PEOPLE&
PROJECTS
Stone Acorn Builders Tapped to Build First Southern Living Showcase Home in Houston Showcase home tours to benefit local literacy programs
Stone Acorn Builders LP, a member of the prestigious Southern Living Custom Builder Program, will bring the first Southern Living Showcase Home to Houston in May 2012. Proceeds from the showcase home tours benefit the Houston READ Commission and Friends of the Bellaire Library.
The premier showcase home will be located at 5307 Aspen in Bellaire, Texas. Designed by JKM Designs, the 3,971 square foot floor plan includes four to five bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, a chef’s kitchen, library and craft room, study, scullery, gardening stand and outdoor living space. Edwina Alexis Interiors.
Interior design will be managed by
"My sister Sarah and I are excited about building the first Southern Living Showcase Home in Houston proper,” said Stone Acorn Builder’s Benjamin Lavine. “It's going to be a great opportunity to bring the pages of the magazine to life here in Houston. Not only will Houstonians see a Southern Living creation, but they will also be supporting two valuable non-profit organizations."
The Southern Living Custom Builder Program is a network of some of the finest custom homebuilders in the South. Its members bring together ideas, inspirations, and excellence in architecture, craftsmanship, and home building to tell the Southern story. The program is nationally sponsored by Lennox, Sunbrella, Belgard Hardscapes, Sherwin Williams, Jeld Wen Windows & Doors, and Chevy. Houston Showcase Home sponsors include Comcast and James Hardie Building Products. For more information, visit www.
stoneacorn.com and
www.southernliving.com.
SOUTHERN LIVING SHOWCASE HOME BREAKS GROUND IN BELLAIRE. Joining in the groundbreaking festivities are (l to r) Stone Acorn Builders Principal Benjamin Lavine, Mary Cohrs, Bellaire Library Director, Peggy Shallock, Board Secretary, Friends of the Bellaire Library, Cindy Siegel, Mayor, City of Bellaire, Sheri Suarez Foreman, Executive Director, Houston READ Commission, Lee Cabello, City of Bellaire Building Official, and Sarah Lavine-Kass, Principal, Stone Acorn Builders.
CYPRESSWOOD ESTATES
Affordable Housing for Seniors Goes Green Cypresswood Estates, Platinum LEED community, is finalist for Best Example of Green Building Concepts award
Cypresswood Estates, an affordable housing community for active adults, sets a new standard for green building practices by public housing authorities. Named by the National Association of Home Builders as a finalist for the Multifamily Pillars of the Industry award, Cypresswood Estates stands out as the nation’s first affordable housing for seniors that exceeds the criteria for Platinum LEED and Emerald Green certifications, the highest certifications available.
Cypresswood Estates benefits its residents with reduced utility bills and the peace of mind that comes with responsible, sustainable living. It also benefits the nation as proof that affordable housing can be built and maintained according to green design standards that are discussed frequently but executed rarely in low- and moderate-income housing. The Harris County Housing Authority’s achievement at Cypresswood Estates demonstrates to President Barack Obama, HUD Secretary Sean Donovan, and housing authorities across the country the feasibility of building to Platinum LEED standards without overburdening the budget.
"We weren't trying to be the highest-rated LEED property," said HCHA president and CEO Guy Rankin, "But building an environmentally sustainable property makes sense because LEED contributes to the quality, affordability and peace of mind we offer our seniors.”
The HCHA designed Cypresswood Estates to maximize affordability for tenants, active adults 55 or older who are likely living on a fixed income. Residents can expect significantly lower utility bills as a result of energy-efficient construction and Energy Star appliances. Solar panels generate power to meet up to 60 percent of complex’s projected energy needs; and several one- and two-bedroom units are designed for Net Zero energy usage, meaning they require no energy other than what is generated by the solar panels. Energy Star appliances in every unit include washers, dryers, dishwashers and refrigerators. Highly efficient HVAC systems, coupled with insulation materials such as Thermax and recycled cellulose, create the most energy-efficient units in
28 OCTOBER 2011 | HOUSTON BUILDER | GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION – BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56