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Public Relations for Construction Companies

November 3, 2015 By Don Eberly Leave a Comment

Getting more construction jobs in 2016…

While new construction project starts continue to grow across most sectors, the advancement of sales and marketing goals are still top of mind for construction owners and managers, general contractors, and engineers. The need for more efficient and results-producing marketing also keeps many building envelope product manufactures and commercial real estate developers up at night. Undoubtedly, in a new and evolving era of building and construction, those working in the industry are up against tough competition to win new jobs. The promotion of a construction or development company’s marketing messagesis equally as important as timely project delivery, standards compliance and every other aspect of successful business management.

For the industry’s businesses and professionals setting their sights on unprecedented sales growth for 2016, there are many innovative, available opportunities to boost brand visibility, generate press campaigns, and develop integrated marketing.

At Eberly & Collard Public Relations, our team has specialized in generating brand exposure for construction companies and developers for more than a decade. Give us a minute and a half to watch the following video, and gain ideas and inspiration to kick-off a robust marketing plan that achieves the type of results you have been seeking for years.

Learn more about our construction industry marketing and public relations programs, and contact us for a free assessment at www.eberlycollardpr.com.

Stevens & Wilkinson Completes Architecture and Engineering Design for New College of Law Building at Georgia State University

October 7, 2015 By Don Eberly Leave a Comment

One of our esteemed clients, Stevens & Wilkinson, an architecture, engineering and interior design firm, provided architecture and engineering design services for the new Georgia State University College of Law building, which opened its doors this summer.

Stevens & Wilkinson’s project team conceptualized and executed the design development for the exterior skin, and implemented the architecture and engineering for the building. The completed building features a three-story public gathering space in the lobby; a two-story active learning space; and reading and study rooms adjacent to an outdoor garden terrace on the sixth floor.

Recently, three members of our Eberly & Collard Public Relations team, Don Eberly, Jeff Collard and Kristen Pappaterra, had the privilege of joining our client as well as state government and judicial leaders, alumni, and others for the building’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event and tour yielded us an in-person vantage point to learn about the design solutions provided by Stevens & Wilkinson and other members of the project team, information we will be using to develop and execute an architecture and construction public relations campaign for our client.

Take a look at the following photos from our tour. Watch for updates on our blog and Facebook page about the progress of the public relations campaign.

The College of Law Building was designed for collaboration, content sharing and group learning. It quickly has become the heart of Georgia State University and a gathering place for both internal and external communities.

The lower level consists of a 230-seat moot courtroom and auditorium, which was designed for diverse uses, including practice jury or appellate court, learning, breakout, and legal proceeding areas.

Audio / visual equipment and devices, including screens that can be lowered from the ceiling, were specified and installed for students to watch their moot court performances following learning and exercise sessions.

A world-class conference center with movable walls and breakout rooms is used for catering and events, which is available for table seating or lecture format for up to 300 people.

Access control, turnstile systems, close circuit TV, and fire-rated glass were engineered by Stevens & Wilkinson to provide security and safety for the building at large.

Hallways, classrooms and offices were designed to take advantage of natural daylighting, shedding light upon the next generation of lawyers, judges and others who will study, develop and apply law in the future.

The academic floors consist of large classrooms and seminar rooms with flexible learning settings and meeting rooms, commons, and support spaces for faculty. The design setup is intended for content sharing, with advanced audio / visual equipment for learning and technological conveniences.

The law building’s library is the largest part of the overall concept. The library is made available only for Georgia State University law students, and is designed with a variety of environments, such as study rooms, café’s, classrooms, and an alumni reading room.

The law library includes a high-density, compact storage system for accessibility and preservation as well as conference and library workrooms. Its glass box design style acts as an exterior expression for the entire building.

The top level includes an exterior garden terrace with native plantings and an interior reading room with a view overlooking the adjacent Woodruff Park.

Along with Stevens & Wilkinson’s project partners, SmithGroupJJR and Harris+Smith, and builder McCarthy Building Companies, the project team collaborated to design and deliver a leading-edge building of individual and joint learning that also offers students, faculty and staff all the customary amenities necessary for institutional excellence.

Our congratulations to the entire project team for a job well done.

Get a Jumpstart on Your 2016 Sales and Marketing Plan!

September 3, 2015 By Don Eberly Leave a Comment

If you are like most business owners or marketing professionals, you know all too well that cultivating leads, prospects and sales requires advanced planning. Waiting until the onset of the new calendar year puts your marketing programs at a huge disadvantage.

