View original article here.
Energy policy » Western governors have a proposal
By Thomas Burr
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 11/21/2008 06:24:43 AM MST
WASHINGTON » Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer will meet this morning with President-elect Barack Obama's top transition leader to deliver a bipartisan energy proposal from Western governors.
The plan, supported by 14 Western governors, includes what Huntsman labeled a "road map" for the new administration and includes a so-called cap-and-trade program, goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable energies, and suggestions for weaning the country off foreign sources of oil.
Huntsman, a Republican and chairman of the Western Governors Association, is scheduled to meet in Washington with John Podesta, co-chairman of Obama's transition team, to present a four-page letter that the Utah governor said outlines principles that should be incorporated into national energy policy.
"It will serve as a useful tool," Huntsman said in an interview Thursday. "There's a lot of thinking going on about energy policy and what it will look like, how it will impact the states, how states will respond, for example, of initiatives coming out of Washington. And we hope that this is a helpful reminder that the West does feel passionate about energy."
Huntsman declined to share the plan publicly Thursday, but said one key component is a cap-and-trade program that would legislate mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions and provide for a trading system for companies polluting more
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than others. Discussions of such a system generally call for a permitting process that would give an incentive to companies to pollute less.
While such a program has hit resistance with some Republican factions, including Utah's Republican-majority Legislature, Huntsman says there will ultimately have to be a price put on carbon emissions.
"You have to value carbon if you're going to take climate issues seriously," Huntsman said. "That either supposes you're going to have a carbon tax or you're going to have a cap-and-trade program. It has to be one or the other."
An Obama White House may be receptive to some of the ideas Huntsman and his fellow governors are pushing.
Obama said in a message to the Bi-Partisan Governors Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles that governors have shown "true leadership in the fight to combat global warming" and that he supports a cap-and-trade program.
"Any change won't be easy and it won't come overnight," Obama said in the taped message. "I promise you this: any governor that wants to promote clean energy will have a partner in the White House."
Huntsman, who will lead a delegation of governors to China in the spring to promote their proposals, said three things drove the WGA plan: affordability, energy independence and sustainability.
And he said that the proposal is unique in that it brings together governors of big and small states, of different political parties and with real, on-the-ground experience.
"I don't think anyone brings all these together as part of one plan," Huntsman said.
tburr@sltrib.com
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
GSBS to begin work on new Burleson recreation center
View the original news story here.
By ELIZABETH CAMPBELL
liz@star-telegram.com
BURLESON — Residents can look forward to a recreation center at Bartlett Park featuring indoor pools, a fitness center, soccer fields and a jogging track.
The City Council last week approved the $17.4 million price tag for the center. The city is working with Hill & Wilkinson, a firm that has built similar centers, spokeswoman Sally Ellertson said. If costs run higher than the agreed-upon price, the company would be responsible unless the city authorizes changes to the construction plan.
Parks and Recreation Director Peter Krause said construction should begin next week, and he estimated that it will be completed in March 2010.
"This has been a long time coming," Krause said.
The two-story, 65,000-square-foot recreation center, on 34 acres, will include meeting rooms, an indoor pool, a five-lane lap pool, a fitness center, gymnasiums and an elevated jogging track. The site will also include an outdoor pool and soccer fields.
The Burleson school district will share the cost of the lap pool so the Burleson High swim team can practice there. Funds will come from certificates of obligation financed by sales tax revenue, Krause said.
The council has hired the architecture firm GSBS to provide design and construction cost estimates for the Bartlett Park soccer fields. The city will use $2.94 million from a 2007 bond package to pay for the fields.
The city also plans to build a fire station in southwest Burleson on Lakewood Drive north of Texas 174. Council members approved an agreement with the construction management firm Modern Contractors to build the station, the city’s third, at a maximum price of $2.2 million. The new station should be finished by next summer.
By ELIZABETH CAMPBELL
liz@star-telegram.com
BURLESON — Residents can look forward to a recreation center at Bartlett Park featuring indoor pools, a fitness center, soccer fields and a jogging track.
The City Council last week approved the $17.4 million price tag for the center. The city is working with Hill & Wilkinson, a firm that has built similar centers, spokeswoman Sally Ellertson said. If costs run higher than the agreed-upon price, the company would be responsible unless the city authorizes changes to the construction plan.
Parks and Recreation Director Peter Krause said construction should begin next week, and he estimated that it will be completed in March 2010.
"This has been a long time coming," Krause said.
The two-story, 65,000-square-foot recreation center, on 34 acres, will include meeting rooms, an indoor pool, a five-lane lap pool, a fitness center, gymnasiums and an elevated jogging track. The site will also include an outdoor pool and soccer fields.
