KTGY Earns National Recognition with 7 Gold Nugget Merit Awards
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Diverse Range of Capabilities, Excellence & Innovation are Praised

IRVINE, CALIF. - KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, has earned seven Awards of Merit in the 2010 Gold Nugget Award design and planning competition honoring the firm's wide range of capabilities, excellence and innovation in addressing complex design/build issues in attached, detached and sustainable communities as well as transit-oriented developments. KTGY's winning projects were selected from 440 entries from the 14 Western States and international countries. The KTGY-designed Solaris in South Jordan, Utah, earned several honors, including “Residential Detached Community of the Year,” for providing first-time homebuyers in Utah with the opportunity to afford a modern, contemporary-style, Solar- and Thermal-powered home. The Gold Nugget Grand Award winners will be selected from the Award of Merit honorees on June 10, 2010.

The Solaris Collection received an Award of Merit for "Residential Detached Community of the Year" and The Solaris Collection - Plan A earned an Award of Merit for “Best Single Family Detached Home on a Small Lot (3,200-4,500 sq. ft.)." The Solaris Townhomes also won recognition for the "Best On the Boards Multi-Family Project." Built by Garbett Homes, Solaris is located within Daybreak's South Station master-planned community, developed by Kennecott Land as Utah's first sustainable master-planned community. The Daybreak community offers miles of nature trails for biking, walking, jogging, or hiking, swimming pools, playgrounds and parks, walking distance to UTA Trax, community gardens, community sports facilities, pavilions, and a new charter school and convenient access to shopping nearby.

"The inspiration for Solaris was to respond to a well-educated, environmentally-sensitive market in Utah and offer the first Solar powered homes. To this end, it was important to allow the Solar panels to show from the street as part of its sustainable design and construction. We did our homework up front and found state and utility rebates that would surely make this program a homerun for the buyers," said KTGY's Principal John Tully.

According to Garbett Homes Marketing Director Rene Oehlerking, "The Solaris Collection offers the most affordable Solar-powered, single-family homes in Utah (from $206,900 after solar rebate). Garbett Homes is also the first production builder in Utah to offer bold, modern architecture."

Tully said, "Working closely with Garbett Homes, we wanted to create an attainable, contemporary, Solar-powered, Thermal-powered, single-family detached home marketed to the first-time buyer. We wanted it to be priced around $200,000 and have three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and a two-car garage. We were told it could not be done, but we did it! The modern design helped in achieving this feat – with clean lines and open-plan design we were able to simplify the home and therefore the construction costs."

Solaris has been well received by the marketplace. Oehlerking said that despite the current economic recession, Garbett Homes has sold at a better sales rate than any other previous neighborhood. The Solaris Collection consist of homes ranging in size from 1,442 square feet to 2,791 square feet on 4,500-square-foot lots. A total of 42 single-family dwellings are planned for the development. The Solaris Collection's Plan A homes range in size from 1,442 square feet to 2,112 square feet. The energy-efficient homes include modern contemporary design, vaulted ceilings in entry and living room, tiled front entry way and kitchen, recessed lighting, Energy Star GE stainless steel appliances, upgraded finish carpentry, ceiling fans, mini-chamfer sheetrock corners, large, dual-paned, low-E vinyl windows, central air conditioning with 13 Seer AC units, white membrane roof to reflect excess heat, exterior finish of stucco and Hardie-board, beautiful private porches connecting residents with the neighborhood, professionally landscaped and maintained community, security lighting, maintenance-free soffit and fascia, full rain gutters, outside waterproof electrical outlets, and double car attached garage with automatic opener.

The Gold Nugget Awards program recognized The Solaris Townhomes in the category of "Best On the Boards Multi-Family Project." There are 79 units planned. "Garbett Homes is the first and only builder in Utah to offer Solar and Thermal (PVT) as standard on townhomes," Oehlerking said. "The Solaris Townhomes are also the most affordable green, solar-powered home ever, with townhomes starting in the $170,000s."

The Solaris Townhomes range in size from 1,190 square feet to 1,416 square feet. "In a down market and competing with short sales and foreclosed homes, we needed to innovate and bring a truly remarkable product to the market and captivate the limited buyers," said Tully. "The design is modern, the standard features are outstanding (tankless water-heaters, solar panels, 100% Energy Star Rated, NAHB Green Home Certified, stainless steel appliances, and gas ranges). The floorplans are amazing and the price is remarkable. We were able to do this by cutting our construction time to 45 days per building, and self-financing the vertical construction. We cut out the bank and have our sub-contractors extend terms to 45 days. We believe that we have a winning new construction product to compete with discounted existing home sales."

