As always, thank you for taking the time to read our news.  I hope you enjoy it.

 

~ Jennifer Fowler, Director of Business Development

MRP now has an office operating out of Recife, Brazil, one of Brazil's largest metropolitan areas, with a population of over 3.6 million, and is the capital of the state of Pernambuco.  This photo is of Boa Viagem, the most prominent beach in Recife, with an array of business districts and World Class resorts.  Looks like some great scuba diving... I better go check out our new location right away!!  :o)   

 

MRP has a  registered architect on-site in this location, and we are prepared to serve all of your South American architectural and engineering needs.  
 

Robert Shoemaker is NCARB certified and American born and bred.  He graduated from Kansas State University in 1977 with his Bachelor of Architecture and Construction Science.  He has spent 30+ years in architectural engineering, construction management and real estate development, completing millions of square feet of office buildings, retail malls, hotels, resorts and multi-family residential properties throughout 43 states in the USA and 7 countries in Central and South America and other locations in the world.  Clients include AETNA, Cigna, New York Life, Wells Fargo, Marriott, Kmart, John Hancock Properties, Oxford National Properties and Balcor/American Express.  Robert has performed as Architect and Developer of numerous multi-family apartment properties, as well as Construction Manager for the State of Missouri on the 768,000 SF Truman State Office Building, Project Manager on the development of the 30 story City Centre Square commercial retail / high-rise office building in Kansas City, and Construction Manager on the Sprint / North Supply 872,000 SF Corporate Headquarters. 
 

Robert was Principal of his firm for 24 years, with offices in Kansas City, Phoenix, and Atlanta.  He is more than qualified to head up this exciting new venture for MRP. 

 

We thank you, Robert, for your dedication to us, and we are so proud of you!

MRP's Fast Track Madison Travel Center in Florida has received much support and publicity from it's local businesses and residences. 

 

The plan includes a food court w/ restaurants including Dairy Queen, Wendy's (w/ drive thru) and Subway, as well as the 14,000 sq. ft. travel center as a whole w/ eight MPD auto canopies and a five lane master/satellite diesel fueling canopy. 

 

Our client wanted this location to be more appealing than the typical interstate fueling choices, and desired a spacious and amenity-packed trucker area with its own showering and restroom facility, as well as wi-fi, laundry, a truckers lounge and a game room.  Then for the locals, large and clean restrooms, an alluring selection of restaurants, and an easily navigable store that encouraged customers to flow freely between the restaurants and store, with great eye-appeal and visibility from the major nearby roads. 

The owner, Mr. Rentz, said, "After opening, we are certainly achieving the traffic volume that we anticipated and seem to have the mix of both local customers and travelers that we believe is necessary for the long term success of the project.  It is entertaining and satisfying to watch the expression on customers' faces as they enter the store and to overhear them tell companions that this is one of the nicest stores they have been in."

The challenge to reduce energy use has never been greater. Whether due to the need to reduce operating costs to improve corporate profitability or due to the desire to be "green" and act as the best possible steward of the environment, the need for energy-efficient lighting has become almost an integral part of commercial building design.
 
One area, though, that is really driving that decision is the ever-increasing adoption and enforcement of national or local energy codes. But with energy codes differing by state, county and even municipality, how do I determine the right one to follow?
 
The primary energy codes are based around ASHRAE 90.1 and the IECC (International Energy Conservation Code). Any municipality or county has the ability to enact their own revised code, as long as it is equal or better than the statewide code.
 
The following websites will help narrow down your search and start you on the right path to code compliance.
 
http://www.bcap-energy.org/node/5-This website allows you to search energy codes state by state as well as review differences with local and county codes.
 
http://www.iccsafe.org/government/-This website does a good job of defining the differing codes for local municipalities. This is only for states that comply with the IECC. Once you click on the link, look on the column on the right side - you can select by state or by jurisdiction.
 
http://www.energycodes.gov/comcheck/
-ComCheck is an easy program to use to calculate energy compliance. It allows you to select the city/state for your project and applies the correct code to the calculations. The program is free and will help give a better understanding when it comes to ensuring compliance for a facility in each area.
 
These tools will help you determine the applicable energy code, but what lighting options will allow me to provide an adequate design while still complying? Please look for Part 2 in our next newsletter, where we will cover the lamp technology that is driving energy efficient design.
 
Stewart Shannon is the National Accounts Manager for the Southeast for the Juno Lighting Group. He can be reached at 1-800-382-5866 x2009 or sshannon@junolightinggroup.com.

I want to take a moment to stand up for our gas station clients.  I too am having a very tough time stomaching how high the meter gets as I fill up!  It may make you feel like the gas stations are gouging us, but the fact is, gas station owners are also paying absurdly high prices on gas, and they're feeling your pain as much as you do.  The higher the gas prices go, the lower the markup is!  As I'm sure you know, we've been designing gas stations for nearly 20 years now, and lately, I have had few gas station clients coming to me to open new gas stations.  However, I have had quite a bit of activity on older gas stations in need of a more appealing store, because that's where they're having to make their money now.  So if you have a favorite gas station, support them by buying items in the store.   As much as we need gas prices to drop, so do they.  And they need your business in order to stay in business through these rough times!

Clay Dalton, son of the owner of our company, Ken Dalton, verbally committed to a baseball scholarship at Georgia Tech yesterday.  Georgia Tech has one of the top baseball programs in the country.  Clay had a great spring season going 10-2 with a ERA of 2.0.  His North Cobb High School Baseball team made it to the semi-finals of 5A State and ended the season as the fourth ranked 5A team in the State of Georgia.  He was invited to the USA Baseball tryouts and was selected as an alternate for the 18 year old team.  Clay was also selected as a first team member of the Atlanta Journal Constitution Northwest Georgia team and a second team All County selection by the Marietta Daily Journal. We have certainly been blessed and thank you for your friendship and support.