“[Apollo BBC] remains focused not only on the engineering, but also on the practical circumstances of the client, remembering - as do few consultants, in my experience - that resources aren’t unlimited."
The Rev. Frank Strasburger
Trinity Church, Princeton, New Jersey
May 20, 2013 – Apollo BBC named 2013 Companies to Watch.
Apollo BBC has been named as one of the 2013 Companies to Watch by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC). ICIC is a nonprofit research and strategy organization and the leading authority on U.S. inner city economies and the businesses that thrive there.
Principal & CEO D. Reid Middlebrooks, traveled to Boston to accept The Companies to Watch award and represent Apollo BBC as an exemplary company that participated in the 10,000 Small Businesses program. Learn more about the event and the ICIC.
April 23, 2013 –Apollo BBC Participates in Lights Out Houston!
Apollo BBC is one of the many companies participating in Lights Out Houston on April 25th! This event is part of a long-term strategy for Houston to become the Energy Conservation Capital of the United States. Of the 35 Million square feet of office space located in Downtown Houston, it is estimated that over 50% of the lights are left on throughout the evening hours and on the weekends. Apollo BBC is proud to be part of the many companies turning off our lights on April 25th and committing to keeping our lights off during regular business hours.
To learn more about Lights Out Houston, to sign the pledge and be a part of this movement, please click here.
Also, remember to check out their tips for the “Lights Out” weekend. For some larger companies, it might be a more involved process for the building management team to turn off the lights. Make sure to be prepared!
April 22, 2013 – Sergio Altamirano joins Apollo BBC!
Sergio joins Apollo BBC as a consultant to assist our team with LEED Consulting and Management, specifically helping with our International sustainability projects. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Zaponpan, Jal., Mexico and a Masters of Architecture from the University of Oklahoma. Prior to joining Apollo BBC, Mr. Altamirano worked as a project manager at McCormick Architecture in El Paso, Texas. Sergio can be reached at saltamirano@apollobbc.com.
April 9, 2013 – Gordon Shepperd Earns RRC Designation.
Apollo BBC Principal, Gordon Shepperd, has earned the title of Registered Roof Consultant (RRC) from RCI, Inc. Gordon qualified for this designation by meeting the requirements of a rigorous two-part program based on verifiable levels of education, ethics and experience, and successfully completing a challenging examination. He now joins an elite group of over 400 Registered Roofing Consultants in the United States and Canada.
The RRC registration is administered by RCI from its international headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is rapidly gaining recognition throughout North America as a key element preferred by both public and private building owners when retaining the services of a roof consultant.
RCI was founded in 1983 as a nonprofit organization. Its professional members offer unbiased design, repair planning, quality assurance, legal testimony and general roofing, waterproofing, and exterior wall services. RCI’s roof consultants adhere to a strict code of ethics that offers unprejudiced professional services without affiliation with any product or manufacturer.
April 2, 2013 – Gordon Shepperd, Presenting at Historic Masonry Conference
Apollo BBC Principal, along with Alan Pettingale, Andreas Stavridis, Ph.D., Benchmark H. Harris, P.E.,and Michael Schuller, P.E., will be presenting at the Historical Masonry Conference in Brownsville, Texas.
This AIA Accreditted program is intended for any Owner, Architect, Engineer or Contractor who is assessing/purchasing/stabilizing/renovating an existing (especially an historic) building with masonry wall (including load-bearing/non-load-bearing/veneers) such as brick, stone or concrete masonry units. This program will specifically provide attendees with the fundamental skills necessary to understand how the following impact existing masonry structures:
• Differing Architectural Approaches to Historical Restorations
• Structural Functions of Masonry Walls
• Building Code Evaluations of Existing Buildings
• Investigation Techniques and Standards
• Mortar Repointing and Crack Repair Techniques
• Retrofit Veneer Anchor Systems
• Lateral Restraint Anchors and Bracing Systems
The workshop will be held on April 10, 2013 at the UT-Brownsville Campus, Science, Engineering and Technology Building Lecture Hall from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Free lunch and parking is available to the first 30 people who sign up. To get more information about this event and to sign up, please contact: alanpettingale@yahoo.com.
October 30, 2012 – Introducing Blue Quality Services!
Apollo BBC visited the Texas Society of Architects Design Expo last week in Austin, Texas to introduce our newest brand, Blue Quality Services. This division was launched in order to clarify our scopes of services and fee expectations in order to provide unmatched value to our existing and future clients. Our ability to draw strengths from each brand set us apart from our competition.
Blue Quality Services focuses on field based services like performance testing, construction quality assurance observations, and other process-based tasks. To learn more about Blue Quality Services and to get us on your team for your next project, visit our website.
Apollo BBC, is continuing to focus on expert driven lines of services that require custom reports, design liability, and a highly specialized technical knowledgebase.
October 9, 2012 – Principal Appointed to the APT Board.
