We designed and implemented new HVAC, LED lighting and Fire Protection systems for the Mintflower Building and, as a result, we decreased their energy costs by 33%.
To find out more about our energy efficency services, email info@aircare.bm
Please call BELCO at least one week before any digging or trenching. We’ll visit your site to locate and mark underground cables. This free service helps to keep workers safe and prevents the interruption of your electricity supply.
For more information, email info@belco.bm or call 295.5111.
Falling branches cause most power outages.
At the beginning of hurricane season, trim your trees at least 10 feet from power lines to reduce storm related outages.
Call BELCO 3 weeks in advance to schedule a power shutdown so you can trim safely.
295.5111
Prestige
Prestige
www.prestigeautos.bm
Tel: (441) 296-3535
e-mail: prestigebda@gmail.com
www.prestigeautos.bm
e-mail: prestigebda@gmail.com
Whether you run a small company or a large corporation, we understand that countless hours have been invested to get it where it is today. Our philosophy is simple; your business, your coverage, your way. We offer a variety of commercial package policies that can be customized to meet your business insurance needs.
Together, let’s design an insurance solution that works for you and your business.
Having survived the depths of covid as a registered local charity, the Construction Association of Bermuda (CAOB) like other charities that rely on donations, managed to weather the storm by being proactive with our membership, forgiving dues, and planning for the future.
The CAOB has always had a sound fiscal policy and has used this to provide scholarships to Bermudians via www.bermudascholarships.com, where applicants can apply for funds to further their university education in a construction related discipline. This has traditionally has been in the engineering field, construction management, or quantity surveying/project management. Due to the lack of funds over the two years of the pandemic, we were unable to provide such financial assistance, but we are proud to announce that we can do so for 2023.
Thanks to the overwhelming support of our membership, we had an exceptional CAOB Scholarship Golf Tournament in October last year at Port Royal. Thank you to our title sponsor, H & H Plumbing Ltd, and our contributing sponsor, Greymane Builders Supply, for their phenomenal support.
A fantastic selection of candidates has already applied for our scholarship this year, and we are enthusiastic about the next generation of Bermudians to contribute to the construction industry.
We must also look at the viability of those that aren’t interested in the more ‘paperwork heavy’ side of the industry, those that enjoy being on site, and honing their skills and craft to produce top quality products. There are some encouraging signs of restarting trade schooling locally with particular emphasis on children as young as 8. Paget Primary School has a vision with legendary instructor Kevin Bean who is teaching hands on mathematics and practical carpentry skills to children who are keen to learn the trades. Both
he and Rick Richardson are graduates of the former Bermuda Technical Institute and Rick was instrumental in having discussions with the CAOB to plan a way forward. As with anything that requires materials to learn, there is always the supply side of things and
the CAOB with the assistance of D&J Construction Ltd., generously donated materials so that Mr. Bean could create a piece of equipment for the autistic members of the school. The children Mr. Bean is instructing assisted where they could with measurements, a plan and execution of the project.
The signature school initiative also appears to be coming together quite well. The CAOB has facilitated correspondence with the consultant and working group to ensure the students have access to the practical side of the trades. Our member company BAC/ Universal Electric Ltd have been instrumental in assisting to make this happen as they understand the role that industry plays in trade certification, which is a new beginning in Bermuda’s journey to building a new, locally trained, workforce.
We offer training programs across multiple craft areas. We have 40 instructors in Bermuda trained in the NCCER Curriculum. Reach out today and find out how we can help you.
Building on 15 years of experience. Supplying Bermuda with the only commercial grade solar panels with 40 year warranty
With several new large-scale installations completed and others underway, AES maintains its position as the preferred provider of solar energy on the island. In addition, with AES sister company, Solar Roof Maintenance Ltd., solar energy users have a seamless service to turn to when it is time to have their panels removed to paint their roof.
Founded in 2008 by Chartered Engineer, Tim Madeiros, AES has more experience and solar PV capacity installed in Bermuda than all other local providers combined. In the past 12 months, AES has increased its capacity to more than 4MW of installed capacity to its portfolio. AES recently completed the solar installation of 433kW on the Department of Public Transportation bus garage on Palmetto Road.
“The roof of the bus garage is an exciting project. It is large enough for us to install panels that will produce the maximum allowed of almost 500kW; this will make it the largest installation on a single roof surface in Bermuda”, says Mr. Madeiros.
Mr. Madeiros explains that “the combination of AES’s experience gained over the past 15 years, the quality of the workmanship, and the SunPower panels AES supplies exclusively in Bermuda, which consistently perform over the the long term, are just some of the reasons the company is so successful in winning the largest and most prestigious solar contracts.”
SunPower has recently announced that their commercial grade solar panels will be the only solar panel in the world with a 40 year warranty. This is because SunPower has been manufacturing solar since 1985 and has a track record for delivering world record breaking solar technology for power, efficiency, and
reliability.
“In contrast,” continues Madeiros, “when other solar panels available in the Bermuda market don’t deliver what was promised over 10 or 15 years, there’s no real recourse for the purchaser. Buying non-commercial grade solar panels may be tempting initially, but over time, the return on investment is very often significantly less with those brands than what you will receive from the SunPower panels we use at AES. That’s because the non-commercial grade panels degrade over time and end up not producing the power they promise.”
SunPower provides a 40-year warranty on power output, plus workmanship. “In other words” says Madeiros, “the SunPower warranty covers not only the power output of the panel, but the entire panel. So if the panel somehow loses its structural integrity — which I have not seen occur in my 15 years of installing these
systems — it’s completely covered by the warranty. You truly get a robust 40-year warranty that includes shipping to Bermuda and the labour to replace the item. No other manufacturer offers this coverage, and no other company in Bermuda is able to offer this value”.
AES and SunPower are focused on consistent, long term, value for the customer, ensuring that the customer’s adoption of solar energy is easy and seamless, for their business or household, over the 40-year warranty period and beyond. “Together with Solar Roof Maintenance Ltd., we have addressed what some said was a deterrent to going solar — the ongoing care of Bermuda slate or SKB roofs”, says Madeiros. “You can now have your solar panels removed, have your roof painted by the Solar Roof team, and your panels placed back on your roof and reconnected, all in one seamless service from a trusted provider.”
From the glory days of multiple major projects to the barren period of Covid, the past few years have been a rollercoaster ride for the construction industry.
Industry leaders are cautiously optimistic the next phase – a glut of small- to medium-sized jobs – is the first step towards a more stable future.
Proposed hotel developments such as at The Fairmont Southampton, Rosewood Tucker’s Point, White Sands Hotel and Munro Beach Cottages point to upgrades for the island’s tourism infrastructure; together with a buoyant residential market, it seems local builders are in for a busy few months.
Simon Tully, president of the Construction Association of Bermuda, says firms with good practices are already enjoying a boom.
“Contractors who have a solid reputation for quality of work,
comprehension of the task, good staffing levels and execution of the contract to the expected client levels are swamped with work,” he says.
Yet it’s perhaps wise not to get carried away just yet.
For a start, although many plans have been unveiled, the process towards them becoming a reality can be slow and complicated.
“What makes me feel optimistic is that there appear to be a higher number of medium-sized investments being contemplated by mostly local entities,” says Alex DeCouto, president of Greymane Construction.
“But part of me feels slightly less optimistic, as many of the large projects that were pushing to get off the ground six months ago have failed to make meaningful progress in getting to the starting line, such as The Fairmont Southampton and Ariel Sands.
“This is not a great sign, but also a symptom of how difficult it can be to get large projects off the ground in Bermuda.”
Mike Ewles, CEO at BCM McAlpine, is also cautious.
