Success story

Azura: A Resounding Success Story

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The development and successful Edgewater will be structurally complete sale of Azura’s first phase of 15 by the end of the year and is scheduled hotel residences, centered around for total completion in spring 2021. All the pool and bar, were completed last available hotel residences in Edgewater autumn. Construction on the second have sold. Six further residences are phase building, called Edgewater, which planned as the final phase of the sits oceanfront on the cliff immediately development, in a new building located above the beach, is well underway. on land above and behind Edgewater. These will also have exceptional ocean views. Work on this final phase is expected to begin toward the end of 2020 or early 2021.

Azura is a whole-ownership condominium resort property with a business strategy that has proven successful. “We have very low debt; in fact, we will be fully repaying our development lender in 2021,” says John Bush, developer and president of Clearwater Development Ltd., the investment group behind the resort. “The Azura business model is unique in Bermuda, and we are well on our way to establishing a critical mass of propertyowning clients and hotel guests, which will support the profitable operating requirements of the development’s hospitality aspect. The Azura Hotel can and will be a sustainable hospitality product for Bermuda. What’s more, given that each Azura hotel residence owner will own their own residence plus a

pro-rata share of the common areas, as a group, they will ‘control their own destiny’ going forward.”

Bush continues, “There are those out there who still confuse Azura with the fractional ownership model, but we are very different. We offer a fantastic alternative to buyers who would have traditionally looked at fractional options but who want more time in Bermuda, more flexibility in scheduling, and who value home equity and the ability to generate income through hotel rentals. The most recent market trend for vacation properties is toward whole ownership real estate, which can cover its own running costs and then some. Azura recognised this early and created a product type to specifically address that demand segment. Our residences are also available to Bermudians, non-Bermudians, and work permit holders, which offers flexibility should a purchaser ever decide they need to sell on.”

“We have a great community at Azura, with a couple of owners who live here full-time, while others have purchased so they can come and go from Bermuda as they choose,” says Bush. “All owners, including those living at the property full-time, will put at least one bedroom into the hotel room base for half of the year (each bedroom can be ‘locked-off ’ which makes fulfilling this minimum requirement easy). When owners are not in residence, they make part or all of their unit available as hotel inventory and then receive income from the hotel rentals.” “A home at Azura provides full ownership of a property but without the hassle of dealing with the maintenance,” continues Bush. “We take care of the upkeep and maintenance, in addition to providing hotel services. The Azura Hotel had its soft opening in January, and this summer we are offering owners and guests the amenities of the stunning pool and pool terrace, private beaches, and newly completed fitness center. Bar and catering services are still by private events arrangement and based on hotel demand, until the full hotel launch, which is now in spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 travel impact.”

Alex DeCouto, president of Greymane, who is both an investor in and builder of Azura, says, “Seeing the physical manifestation of our hard work at Azura come to life has been incredibly satisfying. The phase one site and buildings have created an amazing space for the owners and visitors, thanks to the vision and execution of John Bush at Clearwater Development and Jacob Hocking and his team at CTX Design. It is also a testament to the management, staff, and subcontractors on the Greymane team who have executed with professionalism, dedication, and a commitment to quality that we have come to be recognised for.

“We are extremely excited to see the next phase rise out of the hillside.

Typical interior of new homes

We have worked with the Azura team and gone to great lengths to isolate the construction site from the hotel operations. The new residences are going to be spectacular.”