Gordon Shepperd, PE, has been appointed to the Association for Preservation Technology Board of Directors. The Association for Preservation Technology (APT) is a cross-disciplinary, membership organization dedicated to promoting the best technology for conserving historic structures and their setting. To learn more about APT and how you can become a member, click here.
Gordon’s expertise and experience in structural evaluation, cladding, and wall assemblies is advantageous in dealing with the unique challenges presented by historic buildings. As an active member of APT, he recently visited the historic Charleston, South Carolina for the annual Preservation Conference. Here, he was given an opportunity to join hundreds of other members to discuss preservation theory, best practices, and participate in demonstrations. To learn more about the APT National Conference, click here.
August 8, 2012 – Jermaine & Clemente Join Apollo BBC.
Apollo BBC has added two Staff Professionals to our growing team. Jermaine Brown and Clemente Zamarripa will be supporting our Building Enclosure, Testing, and Construction Quality Assurance services.
Jermaine Brown has a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from the University of Houston with a minor in Construction Management. Prior to joining our team, Jermaine was an intern at Michell Carlson Stone where he worked on construction documents, reviewed shop drawings, and visited project sites. Jermaine can be reached at 713.869.0000.
Clemente Zamarripa has a Degree in Engineering Technology with a focus in Structural Analysis and Design from The University of Houston – Downtown. Clemente has extensive experience working for General Contractors where he planned and coordinated schedules, managed labor forces, estimated material needs, and worked hands on as a concrete finisher. Clemente can be reached at 713.869.0000.
July 11, 2012 – Apollo BBC Principal Licensed in Maryland.
Apollo BBC Principal, Gordon Shepperd, is now a Professional Engineer in the State of Maryland. Gordon draws on his past experience in forensic engineering investigation to provide expert building enclosure analysis and recommendations for windows, walls, and roof systems. He has performed copious building enclosure assessments with a focus on weather barriers and moisture migration through assemblies.
To read more about Gordon and the types of services he performs, click here.
Apollo BBC experts travel across the United States to perform our services. Currently in Maryland, our consultants are in the process of completing the LEED Certification for a four-story, 132,000 square foot office building. North Gate, designed by Powers Brown Architecture, is complete and designed to be LEED Silver Certified.
July 3, 2012 – We Heart Buildings Newsletter Launch!
Starting in July, Apollo BBC will begin sending out a periodic newsletter geared toward our friends and clients whose days revolve around buildings. The information we’ll be sharing will give an inside look of some of the fascinating and uncommon building enclosure issues we come across, LEED Certification news, high performance building concepts, and performance testing best practices.
As much as we love buildings, we hate spam! Our goal with this newsletter is to be different and share what we know, not sell anything. Once you opt in to receive our newsletter, we’ll be sending you an informative email on a periodic basis. We respect our friends and clients and will never use your information for any other purpose and, of course, opting out is easily done at any time.
Click here to opt in and start receiving the We Heart Building Newsletter today.
June 14, 2012 – Congratulations to Solis Constructors!
Apollo BBC is currently engaged with Solis Construction to provide Whole Building Air Leakage Testing and Enclosure Building Consulting services for the Moore Memorial Armed Forces Reserve Center located in Bryan, Texas. Our testing and consulting services are helping Solis Construction achieve a higher quality standard for their buildings, ensuring the enclosure systems are meeting US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Air Leakage Test Protocol for Building Envelopes.
Learn more about the USACE standards for Air Leakage.
Principal Gordon Shepperd and Technical Specialist Brandon Locke visited the site to conduct Whole Building Air Leakage Testing according to USACE standards on the 42,000 square foot Training Facility and the 6,000 square foot Area Maintenance Facility. The results of our testing indicated that the airflow measured for the Training Facility was only .057 CFM/sq ft of flow against a pressure of 75 Pa, which is substantially lower than the Army Corps of Engineers rate goal of .25 CFM.
This is the lowest air leakage Apollo BBC consultants have measured on a building. This achievement is due to Solis’s superior design and construction team following specifications and paying close attention to detail!
Learn more about Apollo BBC Testing Services and related projects.
Need a quote for air leakage testing? Contact us at 800.370.5456 to receive a proposal for our services today.
April 20, 2012 – Brandon Locke Joins Apollo BBC.
Brandon Locke joins Apollo BBC to assist our team with field efforts including whole building air leakage testing and diagnostic water testing services. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics, from Sam Houston State University. Prior to joining Apollo BBC, Mr. Locke worked at Brickland Homes where he oversaw workers and managed the construction process of custom estate homes and courtyard patio homes in master-planned communities. Brandon can be reached at 713.869.0000.
April 9, 2012 – Apollo BBC Completes the Green Office Challange!
For the past year, Apollo BBC has participated in the Green Office Challenge organized by the City of Houston. Having one of the longest LEED project resumes in the Houston area, we knew that being a part of the Challenge meant taking our green initiatives to the next level.
