When the well-known real estate company, ReMax Partners, wanted to relocate its offices, Owner, Sean Sanford, saw great potential in the former Furniture Row Outlet building located at 4424 Whipple Avenue, NW. He envisioned ReMax occupying 7500 square feet of the building, and leasing two spaces from the remaining 3500 square feet.

Sanford contacted H/D to develop a new exterior look for the existing building in order to create a new image for the agency. “We saw what Harris/Day was able to accomplish for Stark State College with the transformation of the old Mullinax Ford dealership into their new Automotive Technology Center, and were impressed,” said Sanford. “We wanted to create the same impact and curb appeal for our new ReMax offices.”

In order to achieve Sanford’s goals, H/D created an entirely new entrance at the north corner of the building for ReMax. The design concept provides a more traditional character/theme for the building with an urban streetscape feel and look. Currently the project is in the construction document phase and should be completed and open for business in March 2006.

Tennis Anyone?

If you’re a tennis player, whether it be competitive or just for fun and exercise, you’ll be happy to know there’s a new tennis facility in the works, and it should be open for volleys and aces next June.

The Paramount Tennis Club will be located east of Medina off Route 18. The indoor practice facility includes eight courts with locker rooms, a pro shop and spectator mezzanine area.

Harris/Day has been retained to provide both architectural design and construction management services. This combined contract approach will allow what is known as a ‘fast track’ design/construction schedule to expedite building construction and building occupancy. Based on a past building relationship, Jim Balzarini (one of the owners) was quite interested in H/D’s multiple services. “The ability of the Harris/Day team to handle both the design and construction end of the business allowed me to obtain critical information for my proposed project,” said Balzarini.

A quick design concept and construction budget was developed to assist Balzarini with his business plan, land purchase and mortgage financing.

Site planning was expedited to meet local township zoning approvals and meeting review deadlines. In addition, early construction packages for site development, building foundations, and structural steel were released before final building designs were completed to permit construction to begin prior to winter weather setting in.