In fact, it is any marketer’s critical question: What is the best and most strategic step to keeping powerful and creative marketing momentum alive for a successful calendar-year ahead?

Strategic marketing plans can help you reach your target audiences, boost your customer base, enhance branding, qualify more sales leads, and, ultimately, increase your bottom line. Not to mention, having a well-written and executed marketing program lends to the process of setting clear, realistic and measurable objectives for your sales team and business.

For businesses focused upon residential and commercial interior design; architecture; building and construction; kitchen and bath; furniture, accessories and lighting; horticulture and agribusiness; lawn, garden and landscape; or hardware and homeware- we customize and execute long-term integrated marketing programs that generate qualified and quantified sales.

Take a look at the following video, and gain a whole new perspective about what it means to create upward growth for your business before the busy 2016 year is upon us.

Jumpstarting calendar-year marketing, with the help of a PR firm that fully understands your industry, guides your customers to recognize why your product or service is better than or different from the competition.

By way of our brief, no-cost marketing assessment, we can provide you with a proposed strategy for kicking-off your 2016 brand plan- one that will provision for getting and staying ahead of the new year.

Old is the New Trend

August 18, 2015 By Don Eberly Leave a Comment

Calling all architects, designers, engineers, developers, and anyone who appreciates the art and science of repurposing older buildings for new residential and commercial uses…

Have you seen the May / June 2015 issue of Retrofitmagazine? In case you missed it, take a look at the following images, showcasing a feature story our ECPR team secured, written by our very own Don Eberly, about one of our clients, the very talented Stevens & Wilkinson architecture, engineering and interior design firm.

Ponce City Market, the former Sears, Roebuck & Co. building in Atlanta, was redesigned into a live-work-eat-shop-play destination.

Atlantans have watched the adaptive-reuse plan unfold for more than two years, and the area is abuzz with new interest about what many are calling the building’s rebirth.

Stevens & Wilkinson, a full-service commercial architecture, engineering and interior design firm, served as architect for the adaptive reuse and historic renovations for the new and impressive FLATS at Ponce City Market.

As lead architect for Ponce City Market’s residential portion of the building, Stevens & Wilkinson oversaw the comprehensive creation of the FLATS to include a mix of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, including 17 two-level lofts.

Stevens & Wilkinson had LEED certification in mind when finalizing how the FLATS would be designed. The energy-efficient appliances coupled with efficiently engineered mechanical and plumbing systems contributed to the coveted sustainable design designation.

As the largest adaptive reuse project in Atlanta’s history, the entire Ponce City Market project is estimated at more than $200 million. The developer, Jamestown, was the originator for the project. The company conducted market research by consulting with neighborhood residents to determine the best uses for the building.

Kudos to Stevens & Wilkinson for an architecture design job well done, and our thanks to the magazine’s editor for her willingness to share this great story with her readers.

Read the online version of the article here: http://ow.ly/MQSBs.

Learn more about Stevens & Wilkinson: www.stevens-wilkinson.com.

Discover the ways in which we manage public relations for architecture firms and other clients as well as our creative approach to integrated marketing for building and construction companies, and more: https://eberlycollardpr.com/our-industries.asp

Color Perspective: Embracing Trend Colors for Interior and Product Design

July 21, 2015 By Don Eberly 2 Comments

Twice each year, international color authority Pantone determines the upcoming season’s most popular colors in design and fashion called the “Color Report.” These coveted colors become ongoing inspirations for interior designers, architects, landscape architects, and residential and commercial product manufactures.

This season’s colors have taken a few steps toward the color spectrum’s earthy neutrals or, what we might call, a back-to-beautiful-basics approach. With the addition of select harmonizing hues, the new color trends are being accented with a range of soft-to-bold color statements and patterns.

Some of our designer clients are addressing the new hues by sourcing design and decor items with colors motivated from the fall color report- a color-inspired design concept that generates memories of less-encumbered times. These design themes stem from softer palettes and, at times, are used with floral patterns, geometric shapes, or even enchanting beach- or tropical-like settings.

With the announcement of the Fall 2015 Color Report, and enthused by the many breath-taking design projects we publicize, our team voted upon our favorite five color trends for the late-summer and fall seasons. See below, and let us know which you prefer for your 2015 projects.

Biscay Bay: The ECPR favorite!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/509751251549623729/

Photo Credit: Polyvore

Biscay Bay is our team favorite! It combines the serene qualities of blue with the stimulating aspects of green, and is one of the top Pantone colors for fall. The dreamy shade of blue, which we consider somewhat smoky-blue, yields a sophisticated and elegant look, while its cool hue inspires thoughts of tropical waters– both pleasant and inviting. The color is becoming a staple for wall paint options from select top paint brands as well as for lighting and fabric manufacturers. Look for this graceful blue to appear more and more as an interior design accent color.