Additionally, KTGY received a Gold Nugget Merit Award in the category of "Best Multi-Family Housing Project – 4 to 6 Stories For Sale" for 555 YVR, Downtown Walnut Creek’s first live-work-shop-play residences. Developed by Thompson Dorfman Partners, with KTGY as the project architect, in conjunction with Kwan Henmi as the concept design architect, 555YVR is a modern, environmentally-friendly, transit-oriented development featuring 87 spacious one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den and two-bedroom homes, as well as townhomes and live-work units, all featuring luxury finishes, stainless steel appliances and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. Located in the commercial business district on the site of former office buildings and surface parking lot, adjacent to the Walnut Creek BART Station, 555 YVR is steps to world-class shopping, restaurants, civic, cultural, entertainment destinations, employment centers, transit links. 555 YVR offers residents a Sky Lounge rooftop terrace, which features an outdoor kitchen, fireplace, WiFi access and spectacular 360-degree views of the San Ramon valley and Mt. Diablo. Residents also enjoy a state-of-the-art media room, a private fitness center, a lushly landscaped courtyard with a water feature and bench seating, an on-site protected dog run and WiFi connectivity in common areas, which is ideal for tech-savvy professionals. The builder was Palisades Builders.

"555 YVR's live-work-shop-play environment minimizes commuting and lessens pollution as it includes close proximity to public transit lines, neighborhood parks and shopping centers, business and medical services, churches and schools," said Stan Braden, AIA, NCARB, chairman and principal of KTGY. “Furthermore, 555YVR’s sustainable design and lower energy bills and pedestrian-friendly location increases affordability for residents, which is more important than ever in today’s challenging economic climate.”

KTGY received two additional Awards of Merit in the category of "Best On the Boards" for its design and planning of Aldea at Porter Ranch in Los Angeles, Calif.; and Tasman Station in Sunnyvale, Calif. Aldea at Porter Ranch won an Award of Merit in the category of "Best On the Boards Site Plan." The developer of Aldea at Porter Ranch is Porter Ranch Development Company, a joint venture between Shapell Homes and Liberty Building Company. The 60-acre mixed-use village, located in the heart of the Porter Ranch master-planned community, represents a bold direction in defining a horizontal mixed-use urban village supporting a contemporary lifestyle, says KTGY's Ken Ryan, principal and head of KTGY’s community planning and urban design studio.

"Envisioned as a departure from the San Fernando Valley’s auto-centric pattern of insular single-use enclaves, the seamlessly integrated living, shopping and entertainment village was crafted to promote a pedestrian-friendly, engaging and exciting living environment," Ryan said. "The major feature of the village’s framework is its two primary organizing elements: a central east-west linkage system and a north-south transitional zone, with a central civic core placed at the intersection of the armatures. A network of private drives and alleys geometrically reinforce these organizing elements, connecting in an efficient and understandable grid design."

According to Ryan, the project’s visual icon is its east-west “promenade street” – a walking street reminiscent of the great urban neighborhoods of Brooklyn and San Francisco – featuring front-facing architecture with a direct connection to the 20-acre lifestyle retail/restaurant district at one end and a community recreation center anchoring the opposite end.

Tasman Station received an Award of Merit for "Best On the Boards Multi-Family Project." Tasman Station is an upscale, transit-oriented mixed-use retail and residential community in Sunnyvale, located adjacent to a VTA light rail line and platform. Developed by Essex Property Trust and targeting environmentally-sensitive Silicon Valley professionals, the sustainable design consists of three principal, five-story buildings, with four levels of residential over a podium; 15 percent of the units are affordable. All units feature well-proportioned decks for indoor/outdoor enjoyment. With completion slated for March 2011, the $138.9 million project includes 284 dwelling units and a freestanding Fresh & Easy market on the corner.

"Tasman Station's generous plan sizes average over 900 square feet," Braden said. "Arches, trellises, balconies and rooflines animate contemporary interpretation of Spanish Mediterranean vernacular. The podium level will feature a pool, spa, clubhouse, business center/cyber café, fire pits, shuffleboard court and plazas, courtyards, water features and gardens. Green Points, light rail stop located across the street and walkable neighborhood highlight eco-friendly concepts. Easy access to two major freeways provide added benefits.”

KTGY also received a judges special award, the "Building Industry Community Spirit Award" for its planning and design of three Habitat for Humanity homes in Yorba Linda, Calif. Located at 4965 Park Avenue in Yorba Linda, Calif. According to KTGY's Jill Williams, AIA and principal, "The sustainable design maximizes available square footage on a small infill site to create attractive, very livable, comfortable homes that are affordable for working families and in harmony with surrounding market rate neighborhood. The project uses Habitat for Humanity's new 'Mixed-Income Model,' which includes homes for both very low-income and moderate-income families within the same development."

