News
Branch & Associates Recognized for SafetyMay 9, 2013 -- Branch & Associates is pleased to be recognized for the 6th consecutive year by the National Safety Council with an Excellence Achievement Award. This award is given to companies who completed the year with a lost-time injury rate of less than 1/2 of the industry average.
Branch Begins Adaptive Rehabilitation/Renovation on Interbake Bakery Building in Richmond, VA
May 9, 2013 --
Branch & Associates recently began work on the adaptive rehabilitation/renovation of the landmark 250,000sf former FFV Interbake bakery building in Richmond, Virginia, which is being transformed into 178 high end residential apartments.
Branch Begins Work on New High School
May 9, 2013 --
Branch & Associates has started work on the new $56.2 million, 285,000sf Ridgeview High School, Middle School, and Career Center project in Clintwood, Virginia. The Ridgeview project will consolidate the former Clintwood, Ervinton, and Haysi High Schools and create a new middle school for Dickenson County.
Rockingham County Judicial Center Receives the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Building Rating System Reaching the Gold level (LEED-NC v.2.2) of Certification in Environmental Sustainability
January 20, 2012 --
Branch & Associates, Inc. is pleased to announce the landmark Rockingham County Judicial Center located in Reidsville, North Carolina, has received the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Building rating system reaching the Gold level (LEED-NC v.2.2) of certification in environmental sustainability. This rating is second only to the highest Platinum LEED certification. LEED is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
The 98,000 square foot facility designed by Moseley Architects and built by Branch & Associates, Inc., includes jail space totaling 52,500 square feet and houses beds to accommodate 222 inmates (300 core). Additionally, the Law Enforcement Center expands across 21,000 square feet of the building and is designed to accommodate 359 employees. The Rockingham facility is the first judicial center in North Carolina to seek certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Building rating system.
Among the most impressive accomplishments is the judicial center's high performance and green building design Energy Star compliant strategies.
Branch & Associates, Inc. Celebrates the Opening of the Biomass Heating Plant for Longwood University
09/09/2011 --
"This project represents the true value of Branch & Associates continued commitment that our client needs are met and the function of this facility exceeds the University's expectation. We are very proud to be part of such a unique project and hope it continues to set the stage for future energy efficiency initiatives throughout the Commonwealth." Project Executive, Jason McCune
Branch & Associates, Inc. joined Longwood University for the celebration and opening of the new biomass heating plant on Thursday, September 8, 2011, in a ribbon cutting event. The ceremony took place at the site of the new heating plant adjacent to the University's original plant which was commissioned in 1938.
Branch & Associates began construction on the project in July 2008, bringing the new plant on-line in July of 2010. The new plant is designed to spontaneously burn sawdust to maintain steam supply for all heat and hot water to their campus buildings. The campus normally uses between 10,000 to 35,000 pounds of steam per hour. Each boiler produces a maximum of 20,000 pounds of steam per hour and one boiler supplies 80% of annual heat and hot water to campus buildings.
"To be part of such a potentially industry-changing project such as this was very rewarding," commented Craig Floyd, president of Branch. "We all took pride in knowing that we were part of a biomass project that uses a renewable energy resource as the primary fuel source, thereby reducing consumption of fossil fuels". The new heating plant contains two biomass boilers; one new boiler and one that has been relocated from the old heating plant. Sawdust used to supply the boiler facility will be purchased from several sawmills within the local area. The new heating plant consumes between 20-40 tons of sawdust per day based on weather conditions and student population. "With an eye always kept on the finish line, we all pushed hard to work through numerous design and construction challenges unique to this new technology," said Dan Deter, Project Manager for Branch. "The project cost the University $12 million but will save the University nearly $2.8 million annually by utilizing sawdust instead of fossil fuels".
Participating in the ceremony were Patrick Finnegan, President of Longwood University, Richard W. Bratcher, Vice President for facilities management at Longwood University, and Laura Fornash, Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia. President Craig Floyd, Project Manager Dan Deter, Pproject Executive, Jason McCune, and Marlene Evans represented Branch & Associates at the ceremony. This project continues an ongoing relationship with Longwood University that began several years back with the completion of Phase II of Brock Commons, a community-friendly environment and focal point for the University.
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