“Many of the larger potential projects have been planned for some time and, until we see work in the ground actually start, they remain potential projects,” he says.
“Rising interest rates and persistent inflation will definitely make these projects harder to finance, so we really need to get a couple of the larger projects started to feel confident that commercial construction is rebounding.”
Rival jurisdictions can offer lower acquisition, construction and operating costs than Bermuda.
“If we make it too difficult or uncomfortable for them, they will go elsewhere,” Ewles says.
DeCouto says the industry is more likely to thrive with multiple smaller jobs than when dominated by one or two huge developments.
“Mega projects tend to involve overseas firms with lots of temporary workers shipping their profits and proceeds off island,” he says. “These tend to create lopsided winners and losers in the industry, as only a handful of local firms might get involved.
“The local construction industry benefits more from investment below mega project level. I think ten projects at $10 million each has more meaningful long term sustainable impact for local firms and local workers than a single $100 million project.”
It’s certainly been an unusual few years for the construction industry.
The period leading up to 2020 saw a string of large developments including the new terminal at LF Wade International Airport, the St Regis Hotel, Belco’s new power plant and Caroline Bay at Morgan’s Point.
Then, of course, Covid brought a swirl of uncertainty in 2020-21.
Tully says Bermuda has “bounced back tremendously” since then, in tandem with the recovering global economy.
DeCouto says most people were surprised at how robustly the residential
market responded post-Covid, with a continuation of high-residential demand, a boost of pent-up small scale commercial spending and international business start-ups that fuelled demand for office fit-outs.
“While the absence of large-scale projects was no doubt felt, the drop in total employed in the industry has only been a small amount in 2020 and 2021 relative to previous years,” he says.
Smaller scale activity kept employment up, benefiting a broad range of almost exclusively local firms.
The value of new projects started in 2022 hit a five-year high, but this does not necessarily equate to good times.
“Because construction starts lag so far behind the decision to proceed, the construction industry is like the proverbial cruise ship in the ocean of the economy,” DeCouto explains.
“When the economy heats up, it can take a year or more for the industry to feel the impact after projects get from the drawing table to the job site.”
He warns of “clouds in the distance” such as rising interest rates and the possibility that demand might be cooling as people hesitate while making
big decisions. Overall, DeCouto expects 2023 to provide similar employment and value of work levels as 2022.
The most high-profile job is The Fairmont Southampton, which includes renovation of the hotel and creation of nearby residential and tourism units.
It has faced delays and opposition from neighbours and environmentalists but, at the time of going to press, was expected to start this year.
DeCouto and Ewles believe the Fairmont’s importance goes far beyond the construction industry.
“It is incredibly important that it succeeds to signal to the rest of the world that Bermuda can support tourism projects of this scale,” Ewles says.
“In most countries, construction is a barometer of the health of the overall economy, and a project of this scale will bring benefits beyond the project itself.
“International businesses have spoken out about the need for more bed count and Bermuda needs to help keep this key pillar of our economy strong and growing.”
DeCouto notes 30 per cent of the construction industry workforce is already non-Bermudian, so a task of this size will require additional resources
from off island.
But he adds: “No doubt there will be trickle-down benefits across a number of trades and firms, and the impact will almost certainly be positive for local firms.”
Other tourism-related work will include two five-storey hotel buildings on the edge of Rosewood Tucker’s Point in Hamilton Parish; the conversion of 40 hotel rooms into 18 suites at the White Sands Hotel in Paget; a tenstorey hybrid residential and tourism build in Warwick; and eight vacation
villas, clubhouse and pool at Munro Beach Cottages in Southampton.
There’s also a new global headquarters for Brookfield Reinsurance in Front Street; three new three-storey warehouse buildings at Gorham’s in Pembroke; the conversion of Victoria Hall in Hamilton into a working urban farm; and the conversion of a dilapidated cottage into a meeting and horticultural centre inside the Arboretum in Devonshire.
DeCouto notes the Green family has bought the partially developed site
at the Belvedere Building from West Hamilton.
“They are the best kind of developer for the Bermuda construction industry,” he says. “They use local firms and are continually investing in physical infrastructure.”
One of the biggest challenges for the industry has been the soaring price of concrete and block – up by more than 50 per cent in a year after a main local quarry ran out of material.
DeCouto is concerned the concrete supply chain has been monopolised by a few major players.
“I am very worried that these price increases will contribute to a lack of feasibility in development projects in Bermuda in the near future,” he says.
“The industry is still coming to terms with this. Many contractors and projects have just swallowed the increase due to contract terms, while other projects
are either still negotiating or have reconsidered the volume of work or whether to go ahead at all.”
Ewles notes Bermuda is already an expensive place to build because of its geographical location.
“Anything that increases cost is problematic and will make potential projects less viable,” he says.
“There are many alternate forms of construction used around the world, but these have typically been unsuitable for Bermuda due to our code requirements regarding hurricanes and corrosion, and the high quality of building that results and the cost of importing these systems.
“They may now be more viable versus our traditional block and concrete methods and will need to be evaluated, but the cost of building is going to increase and that is not really good for anyone.”
Tully also points to potential
problems with staffing levels due to Bermuda’s ageing, small population.
“It is increasingly difficult to find staff due to opportunities in other fields with less physical workloads,” he says.
“It is increasingly evident that contractors are retiring, and fewer general contractors are replacing them in the industry as well.
“Lack of a consistent, trade-based schooling or vocational programme is also hindering young people from getting any sort of experience or introduction to the trades, let alone trade certification.”
Yet, for those who get the basics right, he insists the future is bright.
“If you have the right attitude and transportation you’re going to be gainfully employed across the range of trades from masonry to drywall to home automation, and everything you can think of in between.”
The period leading up to 2020 saw a string of large developments
AIRCARE says you can reduce energy usage and reduce greenhouse gases
Your HVAC system is most likely your property’s largest consumer of energy, which increases costs and can impact the environment. However, with careful thought, planning and action, you can ensure your climate control products are as energy efficient and environmentally friendly as possible. Some of the key factors to consider are:
Replacing/Installing heating and cooling equipment with modern, energy efficient equipment can reduce energy use by as much as 50%1, in addition to significantly reducing unnecessary CO2 emissions. Property owners can check for the following energy efficiency ratings prior to purchasing an HVAC system:
1. Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio/ Rating (SEER): the cooling output of an air conditioner over a typical cooling season, divided by the energy it uses in Watt-hours.
2. Heating Seasonal Performance Factor Rating (HSPF): the total heat delivered by the device during normal usage divided by the amount of electricity it takes to deliver that heat.
3. Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER): the air conditioner’s capacity is divided by the air conditioner’s power based on a fixed set of conditions (outdoor temperature, indoor temperature, and relative humidity).
The higher the energy rating, the more energy efficient the unit. Energy ratings can be provided for each system supported by AIRCARE to ensure you know the efficiency of the system you are purchasing.
Setting HVAC systems to an optimal, energy efficient temperature – such as 780F in the summer and 680F in the winter –will ensure that you’re heating and cooling systems are not wasting energy and money or emitting extra, unnecessary greenhouse gases.
To ensure your HVAC system is running at optimal efficiency, a regularly scheduled maintenance plan should be developed and executed. The plan will ensure your system’s longevity and efficiency along with ensuring your system is as
friendly to the environment as possible. AIRCARE takes a proactive approach through the development of a preventative maintenance plan to ensure your investments continue to work efficiently, to minimise potential issues before they become large, expensive repairs and to save you time, money, and worry in the long run.
AIRCARE offers a range of energy efficient, proven, effective air purification products and services to significantly reduce the harmful pollutants in your home; in addition to the latest energy efficient HVAC systems from the world’s leading manufacturers including Daikin and Midea.