Amethyst Orchid:

Photo Credit: Soirées Southern Events Planning

Rich and vibrant, the Amethyst Orchid adds a distinctive pop of color to wardrobe, interior design accents and floral arrangements. The hue is intriguing by creating an eye-catching and bold look. For the floral industry, we see this shade taking form in centerpiece and decorative accent arrangements for both interiors and outdoor space.

Cashmere Rose:

Photo Credit: The Rose Garden

Cashmere Rose has a lovely soft-pink hue, with an upscale warm appeal. Some of our horticulture clients are breeding new flowers and plants to showcase this soft and subtle shade of pink. The color gives a sense of welcoming softness to landscapes. In a certain way, the same is true for interiors of homes, especially when shades of the color are used in home accessories or accents, such as blankets, cushions and pillows. Many designers we admire are experts at adding well-placed touches of rosy pink to houses and homes, ultimately coordinating a feeling of intimacy. Cashmere Rose is cultivated in design with its richness as a gentle and composed pink that is classic and upscale.

Dried Herb:

Photo Credit: Knotting Hill Interiors

Dried Herb is an olive green shade that was once thought of as safari or military. It has now been evolved into a color we now perceive as sophisticated and chic. It closely resembles the nature of earthy fragrances as we are seeing this play out more in paint, fabrics, draperies, rugs, cushions, and other textile and textile-covered interior products for residential and commercial spaces.

Cadmium Orange:

Photo Credit: Eric Trine

Cadmium Orange is a playful, optimistic color that still keeps a sense of sophistication. It is a great accent that will harmonize with other fall trend color companions for almost any color scheme, yet it is bold enough to stand on its own. Being design trend-watchers, our ECPR team has been eyeing this color being specified by designers for walls and furniture to create bright and cheery interiors as well as in in new plant colors for the landscape.

Marsala:

Photo Credit: Bella Homestaging

We couldn’t write about Pantone’s 2015 Fall color Report without mentioning color of the year, Marsala. Named for fortified wine, this sensual and bold color exudes style and complexity, making it a fitting hue for decorative fabrics and art throughout the home. In particular, we are seeing some design experts adopt the color for draperies, with varied shades like eggplant, reddish brown, brick, and similar pigments and tints.

Designers and editors, send us your ideas for future color blog topics.

Build It (with Products of Excellence) and They Will Come

December 4, 2014 By Don Eberly 1 Comment

ECPR’s Top-Pick Building Products of the Year…and New Year!

The construction industry saw a sharp uptick in 2014, and all indications are that this persistent rebound will continue in 2015. As builders and remodelers anticipate more design-build projects and begin the involved product sourcing and planning processes, our team of construction / building industry writers and publicists has rounded up some top building products, specifically ones we have seen select clients specify for residential or commercial jobs, along with few of the newest and most novel in the industry.

Lightweight Block, Heavyweight Benefits

Riverlite Expanded Clay Lightweight Aggregate

Weight should not compromise design or efficiency, which is a concept Big River Industries, an Old Castle Architectural Products Group company, took to heart when it first produced Riverlite, the lightest expanded clay aggregate (LWA) in North America. Companies and organizations in the construction, concrete, structural concrete, geotechnical, engineering, green roof, and filtration industries benefit from this structural aggregate’s low unit weight, high angle of internal friction, low-thermal conductivity, and high fire resistance.

The key to the LWA’s success resides in its base material: Clay that is mined, fired, calcinated, crushed, and graded.

What we admire most about Riverlite expanded clay lightweight aggregate is that its uses are innumerable; the aggregate is used in a variety of concrete products including structural lightweight concrete for buildings and highway bridges or decks; concrete masonry block; bio-swales, landscapes and green roofs; just to name a few.

Saving 50% in time and labor costs, Riverlite was used to manufacture lightweight masonry (E-lite) blocks for the development of the Maryland Science Center.

For this project and many others like it, the lightweight factor helps contractors and builders complete projects sooner rather than later, so they can generate revenue from the projects earlier, which is better for the property owners as well. In construction, we all known time is money, and if property owners can reduce the number of days it takes to construct a building, it helps them easily project when it can be rented or sold and begin earning revenue.