Simplicity in framing facilitated construction by a volunteer workforce and the three-home development was completed in 7.5 months from framing to dedication. KTGY donated its architectural services as well as assisted in the construction of these craftsman-style homes in Yorba Linda on "Build Day." "The two-story, three-bedroom Craftsman-style homes carry on the beautiful, historic precedent of this great neighborhood with sitting porches, stone veneer accents, attached two-car garages turned to the rear and accessed from a private drive; and a material palette that is reminiscent of the era with shingles and clapboard siding," Williams added. “Lush landscaping, trees, meandering walkways to create warm and welcoming pedestrian guest entry.”

KTGY has been committed to working with Habitat for Humanity throughout northern and southern California for many years. Recently, KTGY was called upon to develop the next series of homes for Habitat for Humanity in northern California, which will be going after LEED Platinum status. Last year, KTGY designed and assisted with the building of Habitat for Humanity of Orange County's four homes in Anaheim on East Julianna Street.

The Gold Nugget Awards honor creative achievements in architectural design and land use planning for residential, commercial and industrial projects. Drawing more than 440 entries from the western states and internationally, an increase of nearly 18 percent over last year's number of entries, the Gold Nugget Awards program is the premier event of the annual PCBC, the nation's largest regional trade show and conference. Grand Award winners will be announced at the Gold Nugget Awards Luncheon on Thursday, June 10, 2010, at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. See www.goldnuggetawards.com.

About KTGY Group, Inc.
Established in 1991, KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, provides comprehensive planning and award-winning architectural design services for residential communities, retail, hospitality, mixed-use and related specialty developments. KTGY delivers innovative solutions that reflect clear understanding of development, marketing and financial performance and takes particular pride in its highly motivated and principal led studios. Serving clients worldwide, KTGY maintains offices in Irvine, Oakland and Santa Monica, and in Denver. See www.ktgy.com.

KTGY Principal Ken Ryan Invited to Speak on TOD Design Trends at Fresno Convention Center
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“TOD Development: Design Trends, Considerations and Everything Else Mother Never Taught You"

IRVINE, CALIF. - Award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce that Ken Ryan has been invited to participate as a speaker at the City of Fresno's Workshop, "Making Transit Oriented Development (TOD) a Reality in the San Joaquin Valley," on Friday, May 28, 2010, at the Fresno Convention Center from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm. Ryan is a principal and head of KTGY’s community planning and urban design studio and Ryan and his studio are currently serving as the design advisor for the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) High Speed Rail Transportation District, located next to Angel Stadium. ARTIC recently received Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) 2010 Compass Blueprint Recognition Award for Sustained Leadership and the 2009 Gold Nugget Outstanding On-the-Boards Site Plan Grand Award.

Ryan's presentation, “TOD Development: Design Trends, Considerations and Everything Else Mother Never Taught You," will feature the latest trends in the design of TODs including innovative, environmental-friendly technologies as well as how to create successful TODs that complement, revitalize and support the local economy. Ryan will highlight TOD examples, review lessons learned from initial ideas to the built environment, and offer insights regarding the challenges and opportunities for addressing the issues of place, livability, demographics/lifestyle, phasing, and mobility from a design perspective. Attendees will be provided a handout summarizing key Design Guideline considerations, areas to avoid, and elements to embrace as part of TOD planning. His presentation will start at 2:30 pm.

With over 25 years of experience, Ryan has been responsible for a wide variety of complex, high-profile projects throughout the United States. His impressive list of recent projects includes ARTIC, Corona High Speed Rail Transit District, Aldea Town Center at Porter Ranch, Chapman University, and La Floresta, a multigenerational urban infill community.

“By sharing some of our work, we hope to engage and enlighten attendees to the possibilities of how TOD, particularly as it relates to the current High Speed Rail efforts, provides a strong platform for addressing the issues of livability, affordability, sustainability and mobility in a deeper, more integrated way," Ryan says. “It’s more than reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT); it’s about applying the fundamentals of great neighborhoods to an urban setting and allowing for compelling memorable places to emerge."

Ryan has served on numerous local, regional and national boards including: two-term past Mayor of the City of Yorba Linda; past two-term Chairman of the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Toll Road Agency; past Board Member of the Orange County/Riverside County Major Investment Study (MIS) Corridor Agency; past Board Member of the Transportation Corridor System (TCS) Orange County Toll Road Agency. He is currently: Advisory Board Chairman for Abode Communities of Orange County; a member of the National Board of Directors for Trauma Intervention Programs, Inc.; Chairman of the Placentia Linda Hospital's Governing Board; and is an Advisory Board Member of Planning, Policy, and Design at U.C. Irvine. He is a past Member of the Board of Directors of the Orange County Fire Authority; and recently served as a Member of the City of Anaheim’s Housing Element Ad Hoc Committee.