We have always encouraged our staff to make a conscious effort to keep our office environmentally friendly. Shortly after collecting our office’s base information with the help of the Green Office Scorecard, we were notified that some of our existing initiatives, like composting and providing bikes for employee use, were unique amongst our fellow competitors. Apollo BBC was proud to be among the three top companies recognized for our green achievements by Mayor Anise Parker at a Houston Dynamo game in April of 2011.
As the challenge moved along, our staff created strategies to keep increasing environmental performance in the areas of outreach, energy conservation, waste reduction, cleaner transportation choices, and property management engagement. In the beginning, Apollo BBC scored 29 points, which included our existing practices like recycling and eliminating excess waste from paper towels, styrofoam cups, and plastic utensils.
Almost one year later, we have increased our score to 66 points! Collectively we achieved this from instituting a concrete sustainability policy that requires staff to utilize double sided printing, create electronic copies when possible, reuse scratch paper, and purchase green products. Conducting an employee commuter survey also helped to make everyone in the office aware of his or her carbon footprint.
The Apollo BBC team is proud to contribute to green initiatives that make Houston a better city to work and live. Visit the Houston Green Office Challenge site to join the movement and learn how to increase your company’s green score.
March 5, 2012 – Tim Murray Gives LEED 2012 Presentation.
Do you know what to expect from LEED in 2012? Tim Murray, AIA, Apollo BBC’s Sustainability Director, traveled to Birmingham, Alabama on Monday to give a presentation on new LEED developments and how the green building marketplace is changing.
Tim is presenting to the Illuminating Engineering Society, South Region, will concentrate on the upcoming LEED 2012 rating systems and the major overhaul of familiar USGBC guidelines pushing the market transformation. Some topics he will touch on concerning the certification process will include increases in overall building energy consumption, revisions to light pollution standards, and interior lighting requirements. Tim has compiled a list of sustainability resources for more information about LEED 2012 and beyond!
Tim’s responsibilities at Apollo BBC include industry education, sustainability analysis for existing and new building projects, and direction of technical tasks including energy simulation and facilitation of the LEED Certification Process for owners, architects, and builders. To learn more about Tim Murray, please click here.
Contact Apollo BBC today to have our accredited consultants help to meet the upcoming demands of LEED 2012 and give your company a competitive edge. To speak with a representative and request a proposal for your project, please call 888.370.5456 or send an email to info@apollobbc.com.
February 7, 2012 – Mackenzie Miller Joins Apollo BBC.
Mackenzie Miller joins Apollo BBC as the Administrative Professional. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality, Restaurant, and Tourism Management with an emphasis in event planning from the University of Nebraska. Prior to relocating to Houston, Ms. Miller worked at Wilderness Ridge Lodge in Lincoln, Nebraska where she organized weddings, political events, church auctions, and corporate events. Ms. Miller has an interest in History and plans to someday get her Masters. Mackenzie can be reached at 713.869.0000.
January 9, 2012 – Stevedore Buildings Featured in Port of Houston Magazine.
Apollo BBC has worked continuously with the Port of Houston since 2008 providing enclosure consulting, performance testing, and a host of other services to multiple Port Authority buildings.
One of the most interesting projects we've completed for the Port of Houston was the Stevedore Services Building, featured in this month’s, “The Port of Houston” magazine in an article entitled, “Thinking Outside The Box: New Construction at Bayport.” The article profiled the buildings unique and environmentally friendly façades, which incorporates existing shipping containers as the structural system. The facilities include break room space and restrooms for longshoremen, as well as office space and coordination rooms where Stevedore company employees can view the ships’ loading/unloading activity.
Using shipping containers as the structural system of the building has now become a signature structure that compliments the Port Authority’s commitment to sustainability. By recycling shipping containers, they avoid importing building materials from distant locations and re-purpose existing containers no longer suitable for their original intent. The buildings are the first to meet LEED requirements, which is a great accomplishment for Port Authority Developers. “[These] buildings have been designed to meet energy standards and other aspects that mirror LEED requirements. We believe the buildings will be energy-efficient, durable, and certainly ‘distinctive,’ when considering the hundreds of thousands of containers that are processed each year around them,” said Mark Vincent, Port Authority Channel Development Director.
Apollo BBC consultants performed enclosure consulting services that began with a design review on each building, providing our expert opinion regarding the location of the windows, doors, and mechanical systems. When construction was complete, we began performing diagnostic spray testing on all windows to ensure no leakage would occur. To learn more about our enclosure consulting services for new construction, please click here.
To read the full article and page through The Port of Houston Magazine, please click here.
December 21, 2011 – Sentry Gateway Building 100 is LEED Gold Certified!
Located in San Antonio, Texas, Sentry Gateway Building 100 is a 3-story, 99,000 square foot commercial office facility. The owner, Corporate Office Properties Trust, has a long standing committment to green devlopment and chose to construct this building to the United States Green Building Council’s LEED Gold standards. The building achieved 37 out of a possible 61 points.