The Burleson school district will share the cost of the lap pool so the Burleson High swim team can practice there. Funds will come from certificates of obligation financed by sales tax revenue, Krause said.
The council has hired the architecture firm GSBS to provide design and construction cost estimates for the Bartlett Park soccer fields. The city will use $2.94 million from a 2007 bond package to pay for the fields.
The city also plans to build a fire station in southwest Burleson on Lakewood Drive north of Texas 174. Council members approved an agreement with the construction management firm Modern Contractors to build the station, the city’s third, at a maximum price of $2.2 million. The new station should be finished by next summer.
Congrats to Alison Mitchell!
Ali Mitchell became GSBS Architects' latest LEED-accredited professional in October after sitting for and passing the LEED for Commercial Interiors Exam Track. Congrats, Ali!
Ali joins our almost 30 LEED-accredited professionals in our Utah and Texas offices.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Universe Project Developer Selected
GSBS Architects is honored to be a part of the selected team to design and develop the Universe project at the University of Utah!
November 4, 2008 -- The University of Utah has selected Inland American Communities Group, Inc. as the prime developer to construct the campus's new Universe Project. The firm will work with the university to plan and construct the proposed innovative, mixed-use, transit-oriented project.
Inland American Communities, with offices in Dallas, Tempe and Atlanta, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Inland American Real Estate Trust of Oak Brook, Illinois, and focuses on community building in university and urban infill environments nationwide. Michael G. Perez, associate vice president for facilities management at the University of Utah made the official announcement. "We are excited for the opportunity to provide the university and Salt Lake City with an energizing hub at the edge of campus while continuing our effort to promote sustainable practices by implementing this transit-oriented development."
The project site is located at a 7.9-acre parking lot west of the university's Rice-Eccles Stadium, located adjacent to the existing UTA TRAX light rail station. The Universe Project is envisioned as a vibrant campus center that will contribute positively to the surrounding community. Proposed uses include university continuing education and student recruitment offices, on-site housing, public/student parking, and retail stores.
In light of the innovative nature of the project and location on campus, the university has invited discussion and input from its neighbors and the city. Ross Robb, the managing director of the Universe Project for Inland American Communities says, "our development team looks forward to working with stakeholders both from within the university community and beyond to create a dynamic and unique place that everyone can look upon with pride."
The goals for the Universe Project include:
Questions from the public regarding this project should be directed to: Deborah Alto, University of Utah Campus Design and Construction - CDC@fm.Utah.edu.
Original press release can be found here.
November 4, 2008 -- The University of Utah has selected Inland American Communities Group, Inc. as the prime developer to construct the campus's new Universe Project. The firm will work with the university to plan and construct the proposed innovative, mixed-use, transit-oriented project.
Inland American Communities, with offices in Dallas, Tempe and Atlanta, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Inland American Real Estate Trust of Oak Brook, Illinois, and focuses on community building in university and urban infill environments nationwide. Michael G. Perez, associate vice president for facilities management at the University of Utah made the official announcement. "We are excited for the opportunity to provide the university and Salt Lake City with an energizing hub at the edge of campus while continuing our effort to promote sustainable practices by implementing this transit-oriented development."
The project site is located at a 7.9-acre parking lot west of the university's Rice-Eccles Stadium, located adjacent to the existing UTA TRAX light rail station. The Universe Project is envisioned as a vibrant campus center that will contribute positively to the surrounding community. Proposed uses include university continuing education and student recruitment offices, on-site housing, public/student parking, and retail stores.
In light of the innovative nature of the project and location on campus, the university has invited discussion and input from its neighbors and the city. Ross Robb, the managing director of the Universe Project for Inland American Communities says, "our development team looks forward to working with stakeholders both from within the university community and beyond to create a dynamic and unique place that everyone can look upon with pride."
The goals for the Universe Project include:
- Provide amenities that will attract outstanding students, exceptional faculty, neighbors, and visitors from the Salt Lake area and beyond
- Create an exciting and vibrant experience for patrons coming to the university, both for scheduled events and general visits
- Take advantage of the mass transit opportunities made available through the TRAX rail system
- Establish a compatible and stronger connection between the university campus and neighborhood communities
- Stimulate high quality development of the western edge of campus as an entry portal onto the University of Utah campus and a gateway to Salt Lake City
- Engage the community and weave the interests of the university into the fabric of the local community
- Enhance the appearance and functional use of the proposed site without detracting from or reducing the current functional aspects of the area, namely parking
Questions from the public regarding this project should be directed to: Deborah Alto, University of Utah Campus Design and Construction - CDC@fm.Utah.edu.
Original press release can be found here.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Halloween 2008
At GSBS, we know how to throw a party. Halloween is no exception. Here are a few photos from our pumpkin carving contest and costume extravaganza:
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