Ryan has been selected numerous times in Builder & Developer magazine’s “Who’s Who in Homebuilding”, was recognized as one of the 25 Most Influential People in North Orange County Magazine, and was one of three representatives from the United States invited to participate in an International roundtable discussion held at the SINO-International Real Estate Summit in Shanghai, China. He guest lectures at University of Southern California (USC), California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, and University of California, Irvine, and has published numerous articles regarding the planning profession. He regularly participates in Orange County radio and television programs and printed media interviews and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Planning from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona.

For more information about the event, visit www.fresno.gov/TODWorkshops or contact Bonique Salinas at the City of Fresno at Bonique.Salinas@fresno.gov or 559.621.8024.

About KTGY Group, Inc.
Established in 1991, KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, provides comprehensive planning and award-winning architectural design services for residential communities, retail, hospitality, mixed-use and related specialty developments. KTGY delivers innovative solutions that reflect clear understanding of development, marketing and financial performance and takes particular pride in its highly motivated and principal led studios. Serving clients worldwide, KTGY maintains offices in Irvine, Oakland and Santa Monica, and in Denver. See www.ktgy.com.

KTGY Designed ARTIC Honored for Leadership in Sustainability By Southern California Association of Governments

IRVINE, CALIF. - Award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce that the plans for the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) have received the Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) 2010 Compass Blueprint Recognition Award for Sustained Leadership. The award program honors plans and projects throughout Southern California that coordinate land use and transportation initiatives and work toward improving the mobility, livability, prosperity and sustainability in the region. KTGY serves as the Urban Design Advisor to the City of Anaheim and prepared ARTIC’s Master Plan and the Mixed-Use District Conceptual Development Guidelines.

ARTIC is envisioned as a world-class transportation hub that will accommodate high-speed rail, California/Nevada maglev trains, Metrolink and Amtrak trains, and various modes of ground transportation. This major transit gateway will connect Orange County to other areas in California, the United States and around the world, and help ease the demand for local and regional airport expansion. The ARTIC Mixed-Use District project combines ARTIC with a vibrant mixed-use activity center on a 15.7-acre site, which is owned and planned jointly by the City of Anaheim and Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).

According to Ken Ryan, principal and head of KTGY’s community planning and urban design studio, the development intent of the ARTIC Mixed-Use District is to serve as a catalyst for urban development in the project vicinity, connecting existing entertainment/sports venues and commercial development with the planned ARTIC facility while generating opportunities for new development. A mix of land uses that complement and support the ARTIC and the local Platinum Triangle area will be developed on the site. Potential land uses may consist of retail, dining, office, civic, hospitality and residential uses. This public-private partnership project is anticipated to be implemented in multiple phases over the next 20 years.

KTGY’s design and planning team includes: Ken Ryan; Mark Hickner, planning and entitlement director; Geoff Graney, senior project planner; and Lora Kennedy, project planner. Ryan served two terms as the Mayor of the City of Yorba Linda. All are based out of the firm’s Irvine office. Agency participants include Mayor Curt Pringle, City of Anaheim; Natalie Meeks, director of public works, City of Anaheim; Jamie Lai, transit manager, City of Anaheim; and Jennifer Bergener, transit program manager, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).

The panel of eight judges praised the plans for ARTIC because of the state-of-the-art facility that uses innovative, environmental-friendly technologies and the new development opportunities it creates that complement, revitalizes and supports the local economy. The judges also acknowledged not only how ARTIC accommodates multi-modal transportation opportunities, but also applies the fundamentals of great neighborhoods to an urban transit setting, with the intent of responding more deeply to the issues of mobility, affordability, livability, and place in a sustainable attractive environment.This year’s Compass Blueprint Recognition Awards Program was held on May 5, 2010, at the La Quinta Resort and Spa in La Quinta, in conjunction with the SCAG Regional Conference and General Assembly. Only 12 Compass Blueprint Recognition Awards in various categories were presented.

ARTIC has also been honored by the Orange County Section of the American Planning Association (APA) with the 2009 Outstanding Planning Award for Focused Issue Planning, which recognizes an unusually high merit report or development plan; and the Gold Nugget Award of Merit for "Outstanding On-The-Boards Site Plan."

ARTIC is situated at the intersection of major freeways and is a short walk from Angel Stadium of Anaheim and Honda Center. Construction is slated to begin next year on the site. For more information about ARTIC, visit the project web site at www.ARTICinfo.com.

About KTGY Group, Inc.
Established in 1991, KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, provides comprehensive planning and award-winning architectural design services for residential communities, retail, hospitality, mixed-use and related specialty developments. KTGY delivers innovative solutions that reflect clear understanding of development, marketing and financial performance and takes particular pride in its highly motivated and principal led studios. Serving clients worldwide, KTGY maintains offices in Irvine, Oakland and Santa Monica, and in Denver. See www.ktgy.com.