In order to maximise efficiency, AIRCARE works with you to determine your needs and takes a measured approach that includes preventative maintenance, energy audits and recommendations, integrated system design, installation, testing and energy management and automation systems. Once a system has been agreed, AIRCARE technicians can take care of full system installation, management, testing, create custom controls, alarms and notifications and provide detailed energy usage analysis and reports to demonstrate cost savings and improved indoor air quality and comfort.
For more information on how to improve heating and cooling efficiency, indoor air quality and ultimately lower costs visit www.aircare.bm or call 2927342 to arrange a consultation.
1https://www.regulations.doe.gov/eecompass
For the past 117 years, Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited (BELCO) has been proudly powering the homes and businesses of Bermuda. During that time, much has changed; consumption of electricity has grown exponentially, and our system has been continually improved and adapted to meet the needs of our customers, always working to make the system safer, more economical, and more reliable. We have also learned over the decades about the environmental impact of our power generation operations, and we have worked steadily to remediate historical damage while seeking new, more sustainable methods of generating electricity.
In April 2020, our North Power Station (NPS), which is comprised of four generating assets, was commissioned to replace inefficient and outdated engines with modern, efficient engines. Alternative
power generation technology is improving, and we believe now, more than ever, there is an opportunity to transition to economical, large-scale, renewable power for Bermuda. Going forward, our focus is on achieving Net Zero by 2050 through the use of battery energy storage systems; offsetting emissions; energy efficiency measures; the introduction of more renewable energy sources to our energy mix; and upgrading our transmission and distribution infrastructure to accommodate the intermittent nature of most renewable technology.
Since inception, BELCO has installed numerous power generating assets along with smokestacks to meet the island’s energy demands. With the installation of the North Power Station and our Battery Energy Storage System along with our commitment to a sustainable energy future for Bermuda, we have been able to retire a number of generating units
through our Asset Retirement Project. Of our generating assets installed from 1975 onwards, we have been able to demolish and safely dispose of 12 diesel engines, 3 gas turbines and 5 smokestacks. Not only does the Asset Retirement Project address a number of safety concerns on-campus, along with a number of the operational and environmental concerns of our stakeholders, but it also creates usable space for our future diversification requirements, increases the aesthetic appeal of our facility, remediates any historical damage to the property, and will ensure the safe removal of hazardous material.
The Asset Retirement Project is confined to the BELCO central plant with the demolition portion of the project expected to reach completion by the close of 2023.
As the energy industry has evolved over the past century, BELCO has strived to go above and beyond in terms of safety and service to the community while evolving with the industry. We are committed to investing in Bermuda’s sustainable energy future; however, we recognise that change does not happen overnight. The amalgamation of all the small steps we take will bring us success and we are excited about the progress we have made so far. We encourage all of our stakeholders to remain connected with us because this is only the beginning!
To connect with BELCO and learn more about the Asset Retirement Project progress, visit www.belco.bm.
The Uptown Development Authority (UDA) stands at the forefront of Bermuda’s revitalisation efforts, focusing on the redevelopment of the North East Hamilton area. Born out of the Government’s mandate to support and drive economic growth, the UDA plays a pivotal role in transforming this historically significant region into a vibrant and prosperous hub. Central to its mission are the Approved Residential Schemes (ARS) and the Department of Planning’s NE Hamilton Local Plan, acting as catalysts for development.
The UDA plays a critical role in attracting local and foreign investment to the area, fostering economic growth, and creating employment opportunities by
acting as a liaison between developers and Government Departments.
Through targeted initiatives, it helps to facilitate business development and community engagement, aligning with the Government’s vision for a flourishing North East Hamilton.
Recognising the untapped potential of North East Hamilton, the Government, through the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), established the UDA to spearhead the
area’s transformation. By empowering entrepreneurs, community residents, and developers through ARS, the Government seeks to stimulate growth in Bermuda’s economy.
The UDA’s creation represents a bold commitment to breathe new life into North East Hamilton, harnessing its rich history, cultural heritage, and strategic location. With a forward-thinking vision, the UDA endeavors to create a thriving urban environment that attracts residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
North East Hamilton represents the northeast quadrant of the City of Hamilton, comprised of 59.5 acres or 25 square blocks consisting of over 300 households and over 200 businesses. This area is an untapped resource that can provide developers with the same accessibility to the City but for a more affordable price.
For more information visit www.uda.bm. For information on the N E Hamilton Local Plan: www.planning.gov.bm . Those interested in support from the BEDC or to learn what financial incentives exist: www.bedc.bm
OBMI presents a case study in repairing an 1879 Salvation Army building
OBMI Bermuda works closely with contractors using the most up to date construction methods for new build and extensions; however, for older properties, a more traditional approach may be more appropriate to preserve their unique character and maintaining Bermudas architectural heritage.
The Salvation Army building is a delightful grade 2 listed building that is discreetly tucked away along Governors Alley in St. George’s. Built originally in 1879, with embellishments added to the exterior several years later to give the building a somewhat gothic appearance with a robust stature that reflects the military undertones.
The building was showing signs of degradation. OBMI worked hand in hand with contractors, Kaissa Ltd., and the client, against a limited budget, to address the essential repairs required to the building envelope and structure.
The building had numerous water ingress issues, particularly along the joint between the main roof and flat roof extension that was added in the 1980’s.
The church roof has now been fully refurbished by Kaissa Ltd. with a high performance acrylic elastomeric coating, and the exterior walls treated and painted
with a high-performance paint to prevent further damp and water ingress issues.
It was fundamental to make the roof water-tight whilst also addressing the structural integrity of the 142-year-old purlins (wooden beams) that support the main church roof. A number of the wood purlins were showing signs of distress from visual inspection. Following further investigation, it was found the purlins sat between timber blocks mounted to a timber wall plate. These had rotted beyond repair given they sat between the purlins and the damp Bermuda stone. Initially, a modern solution of steel rod and concrete was discussed. However, considering the compatibility with the soft Bermuda stone it was decided that
a ‘like for like’ replacement would be the most appropriate, cost effective and sympathetic to the original building and construction techniques.
Since
Among the many kinds of resorts worldwide, hotel communities, made up of solely full-ownership condominiums, have proved popular in recent years. A home and a hotel in one, these residences appeal to those who seek a private, upscale vacation home with the perks and services of hotel living.
One of the most promising of these in Bermuda is Nautilus in Warwick, where there has been substantial construction progress over the last year, despite ongoing challenges in the building environment. Located on a two-acre plot of land directly west of Azura Bermuda, the Nautilus resort is an exclusive collection of oceanfront hotel residences.
Greymane is the official construction manager for the works across the Nautilus property, working closing with their subcontractors.
Nautilus residences provide owners and their guests a turn-key hotel residence with valuable flexibility in mind: to use as a second home base, and when desired, to have their residence professionally managed and rented to hotel guests for income.
John Bush, the developer and President of Island Realty, said, “We are excited to see the first new hotel residence building, Nautilus Beach Residences, proceeding on schedule for a late 2023 completion. These 12 hotel residences were all sold preconstruction and will provide a significant increase in the hotel rooms inventory. In addition to this building, a spectacular new Ocean Pool is nearing completion at beach level, providing a substantial structural reinforcement of the foreshore/cliffs and a spectacular amenity for hotel guests.”
The first development step at Nautilus was the transformation of the original Nautilus House, which sits on the hill at the heart of the property with sweeping views of the South Shore.