In order to reduce the impact on the environment, enhance occupant comfort, and improve operation efficiency, Apollo BBC helped the owner met the following criteria to achieve the LEED Gold Certification:
To learn more about Apollo BBC's Sustainability Projects, please click here.
November 30, 2011 – Hilton Garden Inn Project Featured in Houston Business Journal.
The new 117,000 square foot Hilton Garden Inn is an 8-story, 171 room hotel located in Northwest Houston at Americas Plaza. Although the building is currently under construction, it is planned to be the first lodging facility in the State of Texas scheduled to open with LEED Gold Certification in November of 2012.
Included among the criteria for the LEED ranking are efficient fixtures and low-flow faucets that will result in a reduction in water use, as well as a heating, ventilating and air conditioning system that will substantially reduce energy usage. Additionally, the owner plans to recycle half of their construction waste, such as lumber scraps and boxes.
Apollo BBC is currently providing Buidling Commissioning and managing the LEED Gold Certification for the owner. Click here to learn more about Apollo BBC's services.
To continue reading the Houston Business Journal article, please click here.
October 3, 2011 – Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative Graduate.
Apollo BBC Owner and Principal Consultant, Reid Middlebrooks, graduated from the inaugural class of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative. Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, hosted by Houston Community College, is part of a national, five-year investment to help small businesses create jobs and economic opportunity by providing access to business education, financial capital, and business mentoring services.
The initiative is funded by Goldman Sachs and The Goldman Sachs Foundation and is currently active in New Orleans, New York and Greater Los Angeles, and over the next five years will reach 10,000 small businesses across the county. The program has helped Apollo BBC create a strong foundation for continued success in the business world and will continue to help our company reach its goals.
If you are a small business and would like to learn more about the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, click here.
October 1, 2011 – Apollo BBC Hosts an Office Testing Party.
On October 1st Apollo BBC hosted an Air Barrier Testing party at our office in the Houston Heights. Employees, families, and friends showed up to support and learn about how to administer air leakage tests, what equipment is used, and how our services can help give contractors and owners powerful information about the energy efficiency of their buildings.
“We established a good baseline for the leakage of our building and I’m curious to know the results. The next step is to implement improvements by sealing, then retesting to measure the change.” – Apollo BBC Technician
Apollo BBC regularly performs whole building pressurization on buildings across the United States. Testing of a continuous air barrier is becoming a recognized necessity in the construction of buildings and in some institutions, like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, air leakage testing is a requirement of new building construction. These services are performed to determine the overall leakage rate of buildings and measure these rates through the buildings’ envelope under controlled pressurization and de-pressurization. For the tests administered on our office, we sealed all outdoor air exhausts and windows, and using a computer controlled, variable speed fan we calculated the air-flow necessary to bring our building to a constant pre-determined pressure.
Our follow up tests will incorporate silicone sealants and insulating foam to seal off leaky areas discovered. These tests will help in keep the warm Houston weather out, as well as insulating the building during the colder months. The final result will be increased energy efficiency, which will help save money and increase employee comfort.
To learn more about our enclosure testing services, click here.
June 20, 2011 – Marcus Eliason, LEED AP BD+C Joins Apollo BBC.
Marcus Eliason joins Apollo BBC as a Consultant. Marcus holds both a Bachelors and Masters of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Prior to relocating to Houston, Mr. Eliason was previously employed as a staff engineer at Essex Engineering Corp in Atlanta, where he gained experience in Energy Consulting, Energy Modeling, and Building Systems. Marcus' skills will prove to be an asset to the firm’s growing Mechanical HVAC systems and forensic evaluation service lines. Mr. Eliason may be reached at 713.869.0000.
January 31, 2011 – Tim Murray, LEED AP BD&C Joins Apollo BBC.
Tim Murray joins Apollo BBC as a Consultant. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Houston. For the last several years, Mr. Murray has worked as a LEED Facilitator and Interiors Team Manager for a renowned architectural firm in Houston, Texas.
Mr. Murray also has enjoyed a leadership role in local and national sustainability efforts, including several years of service acting as the Chair and as a member of the Board of Directors for the USGBC Greater Houston Area Chapter, Chair for the USGBC South Central Regional Council, and a member of the USGBC national Chapter Steering Committee.
Mr. Murray’s extensive background in sustainability will prove to be a tremendous asset and in our high performance buildings consulting practice. He may be reached at 713.869.0000.
January 3, 2011 – Jessica M. Thiebout, AIA Joins Apollo BBC.
Jessica M Hale joins Apollo BBC as a Consultant. Ms. Hale is an experienced architect, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from the University of Michigan and a Master of Architecture degree from Texas A&M University. For the last several years, Ms. Hale has worked as a Project Architect for a building enclosures consulting firm in Chicago, Illinois focusing on performance issues related to the walls and roofs of buildings. Ms. Hale’s technical background will prove to be an asset to the firm’s expertise and enhance our lines of service. Ms. Hale may be reached at 713.869.0000.