The Muller Company Completes Nearly 180,000 SF in New Leases and Renewals in Southern California Valued at $41 Million

LAGUNA HILLS, CALIF. – The Muller Company, a full service real estate company specializing in management, investment and development of commercial real estate in the western United States, announces today that the firm has recently completed nearly 180,000 square feet in new leases and lease renewals at Torrey Pines Court in La Jolla, Calif., and Main Street Town Center in Santa Ana, Calif. The total value of the leases is nearly $41 million and the recent lease signings at Torrey Pines Court brings the office campus to 100 percent occupancy. This announcement comes on the heels of The Muller Company receiving three new management contracts totaling over 1.9 million square feet, including 14 industrial buildings in the Phoenix-metro area owned by DCT Industrial Trust, Inc.

Located at 3366 N. Torrey Pines Court in La Jolla, Torrey Pines Court is a 200,000-square-foot, five-building office park, which was purchased in 2005 by The Muller Company in a joint venture with Rockwood Capital. At the close of escrow, the project was 56 percent leased and had severe functional challenges. The Muller Company completed a $26 million renovation on three of the existing buildings, redeveloping them into a first class research and development facility. After completion, Torrey Pines Court was awarded ENERGY STAR status and became a recipient of BOMA 2008 Building of the Year award. The 118,000 square feet in new leases brings Torrey Pines Court to full occupancy and includes leases with GSA, Scripps, Orexigen Therapeutics, and West Wireless Healthy Institute. GSA signed a 33,780-square-foot, five-year lease. Scripps signed a 15,057-square-foot, five-year lease and was represented by Brian Gallagher of Health West Realty Advisors out of San Diego. Orexigen Therapeutics signed a 22,229-square-foot lease with a 9,312-square-foot expansion, for a 64-month lease and was represented by Scott Ginsburg of Staubach Company in San Diego. West Wireless Health Institute signed a 37,960-square-foot, seven-year lease and was represented by David Marino of Irving Hughes in San Diego.

At Main Street Town Center, a 10-story, 215,000-square-foot Class A office building, also owned in partnership with Rockwood Capital, The Muller Company recently completed 58,143 square feet in new leases and lease renewals including a lease renewal with New York-based Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ), Main Street Town Center’s largest tenant. Located at 2677 N. Main Street in Santa Ana, Main Street Town Center’s new leases and tenant retention efforts have increased the building’s occupancy rate to 88 percent in a market that currently endures negative absorption and an 18 percent vacancy rate, said Jim Bannan, Director of Leasing and Marketing for The Muller Company.

Assurant, a premier provider of specialized insurance products and related services, signed a 44,024-square-foot, 72-month lease renewal at the Main Street Town Center and was represented by UGL Equis’ Senior Vice President Justin Hodgdon, from the firm’s Costa Mesa office, and Josef Farrar, Senior Vice President from the company’s Los Angeles office. Phoenix Group Information Systems, a California Corporation, signed a 7,193-square-foot, 72-month lease at the Main Street Town Center and was represented by Marshal Vogt and George Thompson of Lee & Associates of Orange, Calif. The State of California Unemployment and Insurance Appeals Board signed a 4,444-square-foot, four-year lease renewal and was represented by Dean Chandler of CB Richard Ellis. Hanul Law Corporation signed a 1,607-square-foot, three-year lease renewal and was represented by CenterPointe Properties. Chisholm Financial signed an 875-square-foot, five-year lease and was represented by Newmark Knight Frank. Coreland Companies of Tustin, Calif., is The Muller Company’s exclusive leasing agent for Main Street Town Center and the Coreland leasing team includes Steve Hogberg, Senior Vice President; David Girty, Director, Office Brokerage; Matt Hammond, Director, Retail Brokerage; and Tim Muller, Leasing/Sales Associate.

Recently, DCT Industrial Trust, Inc. selected The Muller Company to manage its Phoenix portfolio of 14 industrial buildings totaling over 1.6 million square feet; Bank of America awarded The Muller Company a contract to manage Creekside Executive Center in Camarillo, Calif., a two-story office building and 13 office/medical condos totaling 73,892 square feet; and the firm also received a management contract from a leading global financial services company for a 19-story, 255,477-square-foot office building in Phoenix.

“This is and will continue to be a challenging economic climate for some time and property owners must have a strategic plan in place in order to minimize the downside of property values in today’s environment,” stated Jon M. Muller, Principal of The Muller Company. “Every aspect of operating an asset must be thoroughly scrutinized to assess optimal income-producing capabilities.

“Retaining existing tenants and filling vacancies through proactive management are key to getting through this current cycle,” Muller said. “It is critical that building owners have a plan in place or hire an experienced third-party management company to create and implement one before a drop costs or vacancies impact the property’s value beyond an acceptable level.”