Haute and Hot

Superior DRT2000 Merit Series Direct-Vent Fireplace

Fireplaces add visual and aesthetic appeal to any home and many commercial and hospitality spaces. With that said, we are heated up for Innovative Hearth Products’ Superior DRT2000 Merit Series direct-vent fireplace.

Builders, designers, remodelers, and contractors can take pleasure in knowing their clients will bask in the warmth and comfort of this fireplace’s traditional style without compromising quality or design. This highly efficient fireplace is perfectly sized to suit most any space or room, while offering a host of standard features, heightened performance and state-of-the-art technology to ensure its elegance and warmth last for years. Notably, Superior DRT2000’s specifications include a direct vent, optional remote, and a front view style.

Also offered in a contemporary style, the DRT2000 is an ideal solution for builders or architects looking to provide clients a high-end and modern design approach at an affordable price.

Floors with Flow

DESSO Transitions Fuse Carpet Tiles

Embrace movement and creative expression in the office with DESSO® Transitions Fuse carpet tiles. This striking carpet tile fluently meshes two contrasting yet complementary colors to separate large open spaces like those in offices. The carpet tiles allow an interior layout to transition from a large space into a smaller or more private area and are available in seven different color combinations.

DESSO specializes in producing high-quality, durable carpets and carpet tiles that are long lasting and easy to install in commercial settings ranging from offices, banks and retail stores to public buildings, schools and healthcare centers.

At first look, we were floored by the product’s high-tech traits and attractive design, and have known more than one of our design-build clients to specify these types of carpets when designing flexible and open spaces. Rather than adding walls and doors to close off a space, the sense of transition yielded by the placement of these tiles supplies an open office environment that is more collaborative and productive.

Made in the Shade

Phantom Screens

We know just how disappointing it can be to have outdoor relaxation stymied by insects and blazing sun, among other things. With Phantom Screens, making the most of outdoor living spaces is a breeze. Beneficial for both residential and commercial screening projects, Executive screens provide extreme comfort by delivering shade, insect protection, natural ventilation, and privacy at the touch of a button.

Executive motorized retractable screens by Phantom are ideal for screening patios, decks, lanais, and other large outdoor areas. Executive screens can be incorporated into various architectural styles and offer homeowners or business owners the enjoyment of using every inch of their exterior areas.

One of the best things about these screen systems is that wall mounted switches or hand-held remotes can be programmed to lower or retract them whenever the owner needs some time in the shade. Executive screens can be recessed from view, or mounted on existing structures. Even better, the screens can be integrated into most any type of structure, including wood, brick, stucco, natural stone, and concrete.

Down with Dust

National Gypsum Company’s ProForm XP® Ready Mix Joint Compound with Dust-Tech

Another product that has certainly caught our eye, but won’t send sawdust into it, is National Gypsum ProForm XP® Ready Mix Joint Compound with Dust-Tech.

This product is an all-purpose, vinyl-based joint compound specifically formulated to reduce airborne dust while sanding. With less mess, builders can minimize the time spent cleaning up following these kinds of jobs. The XP Joint Compound with Dust-Tech can be used for all phases of drywall finishing, texturing, patching, and renovations. Among its various uses, the product is designed for tape application; faster spotting; complete joint finishing of gypsum board; to repair cracks in plastered walls; add texture to surfaces; and laminate gypsum board to other surfaces.

Two noteworthy features of the XP Joint Compound with Dust-Tech include the fact it reduces airborne dust by 60 percent and offers first-rate mold resistance per ASTM G 21 with a score of 0, the best possible score- which both contribute to minimizing impact on indoor air quality. This product also sands without clogging sandpaper; has a low VOC content; and is GREENGUARD Children and Schools Certified- making it perfect for commercial and residential use in spaces frequented by little ones and those who are environmentally conscience.

Builders and building product manufacturers, send us your feedback and information about must-have building product resources, and we just might feature them in a future blog post or include one or more of them in an upcoming media tour for our editor and reporter contacts in the field.

Learn about our integrated marketing services on our builders and building product manufacturers on our website.

Going BIG at the Smithsonian

November 20, 2014 By Don Eberly Leave a Comment

Beginning in 2016, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. will undergo a proposed 20-year renovation. The master plan gives new life to the Smithsonian castle, adding expanded visitor services, new mall-facing entrances to the National Museum of African Art, and the Arthur M. Sackler gallery. Site enhacements will also include improved visibility and access from the Freer Gallery of Art to the Hirshhorn Museum and its neighboring sculpture garden.

The lead architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) recently released renderings of the completed project mentioning, “The centerpiece of the proposed South Mall master plan is the revitalization of the iconic Smithsonian castle.”