Azura’s final real estate phase includes six residences perched at the highest point of the property, with exceptional views overlooking the ocean and featuring an infinity-edge rooftop pool. Architectural work by the CTX Design Group is nearing completion, and floorplans are now being released to the market. There are two, three, and four-plus bedroom options available for purchase, and building could begin as early as the end of the year once permits are in place. Q

KEY CONTRACTORS

• A-Z Fire Protection Ltd • Air Pro Ltd • Cabral’s General Contracting • ClearWater Systems Ltd • Commercial Office

Environments • Furniture Flair • Island Glass

The new BELCO power station

BELCO fuels up new engines

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In May 2019, many people turned being transported from Front Street to SPMT— a specially imported, remotely out to watch four huge MAN BELCO’s plant on Serpentine Road with controlled vehicle with 112 wheels. A 51/60 dual-fuel diesel generators a self-propelled modular transporter, or carefully planned 5km route was followed

CONGRATULATIONS TO

Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor A/S (BWSC) is proud to have delivered to Bermuda Electric Lightning Company Limited (BELCO) the state-of-the-art North Power Station. Designed to provide reliable and fuel- efficient power supply. While also providing a platform for enabling more renewable energy to be added in Bermuda; without compromising the stability of the electrical network.

BWSC, after having worked with BELCO and in Caribbean utilities for more than forty years, knows the region well and can deliver customised energy solutions meeting the region’s needs. Our solutions range from engine-based power plants to waste-to-energy and various renewable technologies. Whether it is additional capacity, upgrades, refurbishments and services, or integrating solar power or batteries into your system, BWSC is your energy partner in the Atlantic and the Caribbean.

BELCO construction in progress

to avoid damaging trees or the overhead utility infrastructure.

The engines had been manufactuered in Germany, then loaded aboard the MV Fairlane in Rotterdam and shipped to Bermuda.

The four engines have now been installed to replace eight engines scheduled for decommissioning over the coming months, as they are at the end of their useful life and have become costly to maintain. The maximum rated electrical output of the new plant will be 56 MW. To put this in perspective, the new engines can generate around 50% of the island’s peak power consumption during the summer months.

Each new engine weighs 280 metric tons. An alternator weighing 65 tons will be connected to each engine, so creating a suitable site on which to locate these new engines was a unique challenge.

The main powerhouse structure erected around the engines, alternators, and auxiliary systems is a steel frame building with a cast concrete roof and a multi-layer noise-attenuating cladding wall system. On the north side of the site is a threestory electrical annex, which is a field cast concrete structure.

These structures have been built on what was a reclaimed marsh. Prior to construction, geotechnical engineers conducted surveys to examine the site. Augered micro piles were used to minimise the disruption to neighbors during construction, rather than using driven piles, which can be quite noisy and disturbing.

A specialist contractor also built a new concrete stack.

“Some of the older engines at BELCO, such as those that were installed in the early 1980s, are two-stroke engines and have created issues with ground-borne vibrations due to the local geology, and this has caused a nuisance to our neighbors,” explains Blair Smith, principal engineer – power generation, at BELCO.

“Since that time, BELCO has been constructing its plants with engines mounted atop large concrete seismic blocks which are in the order of 15 feet tall. This block sits on what we call air springs, which are basically inflated rubber cushions. This system essentially eliminates ground-borne vibrations.”

The new powerhouse foundation constructed for these engines has a similar design, but a difference exists in that the seismic masses have been reduced from 15 feet to five feet tall. The new engines sit on a steel spring support system, similar in some respects to a car, because it’s made up of shock absorbers and steel springs. These springs absorb more than 95% of the engines’ vibrational energy, with air springs under the concrete blocks absorbing any remaining energy. Thus, the dynamic loading effect on the ground is considered to be negligible.

“A lot of engineering has gone into this aspect of the plant,” states Smith. “The importance of avoiding any nuisance to our neighbors from the operation of this new plant is critical to BELCO.” Q

KEY CONTRACTORS

• Air Pro Ltd • Alternative Concrete Solutions • Atlantic Water Development

Ltd • BAC • Bate’s • BELCO • Bermuda Waterworks Ltd • BWSC • ClearWater Systems Ltd • D&J Construction Co Ltd • First Class Electrics • Highland Sanitation • Marshall’s Maintenance

Company • Perfect Pass Welding & Diving

Services • SunRise Construction Limited • Wilmott’s Trucking