About UGL Equis
UGL Equis is a corporate real estate firm that focuses exclusively on the business space user. The company has more than 42,000 affiliated employees in 14 countries around the world through its parent company UGL. Chicago-based UGL Equis provides comprehensive real estate solutions through portfolio strategy and management, transaction advisory, corporate finance, project services, workplace integration, data management, facility management, development management and audit and recovery services for national and global companies with office, industrial and retail opportunities throughout the United States, Mexico, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. UGL Equis and its sister company UGL Unicco, are subsidiaries of UGL Limited (ASX: UGL). For additional information, please visit www.ugl-equis.com.

About The Muller Company
The Muller Company has over 30 years of experience in developing, acquiring and managing a diverse portfolio of over 20 million square feet of office, industrial and retail real estate throughout the western United States, with nearly 11 million square feet currently under management in the California and Phoenix markets. Over the years, The Muller Company has partnered with institutional owners such as GE Capital, Capmark, Rockwood Capital, BlackRock, ING Realty and Metlife. Empowered by an entrepreneurial spirit and guided by an owner’s perspective, The Muller Company excels at mining the long-term value from every asset that it manages by adding value, either through leasing, capital improvements, refinancing, operational audits and repositioning. For more information, contact the Director of Business Development, Lori Ann Haigh at 949.460.5380 or visit www.themullercompany.com.

KTGY Principal Chris Texter to Speak at Orange County Housing Trust Summit in Irvine
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New Ideas and New Direction: Housing Innovation and Sustainability

IRVINE, CALIF. - Award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce that Chris Texter, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP and principal has been invited to participate as a speaker at Orange County Housing Trust’s fourth annual summit, “New Ideas & New Directions: Looking Towards the Future,” on May 20, 2010, at the University of California, Irvine, at the Student Center from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. This year’s Summit will feature a diversity of experts who will bring insight and clarity to the county’s and state’s housing status and offer their views on Orange County’s housing future.

Texter’s presentation, “New Ideas and New Direction: Housing Innovation and Sustainability,” will focus on the new design trends, green products and sustainable technologies that are influencing the housing industry. The presentation will include examples of recent and future communities that demonstrate innovative and practical solutions to sustainable communities. The projects will illustrate how architectural design is impacted by Sustainable ideas imposed on the community and by ideas by choice. These will include communities that promote sustainable lifestyles by way of Transit Oriented Development, Mixed Use or Urban Infill to sustainable building construction in Urban and Suburban communities. The presentation will demonstrate the ability to integrate sustainable building practices into the planning, construction and operation into affordable and market rate construction. His presentation begins at 10:55 am.

“It is no longer a question of providing sustainable design features as a novelty because sustainable building practices have gone main stream,” Texter said. “The builder or developer that is not incorporating sustainable features will be behind the market demand. We are now at a point of determining the furthest extent to which sustainable building practices can be integrated based on market demand, selling/renting prices and budgets.”

The question is how will planning and architecture actually influence the lifestyle choices that lead to sustainable “living” not just a sustainable “building,” Texter asks. “Planning communities based on a core that supports the adjacent living will have a different impact on our lifestyle then the recent past. Whether this adjacency is either vertical or located across the street, differing uses are no longer seen as non-compatible. Furthermore, not only are these uses compatible but they are harmonious and should exist as one in a sustainable living environment. The focus has broadened from the sustainable building product to the sustainable community to the sustainable city,” Texter said.

Concentrating on multi-family and mixed-use developments, Texter is called upon for his keen knowledge and talent in code interpretation, leading to unique solutions and innovative designs for KTGY’s clients. With nearly two decades of experience throughout California and Nevada, Texter excels in the resolution of complex challenges including difficult sites, tight budgets, and scheduling concerns.

For more information about the event, visit www.ochousingsummit.com.

About KTGY Group, Inc.
Established in 1991, KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, provides comprehensive planning and award-winning architectural design services for residential communities, retail, hospitality, mixed-use and related specialty developments. KTGY delivers innovative solutions that reflect clear understanding of development, marketing and financial performance and takes particular pride in its highly motivated and principal led studios. Serving clients worldwide, KTGY maintains offices in Irvine, Oakland and Santa Monica, and in Denver. See www.ktgy.com.

KTGY-Designed Affordable Apartments Adjacent to Colma BART Station to Celebrate Grand Opening
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BRIDGE Housing Corporation Completes Trestle Glen for Families Who Earn 20% to 50% of San Mateo County Median Income

OAKLAND, CALIF. – KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, announces the grand opening celebration of Trestle Glen, a transit-oriented, eco- and pedestrian-friendly apartment community located in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, adjacent to the Colma BART Station. Developed by BRIDGE Housing Corporation, the leading nonprofit developer of affordable homes in California, Trestle Glen provides high-quality workforce housing to families earning between 20 percent and 50 percent of the area median income. The KTGY-designed Trestle Glen offers 119 thoughtfully-planned dwellings ranging in size from one- to three-bedroom units; 28 one-, 44 two-, and 47 three-bedroom apartment homes. Rent is currently $403 to $1,400 per month, based on family and apartment size and income level.