Bjarke Ingels Group reveals Smithsonian master plan for Washington, D.C.
Image courtesy of BIG / The Smithsonian Institution.

In addition to updating the castle, another goal of the project is to instill more cohesion between the 11 museums around the National Mall by establishing more retail, cafe and public gathering spaces. BIG founder and the lead architect Bjarke Ingels believes these additions will “resolve the contradictions between old and new, and [help] to find freedom within the boundaries of strict regulation and historical preservation.”

Ingels plans to execute this by producing new links between the various specialized, planned, operational, and managerial requirements that will usher the Smithsonian South Mall campus into the future, while maintaining its firm historical origin.

The castle as seen from the entrance of the National Museum of African Art.
Image courtesy of BIG / The Smithsonian Institution.

As a whole, the estimated cost of the project is $2 billion, which will be funded by private and federal investments. Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Wayne Clough says, “Bjarke Ingels Group has given us a plan that will…visually attract visitors who will have an unparalleled experience.”

The redesign seeks to establish clear entrances and connections between the site’s various museums and gardens. Image courtesy of BIG / The Smithsonian Institution.

The Smithsonian Castle, which opened in 1855, currently serves as headquarters of the institution as well as a visitor’s information center. The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum and research complex. Located in Washington, D.C., the national landmark consists of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park and nine research facilities.

For more about the renovation, click here to visit the Smithsonian Institute project profile on the Bjarke Ingles Group website.

Daylight will shine into the visitor center for the first time.
Image courtesy of BIG / The Smithsonian Institution.

Corian® Countertops to Champion Cellphone Charging

November 11, 2014 By Don Eberly 1 Comment

Designers, builders and architects, as professionals, we know that no one likes the feeling of having a dying smartphone battery while out in public for the day. One faces the choice of going without a phone for the rest of the day or the hassle of locating an outlet and a spare charger. Needless to say, it’s not convenient to operate without the smartphone to which you are accustomed, in today’s need-to-be-connected world.

Imagine entering your 3 p.m. meeting with 10 percent of your battery left. You take your seat in the meeting area, place your phone on the counter, and by the time your meeting concludes an hour later, your phone is fully charged. For that, you can thank DuPont!

While smartphone users have weathered rapidly draining batteries and inconvenient locations of outlets, DuPont has heard their cries for help, and brings a remedy of convenience and sheer genius with its newest Corian® solid surfaces.

DuPont and Power Matters Alliance (PMA) have joined forces to create wireless charging solutions for our increasingly mobile society by revolutionizing countertops. Wireless chargers will soon be integrated into DuPont™ Corian® solid surfaces as the company’s first consumer electronics venture. Charging pads from Powermat will be embedded under the surface of the countertops and supply power to both smartphones and tablets. Meeting rooms, hospitals, research labs, and a variety of other public and private spaces are among the many predicted sites for charging countertop installations.

Designing a Kitchen with Corian® and Zodiaq®

Though Corian® solid surfaces have been both well-known and integral parts of households for decades, DuPont’s executives are enthusiastic to evolve the product, making it even more functional and practical. “Now we aim to bring this level of performance to new heights, while meeting the emerging needs of industries and consumers to remain powered up throughout the day,” said Ruslan Yusupov, global marketing director of DuPont Building Innovations.

With the convenience factor and more than 30 patterns and colors of Corian® solid surfaces, these countertops may be the perfect fit for a tech-savvy client or even your own office space. An availability date for the charging surfaces has not yet been made public, but for more information, visit PMA.

Gaze Into the Abyss

October 15, 2014 By Don Eberly Leave a Comment

Interior designers, we are sure there have been times when you struggled to find that one amazing focal piece for a space. If you are in this state now, then allow us to help! Let your clients and their guests explore the depths of the deep blue from the comfort of their living rooms.

London-based designer Christopher Duffy is known for creating cutting-edge, statement home décor with functional purposes. One of his latest projects merges the beauty and mystery of the world’s oceans with a common household staple, the coffee table.

The Abyss Table is a mesmerizing mix of glass, color and woodwork, complete with convincing topographical features. Reminiscent of an underwater cave, this conversation piece is a sight to behold. As a limited edition item, the Duffy London team took more than a year to develop the Abyss Table. By layering sculpted glass with Perspex and forest wood, they recreated the concept imagined by Duffy.

For your affluent clientele, The Abyss Table could stand alone or be a purposeful, yet exclusive, addition to most living spaces. Click here for more information and photos of The Abyss Table and Duffy London.