Thursday, June 18, 2015

Lutron Introduces Residential Advantage Contractor Program

Providing Contractors with Expert Training and Benefits to Help Grow Their Business

This exciting new program is designed exclusively for electrical contractors looking to take full advantage of the hottest trends in smart lighting and LED dimming. Whether it’s learning about how to stay on top of the connected home opportunity, minimizing the risk of callbacks with reliable LED controls, or providing customers with the convenience and energy savings of occupancy sensors – contractors will gain valuable information that will help them grow their businesses. 

By attending the free, two-hour RAC Training, contractors will receive all of the information and tools they need to meet the growing demand for energy-saving products and smart home solutions. Find a training near you.

“With this outstanding training program, Lutron is bringing the connected home opportunity directly to the contractor. Homeowners often turn to trusted, preferred professional installers for these types of solutions and we want to see our contractor network succeed in this growing space,” said Brian Donlon, Sales Vice President North America, at Lutron.

After attending a RAC training, contractors will automatically become members of the Lutron RAC Program and receive one year access to exclusive program benefits including:
  1. Program logo and certificate
  2. Exclusive promotions and specials
  3. Business-building tips designed to increase sales
  4. Full access to RAC tools and resources on a customized contractor portal
To learn more or locate a training event near you, visit our website or contact your Lutron representative.
 

Friday, June 5, 2015

Major Construction to Continue at UMass Through 2018

Construction at the University of Massachusetts shows no sign of slowing. Several new buildings are on the horizon, including the $52 million, 87,500 square foot Integrated Design Building, and the $85 million, 104,000 square foot Physical Sciences Building. With the amount of bulldozers and blocked walkways already around UMass, students are wary of further construction projects making it difficult to get around the campus. However, three new buildings are already in the design phase with construction at the Amherst campus expected to continue through 2018.

Another new campus building is planned to begin construction this year – the Integrated Design Building, which will house the department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning department as well as the Architecture and Design and Building Construction Technology programs.

On approximately 87,500 square feet, this building will house classrooms and studios, computer labs, lounges, meeting and teleconferencing rooms, materials-testing lab, green-building lab, wood shop, digital fabrication lab and outdoor work area.

The building will also feature a cafe, exhibit space, a library, multifunction spaces, a covered indoor courtyard on the first floor and an outdoor courtyard complete with green roof on the third floor.

The $52 million project is scheduled to begin this summer and is expected to take two years to complete, with a 2017 opening projected.

Already in process is the Physical Sciences Building, located near North Pleasant Street and West Experiment Station. This building will be used for research laboratories for chemistry and physics.

The project is being funded by the state with about $85 million. It is part of a campus master plan that was initiated several years ago in order to fulfill the campus’ mission to upgrade its science facilities and be more competitive with scientific research.

Work includes construction of a new 3-level Physical Sciences Building, housing laboratory and office space.

The building will have a basement, accommodating physics laboratories with high bay capacity sitting on foundations that will telegraph very low levels of vibration.

The 104,000 square foot project will provide labs, lab support, and offices for 20 faculty and approximately 130 students. The interior labs will be designed to provide the greatest possible degree of flexibility.

Construction of the Physical Sciences Building is expected to be complete in January 2018.
 
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