With a GreenPoint Rated score of 128, where 50 points is a minimum requirement, the new $44.5 million, five-story development located at 370 F Street, incorporates Spanish Mediterranean architectural elements and offers a number of “green” features such as solar panels to preheat domestic hot water, bio-swales that naturally filter rainwater and a community recycling program. During construction more than 80 percent of waste generated was recycled and diverted from landfills.

Trestle Glen features a community center with a kitchen, a 56-space childcare facility with outdoor play space, landscaped courtyard areas, basketball court, tot lot and convenient laundry facilities. The apartment community’s onsite resident services are expected to include programs such as childcare, English as a Second Language classes, homebuyer workshops, credit counseling and financial management classes, computer skills, and after-school programs and homework clubs.

“Trestle Glen provides a positive example to the community of quality, affordable housing and is a stepping stone for family advancement,” said BRIDGE Housing President and CEO Cynthia Parker. “Affordable homes integrated with services give residents more opportunities to increase their education, build skills for better jobs, and plan for homeownership. Children can have more stability in their lives and do better in school.”

Trestle Glen’s location encourages walkability and the use of the adjacent BART transit, and transforms El Camino Real into a vibrant, safe, and welcoming place to live, work, and play. The apartment community’s sustainable design and construction reduce its carbon footprint and add to the affordability by reducing automobile-associated expenses and utility costs.

“In addition to below market rents, Trestle Glen’s close proximity to public transportation, jobs, services and education further increase affordability for residents who have few affordable housing options, especially for larger families,” said Jill D. Williams, AIA and principal at KTGY.

The average household in San Mateo County spends $32,693 annually on housing. “Trestle Glen addresses the severe affordable housing need especially for working families in San Mateo County with annual incomes ranging from $16,491 to $56,550 for a household of four,” said Parker.

Trestle Glen is situated on the site of a former mobile home park at 370 F Street, which previously housed 42 individuals and families, and now serves 119 families plus the addition of 32 future entry-level for-sale townhomes by another developer.

“KTGY has enjoyed creating livable communities for working families with BRIDGE Housing since our first collaboration in 1998,” said Williams. “Trestle Glen offered an opportunity for a higher density solution for an underutilized infill site. This 2.7-acre triangular-shaped parcel, adjacent to BART, took the collaboration of the design team working closely with BRIDGE Housing, the Town of Colma and San Mateo County to fulfill the ultimate best use.”

Trestle Glen’s attractive design and cohesive layout encourage a sense of community among residents. “The placement of shared spaces such as the community center, lobby and courtyard elevate the importance of onsite resident services and social interaction and increase resident satisfaction,” Williams noted. “The on grade parking is tucked out of sight under four stories of high quality residential living.”

Trestle Glen’s common area walls are decorated with art from Creativity Explored, a nonprofit visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit, and sell art, inspire residents and support community.

"As a member of Build-It Green as well as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), KTGY continues to stay at the forefront of this dynamic industry and have LEED accredited and sustainability/green building experts," said Williams. “We work in partnership with our clients to get the most benefit from incorporating eco-friendly and sustainable architecture programs into our designs and buildings.”

Trestle Glen’s additional green features include:
• Play structures and surfaces are made of more than 20% recycled materials.
• The building features side-by-side trash and recycling chutes, plus a built-in recycling bin in each home.
• The insulation in the roof and walls of Trestle Glen contains no added formaldehyde.
• Trestle Glen's bathroom fans and kitchen fans exhaust to the exterior.
• All interior paints are low-VOC.
• All cabinetry has reduced formaldehyde content.
• The carpets in the homes and common areas are certified CRI Green Label Plus.
• Solar hot water panels located on the roof pre-heat the domestic hot water.
• A high efficiency gas-powered boiler heats the domestic hot water.
• All appliances have met the Energy Star criteria for energy efficiency.
• Almost all of the plant species are California native or Mediterranean species that require only occasional watering.
• Trestle Glen uses a landscape irrigation controller that receives weather data via a satellite connection and a high-efficiency drip irrigation system.
• Nearly all rain is captured and treated onsite. Rain that falls on the roof drains to large bio-swales, which naturally filter and percolate rainwater into the stormwater system.
• Showerheads are low flow and sinks have flow limiters.
• Toilets have half and full flush buttons to better economize water usage.
• The building is located adjacent to the Colma BART Station and a number of SamTrans bus lines.
• Secure bicycle parking is available within the garage.

