Bottom Line on Mold

November 3, 2017
, , , , , The Waterproofing Experts Report

Contributed by
Barry Taheri

According to the EPA, molds can be found almost anywhere -they can grow on virtually any organic substance, as long as moisture and oxygen are present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet and insulation. When excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or unaddressed.

Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis).

Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people.

Since mold requires water to grow, it is important to prevent moisture problems in buildings. Moisture problems can have many causes, including uncontrolled humidity. Some moisture problems in buildings have been linked to changes in building construction practices during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.

In order to test the levels of mold in a particular structure, an air sample is taken of the entire structure area. The doors and windows must remain closed 24 hours prior to the test. Depending on the size, air samples are taken in three to four locations and on each floor. Tape samples are taken as well to determine surface contamination. An air sample is then taken outside the building and the two are compared. The results are then interpreted and repair and remediation protocols are developed.

Need to find concealed moisture before it’s a problem? Contact Terra-Petra to schedule a consultation.

 

Terra-Petra attends Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite®

October 24, 2016
, , , Terra-Petra News, Uncategorized

Terra-Petra Environmental Engineering, once again, joined up with the ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CONFERENCE AT YOSEMITE® -October 20-23 at the Tenaya Lodge (“The Gateway to Yosemite”). The conference is nationally recognized as the largest and most prestigious gathering in California of leaders in environmental, land use, and natural resources law. Here are a few of the highlights.

Left to right: The Great Expo Hall of Tenaya Lodge! Terra-Petra exhibition meeting table; Gorgeous view from the Lodge; The crowd waits to hear Senator Barbara Boxer; Terra-Petra's Justin Conaway and Kevin Buchanan, on their way out to Fresno Dome; Working up to the top of the Dome and the beautiful view from above; Justin takes a tumble down, but rest assured he is doing fine. Terra-Petra's team had a fantasic time and as always, The Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite was an exceptional event for educational and networking opportunities within the environmental engineering and law industries. 

Terra-Petra Assists on Final Phase of Dana Strand Development in Wilmington

September 21, 2016
, , , , , City of Los Angeles, DMBI, Enivronmental Engineering, Environmental Health, Inspections, Los Angeles Economy, Uncategorized

Terra-Petra has recently completed its role on Phase 4 of the Dana Strand project in Wilmington, California. Our team of environmental engineering professionals has been involved with this project since its inception, having worked on Phases 1, 2 and 3.

Earlier this week, nonprofit developers Abode Communities and Mercy Housing California convened in Wilmington to celebrate the groundbreaking of Vista del Mar and Camino del Mar, a new collection of 176 affordable homes.

In addition to housing, the $71 million development will offer 35,000 square feet of open and recreational space, as well as features uch as a computer lab, bicycle parking and on-site social services.  The property also is located in close proximity to the Wilmington Waterfront Park.

The projects are considered the fourth and final phase of the Dana Strand Village redevelopment, which has repurposed a 20-acre post-war military housing site.  A full buildout of the New Dana Strand, the culmination of a process that began in 2000, will provide housing for approximately 750 people.

Vista del Mar and Camino del Mar were through both public and private sources, including U.S. Bank, low income housing tax credits and tax exempt bonds from the City of Los Angeles.

Completion is expected in 2018.

Terra-Petra’s Abode Communities and Mercy Housing Project to Break Ground in Wilmington, CA

August 18, 2016
, , , City of Los Angeles, Environmental Construction, Environmental Engineering, Uncategorized

Terra-Petra has been honored to be a part of this incredible development in Wilmington, California. Abode Communities and Mercy Housing will celebrate their Vista del Mar and Camino del Mar Groundbreaking on September 14, 2016.

Terra-Petra Adobe Communities project, Wilmington CA 2016

Terra-Petra performs subterranean waterproofing inspections for new Academy Museum project

June 27, 2016
, , , , , , City of Los Angeles, Construction Industry, Enivronmental Engineering, Terra-Petra News, Uncategorized, Waterproofing

Terra-Petra heads environmental engineering and waterproofing design, inspection and systems for the new $300-Million Academy Museum project at Wilshire and Fairfax Avenue which is slated to complete in 2018. 

STEVEN SHARP
June 14, 2016 for Urbanize.LA.

Even June Gloom failed to put a damper on construction at the LACMA campus on the Miracle Mile, where the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' (AMPAS) long-awaited museum is well underway.

The $300-million undertaking, located at Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue, will create a showcase for AMPAS' vast collection of filmmaking artifacts, including tens of thousands of still photographs, screenplays, production and costume design drawings, manuscripts and storyboards.  These assets will be displayed through a series of galleries, exhibition spaces, educational spaces and on-site theaters.

The museum, designed by the famed Italian architect Renzo Piano, will restore the May Company Wilshire department store, a Streamline Moderne structure built  in 1938.  North of the historic building, the project will add an eye-catching spherical glass structure, replacing a surface parking lot and a 1946 annex to the department store.

Completion of the Academy Museum is expected in Spring 2018.

