball and all of the new restaurants residences at The Banks.
The scene prompted Carter to take a look back at the year that’s passed since The Holy Grail opened on Opening Day 2011.
Our review shows that a lot can happen in one year. This time last year in Cincinnati, as Reds fans were preparing for the start of the 2011 baseball season, The Holy Grail was the only bar and restaurant open at The Banks, the $800 million mixed-use project between the ballpark and Paul Brown Stadium that Carter is developing with The Dawson Co. and equity partner USAA Real Estate. This April things look quite different.
Since last Opening Day, The Banks has evolved into quite the entertainment district, making the start to the Reds season perhaps the biggest ever. During the past 12 months, Carter has worked diligently to complete phase one of the mixed-use development and fill it with quality tenants. In addition to The Holy Grail, dining and bar options now include Moerlein Lager House, Johnny Rocket’s and Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill. Orange Leaf frozen yogurt also is open.
Tin Roof, The Wine Guy Wine Shop, Crave Restaurant, and Ruth’s Chris Steak House are slated to open late this summer or early fall. Mahogany's Cafe and Grill also will open a location at The Banks.
To date, the retail operations at The Banks have brought more than 300 new jobs to the region.
Residents have also moved in to the downtown riverfront development, marking a major milestone. Current at The Banks, the 300-unit luxury apartment complex situated atop street-level retail, is now open. In less than one year, Current, which includes a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments for rent, is nearly 100 percent leased. Read our blog post on Current at The Banks here.
“I am extraordinarily proud of our team and the immediate successes we have had at The Banks,” says Carter Chairman and CEO Bob Peterson. “In this economic climate, it’s inspiring to be able to create jobs and stimulate the local economy the way we’ve been able to do with this development.”
In total, 80,000 square feet of retail/restaurant space, 300 apartment units, and 3,300 parking spaces were delivered in the first phase.
So what will the next 12 months look like as the second phase of the project gets underway? Together with The Dawson Co., we are working on securing a healthy mix of retail tenants, and looking ahead to the build out of additional parking spaces, residential components, an office building and even a hotel.
As The Banks continues to progress, it will have 1.9 million square feet of new development including 1,000 residential units, a hotel, a new office tower and at least 400,000 square feet of retail space by the year 2019.
Overall development at The Banks is expected to lead to more than $600 million in investment to the local economy, create more than 1,000 permanent jobs and continue to attract new national retailers and residents to Cincinnati.
“With the opening of The Banks, the celebration of Opening Day in Cincinnati has changed forever,” said John Eckert, a CBRE Group vice president who markets the office portion of The Banks.
Posted on Fri, Mar 30, 2012 @ 06:11 AM
ATLANTA (March 29, 2012) - Carter Vice President Scott Cloud, who recently switched the company's Investments group to focus on office opportunities, says Atlanta and other Southeastern markets will be attractive to investors this year - especially as the job market improves.
"We still see a lot of opportunity in the market," Cloud said this week. To hear other thoughts from Cloud, check out this video. This is a first of a two-part interview with him, so be sure to check back next week for Part 2.
Posted on Tue, Mar 27, 2012 @ 03:50 PM
Nearly 30 Carter Employees Set Sights on VisionWalk
ATLANTA (March 27, 2012)– On Sunday, Carter employees donned walking shoes and braved the pollen at Piedmont Park in support of the Foundation Fighting Blindness' annual Atlanta VisionWalk, a signature fundraising event. The 5K walkathon aims to raise money for research that will lead to preventions, treatments and cures for retinal degenerative diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa (RP), macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and Stargardt disease. These sight-stealing diseases affect people of all races and ethnicities, young and old.
Carter employees walked and pledged money in support of colleague Donna West, whose five-year old son Tyler was diagnosed with RP in 2010. The West family’s “Team Tyler” raised nearly $10,000 on Sunday, almost double their original goal.
“We are inspired and honored to be a part of the West family’s efforts to raise money and awareness for the Foundation Fighting Blindness,” said Carter Vice President Malloy Peterson. “I was thrilled to see so many Carter associates at the walkathon on Sunday, enjoying time away from the office with one another and in support of an excellent cause.”
Carter Senior Project Manager Amy Hunt took the organizing reins and encouraged fellow employees to participate in the event. Amy also managed to sell more than 130 “Team Tyler T-Shirts”, of which half the money raised is being donated to the Foundation.
Hundreds of walkers, many of whom are visually impaired, turned out at the free, family-friendly event, which also included children’s activities, face painting, refreshments and entertainment. Since the VisionWalk program started in 2006, tens of thousands have participated in events across the country to raise more than $20 million for blindness research.
On behalf of all Carter employees, we wish the best for Donna, Tyler and the entire West family. Carter will continue to support Donna and Tyler in their quest to cure blindness.
Posted on Mon, Mar 26, 2012 @ 12:16 PM
By Scott Taylor, president, Carter
NANJING, China (March 26, 2012) – More than 100 Chinese business people joined the Atlanta Trade Mission delegation at a lunch today hosted by Carter and H.J. Russell.
I was honored to address the audience and introduce Carter to key business and government officials in Nanjing, the capital of China’s Jiangsu province.
This was a unique opportunity to introduce our brand to many interested Chinese business people. More than 150 people attended the luncheon.
I traveled to China with Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Invest Atlanta President and CEO Brian P. McGowan and more than 40 other members of an Atlanta delegation on this important China Trade Mission. (This photo at left shows part of the Atlanta delegation. From left, Jermone Russell, H.J. Russell; Mayor Kasim Reed; Brian McGowan, Invest Atlanta, Scott Taylor, Carter; and Hans Gant, Metro Atlanta Chamber.)
Just prior to the Carter-sponsored luncheon, we took part in a business "matchmaking" session where I met with numerous businesses looking to expand in the US. There were more than 80 Chinese companies present.
In the afternoon, a small group led by Mayor Reed visited the urban planning museum of Nanjing. The museum was most impressive and humbling. The growth and the detail to urban planning were incredible.
We then went to Nanjing University and met with university leaders. We received a briefing on their programs, plans for the future and engaged in a robust Q-and-A session before heading to a dinner hosted by the Mayor of Nanjing.
China is the world’s fastest growing, and perhaps most dynamic, economy. Being part of the Atlanta Trade Mission delegation enables Carter to establish relationships with Chinese companies, and in doing so, leverage both Atlanta’s strengths and Carter as a solid company with which to do business.
It’s also an opportunity for Carter to attract potential Chinese investors, who have been considerably more active in the U.S. in the last decade.
I’ll also travel with Mayor Reed and other delegation members to the following cities: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, which were carefully selected because of established networks and opportunities. Be sure and check the Carter blog regularly for more updates as we travel across China.