Eastern Coast Construction’s Post

Navigating the Boom: Why Mixed-Use Developments Continue to Thrive Despite Challenges Despite ongoing construction challenges, mixed-use developments remain a popular choice for developers. These projects offer flexibility, financial stability, and functionality, making them a solid investment. The trend of combining residential, retail, and office spaces not only diversifies income streams but also revitalizes communities with the live-work-play concept. However, developers must navigate rising costs, financing complexities, and lengthy construction timelines. A proactive approach, strategic site selection, and a focus on understanding market demands are essential for success in today’s mixed-use landscape. https://buff.ly/3yl6wLE

Planning Awards 2024 - Shortlisted! Now that made my day. Not only has the sun come out, but the joint submission by Urban Place Lab and Avison Young on the ‘Whitehill & Bordon Project Structuring Plan - Collaborative Masterplanning’ process, has been shortlisted in the category of planning for increased housing delivery in the 2024 Planning Awards! We've been working with landowners the DIO, Development Managers the Whitehill & Bordon Regeneration Company (JV between Taylor Wimpey and Dorchester Regeneration) on this multi-faceted community regeneration since 2014, and the project Structuring Plan has been both a constant and a flexible tool to allow so much more to be delivered than (accelerated) housing alone. Developed in close collaboration with East Hampshire District Council (+ their design advisors Feria Urbanism) and Hampshire County Council, the Structuring Plan review has allowed us to revise parcel structures for individual components of the site, assisting in accelerated phasing, integration with site services and a more nuanced approach to site clearance supporting the delivery of community infrastructure. Loosely following the German Bebauungsplan (B-Plan) model of a technical parameter-led masterplan / regulating plan (and associated text document), the process has encouraged a more organic evolution of place, ‘learning by doing’ and providing valuable exercises in collaboration and place making. https://lnkd.in/ezT4-Tiv

Octagon soars to new heights, as Birmingham counts down to its new tallest building The world's first pure octagonal high-rise residential building is now just months away from claiming its place in Birmingham’s history books. With the core reaching level 40 and floorplates reaching level 35, Octagon has already begun offering unparalleled views of the city below. On completion, the Octagon will stand proudly at 155 meters (410 feet) tall, as a testament to Birmingham's burgeoning skyline. The pair of tower cranes have now reached their final height, allowing main contractor Midgard to construct the remaining 10 floors of the building core ahead of its practical completion, scheduled for summer 2025. The Octagon isn't just a feat of engineering; designed by Howells Architects, it's a testament to innovation in architectural design. As the world's first pure octagonal high-rise residential building, it stands as an example of progress and possibility in Birmingham. This milestone marks a significant leap forward in Paradise’s commitment to deliver a world-class estate and with a true mixed-use proposition by providing 370 spacious new Build to Rent (BtR) homes. Birmingham is the second fastest-growing city centre population in the UK, ahead of cities like Manchester and Leeds, with 7,000 new residential units either being built or planned across the city centre. Backed by global real estate investor City Developments Limited (CDL) https://lnkd.in/eBihckum

$100M Clayton Tower The beauty of this building is undeniable, yet the staggering $100 million price tag raises questions about efficiency and innovation in the construction industry. Unlike other sectors, construction has been slow to embrace industrialization, standardization, and mass production. However, embracing Steve Jobs' words "think different" can spark change, as evidenced by our development of the VEGO building technology. The VEGO technology has dramatically reduced the cost of constructing our Garden Apartment Complex to just $4 million, a stark contrast to the expenses of traditional projects like the Clayton tower. While acknowledging that additional costs for land, infrastructure, and site preparation are inevitable, the savings potential is undeniable. This gap underscores a broader industry challenge: the urgent need for innovation to make home ownership accessible to those who are currently priced out. It's time for the construction industry to do its homework, innovate, and deliver better, more affordable housing solutions.

I came across this article on Bisnow about the growing popularity of mass timber construction. It highlights how major developers are finding timber buildings lease faster at higher rents while reducing the carbon footprint. Hines mentioned being interested in more mixed-use (office and housing) timber buildings. As an architect, it's exciting to see real estate developers embracing the financial and experiential benefits of #MassTimber! #SustainableArchitecture #GreenBuilding #TexasCRE #RealEstateTrends

I hear all of the so called experts in this space. From those that understand the industry and how buildings are built, this is not impossible, but at what cost? The cost-benefit analysis would be so far in the negative. Thank god for common sense. #building #construction #housing #affordability #policy. https://lnkd.in/gsFi6cxJ