About Build It Green
GreenPoint Rated is a program of Build It Green, a professional non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote healthy, energy- and resource-efficient buildings in California. A GreenPoint Rated home is graded on five categories: energy efficiency, indoor air quality, resource conservation and water conservation. Green building offers homebuilders, community leaders and California residents sensible solutions that improve an individual home’s performance and provide broad-based community benefits. These benefits range from cleaner air to reduced traffic congestion, from more appealing recreational opportunities to greater economic vitality. Developments designed to reduce dependence on cars help ease traffic congestion, which can improve business productivity. For more information, visit www.builditgreen.org.

About BRIDGE Housing
BRIDGE Housing Corporation, the leading nonprofit developer of affordable homes in California, creates and manages a range of high-quality, affordable homes for working families and seniors. Since it was founded in 1983, BRIDGE has participated in the development of over 13,000 homes serving more than 35,000 Californians. For more information, visit www.bridgehousing.com.

About KTGY Group
Established in 1991, KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, provides comprehensive planning and award-winning architectural design services for residential communities, retail, hospitality, mixed-use and related specialty developments. KTGY delivers innovative solutions that reflect clear understanding of development, marketing and financial performance and takes particular pride in its highly motivated and principal led studios. Serving clients worldwide, KTGY maintains offices in Irvine, Oakland and Santa Monica, and in Denver. See www.ktgy.com.

KTGY Principal Mike Flynn to Participate as Moderator and Panelist at ICSC’s Global Retail Real Estate Convention in Las Vegas
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Building Green Panel: “What Has Worked, What Hasn’t Worked, and Where Do We Go From Here?” Held on May 24th at 2:30 p.m.

IRVINE, CALIF. - Award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce that Mike Flynn, a principal and LEED AP, has been invited to participate as the moderator and panelist at the International Council of Shopping Centers’ (ICSC) annual RECON, The Global Retail Real Estate Convention held from May 23-25, 2010, in Las Vegas, NV. Flynn’s panel, which will be presented on Monday, May 24, at 2:30 p.m., will focus on green building and is entitled, “Corporate Retailer to Boutique Retailer – What Has Worked, What Hasn’t Worked, and Where Do We Go From Here?”

Panelists for the session will also include: Paul Loubet, president of Dreyfus Real Estate; Barry Giles, CEO and LEED facility emeritus for Building Wise, LLC; and Doug Wiele, a founding partner of Foothill Partners, Inc. “Our session will discuss the goals and reasons for sustainable building, the risks, how we measure sustainability, and the design approaches and systems that have proved to be cost effective sustainable solutions,” says Flynn. “We will also discuss why retail has historically lagged behind the corporate office market in adopting sustainability as an important building and design component and how future green legislation can impact retailers.”

According to Pacific Gas & Electric’s Food Service Technology Center (FSTC), Restaurants are the retail world’s largest energy user. They use almost five times more energy per square foot than any other type of commercial building. “Electrical utilities are likely to increase peak demand rates, and to expand incentive programs for owners who have energy-efficient facilities,” notes Flynn.

“Many people think that only new buildings can be green but there is quite a lot that can be done to improve an existing building’s or shopping center’s energy efficiency without incurring a major expense, whether LEED certification is desired or not. However, if you’re building today without LEED, you’re building in obsolescence. Companies need to be very smart about how they go green so that the money as well as energy is used efficiently,” Flynn says.

With 40 years of experience, Flynn serves as a leader guiding the design and implementation of a wide variety of high profile commercial, mixed-use, retail, entertainment and resort projects throughout the United States and overseas. Keeping him in the forefront of the industry is his notable understanding and comprehensive experience with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building and the Build-it-Green rating programs, including the latest products and cutting-edge technologies in sustainability/green building practices. Flynn’s proficient management skills and background provide KTGY and its clientele superb quality in design and final product. Prior to joining KTGY, Flynn served as senior vice president/director of commercial, retail and entertainment projects for a national firm with 1,600 employees in the United States.

Flynn is a licensed architect in the following states: California, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Virginia. He holds a National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Certificate and is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified Professional. He is also a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Urban Land Institute (ULI) and U.S. Green Building Council. Flynn received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo.

About ICSC
Founded in 1957, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) is the global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its 60,000 members in the U.S., Canada and more than 80 other countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, lenders, retailers and other professionals as well as academics and public officials. As the global industry trade association, ICSC links with more than 25 national and regional shopping center councils throughout the world. Visit www.icsc.org for more information.

About KTGY Group, Inc.
Established in 1991, KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, provides comprehensive planning and award-winning architectural design services for residential communities, retail, hospitality, mixed-use and related specialty developments. KTGY delivers innovative solutions that reflect clear understanding of development, marketing and financial performance and takes particular pride in its highly motivated and principal led studios. Serving clients worldwide, KTGY maintains offices in Irvine, Oakland and Santa Monica, and in Denver. See www.ktgy.com.