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Primer edificio verde de Panamá

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Josef Newman, Urban Core International, S.A.

+507.399.9901

info@urbancoreintl.com

July 31, 2007, Panamá City, Panamá: Urban Core International announced today their premiere green building in Panamá, called “Urban Vista,” has been featured in the “lo nuevo” section of the July/August issue of espacios, one of the most highly respected real estate, construction, and design magazines in Panamá. Titled “Primer edificio verde de Panamá” (“First Green Building in Panamá”), the article continues,

“Estará en el barrio de Bella Vista. Se basará en los principios del programa LEED del Consejo de Edificios Verdes de Estados Unidos (United States Green Building Council). Cada apartamento permitirá respirar aire puro y reciclar agua. Contarán con acondicionadores de aire, electrodomésticos de alta eficiencia energética y tecnología inteligente: cableado estructurado para internet de alta velocidad, controles de iluminación y home automation.”

Urban Vista was carefully designed to provide residents with the latest in sustainable building techniques, smarthome technologies, and to promote a higher quality of life. Each apartment stands alone, a privileged home in the sky. The penthouse, the crown of the building, features two floors of pure luxury. With both interior and exterior social areas, a pool deck, fitness center and large gardens, Urban Vista residents will be the first in Panamá to truly experience the benefits of sustainability, privacy, and a healthier way of life.

About Urban Core:

Urban Core International, S.A. is focused on the development of boutique residential and commercial property in and around Urban Cores. Our mission is two fold; to develop sustainable, quality projects with a focus on strength through design and collaboration, and to provide project owners whom we represent with unparalleled project management services through hard work, collaboration, discipline and attention to detail.

 

At Urban Core, we believe that a building is more than simply the sum of its parts. It is a well-founded idea, one that has been reviewed from all angles, by all disciplines involved in the project. It is a home, and a part of a larger community that it impacts. Our goal is to make sure our buildings are not only successful projects, but are constructed in a manner that contributes to the community, while meeting the needs of the buildings owners and future occupants. Our work is guided by our values, which enable to ensure a projects success.

 

http://www.urbancoreintl.com [Web Site]

http://urbancore.wordpress.com [Blog]

Why Go Dark?

Since we launched our redesigned our Urban Core International website last month, people have been asking us about the untraditional darkness of our site. Why go dark? After a lot of research and great advice from some of our colleagues, we found that having a dark background instead of a light one helps reduce precious energy. Basically, what you read through your monitor takes more energy to display websites featured with “light” settings rather than “dark” ones. At Urban Core, we feel that having a “dark” website is in step with our beliefs of energy conservation, both on-line and in our projects.

Visit our site at: http://www.urbancoreintl.com

Recommended Reading To Promote “Green” Education

Panama City, Panama; July 25th, 2007:

Urban Core International, SA, announced today it has added a “Recommended Reading” section to the Urban Core International blog. The blog is located at urbancore.wordpress.com <http://urbancore.wordpress.com> . This new section highlights important books and texts Urban Core feels will enhance reader’s understanding and education of green practices today. Books include The Lazy Environmentalist by Josh Dorfman, Live Earth’s Global Warming Surviving Handbook, and The SmartCode V8.0, a guide to urban development and planning by Duany Plater-Zyberk and Company. New books and texts will be updated consistently. Urban Core hopes that by keeping readers informed of up-to-date information, they will be better consumers and live and work greener lives.

Urban Core International, S.A. is focused on the development of boutique residential and commercial property in and around Urban Cores. Our mission is two fold; to develop sustainable, quality projects with a focus on strength through design and collaboration, and to provide project owners whom we represent with unparalleled project management services through hard work, collaboration, discipline and attention to detail.

Urban Core International Launches Redesigned Website

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 12, 2007; Panamá City, Panamá: Urban Core International, SA, announced today the launch of the redesigned Urban Core International website, located at http://www.urbancoreintl.com. Based in Panamá City, Panamá, and with projects throughout Florida, Urban Core International’s site brings together all of the company’s accomplishments and information in a sleek, streamlined environment. The site contains a “Featured Projects” section, News and Press, interactive blog, and podcast as well as a thorough library and resource guide. A Spanish website is also in development as well.