October 7, 2010 – Shepperd Presents Building Science to APT
Apollo BBC Principal Consultant Gordon Shepperd, PE, LEED AP presented Building Enclosure Non-Destructive Testing: Theory, Practice, Applications, and Limitations to the Association for Preservation Technology, International's (APT) annual conference as a part of the Workshop on Envelope Performance Testing, Modeling, and Monitoring. Mr. Shepperd stressed the need for a holistic, multiple building systems approach to diagnosing building problems, and discussed the application and limitations of air and water infiltration testing, as well as various moisture detection techniques.
For more information about the Association for Preservation Technology, International, see www.apti.org.
September 20, 2010 – Ashley Gray Joins Apollo BBC.
Ashley Gray joins Apollo BBC as a Consultant. Ms. Gray holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from Texas A&M University. Ms. Gray’s experience working for a mechanical systems design firm while in college and her stated career focus on mechanical HVAC systems and forensic evaluation will prove to be an asset to the firm’s expertise and enhance our lines of service. Ms. Gray may be reached at 713.869.0000.
July 26, 2010 – Alexandra Fox Joins Apollo BBC.
Alexandra Fox joins Apollo BBC as an Administrative Professional. Ms. Fox holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from St. Cloud University, Minnesota. Prior to relocating to Houston, Ms. Fox’s was previously employed at the Chopra Center in San Diego, as the Marketing Operations Assistant, where she was responsible for a host of tasks, including the coordination of many of the center’s training seminars and events. Ms. Fox may be reached at 713.869.0000.
May 17, 2010 – Laura Ostrovsky Joins Apollo BBC.
Laura Ostrovsky joins Apollo BBC to manage the firm's Business Development & Marketing efforts. A native Texan, Ms. Ostrovsky holds a Bachelor of Arts from Agness Scott College in Georgia and was previously employed as a Director of Marketing and Operations for a Houston structural engineering design firm where she established their marketing department and led the rebranding effort. Ms. Ostrovsky’s experience in branding, marketing, and business development will assist in the expansion of Apollo BBC’s national and international presence as she develops a new client base and markets for our services and coordinates our business development pursuits. Ms. Ostrovsky may be reached at 713.869.0000
November 17, 2009 – Shepperd Presents Sustainability to ACI Houston.
Apollo BBC Principal Consultant Gordon A. Shepperd, PE presented “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: The Big Picture of Green Building” to the Houston Chapter of the American Concrete Institute (ACI). Mr. Shepperd presented the case for reducing the impact that existing buildings have on the environment and the need to focus collective efforts on them to meet sustainability goals.
Mr. Shepperd is a Professional Engineer, LEED Accredited Professional, and a Principal with Apollo BBC. He is an expert on forensic evaluation of building enclosure systems and high performance building design and construction. He is also a Board Member of the Greater Houston Area Chapter of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), the President of the Texas Chapter of the Association of Preservation Technology, and an active participant in numerous technical organizations.
Apollo BBC actively pursues opportunities to reduce the impact that buildings have on the environment. We utilize our technical expertise in energy reduction measures, high performance building systems, and the implementation of durable materials to design and construct more sustainable buildings. By implementing Carbon Reduction strategies, we are able to quantify the savings that sound principals have on the environment in more than just dollars and sense.
For more information about Apollo BBC’s high performance building design and construction efforts, please contact us at info@apollobbc.com or at 800.370.5456.
October 15, 2009 – Shepperd Presents Sustainability to CATEE.
Apollo BBC Principal Consultant Gordon A. Shepperd, PE presented “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: The Big Picture of Green Building” to the Clean Air Through Energy Efficiency (CATEE) conference in Houston, Texas. Mr. Shepperd presented the case for reducing the impact that existing buildings have on the environment and the need to focus collective efforts on them to meet sustainability goals.
Mr. Shepperd is a Professional Engineer, LEED Accredited Professional, and a Principal with Apollo BBC. He is an expert on forensic evaluation of building enclosure systems and high performance building design and construction. He is also a Board Member of the Greater Houston Area Chapter of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), the President of the Texas Chapter of the Association of Preservation Technology, and an active participant in numerous technical organizations.
Apollo BBC actively pursues opportunities to reduce the impact that buildings have on the environment. We utilize our technical expertise in energy reduction measures, high performance building systems, and the implementation of durable materials to design and construct more sustainable buildings. By implementing Carbon Reduction strategies, we are able to quantify the savings that sound principals have on the environment in more than just dollars and sense.
For more information about Apollo BBC’s high performance building design and construction efforts, please contact us at info@apollobbc.com or at 800.370.5456.
September 16, 2009 – Andrea Baird, LEED AP Joins Apollo BBC.