Nautilus House will ultimately become two hotel residences, both of which sold pre-construction, and a stunning new wellness space. The top floor of Nautilus House has undergone a thoughtful
renovation and contemporary expansion by CTX Design, which completed in May 2022. It is now a spectacular 3,000 sq. ft. 3-bedroom hotel residence and earlier this spring, was awarded the Bermudian Magazine’s Best of Bermuda Award for Interior Design. At the house’s garden level will be a 750 sq. ft. studio hotel residence which will be completed later this year, along with an inspiring ocean-facing fitness and wellness area planned to complete in 2024.
Below Nautilus House, nestled into the hillside, construction is quickly progressing on the new oceanfront 19,000 sq. ft. building called Nautilus Beach Residences which directly overlooks the beach and the new Saltwater Ocean Pool amenity. This building contains 12 luxury hotel residences, all of which have sold. This includes three 1-bedroom units, two 2-bedroom units and seven 3-bedroom units. Completion of construction remains on track for the end of 2023.
Natural to any oceanfront development on this part of the Island, a large part of the foundation work for the Nautilus resort has been the repair and stabilisation of the cliffs along the beach and the
expansion of the existing beach path down to the water’s edge. This has special significance at Nautilus because of its incorporation of a unique amenity — a new saltwater ocean pool at beach level, set to complete in early autumn 2023. This exciting new 25-yard lap pool was inspired by the iconic beach pools along the coast in Sydney, Australia. It is
anchored by palm trees, fed directly by the ocean, and aside from being a unique amenity for the Nautilus Hotel, the ocean pool’s concrete foundations will provide excellent protection from cliff erosion and storm surge.
Nautilus will have high-end amenities in addition to the Ocean Pool, including a spa pool behind Nautilus House, a fitness
and wellness center with spectacular ocean views, a yoga studio, and treatment rooms.
The Nautilus hotel and residences continue to progress with great success. In May 2023, planning approved the next residential building, Nautilus Ocean Residences, and within the preview phase, 50% of these new luxury homes sitting on the highest point of the property were immediately reserved.
The Ocean Residences is an intimate collection of spacious premium hotel residences with magical ocean views over the resort and Bermuda’s South Shore. These new homes will be among Nautilus’s most elevated yet in terms of interior finishings and upgraded features. Construction is planned to commence in autumn 2023, with completion envisioned for the end of 2024.
• Bermuda Supply
• Cabral’s General Contracting Ltd
• Efficiency Limited
• Greymane
• H&H Plumbing and Mechanical
• Island Glass Ltd
• Lighthouse Construction Project Management
• Pembroke Tile & Stone
• Primeworks Property Services
Bermuda’s most exclusive hotel now has two luxurious residential buildings to go with it.
Gates Bay Residences opened in 2023 as part of the St Regis Bermuda Resort complex at Fort St Catherine in St George’s.
It comprises 15 private properties with five-star beachfronts, offering breathtaking ocean views, and is a mirror image of the Jobson’s Cove Residences building that opened on the site two years ago.
This means, in total, The Residences at St Regis now has 30 units where people can enjoy the St Regis experience all the year round.
Between them, the five-storey Residences span nearly 700 linear feet of oceanfront property – and with just three units per floor there is plenty of space. Units range in size from 2,200 sq ft to 4,700 sq ft.
The only difference between the two residential buildings is that Gates Bay boasts a pool on the ground floor for the exclusive use of owners and guests.
It marks the latest step in the St Regis development, which has long been regarded as a key part of Bermuda’s tourism package and the rejuvenation of St George’s. Ground was broken on the hotel in 2017 and, despite interruptions from Covid-19 lockdowns and three
hurricanes, the resort opened in 2021.
For Gates Bay Residences, designers OBMI created an old-school Bermuda feel with a modern twist to match the overall look of the St Regis resort.
Hilary Haldeman, sales manager at The Residences at the St Regis Bermuda, says: “The designers sought to ensure the property reflected Bermuda’s unique architectural style while adding contemporary elements that further
deepen the luxury experience and add value to the overall guest experience.”
Signature Bermudian white roofs and shutters have been painted with seafoam green to pay homage to the local style. The whole property, including the resort and both Residences, have curving multileveled rooflines.
“From an architectural standpoint, the building, its geometry, its function and its traditional styling punctuated with modern accents is meant to honour Bermuda: a harmonious blend of history with modern luxury,” Haldeman says.
Materials, interiors and finishing touches complement the site’s natural lustre and history. Partially buried stone paths mimic the region’s history while creating an organic base for the landscape, which Haldeman says adds depth to the guest experience.
Bermuda’s history – right back to the initial settlement in 1609 – is a key part of the St Regis appeal. The hotel and residences are built off St Catherine’s Beach and look out to the spot where the Sea Venture crashed more than 400 years ago, leaving those first residents stranded
on the island.
For the best view of that historic spot, try the penthouse suites on the fifth floor of each Residence – there’s a private rooftop terrace with a pool overlooking the ocean.
The Residences feature a fully integrated planning, architectural, engineering, and interior finish package.
Guest rooms are the verdant colours of the natural environment and designed to
reflect the Bermudian culture. Open floor plans and structural concrete foundations create an atmosphere that is grand yet gracious.
Living spaces have nine-to-ten foot ceilings, with wood and stone tile flooring and large double-hung and casement windows.
Each bedroom has an ensuite bathroom with marble floors, polished chrome or nickel faucets, granite vanity tops,
Kohler fixtures and showers finished in marble. Master bathrooms have a separate lavatory.
Exterior doors and windows are electrostatically finished and aluminiumframed with impact resistant glass, and doors are fire-rated.
Exterior materials are energy-efficient EIFS or similar; walls and ceilings are steel-framing and gypsum wallboard.
Openings to balconies are sliding glass doors and each residence has generous outdoor living space. There are lock-up owner storage rooms for every residence, while each has a laundry closet and individually controlled cooling, ventilation, and hot water.
Haldeman says the Gates Bay building intentionally complements the hotel and scenery.
“The Gates Bay Residences is identical to the Jobson’s Cove Residences from the interior and exterior,” she says. “It will blend perfectly into the existing scenery and complement the entire property.”
Ownership of the units comes with full access to the hotel amenities, including membership of the neighbouring Five Forts Golf Club which has ocean views from almost every hole. The hotel also has a spa, fitness centre, swimming pools including a whirlpool and private cabanas, as well as several fine dining restaurants and a bar which hosts a nightly champagne sabering.
Units are available to local and international purchasers and tours can be arranged for interested parties. They’re available for whole ownership sale, but owners can also place their unit in the hotel rental programme, which means they’re available for hotel guests to book and stay in.
• BCM Construction
• BELCO
• Bermuda Supply
• BUE
• Crisson Construction Ltd
• D&J Construction Co Ltd
• Easy Lift Rentals
• Mass Ltd
• Pimental’s Crane Service
• SAL Trading Limited
• Somers Isle Shipping
The centre of Hamilton is fast becoming a viable option for people to live. A new 8-storey building on the site of the former Reid House on Church Street, boasts a total of 60,000 sq. ft. and features a variety of units from studio apartments to 2-storey penthouses, ranging in size from 450 sq. ft. to 4,400 sq. ft.
Despite the level of variety, Sabrina Phillips, a director of the development company, explains that the units share some common design features that residents will find attractive.
“We focused on maximising the use of the building area, followed by ensuring that each unit is designed with lots of light and privacy,” she says. “All the units have an open plan kitchen and living room design. By city living standards, the rooms are larger than what is typically found. The bathrooms are also quite comfortable in size, the bedrooms are larger than most within the city and most units have large walk-in closets. Each unit also has a private outdoor patio area that is not visible from another unit.”