Urban Core is a premier developer of boutique residential buildings and communities, and continues to be a leader in sustainable development. Among Urban Core’s current featured projects include Urban Vista , Panamá City’s first LEED-certified residential building. Located in the beautiful Bella Vista neighborhood, Urban Vista features smarthome technology, modern architecture, and luxurious, eco-conscious features as a zen garden deck, green roof, greywater recycling and recycled materials throughout. This is all contained within stunning 360 degree views of Panamá City, the Amador Causeway and lush surrounding countryside.

At Urban Core, we believe that a building is more than simply the sum of its parts. It is a well-founded idea, one that has been reviewed from all angles, by all disciplines involved in a project. It is a home, and a part of a larger community that it impacts. Our goal is to make sure our buildings are not only successful projects, but are constructed in a manner that contributes to the community, while meeting the needs of the building’s owners and future occupants. Our work is guided by our values, which enable us to ensure a project’s success.

Celebrity Watch: Panama Edition

We received this post today from ecorazzi.com. Urban Core International received a mention for the amazing response to our new LEED certified building in Bella Vista.

The small but fast-growing country of Panama has been buzzing in recent months over the many celebrities visiting for real estate investment and project inquiries. It all began with none other than the traveling wonders, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Last December the duo visited the Panama Canal and had a private tour of Frank Gehry’s Biodiversity Museum, a highly anticipated project of the ecological history and development of Panama, set to open in 2008. According to spanish-language newspaper “Panama America” (and translated through the Associated Press,) Pitt and Jolie “were considering investing in the $56 million project and buying land in Panama.” No adoptions occurred, however.

Next came reports of Mel Gibson making the rounds. According to the Panama Tourism Bureau (headed by actor Rúben Blades), Gibson “suggested his next project should be a remake of the 1950 film noir Panic in the Streets. Gibson was also entertained in the lush rainforest area of Boquete by Panamanian real estate developer and blogger Sam Taliaferro. According to Taliaferro, Gibson “had come on a whirlwind tour to see as much of Panama as possible, looking at real estate investments.” He’s also apparently terrible at Texas Hold’em.

The name dropping continues in the Pedasi/Azuero Peninsula area of Panama, known for incredible fishing and surfing. Apparently, it has also attracted “the likes of Mick Jagger, Bruce Willis, Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson, Eddie Murphy and others,” according to Ocean Legacy, a Panamanian real estate company specializing in the area. “The allure of Pedasi comes from the sheer awe of pristine natural beauty and the simplicity of living in a small fishing village,” they continue. Mick Jagger and a small fishing village? Tourism is good for any area, but c’mon, have you seen his yacht?

In the chic neighborhood of Bella Vista in Panama City, green builder Urban Core International is also rumored to have given info to celebrity buyers. Urban Core is planning the first LEED certified sustainable building in Panama. Will celebrities follow suit and be considerate of the delicate balance of man and earth? Or, will they build megahomes and bring insane amounts of paparazzi? We’ll be keeping a close eye on this little firecracker of a country!

Article written by: Paper Pusher 

Paises que dan paso al frente

Al presente, en Panama existe el desarrollo del primer edificio verde en ofrecer la integracion de los principal expuestos por el programa LEED.

La estructura ubicara a unas cuadras de la Avenida Balboa y el Parque Urraca.
Josef Newman, socio de la firma constructura de dicho proyecto, al momento de inaugurarlo, dijo que “en
soluciones innovadoras a los complejos problemas de infraestructura y las complicaciones que se puedan
en el futuro, es una necesidad cuando se esta desarrollando un proyecto.