Andrea Baird joins Apollo BBC as a Consultant. Ms. Baird holds Master of Architecture and Master of Civil Engineering degrees from University of Detroit Mercy. For the last several years, Ms. Baird has worked as an architectural designer at a multidisciplinary firm in Ann Arbor Michigan focusing on renovation construction. Later Ms. Baird worked as a structural designer at large engineering design firm in Chicago, Illinois where she focused on large scale steel and concrete structures. Ms. Baird’s technical background will prove to be an asset to the firm’s expertise and enhance our lines of service. Ms. Baird may be reached at 713.869.0000.
June 22, 2009 – Nemoto elected Vice President of IBPSA, Houston Chapter.
Apollo BBC Consultant Landon Nemoto was elected Vice President of the International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA) Houston Chapter. IBPSA is a non-profit international society of building performance simulation researchers, developers, and practitioners dedicated to improving the built environment. Members pledge to advance and promote the science of building performance simulation in order to improve the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of new and existing buildings worldwide.
Mr. Nemoto has experience in the areas of Building Enclosure Analysis, Forensic Analysis for Mechanical HVAC Systems, and Building Commissioning. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Science from the Trinity University and a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas in Austin. His modeling duties include wall assembly analysis and energy modeling.
More information about the International Building Performance Simulation Association may be found at www.ibpsa.org.
June 16, 2009 – Boone Presents Enclosure Commissioning to BEC Houston.
Apollo BBC Consultant Justin L. Boone, AIA presents “Enclosure Commissioning” to the membership of the local Houston Building Enclosures Council (BEC). Mr. Boone presented the commissioning process and benefits as they relate to building enclosures as well as Apollo BBC’s interpretation of compliance for the City of Houston Energy Code, which requires Building Commissioning of Envelope Systems as well as MEP systems for many new facilities.
Mr. Boone is an Architect and a consultant with Apollo BBC. He is an expert on forensic evaluation of building enclosure systems and high performance building design and construction. Mr. Boone is Co-Chair of the Houston BEC and an active participant in numerous technical organizations.
Houston BEC is an American Institute of Architects (AIA) affiliated organization and local chapter of the national Building Enclosure Technology and Environmental Council (BETEC). BETEC focuses on the performance and interaction of building envelope components and systems and their effect on the environment, and is a council of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS). For information about the Building Enclosures Council, including upcoming local events, please visit www.bec-national.org.
For information regarding the City of Houston Energy Conservation Code and its requirement of building commissioning, please visit www.publicworks.houstontx.gov/planning/enforcement/publications.htm. As an additional resource for the area’s design and construction industry, Apollo BBC also publishes www.houstoncommissioning.com, an informational web site.
Apollo BBC is currently acting as Commissioning Authority on numerous facilities throughout the United States. For more information about Apollo BBC’s high performance building design and construction efforts, please contact us at info@apollobbc.com or at 800.370.5456.
May 11, 2009 – Nemoto named SMPS Houston's 2009 Rising Star.
Apollo BBC Consultant Landon A. Nemoto is honored as SMPS Houston’s Rising Star for 2009. The annual Rising Star Award honors a current member of SMPS Houston who has worked in the marketing profession in the A/E/C industry for less than five years and who has demonstrated a commitment to the field of marketing professional services and has shown an aptitude for leadership through involvement.
Mr. Nemoto is currently acting as the Chapter's Coordinator's Council Chair and serves on the Education Committee.
For more information, please refer to www.smpshouston.com.
May 5, 2009 – Shepperd, Middlebrooks earn CRM Certification.
Apollo BBC Principal Consultants Gordon A. Shepperd and D. Reid Middlebrooks are awarded the professional designation of Certified Carbon Reduction Manager (CRM) from the Association of Energy Engineers. The CRM certification recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves as leaders in the growing field of carbon reduction and demonstrated high levels of technical expertise in energy management and environmental practices.
Apollo BBC actively pursues opportunities to reduce the impact that buildings have on the environment. We utilize our technical expertise in energy reduction measures, high performance building systems, and the implementation of durable materials to design and construct more sustainable buildings. By implementing Carbon Reduction strategies, we are able to quantify the savings that sound principals have on the environment in more than just dollars and sense.
More information about the Association of Energy Engineers may be found at www.aeecenter.org.
April 6, 2009 – Boone earns CSI’s CDT Certification.
Apollo BBC Consultant Justin Boone, AIA earns the Construction Specification’s Institute’s (CSI) Construction Documents Technologist (CDT) certification. This professional accreditation demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of the writing and management of construction documents and is a preliminary step in Mr. Boone’s goal of achieving CSI’s Certified Construction Specifier (CSS) designation.
CSI is a national association dedicated to creating standards and formats to improve construction documents and project delivery. The organization is unique in the industry in that its members are a cross section of specifiers, architects, engineers, contractors and building materials suppliers. For more information about CSI and their professional accreditation, see their web site at www.csinet.org.