Sharing a timely and thoughtfully written article by Charlotte Banks of Construction News who rightly highlights the direction of travel in London towards sustainable refurbishment over new build. There was a time when this meant developers and investors could get away with light-touch refurbs, but that time has passed as evidenced by the many 'average', commodity office buildings that are suffering in the B-grade market. At Seaforth we invest an extraordinary amount of time researching the market to design resiliency into our investment theses. That research has kept us on the sidelines for new investment for the past 4 years. A costly decision, but far less costly than the losses we would have experienced through this correction. Today, we are actively underwriting value-add opportunities - capitalizing on what we have learned from our over 600,000sf of refurbishments in Central London. Our past two developments - the multi-award winning 8 Bleeding Heart Yard, and our soon to launch Space House London are two very different developments, but with a common approach to research-led developing for the future of customer demand - Experiential, Sustainable, Authentic, and to the highest standard. DM me if you're interested in understanding why we're back in the market. https://lnkd.in/e_CaYiiD

Boston Residential Group, LLC (BRG) have announced the intent to commence construction of the 12-story condo tower at 55 India St. in Boston after a 4 year pause. BRG secured $90 million in financing from Bank OZK which allow construction to proceed. This project is among the first high-end developments to break ground post-COVID. The 76,000 SF building will feature 29 units, including 5 affordable artist lofts, and a 4,250 SF ground floor restaurant. Rising construction costs and interest rates have inflated the projected project cost form $72M to $90M since the project was paused. however, the strength of Boston's residential market gives BRG CEO Curtis Kemeny confidence in the project’s ability to turn over the condos. McNamara • Salvia, Structural Engineers Adam McCarthy, P.E. Sydney Project Management Hacin Copley Wolff Lee Kennedy Co., Inc. Nitsch Engineering Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) WSP Schweppe Lighting Design Inc Acentech Code Red Consultants Soden Sustainability Consulting Howard Stein Hudson #bostondelopment https://lnkd.in/ez6UTYAT

Go ahead for South Kilburn masterplan housing.  Brent Council, advised by Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design, has been given the go ahead for 250 new homes within the South Kilburn regeneration area. The replacement of Hereford House and Exeter Court forms part of the South Kilburn Masterplan, which aims to transform the area into a sustainable and mixed neighbourhood for new and established residents. The proposal would see the existing Hereford House and Exeter Court buildings demolished and replaced with four new residential buildings ranging from 3 to 13 storeys, providing 250 new homes. A new public urban park will be delivered along with a total 190 trees planted across the development site. Of the 250 new homes in this phase, 121 will be affordable homes at social rent and have been designed to provide new, high-quality housing for residents currently living in blocks planned for redevelopment in the next phases of the masterplan. The scheme will also deliver a new, high-quality local park for residents and visitors to enjoy, as well as a number of commercial units to meet local demand and add to this vibrant mixed-use regeneration.  Councillor Shama T. Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Growth, at Brent Council said: “This is a major opportunity to turn a currently under-utilised area into a thriving, rejuvenated community. This scheme will provide local families with safe and secure homes in the area.” Tibbalds provided planning consultancy services and input to the project, submitting the application on behalf of the Council. Karakusevic Carson Architects are the lead architects and masterplanners working closely with landscape architects Periscope. Other members of the design teams include structural engineers Momentum Structural Engineers, mechanical and electrical engineers Max Fordham LLP. Lizzie Le Mare, Director at Tibbalds, said: “Brent Council is continuing to make progress on the South Kilburn masterplan, helping to meet local housing need with a regeneration programme focussed on long-term quality of living for existing and new residents. This planning milestone will also help pave the way for a better public realm, with high-quality architecture and design helping to make a positive contribution to the surrounding neighbourhood during this time of change” #SouthKilburn #masterplanning #affordablehomes #community #tibbalds #urbandesign #placemaking #tibbaldscommunity #tibbaldsplanning #regeneration

The Call For Responsive City Planning. Part 2: How Regulations Hold Us Back. Building designs and construction is a strictly controlled field. While this is necessary to prevent quackery, building collapse and safety concerns, housing in particular is often bound by rigid building codes that force designers/developers to stick to non-innovative solutions. A binary set of rules that ignore user/owner peculiarities and do not adjust to context. These rules, while made with good intentions, inadvertently limit creative solutions that could help solve our housing crisis. The focus here is more on multi-family developments that are suitable for affordable housing use-case. Most private residences do not particularly get this level of scrutiny, I mean, ‘big man nor dey get trouble’...LOL. Truth is, the approval process for single-family dwellings is more-or-less straightforward, and there's little we can do about personal preferences. Let’s break this down. 1. Regulations on Apartment Design. On many occasions, spaces like staircases, lobbies and courtyards are left bare and redundant just to avoid the approval office' ‘wahala’. This is because once a space becomes ‘usable’ it must conform to certain stan... continue reading: https://lnkd.in/eztbEYzp Unlike Part 1 which focuses on planning regulations that govern architectural planning, this post addresses rigid planning regulations that stifle innovation in housing. Real-life examples of how a shift from a set of ‘binary’ checklists to context-responsive considerations will improve the provision of affordable housing.