Wednesday, November 16, 2011

History of World's Tallest Building

History of World's Tallest Building
(from Emporis.com) Here you see an overview of the tallest building in the world since the start of the 20th century. TV towers, masts, and other building types are not included.
Time                     Name                                  City                          Floors     Height
2007 - present   Burj Khalifa                        Dubai                       163         828 m
2004 - 2007        Taipei 101                         Taipei                       101         509 m
1998 - 2004        Petronas Towers              Kuala Lumpur        88           452 m
1974 - 1998        Willis Tower                      Chicago                  108          442 m
1972 - 1974        World Trade Center         New York City        110         417 m
1931 - 1972        Empire State Building     New York City        102         381 m
1930 - 1931        Chrysler Building              New York City        77           319 m
1930 - 1930        The Trump Building         New York City        70           283 m
1913 - 1930        Woolworth Building           New York City       57           241 m
1909 - 1913        Metropolitan Life Tower   New York City        50           213 m
1908 - 1909        Singer Building                 New York City        47           187 m
1901 - 1908        Philadelphia City Hall      Philadelphia          9              167 m


Monday, November 7, 2011

Another Useful Google Tool

Monitor the Web for interesting new content

Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic.
Enter the topic you wish to monitor, then click preview to see the type of results you'll receive. Some handy uses of Google Alerts include:
  • monitoring a developing news story
  • keeping current on a competitor or industry
  • getting the latest on a celebrity or event
  • keeping tabs on your favorite sports teams

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Talk about pressure at work - think about replacing Steve Jobs

When Steve Jobs announced his resignation as Apple’s CEO, the markets gasped.  Who could possible replace such an industry and international giant, such as Jobs?  The position has been appointed to Tim Cook, and by reviewing the attached link, it is reasonable to assume Apple will remain a market leader.  Take 3 minutes to review the related story, and apply some of these principles to your work effort this week.  Apple's New CEO

Friday, May 6, 2011

Goal Setting vs. Going through the motions

Here's an article from my cycling training gym.  It is about fitness but applies to almost anything you want to accomplish.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Chicago Commercial Real Estate Sales Up

Sales of Chicago-area commercial properties totaled nearly $5.1 billion last year, a 164% gain from 2009, according to Real Capital Analytics Inc., a New York-based research firm.

See the Crain's article by clicking above

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Are Rule Makers Backing Off New Accounting Standards For Leases?

New FASB rules could have dramatic effects on company balance sheets.  Two international accounting authorities appear to be moving to scale down proposed new standards that would require landlords and tenants to account for real estate and equipment leases as assets or liabilities on their balance sheets. Many in the commercial real estate industry regard the new rules as onerous, dramatically increasing the complexity of leases for both landlords and tenants.   Click the title above for the article.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Chicago By The Numbers

World Business Chicago tracks indicators from month to month to gauge the strength of several aspects of Chicago’s regional economy, including employment in major sectors, residential and office real estate data, price and purchasing indexes, rail carloads, and auto and truck sales.  Key trends evident in this month’s (Dec 2010) “By The Numbers” include:

• The regional preliminary unemployment rate dropped to 8.7% in December 2010 before seasonal adjustment, nearly two full percentage points below the December 2009 rate of 10.6%.

• The Chicago Purchasing Managers Index (“Chicago Business Barometer”), a monthly index tracking manufacturing activity based on surveys of purchasing managers, increased in December 2010 to a value of 66.8; this is nearly 8 points higher than the December 2009 and is nearly 5 points higher than the November 2010 value.

• The Chicago Midwest Manufacturing Index, a monthly index tracking manufacturing activity, also rose in December 2010 to 81.5 (from 75.2 in December 2009).

• The December 2010 Architecture Billings Index (ABI) was 54.2, indicating an increase in demand for design services, which can be a positive prediction of future construction activity.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

How to get a great deal on your office lease

Now is a great time to dust off your lease and review the possibilities. Here are a few suggestions:


Start Now. There has never been a better time to be a tenant in the market. Even if you have several years left on your lease, some landlords are willing to negotiate better current terms in exchange for a longer commitment, better known as the blend and extend strategy.

Determine your space utilization for as long as practical. The longer you can lock in today's rates, the more money you'll save over the term.

Love a particular building? Find out the landlord's current financial status - they may not be able to finance your deal especially if the space requires significant work.

Government incentives? Incentives from state and local governments may be available to subsidize your deal costs (i.e. TIF funds), especially if you are considering relocating. Explore the opportunities.

Hire a broker. You will get a better deal working with a broker that is familiar with the current market and concessions. The best part is that you usually don't even pay for it (the landlord does). One of the few no brainers left in business.

Call us - we are happy to review your lease and provide some insights.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Apple fan or no, good business tip

Whether you're an Apple fan or not, you have to pay attention to what Steve Jobs has done for Apple.  He's tripled Apple's annual sales and increased Apple's stock 1,300 percent.  What most people might not remember is that Jobs was actually pushed out of Apple by a CEO hired by his partner. After his departure, the company lost focus and got into several different markets and teetered on the edge of bankruptcy. However, a string of events brought Steve back to the company. Jobs eliminated every product that wasn't profitable and let go of millions of dollars invested into products, which were not fully developed.  You have to give up certain opportunities in your business, to build a stronger, more profitable business.  Job's once said "Focus means saying no."   Instead of taking on Dell with the cheapest possible computer, Apple would make first-class products to make enough profit to keep developing more first-class products.  (Original Post by Rob Minton http://www.renegademillionaireblog.com/)

Thursday, January 20, 2011

See the Crain's Article on our recent transaction

Loyola buys building from nunsBy: Colleen Lobner January 20, 2011


(Crain’s) — Loyola University Chicago is expanding its lakefront campus, paying $9.
5 million for an 11-story building on Sheridan Road that used to be a dormitory for the former Mundelein College....

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Morning Momentum

How a well-timed workout can help you get fit and fight cancer.
Looking for new ways to reach your fitness goals in 2011? Shifting your workout to the morning hours will increase your chances of success, experts say.  “You get your workout in before other distractions can intrude,” explains Cedric Bryant, PhD, chief exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise. “Once the day gets going, it’s hard to get off the treadmill called life.”

Sleep better – and reach your best weight
Morning exercisers sleep better, a benefit that also helps with weight loss. In a study of women aged 50 to 75, those who exercised in the morning slept better than those who worked out less. Evening exercisers had more trouble falling asleep, even when they were just as active as the morning group. Good sleep regulates the hormonal balance that governs appetite, study authors note. A brisk morning workout also helps rev your metabolism and inspires you to make better food choices throughout the day, lending even more support for your fitness goals.

Did You Know?  Research shows that regular exercise helps reduce cancer risks. In fact, half of all cancers can be prevented by staying trim, eating wisely, working out often and avoiding tobacco.
Find tips and tools for prevention at cancer.org/healthy.