March 2, 2009 – Lindsay Lewis Joins Apollo BBC.
Lindsay Lewis joins Apollo BBC. Ms. Lewis graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing from Western Oregon University. For the past
several years, Ms. Lewis applied her talents working for a residential development in Gearhart, Oregon. Ms. Lewis’ considerable skill set will prove to be an asset to the firm’s
areas of expertise. She may be reached at 800.370.5456.
February 2, 2009 – Middlebrooks earns CEM Certification.
Apollo BBC Principal Consultant D. Reid Middlebrooks is awarded the professional designation of Certified Energy Manager (CEM) from the Association of Energy Engineers. The CEM designation recognizes individuals who have demonstrated high levels of experience, competence, proficiency, and ethical fitness in the energy management profession.
Apollo BBC is currently engaged to provide energy conservation consulting services including energy simulation for several projects in the Houston area.
More information about the Association of Energy Engineers may be found at www.aeecenter.org.
December 17, 2008 – Nemoto earns LEED Accredited Professional Designation.
Apollo BBC Consultant Landon Nemoto earns the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP). The LEED Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED certification process. LEED APs have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and the LEED Rating System.
Apollo BBC is currently engaged as LEED Consultants and Commissioning Agents on several LEED registered projects, totaling over 3 million square feet. Mr. Nemoto routinely provides building commissioning services for these high performance, green buildings.
November 18, 2008 – Apollo BBC presents Sustainability to MWBE.
Apollo BBC Principal Consultant Gordon A. Shepperd, PE, LEED AP presented sustainable design and construction practices at Retrofit Houston: An MWBE Contractor Opportunity Conference. Mr. Shepperd discussed the LEED Rating System as well as the importance of sustainable design and construction practices to Minority or Woman-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE). The event is designed to educate local MWBE contractors about the array of business opportunities Houston’s energy conservation project will yield.
Mr. Shepperd is a member of the Board of Directors for the local Greater Houston Area Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and a Principal with Apollo BBC.
Apollo BBC is currently performing LEED Consulting Services, Building Commissioning Services, and Energy Simulation Services for over 20 LEED registered projects, totaling over 3 million square feet. Apollo BBC recently assisted in the Platinum level Pre-Certification of EcoCentre at Lake Pointe, a new LEED Core and Shell Project to be located in Sugar Land, Texas. This project is the Houston Area’s first Platinum Pre-Certified Building.
Additional sustainable design and construction resources may be found at www.usgbc.org as well as www.usgbchouston.org.
For more information about the presentation or to learn more about how Apollo BBC may assist your design or construction team, please contact Mr. Shepperd directly at 713.869.0000.
October 21 , 2008 – Apollo BBC presents Energy Simulation to Houston BEC.
Apollo BBC Consultant Justin Boone, AIA presents Whole Building Energy Simulation concepts and their benefits for early implementation in the design process to the Houston Buildings Enclosure Council (BEC). BEC is an organization centered on the design and construction of building enclosure systems. The presentation was given at the AIA Houston office to a gathering of Architects and Engineers.
Apollo BBC is currently performing Whole Building Energy Simulation to document the energy cost savings associated with design measures taken in high performance buildings. Our analysis evaluates the entire building, including orientation, construction (shading, assembly components, and high performance glazing), mechanical HVAC, lighting strategies, and specific operation of energy consuming systems.
For information about the Building Enclosures Council, including upcoming local events, please visit www.bec-national.org.
For more information about the presentation or to learn more about Apollo BBC’s energy simulation capabilities, please contact Mr. Boone directly at 713.869.0000.
August 27 , 2008 – Apollo BBC presents Commissioning to USGBC Houston.
Apollo BBC Principal Consultant D. Reid Middlebrooks, PE presents “Straight Talk Commissioning Facts” to the membership of the local Houston USGBC Chapter. This event was presentation and panel discussion by Mr. Middlebrooks, Jonathan Vaughn of Page Southerland Page and Keith Reihl of Reihl Engineering. Topics included a general discussion of Building Commissioning concepts, the association of Commissioning with the LEED Rating System, and the inclusion of Commissioning in the City of Houston’s new Energy Conservation Code.
Mr. Middlebrooks is a Board Member of the USGBC Houston Chapter and is actively involved in numerous Building Commissioning and LEED Registered projects. Apollo BBC regularly provides HVAC and Enclosure Commissioning services for construction efforts across the region. For more information about Apollo BBC’s sustainable design and construction efforts, please contact us at info@apollobbc.com or at 800.370.5456.
August 12 , 2008 – Apollo BBC presents Sustainability to the real estate industry.
Apollo BBC Consultant Justin Boone, AIA presents sustainable design and construction, practices at the Houston Green Buildings & New Technology Conference hosted by the Real Estate Communications Group. Mr. Boone participated as a panelist during a forum discussion on the USGBC’s LEED Rating System, sustainable land development practices, and the implications to the development community. Mr. Boone lent his considerable technical expertise in sustainable designing and construction practices to the forum. The event was attended by approximately 200 of the Houston area’s leaders construction, design, and development.