Las practicas de Construccion d Verdes ayudaran a la Ciudad de Panama a incrementar su crecimiento y a estar a la altura de paises del mundo”. Espana posee ya su Consejo de Construccion Verde, institucion sin fines de lucro que promueve el desarro edificios rentables y sostenibles en la industria de la construccion. El mismo se rige incluso por la certifica En partes de prensa, el presidente del Consejo, Aurelio Ramirez, senalo que la edificacion sostenible es absolutamente rentable, pues “en diez anos, solo en ahorro de energia se cubren los costos que se invirtie

La edificacion sostenible es un proceso “multiescalar”, segun Ramirez, ya que comienza en la construccion
edificio en un barrio, se extiende a la ciudad, al ambito regional y al estatal. En este proceso se produce “una cooperacion e integracion entre el sector publico y el privado, se foment innovacion, ademas de contribuir a cumplir con (el protocolo de) Kioto”, puntualizo Ramirez.

El Presidente del Consejo de Construccion Verde de Espana cito como ejemplo de emplazamiento sosten
ciudad olimpica de Sydney. En esta se ha recuperado un vertedero industrial que se ha destinado a la con
de viviendas ecologicas y espacios verdes y de recreo. El proyecto incluye los electrodomesticos eficientes
hogares y el filtrado y limpieza de aguas grises. “En este lugar el ahorro de energia alcanza 50%” en com
con un barrio comun, explico.

Para Torres Diaz, es logico que los profesionales relacionados con la industria deben reunirse para acorda
ciertos modelos de LEED a nuestro clima y realidad geografica, asunto que no impediria el desarrollo del

Urban Core in Adendi (adendi.com) Nuevo Dia

Basis Retains Urban Core as Owner’s Rep

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Urban Core International, S.A. 011.507.399.9901, info@urbancoreintl.com

June 12, 2007, Panamá City, Panamá: Urban Core International, S.A. announced today that it has been retained by BASIS International to provide owner’s representation and development services for two ocean-front developments in Panamá.

“BASIS has found amazing and unique properties, to which they have a vision to develop in an environmentally sensitive fashion by implementing sustainability and New Urban principles and practices in every aspect of their projects,” said Aaron Newman, Managing Partner for Urban Core International. “We are extremely excited to work with BASIS, a company that shares our vision and unwavering dedication to New Urbanism and green building,” Newman continued.

“We are looking to the future by investing and developing in socially responsible projects throughout Panamá,” said Brian Wagner, CEO of BASIS International. “Our belief is that there is an extremely large market of buyers who would prefer that their next property investment be conscious of social and environmental impacts that will provide significant value to their investment,” Wagner continued.

“Urban Core has the experience and resources to assist us in launching sustainable projects, critical to achieve energy efficiency and to lower operational costs,” said Jonathan Bernstein, Partner and CFO of BASIS International.

About Urban Core:
Urban Core International, S.A. is focused on the development of boutique residential and commercial property in and around Urban Cores. Our mission is two fold; to develop sustainable, quality projects with a focus on strength through design and collaboration, and to provide project owners whom we represent with unparalleled project management services through hard work, collaboration, discipline and attention to detail.

At Urban Core, we believe that a building is more than simply the sum of its parts. It is a well-founded idea, one that has been reviewed from all angles, by all disciplines involved in the project. It is a home, and a part of a larger community that it impacts. Our goal is to make sure our buildings are not only successful projects, but are constructed in a manner that contributes to the community, while meeting the needs of the buildings owners and future occupants. Our work is guided by our values, which enable to ensure a project’s success.

http://www.urbancoreintl.com [Web Site]

http://urbancore.wordpress.com [Blog]

http://podcast.urbancoreintl.com [Podcasts]

About BASIS:
BASIS International brings environmental and social accountability to real estate development. Our mission is to specialize in and offer highly sought-after, profitable investment and property ownership options that leverage the latest “green” technologies to be self-sustainable and to significantly reduce utility costs.