Terra-Petra Environmental Engineering Helps Developer with Pico Gateway Apartments Project Success

March 29, 2016
, , , , , , , , , , City of Los Angeles, Enivronmental Engineering, Environmental Construction, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Health, Uncategorized

Terra-Petra designed the environmental engineering designs and waterproofing systems for this multifamily property in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood just sold for $22.4M a few years back. As always, Terra-Petra is quite proud to be a part of the revision and revamping of land that was up until today, unusable. The revitalization of the LA Basin continues with environmental engineering being a key component of developers' success stories. So now, in what is becoming to be known as an increasingly popular Westside area, this building is being described as a “very high-quality property in a great location." 

This Week's LA Deal Sheet

The fully occupied Pico Gateway Apartments location offers 48,275 SF of rentable space, including 7,500 SF of ground-floor retail, 39 apartments and more than 135 underground parking spaces. Just two blocks from Beverly Hills, which is also a draw, apartment amenities include double sinks for preparing kosher meals, maple hardwood floors, double-paned windows to block out street noise and appliances. 

There is also an optional Shabbat elevator for residents to use on the Jewish Sabbath. Projected growth in the area is making the neighborhood increasingly popular. A recent study shows the population on the Westside could grow by 3.4% over the next five years. 


Read the full story about this properties sale at: Bisnow.com

Terra-Petra Supports Los Angeles Micropolitan Project General Contractor

March 24, 2016
, , , , , City of Los Angeles, Environmental Construction, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Health, Terra-Petra News, Uncategorized

Terra-Petra supported Frymer Construction to successfully ensure the environmental integrity of the Micropolitan at Urban Lights Multifamily Community project — located near the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the up-and-coming LA Metro Purple Line station in Downtown Los Angeles.

POSTED ON  BY 

The Micropolitan is situated near the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and is within a two-minute walk of the Los Angeles Metro Purple Line station, which will soon debut.

The Micropolitan is situated near the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and is within a two-minute walk of the Los Angeles Metro Purple Line station, which will soon debut.

LOS ANGELES — A private 1031 exchange investor has purchased The Micropolitan at Urban Lights, a 45-unit multifamily community in the Miracle Mile submarket of Los Angeles, for $27.1 million. The community is located at 739 S. Ogden Drive.

The Micropolitan was built in 2015. It is situated near the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and is within a two-minute walk of the Los Angeles Metro Purple Line station, which will soon debut.

Ron Harris and Paul Darrow of Institutional Property Advisors represented the seller, Micropolitan, a subsidiary of Psomas, in this transaction.

 

950 E Third St development breaks ground in DTLA – Terra-Petra Contributor

March 22, 2016
, , , , Construction Industry, Enivronmental Engineering, Environmental Construction, Terra-Petra News, Uncategorized

Terra-Petra contributes environmental construction services for the developer of one of the newer projects in downtown Los Angeles. The $215M mixed-use development that broke ground March 2016 is scheduled to compelete at the end of the year in 2017. 

NEW RENDERINGS OF ARTS DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT UNVEILED


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Mar 22, 2016 Karen Jordan, Bisnow,

Fairfield Residential renderings have just been revealed for 950 E Third St, a $215M mixed-use development that broke ground last week in the Arts District. Fairfield Residential and Legendary Development have released in-progress exterior renderings of the project. It will have five- and six-story buildings with 472 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments along with 22k SF of ground-floor retail, according to Urbanize LA. Amenities include social and sweat lounges, a dog wash and play area, a rooftop deck and a courtyard. Kava Massih Architects is designing the project, which will use similar materials, tones and colors to those of existing buildings throughout the neighborhood.  The project is scheduled to be partially completed by December 2017. [ULA]

Terra-Petra Worked on Residential Component of Huntington Beach’s Pacific City

March 18, 2016
, , , , , CA projects, Construction Industry, Environmental Engineering, Orange County, Terra-Petra News, Uncategorized

Colorado based UDR Inc, called upon Terra-Petra environment engineering in 2011 to work with the Bernards (a UDR contractor) in-house design team on Pacific Park, a $135-million shopping center and residential (mixed-use) development in Huntington Beach, California. At the onset, Bernards was faced with an unusual challenge; how to embrace the city’s proud identity as "Surf City" without descending into surfing kitsch. Terra-Petra was tasked to make sure that challenge was met, and it was.

Details about the status of this project has been reported on Terra-Petra's web and other media sites over the years, including the “a Terra-Petra photographic journal” of the Phase I Borrow Soils excavation for the Pacific City project in 2014 – courtesy of David L. Lucero. Terra-Petra is extremely proud of this project and what this development has become today. 

Read more below.

As reported on Urbanize.LA 

Residential Component of Huntington Beach's Pacific City Underway

The project – which was designed by MVE & Partners – is currently rising from a 17-acre site at 21002 Pacific Coast Highway.  Plans call for the construction of six low-rise structures arranged in a crescent shape.  Each building will consist of four levels of wood-frame construction above a concrete podium and an underground parking garage.  Bernards is targeting either LEED Gold or Silver certification for the project.

In total, the development will create 516 residential units, as well as a 12,000-square foot amenity center featuring a swimming pool, a gym and an entertainment center.  The amenity center will also abut a public park.

The residential community – which is being developed Colorado-based UDR, Inc. – is one component of the larger Pacific City complex, which spans 31 acres on a former oil field near the Huntington Beach Pier.  An official website states that Pacific City's retail center will include over 190,000 square feet of shops and restaurants, office space and a 400-key hotel.

For further details about our work with Bernards and the Pacific City project in Huntington Beach, California, please contact Justin Conaway 

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