Of course, all projects come with some level of challenge and building in Hamilton can add another layer to that. 33 Church Street spans two lots, one of which had an existing 6-storey building that needed to be demolished before construction could begin. This was further complicated by the site’s adjacency to the iconic, 200-year-old Anglican Cathedral and its attached electrical sub-station.
“Under the direction of our onsite project manager, we were able to demolish the building without incident,” says Ms. Phillips. “Construction within the City is always a challenge, given the lot sizes and limited area for construction equipment. We have worked closely with the City of Hamilton’s operations manager, Mr. Somner, to minimise disruption to the traffic and pedestrian flow in the area.”
Ms. Phillips also explains that they were able to retain significant boundary walls from the demolished building, which served well in minimising any excavation. The building is constructed of structural steel, concrete floor slabs and cement block. The footages of the building are a combination of steel footings embedded in concrete and concrete footings with significant amounts of reinforced steel rod.
“We are very pleased with the structural
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design of the building by Entech Limited’s Dave Ramrattan and Vanessa Turner,” says Ms. Phillips. “The building is designed with a central steel frame that is tied together with a typical concrete block structure on the north and south ends of the building.”
Building designers, CTX Design, implemented many architectural features that “give the building a soft inviting feeling”. The building’s exterior design is contemporary and intended to mask the size of the building which is set back from the southern boundary on Church Street.
“When viewing the buildings northern and southern elevations, the building appears to be built to the extreme east and western boundaries, however the central area of the building is set back from the boundaries on the east and west by about 15 feet on each side,” explains Ms. Phillips. “This provides a degree of privacy for the units.”
All units will have private outdoor covered spaces and all windows and doors will be double glazed hurricane grade, low E glass. Water is provided by two tanks on site. One with potable water and another that collects grey water and serves as the fire tank to supply the building’s sprinkler system. In addition, there is piped water supplied to the building by Bermuda Waterworks.
“Any building over 4-storeys is required to have a fire pump,” she says.
“You want to have a guaranteed supply of water for the fire system because if your water tank is low and you have a fire it doesn’t help you. We are making use of the run-off water from the roofs and the patios to store in a fire tank which fills up quickly.”
33 Church Street will also feature several communal amenities including secure parking, a residents-only gym, a relaxing common room/games room, a roof top patio, and an outdoor private garden area. There will also be commercial space on the property, presently scheduled to house a retail store, a spa and full-service hair salon.
“The only planning requirement was for private patio space for each unit,” says Ms. Phillips. “We have added space for these additional services to benefit the residents and as an attraction to
residents.”
Ms. Phillips says the project is scheduled to be completed by the Spring of 2024 and that the building is likely to attract business travelers and executives looking to live and work in the City.
“The idea of city living is that you’re close enough to anything that you need and then, right on site, we have included these additional services.”
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Hidden away on the historic Sea View property, overlooking Cambridge Beaches in Sandys, was the ruin of what owners, Jo Stanton and Jonah Jones, say was once a greenhouse. All that remained of the original structure was a wall and two columns, which have been transformed into a charming, 846 square foot guest
cottage, with a traditional look at the front, and a more modern take at the back.
Designed by Sue Bendell, Design Director at Bendell Design, who worked alongside Architectural Technologist, Rick Evans, ‘Greenhouse’ is a onebedroom, one-bathroom cottage with an open-plan chef’s kitchen, living and
dining room, verandah, full-length roof terrace and even an outdoor shower.
“Because it’s an historic property, we had to work within the footprint of the existing stone structure that was here, as well as the height, so we had quite a restrictive footprint to work with,” explains Bendell.
This was also part of the reason for
designing a traditional look for the front of the cottage, including custom Dutch front door, in a striking turquoise colour, along with custom accoya wood windows and shutters, all made by BS&R. On the inside, the windows have been stained so “they wouldn’t look like unfinished lumber,” she continued.
Outside, the cottage is a cement wash, giving it a natural feel.
At the rear, a full-width Nana Wall
glass system, which opens the indoor living room up to the outdoor verandah, cantilevered stairs leading up to the roof terrace, and surrounding glass railings, complete the more contemporary look.
“We wanted to make the back part of the building quite modern so there was this bit of surprise when you walked through the door,” says Bendell. “It’s very traditional at the front and then you walk in and it’s not what you expect.”
The property has a right of way onto Cambridge Beach and, because of its close location to the beach, the size restrictions, and the fact the structure was once a greenhouse, the owners wanted the cottage to be light and airy, with a coastal feel.
In addition to all the windows and the Nana Wall, four large skylights bring a mass of natural light into the main open plan living area. The ceiling has been layered with wooden beams and stained
in a warm grey colour, which blends into the indoor-outdoor ‘Irene’ ceiling fans by Atlas. Subtle tracked lighting sits on some of the beams.
Simple, light and bright, the en suite bathroom has its own glass fronted door leading out onto the deck and outdoor shower, which has been designed with its own accoya frame for the shower curtain, should you want it for privacy. Matching pops of grey-blue glass tiles in the indoor and outdoor shower areas as well as above a simple pedestal sink, add to the coastal feel.
While Greenhouse is currently for guests, Stanton and Jones may decide to use it themselves one day. In addition to being an artist, Jones is also a chef, so the kitchen had to be designed accordingly.
“The kitchen is really large,” points out Bendell. “They wanted it full sized, but to keep it open.”
There are therefore, no overhead cabinets and all the appliances are low. The cabinets are white with chrome hardware, and the countertops a white-grey, giving it a clean and spacious look. A laundry and desk area has also been incorporated off to one side.
Minimalist, but stylish ‘Ceilo’ pendant
lights by Pablo Designs hang above the kitchen-island style seating area, and a light grey porcelain floor tile from Bermuda Brickyard has been used throughout all the indoor and outdoor living areas creating natural flow throughout all the spaces.
In contrast to the light, clean colours for all the fixtures and fittings are Jones’s own show-stopping paintings and the other soft furnishing and furniture colours that complement them. These were all chosen by the owners and among the subtle greys and whites are bright shades of blue and turquoise. This colour scheme continues up onto the roof terrace, and includes a
very large, fixed umbrella from Island Trading. Up here, you can enjoy views not just of the beach and sunsets, but also the mature gardens around the property. Particularly close are two trees which had to be protected. These are a rare Lignum Vitae and a tall Washingtonia Palm, which the owners call ‘Eric’.
“You can see Eric from way offshore,” says Bendell. “It’s right on the edge of the site, pretty close to where they had to dig down to do the footings. We were frightened for Eric!” Eric, luckily, survived.
Another challenge during the construction phase was how close the
property is to sea level: “We did hit some water in one corner of the excavated area,” she continues, “but the contractor, Byland Construction, successfully dealt with that.”
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A Bermudian inspired property designed as a downsized retirement home
Built next to a woodland reserve, there is a steep hillside on the northern side of this charming
new home. The architects created the appearance of a single story cottage, while also taking advantage of the hillside to
create a storey below. There is a total of 3,200 sq. ft. over the two floors. Many traditional Bermuda architectural
elements have been incorporated, with a grey cement wash exterior with white trimmings, gable roof, and Flemish style detailing at the entrance.
The one-bedroom home features single level living, with a large open living room, dining room, with French doors leading to a walk-out terrace. The layout is a barrier free design intended for the homeowner’s long-term plans.
On the lower level there is a bathroom, laundry room, garage, and additional storage space.
Inside, a traditional fireplace is a focal point. The concrete staircases inside and outside include custom cut-out detailing to allow natural light to pass through. The kitchen and millwork are all custom made. A lot of the finishes are brushed nickel, contrasting with pastel-colored walls, light millwork finishes and darker ceramic floors throughout.