Working with local partners, BASIS brings innovative planning and creativity in designs centering on profit maximization while contributing and distributing benefits widely into local communities — in employment, education, health and business development. This social and profit-driven mandate attracts a broad range of public and private financial partners in a win-win strategy to achieve a unique return on investment (ROI) and social accountability.

Basis Retains Urban Core as Owner’s Rep

Al Gore’s CLIMATE PROJECT

April 30, 2007, Boca Raton Florida: I recently returned from 3 days in Nashville, training in Session 6 of Al Gore’s CLIMATE PROJECT. We were the final group to participate in a grassroots effort begun by Gore last fall, when he committed to train one-thousand people to give live presentations of the slide show made famous by the Academy Award-winning movie, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH.
As I counted myself one of a lucky 0.0003% of the population involved in this project, I was inspired by the energy, enthusiasm, experience and intelligence of my group of attendees. Educators, musicians, inventors, investors, scientists, journalists, models, a starting linebacker in the NFL – and of course, the “Former Next President of the United States, Al Gore” – spent time working together, preparing us to deliver fact-based, non-partisan reality and scientific information to communities across the country.

The impact of Gore’s mission is underway – since September, members of The Climate Project have given more presentations to more people than Gore has over the last 15 years. As we continue to expand the program, we are at the forefront of an emerging ”Dot-Green” economy – one which, through conservation and better use of resources, will become our nation’s finest endeavor and will create opportunities at every level of our economy. My give-away message of this experience is enlightening and full of promise:

Once you understand the extent of climate change and its ongoing threat to your current way of life, you become obliged to do something about it. Not necessarily in terms of guilt, but with a keen understanding that everything we use and everything we do has an element of embodied energy that we must reduce, replace or eliminate.

I am busily preparing a 30-minute version of the presentation (it takes Gore 2 hours to go through it!) while adding important information regarding my personal area of focus on Sustainable Structures and Green Buildings. The facts are in, the scientists have spoken (barring the occasional rogue pseudo-scientist bankrolled by the petroleum industry), and the work ahead of us is crystal clear, painfully obvious and overwhelmingly necessary.
* * *
Jeff Conley, AIA, LEED AP is an architect/engineer with experience in award-winning projects worldwide. Five years ago he founded SEQUIL SYSTEMS, INC., a design consultancy that focuses on sustainability in the built environment, with an emphasis on administering the LEED® “green building” program. His work helps multi-story buildings,, laboratories and schools become healthier and less impactful to the environment – and less expensive to operate.

About Urban Core International, S.A.:
Urban Core International, S.A. is focused on the development of boutique residential and commercial property in and around Urban Cores. Our mission is two fold; to develop sustainable, quality projects with a focus on strength through design and collaboration, and to provide project owners whom we represent with unparalleled project management services through hard work, collaboration, discipline and attention to detail.

At Urban Core, we believe that a building is more than simply the sum of its parts. It is a well-founded idea, one that has been reviewed from all angles, by all disciplines involved in the project. It is a home, and a part of a larger community that it impacts. Our goal is to make sure our buildings are not only successful projects, but are constructed in a manner that contributes to the community, while meeting the needs of the buildings owners and future occupants. Our work is guided by our values, which enable to ensure a project’s success.

Jeff Conley – Sequil Systems, Inc.  (Download PDF Story)

El nuevo de la plaza

El nuevo de la plaza

Está dispuesto a tomar riesgos y enfrentar cambios. A sus 29 años, Aaron Newman quiere adueñarse del concepto de “construcciones verdes” en Panamá

Yolanda Sandoval
ysandoval@prensa.com

Aaron Newman es un hombre que no le teme a los cambios radicales. A finales de la década de 1990 abandonó Nueva York para vivir en Miami, y dejó el negocio de la publicidad por el de bienes raíces.

Con estas referencias no era nada raro que en esa búsqueda de más retos le diera a su vida un giro de 180 grados y su brújula apuntara hacia un pequeño país latinoamericano.