Other notable panels included Jeffery Brown of Powers Brown Architecture, W. O. Neuhaus of Studio Red Architects, Stephen Nash of Transwestern, and Paul Savage of Greenberg Traurig.
June 25, 2008 – Apollo BBC launches www.HoustonCommissioning.com.
In response to growing demand for information about Building Commissioning in the Houston construction and development market, Apollo BBC is proud to launch www.HoustonCommissioning.com. This new web presence is an informational resource focused on delivering practical information about the Commissioning Process, HVAC Commissioning, and Enclosure Commissioning as well as our interpretation of the requirements for commissioning activities associated with the City of Houston’s Energy Conservation Code.
The Building Commissioning Process is widely considered an industry “Best Practice” and has a proven track record for improving the functionality of building related systems and the quality of construction of assemblies.
June 16, 2008 – Amy Gelsone, LEED AP Joins Apollo BBC.
Amy Gelsone joins Apollo BBC as a Consultant. Ms. Gelsone recently graduated with a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Houston after completing an undergraduate degree from Harvard University. For the last year, Ms. Gelsone has instructed undergraduates in building science and environmental systems and actively engaged in sustainability consulting activities during her internship at an international, award winning architecture firm. Ms. Gelsone’s considerable skill set will prove to be an asset to the firm’s areas of expertise. Ms. Gelsone may be reached at 800.370.5456.
May 21, 2008 - Apollo BBC presents Sustainability to Girls Scouts of the USA.
Apollo BBC Consultant Justin Boone, AIA presents sustainable design, construction, and facility management practices to the Girl Scouts of the USA at a regional property management workshop held in Conroe, Texas. Mr. Boone discusses ways to “Green” the aging facilities that are operated by the Girl Scouts including conceptual topics such as conservation in construction and practical topics such as light bulb replacement strategies. Over 300 Girl Scouts of the USA facility professionals attended the event.
Apollo BBC is currently engaged to assist developers and designers in creating more sustainable buildings in the greater Houston Area and we were happy to share our expertise with the Girls Scouts of the USA. For more information about Apollo BBC’s sustainable design and construction efforts, please contact us at info@apollobbc.com or at 800.370.5456.
January 29, 2008- Apollo BBC registers “Better Answers.”
Apollo BBC receives notice that “Better Answers.” is now registered in the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office as a Service Mark, protecting its use. We believe that the mark “Better Answers.” embodies the spirit of our services, which is to provide realistic solutions to difficult building related issues and unsurpassed value to our clients.
Better Answers.
October 26, 2007 –Justin Boone, AIA earns LEED Accredited Professional Designation.
Justin Boone, AIA earns the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP). Apollo BBC is currently engaged as LEED Consultants and Commissioning Agents on several LEED registered projects, totaling over 2 million square feet. Mr. Boone is a Consultant with Apollo BBC and will provide expert consulting services supporting our efforts in sustainable and high performance buildings.
October 8, 2007 –Justin Boone, AIA Joins Apollo BBC.
Justin Boone joins Apollo BBC as a Consultant. Mr. Boone is an experienced architect, holding an architecture degree from Rice University and working for several architectural design firms prior to joining Apollo BBC. Mr. Boone’s considerable skill set will prove to be an asset to the firm’s expertise and enhance our lines of service. Mr. Boone can be reached at 800.370.5456.
July 23, 2007–Middlebrooks Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA).
Apollo BBC principal consultant D. Reid Middlebrooks, PE achieved certification from the AABC Commissioning Group (ACG) as a Commissioning Authority (CxA). Certification involves compliance with a professional experience requirement and examination. ACG issues certification in the name of the company and designated individual, who must be a registered engineer, licensed architect, or certified test and balance engineer. For more information about ACG, or building commissioning, please see www.commissioning.org.
June 2, 2007–AIA Sand Castle Competition, Galveston, Texas.
Apollo BBC professionals participated in the 21st Annual AIA Sand Castles Competition in Galveston, Texas. Apollo BBC contributed as part of English + Associates
Architects' team, whose theme was a Bento Box. For more information about the event, please refer to AIA Houston’s web site at www.aiasandcastle.org.
February 13, 2007 - Apollo BBC principal named Top 40 Under 40.
Apollo BBC Principal Consultant D. Reid Middlebrooks is named as Top 40 Under 40 by Building Design+Construction Magazine for 2007. Mr. Middlebrooks was selected from among 244 entrants as one of the brightest stars among national architects, engineers, and contractors, less than 40 years of age. For more information, please refer to www.bdcnetwork.com.
Apollo BBC is a multidisciplined consulting firm with headquarters in Houston, Texas. We are focused on becoming the premier building consulting firm in the United States.