The outdoor terrace has been created as an all-season patio space. It enjoys 180-degree views of the golf course and is perfect for hosting large gatherings or enjoying a quiet morning coffee.
Integrated planters are carefully
designed around the property to help with the overall scale of the home. Indeed, the homeowner loves gardening, and plans to plant beautiful flowers and fruit trees, Bermuda cedars and other endemic species, throughout the property. Although there are already many mature trees and plants, landscaping plays a crucial role for nestling the home in the hillside, while creating privacy.
The homeowner is very eco-conscious and the property will have many energy efficient features, including an array of solar panels and storage batteries — with the ability to expand the number of batteries for the home in the future as required.
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on the progress that has been made on this beautiful Tucker’s Town Home.
The Sodergren residence on St Anne’s Road in Southampton may have been purpose built for owners who want to age-in-place but it has been done so without cutting any style corners in the process. In fact, the complete opposite.
With its flat roof, interesting shapes and angles, concrete floors, cement wash, monochrome palate, open plan living space and floor-to-ceiling hurricane grade windows, the house is both unique and striking in its modern style.
“The owners wanted something that was very contemporary,” said Architect Geoff Parker. “They’d lived in a very traditional house all their life. They were retiring and just wanted something fresh and they were adamant that they didn’t want a Bermuda cottage.”
One concession to tradition is the roof parapet features, which, continued Parker are “deliberate to soften it.”
The result is a 2,300 sq. ft. two-bedroom, two-bathroom main house with a 1,500 sq. ft. two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment underneath. There are also stables for up to three horses being built on the 0.95-acre property. Construction began in December 2021.
The main house is all on one level, including zero thresholds, which is helpful for seniors, but provided a particular challenge for the verandah, which has a 27-foot-wide opening from the living area and, although deep, still needed to have a drainage system to guarantee no rain could get inside:
“An amazing amount of work went into getting the structure of these just right,” explained Lead Designer, Kris Hedges, who is also project managing the construction. Because the verandah is cantilevered, rebar extends all the way back.
“We had to create a trough for these to sit in,” he continued, “and so all the rebar drops down and goes around.”
The reason for the cantilevering is the complicated topography of the site, which is a steep slope with south shore exposure. While not ideal for a single-floor home, clever design and engineering has resulted in a large, open, airy house with breath
Retired couple shun a traditional Bermuda cottage for retirement in favour of something very contemporaryventilate the house
taking south shore views from almost every indoor and outdoor living area.
The indoor hub of the home is a large, open plan kitchen, dining and living area, which leads out onto a deep covered verandah with a swimming pool and hot tub, again, designed specifically with the age of the owners in mind.
“It’s a single depth pool. There’s a handrail and there’s also a bench on the side,” said Hedges, who added that there will be “a waterfall edge on the two sides and then the spa will also have a flow into the pool.”
There is an alternative outdoor courtyard-style seating area around the eastern side of the house, which includes a gas fireplace, the wall for which conveniently provides extra privacy for the pool.
There is even a courtyard ‘inside’ the house, in which there will be more seating
options. It also adds to the natural light and ventilation throughout the home, which was a design priority from the outset:
“They wanted to naturally ventilate the house,” explains Hedges. “There are airconditioning units, but it’s very minimal in a house of this scale. We’d normally have a ducted system. Here, they’ve just gone with two high-walls. They don’t even have AC in the main living space. They’re in an exposed location where they should be able to naturally ventilate.”
All the doors and windows have been designed with natural light and air in mind, including the floor to ceiling sliding doors linking the outside verandah to the indoor living space, and large, tilted “European-style” windows throughout the rooms. There is also a wide, high skylight above the shower in the primary bathroom.
In addition to the exposed concrete, and monochrome tiling are what Hedges describes as “wooden notes” throughout. Above the main entrance is a wooden pergola, which will be stained black. There is another wooden pergola by the outdoor fireplace, bench seating will have wood incorporated, there will be internal doors and shelving in walnut, and trellis wood on the entry wall and in the courtyard, which will house vines to soften the walls.
Downstairs, with it’s own separate entry and parking area is an apartment, which originally, wasn’t supposed to be there:
“The first iteration was up on piers with grass underneath, but because the topography is so steep and the owners wanted it at this height so they could get the view, it was too much ground underneath to do that,” explained Parker.
So, in went the apartment, which has
so much storage space behind the living areas, under the main house, that the owner is even considering hydroponic growing.
While hydroponics is a more unusual home-based environmental pursuit, other more common environmentallyfriendly, energy efficient systems have been incorporated, including solar panels, battery storage, double glazing, LED lighting, and even an electric vehicle charging station in the car port.
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Situated atop one of the highest points of Riddell’s Bay, it’s hard to see how Havenfield ever got built. The views across the former golf course to the Great Sound are showstopping, making it difficult to peel your eyes away. To that end, Jacob Hocking of CTX Design Group took a ‘why use walls when glass will do’ approach, taking full advantage of all the outside beauty this site has to offer.
“Everything was to maximise the views,” says Will Irvine of Lighthouse Construction, who has been project managing the design and building of Havenfield since the outset. When you walk into the house, you immediately see through to the view. When you’re in the large, open plan kitchen, dining and living area, a wide opening onto the verandah draws you out to the view. Even the stairwell will have a “commercial-style wall of glass” so you can appreciate the view as you go up and down the stairs.
Designed for a family of four, with two children, the main, 4,000 sq. ft. house has three bedrooms, two full bathrooms and one powder room. An apartment on the side has one bedroom, one bathroom and a kitchenette.
The downstairs design very much promotes indoor-outdoor family living. A large office, which doubles up as a craft room, has been built off the family room, which can be opened out onto the deck.
The opening between the covered verandah and main living and kitchen area will have a 32-foot-wide, 6 panelled slider which can be completely opened up to the outdoor living spaces and swimming pool.
“The pool is a really fun story,” continues Irvine. “Originally, it was shorter and shallower, but when the owner got here, he started looking at the roof and said: ‘Can we make the pool bigger?’” His reason for asking was so he could jump off it into the pool, and the answer was ‘yes’.
“We measured it out so he can do a back flip off the edge of the roof and he’s going to put grip tape on the corner of
Everything in this Riddell’s Bay family home has been designed to maximise the views
the roof.” An upstairs window opens wide enough to climb out onto said roof.
The outdoor living area will be softened by planters, as well as Ipe decking and a timber handrail. Stairs lead down on either side to the garden, which will be dropped down, to create more useable space:
“We’re going roughly ten feet down and going to create a flat level area to make use of the landscape,” says Irvine.
The team has salvaged the majority of vegetation on the site and created a nursery for all the greenery they plan to plant around the property. David Cox has been engaged to do the landscape architecture.
On the north side of the house, coming off the side of the kitchen, is another outdoor entertaining space, which Irvine calls the “winter garden area”. This smaller space can be completely closed in with electric hurricane screens, if necessary, and will include a concrete counter, drop in BBQ and outdoor fireplace.
Overseeing all the interior design for Havenfield is Eimeir Johnston, Senior Interior Designer at E Se Studios. Two of her priorities have been to make the most of the available sightlines through the positioning of the windows, and to avoid clutter, particularly in the kitchen.
To achieve this, behind the kitchen appliance wall, is a large pantry area. Because it is all open plan, the kitchen
“really needs to look good,” says Irvine. If you’re sitting and looking back at it, you want to “see something that’s really visually nice and the guts can be all around the corner.”
On the other side of the kitchen wall is another door, which leads into a “mudroom”, which will have cupboards and hooks for storage. This opens through to the garage, so the family can come into the house that way and again, keep the clutter hidden away.