Su empresa, Urban Core International, se había identificado en Estados Unidos como una promotora de proyectos residenciales tipo boutique, y Panamá, de acuerdo con su filosofía del negocio, era el “paraíso” de las oportunidades.

“El mercado de bienes raíces en Estados Unidos estaba debilitado, mientras que en Panamá el negocio se veía cada día más fortalecido”, afirma.

Llegó al país hace nueve meses y dice que a diferencia de algunos especuladores, ha venido a quedarse. “Echaré raíces. No pretendo ganar dinero e irme”.

Su decisión de instalarse en el país estuvo respaldada por el crecimiento económico, las construcciones de talla mundial que anuncian que algo bueno tiene la ciudad, el proyecto de ampliación del Canal en ciernes y la consolidación y presencia de los bancos más importantes del mundo.

Hay sobradas ventajas para su negocio, pero también mucha competencia, sobre todo para alguien que aunque hizo un nombre en Palm Beach, Boca Ratón y Fort Lauderdale, localmente es casi desconocido.

La propuesta de Newman es

desarrollar proyectos sostenibles y proporcionarle a los dueños de estos proyectos un servicio de administración.

Hace dos meses anunció que se encuentra en las primeras etapas del desarrollo del primer edificio verde de la ciudad de Panamá, en el corregimiento de Bella Vista. Estaría localizado a unas cuadras de la avenida Balboa y el Parque Urracá.

Se conoce que el edificio sería el primero en ofrecer la integración de los principios expuestos por el programa LEED del Consejo de Edificios Verdes de Estados Unidos, un estándar reconocido para el diseño sostenible. Sin embargo, faltan los permisos reglamentarios de construcción, lo que impide que Newman hable con soltura del proyecto.

Como fundador y socio administrativo de Urban Core International, ha estado involucrado en la adquisición de tierras y asesoría para la urbanización de zonas especiales en Estados Unidos. Uno de sus desafíos será introducir el concepto de “construcciones verdes”, con el que localmente estamos poco familiarizados.

Se trata de edificios que causan el menor uso posible de energía no renovable, producen menos contaminación y residuos y, por ende resultan más cómodos, saludables y seguros para las personas que viven y trabajan en ellos.

El tema es que estas edificaciones, aunque a la larga generan ahorro de energía para sus habitantes y mejor calidad de vida, salen algo más caras que las construcciones tradicionales.

Es la primera vez que su empresa promueve un edificio con estas características, pero Newman afirma que ha hecho consultorías para de-sarrolladores que ponen en práctica el mismo modelo de ingeniería.

Su experiencia incluye el cargo de secretario del distrito de Desarrollo Comunitario de Midtown, Miami, en donde ayudó a la ejecución y

desarrollo de proyectos. Adicionalmente estuvo en el comité consultor de la ciudad de West Palm Beach, donde participó en el establecimiento de planes de revitalización de la ciudad a largo plazo.

“Nuestra meta es que nuestros edificios contribuyan positivamente a la comunidad. Al mismo tiempo deben cumplir con las necesidades de los dueños de edificios y ocupantes futuros”, subraya.

Antes de entrar en el negocio de bienes raíces, Newman fundó y sirvió como principal administrativo de WaxDigital, Inc., una firma de mercadeo y consultoría de publicidad localizada en Nueva York. De esa etapa de su vida quedan buenos recuerdos. En WaxDigital formó numerosas relaciones con compañías de Fortune 500 y Fortune 1000.

Ahora su reto será probar que vale la pena pagar por un apartamento amigable con el medio ambiente. Su intuición le indica que en Panamá encontrará clientes.

Perfil

Trayectoria

Newman es miembro activo del Congreso para el Nuevo Urbanismo. También es simpatizante del Urban Land Institute en Estados Unidos.

Es corredor de hipotecas y administrador de propiedades con licencia para operar en Florida.

Fue nombrado como uno de los mejores empresarios por Crain’s New York Business.

Según Newman las ideas se realizan cuando grandes personas se unen.