Dunn-Edwards, the Southwest manufacturer of premium paint, received a Real Estate and Development (RED) Award from the Arizona Commercial Real Estate (AZRE) for Best Industrial Project for its new 336,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility.

The 7th Annual RED Awards recognize the most notable commercial real estate projects of 2011 and the construction teams involved. AZRE held an open call for nominations and a record 116 projects were submitted by architects, contractors, developers and brokerage firms in Arizona. 

Luxury home builder Toll Brothers has partnered with EchoFirst, a solar energy provider, to build new communities in Arizona that provide a complete solar energy system for water, heating and cooling. EchoFirst supplements conventional solar electric PV panels with solar thermal technology that generates electricity for hot water, as well as thermal energy for heating and cooling the home. This enables Toll Brothers to offer homes that use 70% to 80% less energy than a standard code-built home, according to the announcement.

Its nickname is "the Walmart of weed."

Described as the nation's only hydroponics franchise that openly talks about medical marijuana, weGrow opened a 21,000-sq.-ft. store in Phoenix earlier this month. 

From New York’s Island to the Redwood Forests, the great American hardware store maintains a revered place in the commercial history of these United States. 


On the following pages, Home Channel News editors travel state-by-state to find examples of leading hardware store retailers. To those deserving candidates not on the list — and there are many — we offer this advice as consolation: “Keep up the good work. We’ll get to you eventually.” 


Online window treatment retailer Blinds Chalet released its list of "Top Five Window Treatments for Spring."

The common thread for the top five is glare reduction that can contribute to more energy-efficient homes.

The top five window treatments for spring, along with descriptions from Gilbert, Ariz.-based Blind Chalet, are:

A Net Zero photovoltaic system is one of the environmentally friendly features of Park Centre Homes at La Posada in Green Valley, Ariz. The development is a collaboration between La Posada and Pepper-Viner Homes, both award-winning for their environmentally friendly designs and initiatives, according to the companies.

Each home is oriented to the homesite to capture the heat of the sun. In addition, the homes will utilize a Net Zero photovoltaic system with the potential to reduce energy costs by more than 85%.

An article in the Buffalo News reported that 84 Lumber has sold several properties in New York State in lease-back arrangements that will allow the pro dealer to raise cash and continue to operate its existing lumberyards.