All except the children’s bedrooms and the apartment will be centrally air-
conditioned to minimise units and fans on the ceilings or walls.
Upstairs has also been designed to maximise the views. The positioning of the bed in the primary bedroom, which will be right in front of a huge picture window, means, says Irvine, that “you’re practically in your view.”
Architecturally, while the house incorporates a number of traditional Bermuda elements, it has a very contemporary feel to it. In addition to all the glass, Hocking has created a squaretopped contemporary chimney instead of the classic fishtail and he has embraced steep roof pitches, which give great height to some of the upstairs bedrooms.
Work began on Havenfield in September 2022 and they hope to finish by the end of this year. The biggest challenge has been a delay in some of the larger, more stylish therefore more complicated, windows and doors, but, adds Irvine, “it will be worth the wait.”
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Perched above Pitts Bay Road, just on the outskirts of Hamilton, a new residential development, Miramar, offers easy access to urban amenities along with surprising views of the water and the City’s skyline.
“You are within five-minutes walking distance to about 30 places,” says Gilbert Lopes, the owner of GL Construction, which is the developer of Miramar. “Two minutes to the pharmacy, three minutes to Little Venice or the Lobster Pot, Miles Market is across the street, the location is very convenient.”
The four-storey building features 12 units spread across three floors with underground parking below. Each unit is two bedroom, two baths, with a modern, open plan kitchen, living and dining area that leads onto a private, covered balcony. Mr. Lopes says the interior spaces are comparatively large for city dwellings, each totaling just under 1500 sq. ft, with the balcony providing an additional 150
sq. ft. of living space.
By design, each condo is a corner unit, and the building is oriented to maximise the views and provide privacy for the residences. The balconies are set away from each other and the views all look out in different directions.
“The elevator is directly in the middle, so you come out of it into a lobby area with a unit in each direction,” explains Mr. Lopes. “Looking west you get views over the Bacardi property and out to Hawkins Island in the Great Sound. On the southern side the view is out towards Hamilton Harbour and on the other sides you look over toward the Cathedral and City Hall. When I travel, I like to seek out hotels with those types of city skyline views. They are very appealing.”
The site, which was previously home to a private residence of the same name, required substantial excavation for the water tanks and parking area, with the hill being cut back 15 to 16 feet.
Construction began about 18 months ago, and Mr. Lopes hopes to have occupancy certificates in the fall of 2023.
Mr. Lopes says the project has moved forward without any major, or unusual, challenges and that they were able to build within the property setbacks and still maximise the size of the lot.
The construction was also straight forward with the main building formed by reinforced concrete slabs and cement block for the interior and exterior walls. Continuing the theme of spaciousness, reinforced steel beams were utilised to keep the interior rooms large, open, and bright.
“The engineers, Onsite Engineering, designed it in a way where we could have more open spaces, so they have a very modern, open feel on the inside,” says Mr. Lopes. “It is what people look for today and the rooms are larger than what you might normally find in the city. I’ve also made sure the quality of the features is up to standard too.”
The kitchens feature top-end appliances including a large fridge, dishwasher, and a 6-burner Thermador stove. A washer and dryer can be found in a hallway closet that also contains a fold down ironing board and there is a “trash shoot” in each unit. All these design features are aimed at making sure the units feel spacious while being functional and convenient.
“We chose not to stack the washer and dryer because we don’t want the units to feel compact,” says Mr. Lopes. “We also put the living areas between the bedrooms which creates a sense of privacy, especially when you are hosting guests.”
The main bedroom suite has a walkin closet and bathroom with double sinks and large shower, while the second bedroom is located next to another bathroom and the laundry area. Mr. Lopes says that while the living and dining areas are combined, they are large enough be separated if the owner so desired.
Large, hurricane-grade, windows and 10-foot sliding glass doors supply ample natural light and bring the views into the
units. Lighting throughout is supplied by energy saving LED fixtures and each unit has four split-system air conditioners. Conveniently, the condensers are placed on the roof so as not to take up space on the balconies and to reduce noise.
Household water is provided by on site water tanks and Watlington Water and there is a separate tank for the fire suppression system. Further communal services include a mass storage tank for cooking gas as well as a grass area and patio for hosting functions.
The condos are listed between $1,275,000 and $1,495,000 and Mr. Lopes says that seven of the 12 units are already under contract, with a mix of owners planning to either move in or to rent as investment income.
“They could be used as an investment but also a plan for the future as a place to live in retirement.”
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The marine trade has been the soul of St George’s for hundreds of years.
With the dazzling new St George’s Marina and Superyacht Dock, the Olde Towne is hoping to usher in a fresh dawn of prosperity and continue its seafaring tradition for generations to come.
The old cruise ship dock off Ordnance Island – in a state of disrepair before this project began – has been transformed into a giant dock capable of hosting
superyachts expected to bring a huge economic boost to the East End.
The former cruise ship terminal, meanwhile, now boasts an ultra-modern lounge and facilities designed to create a world-class experience for the incoming wave of affluent visitors.
“We can provide all the services that are required, in a safe harbour, which is easily accessible to the ocean, and we’re in the heart of a World Heritage Centre,” says Mark Soares, owner of the
marina’s
“It really makes for a great, world-class destination that’s comparable with other places where these superyachts anchor.
“For smaller yachts, we provide power, water, internet, laundry facilities, showers and restrooms and a certain amount of security for their vessels.
“For larger yachts, we provide security, a safe place from the weather and something interesting to explore: the golf
course up the hill, world heritage site on our back door and it’s easily accessible to the fishing grounds off the East End.”
The lounge is sleek and minimalistic.
“It is pretty sharp looking and hightech,” Soares said.
“Superyacht guests can come in and grab a bottle of water and wait for their ground transportation to the private jet and feel comfortable. Bermuda Yacht Services provides them with the full range of facilities, clearance, transportation,
arranging of permits, all the general information required.”
Soares has been keen to take advantage of St George’s status as a marina town for a decade.
“Bermuda has been in the centre of a navigational, season-trade route for hundreds of years,” he says.
“That has turned into a pleasure craft route as well. Because of our location, we are still part of a transient annual migration of yachts and vessels from
the Caribbean to the Mediterranean, or from the East Coast of the US to the Mediterranean.
“We are an important fuel-stop and bunker-stop, and we are trying to capitalise on the fact that they come here anyway. Now we are trying to make it more attractive for them to stay.”
Work began in 2022 and took eight months to complete. The Corporation of St George’s and Government demolished the existing dock and installed a 170ft
concrete dock capable of accommodating ten superyachts; St George’s Marina Development added a 140ft floating dock to further expand capacity.
Candy-Lee Foggo, the town manager and secretary of the Corporation, says: “The original dock was severely compromised and required replacement to support stern to berthing for superyachts. The dock was designed to berth cruise ships should the need arise in the future.”
The marina was officially opened by Premier David Burt in May.
Soares says local businesses have already felt the benefits.
“You can ask the restaurateurs in the town, and the shops, and the taxi guys –when the yachts are in town, it’s a huge impact for them and the economy of the town,” he says.
“The amount of impact a few large yachts have on Bermuda is quite substantial, with less detriment to the
environment than larger vessels.”
Superyacht visitors have also been impressed with what they’ve seen.
“It’s easy to do a week’s itinerary here,” Soares says. “We’ve got 200 square miles of blue water to explore.
“We had a client last week on a 50-metre-plus very expensive sailing yacht. They spent one or two nights anchored out six miles offshore and it was like being on the edge of the world.
“One of the crew members commented to me that they haven’t been in that much silence in many years.”
Local boat owners can also take advantage of the marina, which includes 650 linear feet of dockage for smaller yachts.
Soares explains: “Why not take your boat from Hamilton and come and spend the weekend or a week tied up at the dock here, plugged into power, running your AC, visiting the town, eating at the restaurants, enjoying St George’s as a destination?
“We also have the option for commercial vessels to pick up charters here, fishing vessels to drop off their fish, and even locals to leave their boats alongside for a week or a month when we’re in our slower season.
“You’ve got things like Cup Match and the Walkabout and Seafood Festival. Why not come and spend the whole weekend on your boat and utilise our facilities here as well?”
The City of Hamilton has completed important renovation works on two well-utilised public buildings
Beneath the venerable stage at the Earl Cameron Theatre in Hamilton’s City Hall, lies a space that is purposefully hidden from public view but serves a vital role for the venue. It is the backstage area that allows dancers, pantomime players, singers or visiting performers to ready themselves to put on a show.
“The biggest challenge was finding a time to do the renovations,” says Patrick Cooper, City of Hamilton Chief Operating Officer and City Engineer. “Between the recitals, plays, concerts, the Festival and all the associated rehearsals, it is a very heavily used facility. And with a wide range of needs for each type of performance, so it was quite an interesting little project.”
To bring the backstage forward in time, Mr. Cooper says the City consulted with many of the performing arts groups that host events at the iconic venue.
“We reached out to different organisations because the last thing we want is to deliver upgrades that aren’t helpful to the people who use the theatre. There have been ‘band-aid’ updates over the years, but this space was long overdue a major facelift.”
The renovations included creating a new space adjacent to the orchestra pit, and also opening up and repurposing the existing space – which is about 2000 sq. ft. in total.
“We opened up what was a corridor and placed lockers for storage, as well as creating attractive dressing rooms and an area that can be used as a Green Room before performers go on
stage,” he says.
Like with any old building, the project revealed a few surprises including significant termite damage which required removing most of the woodwork and trim. From there, the floors, walls and ceiling were upgraded, and new lighting, mirrors and countertops were added.
“We really freshened the place up. There are good clean washrooms and more open space that can be adapted for whatever is needed. The feedback we’ve had from the various groups has been very good,” says Mr. Cooper.
And while there was no major work done in the theatre area it was given a new colour scheme as well as repairs to the chairs and redoing the armrests.
“It’s one of the few facilities of its kind in Bermuda, certainly given the location, so it’s about continually trying to keep it fresh and relevant,” he says.
Meanwhile, across town on Front Street, another old building received an even more substantial renovation. The upper level at Pier 6, long used as an arrival hall for visiting cruise ships, has been transformed into a 12,000 sq. ft. indoor/outdoor event space, complete with a catering kitchen and built-in A/V system.
“This is a tricky old building,” says
old and, as well as being riddled with termites, featured some interesting building techniques. The more we peeled back the layers the more challenges we found. We ended up with about 40 change orders to this project.”
For starters, the two gable ends were built in Bermuda stone and “failing”, so between that and the termites the entire roof structure had to be replaced. They were, however, able to salvage and refit the wrought iron trusses in the roof which are now an interesting period feature of the interior.
“The trusses run all the way down the length of the building, and we’ve left them exposed,” he explains.
Another challenge came in the form of walls built from poured concrete, which proved difficult when opening and adding new window and door spaces on the harbour side.
“This is very unusual to find anywhere, let alone in a 100-year-old building,” says Mr. Cooper. “We opened up the three old gangways and added several more floor-to-ceiling doors and windows. The contractor showed up with his nice cutting tool not expecting to find poured concrete walls. It took us a while to cut all those openings.”
The openings are now home to 6’x8’ doors and windows that capture “awesome” views of the Hamilton harbour.
Given the size of the venue and volume of traffic it can expect, Mr. Cooper says the upgrades also ensured the durability of the space. For example, on the floor are 2’x2’ Terrazzo tiles, which is the same material found in heavy traffic facilities like airports.
“Terrazzo is an epoxy-like aggregate system that is usually
poured and then ground and polished smooth. The tiles we’ve used are just as durable but less expensive and easier to install. They also allow for a bit of movement in the floor of an old building,” he explains.
Other improvements include a separate hallway to the washrooms and better access to the kitchen for the catering staff, all of which, when combined with the 6000 sq. ft. exterior deck, add up to a unique venue perfectly situated for a variety of harbourside events.
COVID-19 made the need for commercial cleaning services more urgent than ever. But some may be thinking, what is the point of investing in good commercial cleaning now that Covid is in our rear view mirror?
If you want a space that is safe, clean and inviting, you need commercial cleaning. Plus, it’s likely that you simply don’t have the manpower needed to accomplish this task to a good professional standard.
Here’s why commercial cleaning is so important, especially now.
For an organisation to maintain its competitive edge, it needs proper policies, procedures and most importantly,
preparation to handle the various tasks that will be expected of any high-powered company.
Of course, this is something you were aware of even before the pandemic turned our world upside down. COVID-19 kept us on our toes with constant changes in procedure and lockdown protocol. Still, it makes it more critical than ever that you do all you can to create a healthy building.
Following Covid, you have probably already implemented a variety of new procedures. But if you want to entice both customers and employees out of their safe home cocoons and back to your office, then you need to do something to make your company stand out as super polished.
A major concern for businesses right now is keeping up with health and safety standards, which is hard. But luckily, this isn’t something you have to struggle with alone.
Good commercial cleaners have been keeping up with all the practices and protocols required for business, particularly in the area of cleaning and disinfection. Besides, it’s not practical to expect all your employees to know precisely what standards they need to meet and expect them to become cleaners on top of the jobs they already do as normal full-time workers.
Basically, COVID-19 or not, you have a business that needs to operate. And to do that you need companies you can trust to handle the cleaning and safety requirements without distracting attention from your business. Sure, your employees can follow basic protocols like washing their hands and doing simple sanitizing of communal areas, but only commercial cleaners can provide the detailed and complete disinfection of your workspace which is needed.
That’s not even to touch on the unfortunate circumstance where an employee of yours becomes infected. If that happens, it’s more critical than ever to deep clean the area so that you can get
back to normal business as fast as possible. And that’s where reliable professional cleaning services can come in. Companies like ours, Atlantic Cleaning & Maintenance Ltd., can provide the services you need to remain focused on your job, to keep your company running, clean and safe. Most importantly, we do it quickly and effectively, meaning this is one item you can immediately check off your list of concerns.
Techniques are one area that you want to focus on. Look for companies that offer services like electrostatic disinfection, where a positively charged disinfectant is sprayed throughout the room enveloping hard surfaces for the most thorough coverage. This technique can be completed as a preventative measure.
Another thing is to check their company procedures. The first thing should be a risk assessment of the whole building before even beginning to identify specific areas that need attention and care. Next, they should provide regular touch-point cleaning of commonly frequented areas like telephones, light switches, stairway bannisters and door handles.
You want to make sure that there’s comprehensive deep cleaning available, targeting the most obvious areas, but also hitting locations where bacteria can settle and spread, such as window ledges, around
radiators or most critically, below desks and other sitting areas.
It’s easy to forget how important commercial cleaning is but hopefully this article has helped explain why it’s essential. When you have a good commercial cleaning company keeping your workplace safe, you can focus on the core business tasks that’ll make your
business boom.
Just make sure when you’re selecting a cleaner that they have all the stringent procedures necessary and that they have a reliable team you can count on at any given moment.
To learn more about the importance of high quality commercial cleaning, call Atlantic Cleaning & Maintenance Ltd. (441) 236-4051. Email info@atlanticcleaning.bm.
