Construction is complete at A/D/O, a new 23,000 square-foot creative space, which opens to the public in Greenpoint, Brooklyn following the holiday season. At the core of A/D/O is its Design Academy, which aims to inspire pioneering work and be a forum for interdisciplinary debate. A/D/O will provide unique opportunities for professional development while inviting the broader public to explore design through a range of installations, exhibitions and events.
The Design Academy at A/D/O will offer an ambitious seasonal program geared towards design professionals, which stimulates relevant dialogue and new work through talks and workshops, special exhibitions and commissions and designer residencies. Its first program, entitled “Utopia vs. Dystopia: Designing Our Imagined Futures,” investigates the role design plays in a world of rapid change. Partnerships with design firms MOS Architects, OLIN, Stephen Burks Man Made and Turner-prize winning collective Assemble, as well as talks from Yves Behar and Alice Rawsthorn among others, are important components of this inaugural season, which will kick off with a three-day festival January 27-29, 2017.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7978851-a-d-o-opens-design-academy-greenpoint-brooklyn/
SEE International, a nonprofit dedicated to providing essential vision care worldwide, is proud to announce the release of a new short film. Entitled “A Mother’s Wish,” the 7-minute documentary tells the emotional story of Nacor, a 7-year old boy living in a tiny village in Peru. Born with cataracts in both eyes, Nacor was already legally blind. If he did not receive treatment soon, he might never see again.
Carmen, the boy’s mother, desperately wished for her sons to see again, but could not afford the vision care that they needed. Thankfully, Carmen heard that SEE would be holding a free clinic in the nearby city of Tarapoto, in July 2017. Thanks to the incredible hard work of the traveling and in-country volunteer surgeons, Nacor received the cataract surgeries that he badly needed. Now he can see normally, participate in school, and play with his friends. He has a bright future ahead of him.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8282751-see-international-documentary-a-mothers-wish/
Primrose Schools, a national preschool franchise company, continued its momentum in 2017 by increasing unit growth by more than 9 percent. Primrose increased its presence across the country by adding two new states to its footprint and opening 33 total schools in both urban and suburban markets.
Through a strong system of Franchise Owners and heightened need in the U.S. for high-quality early education and care, Primrose Schools expanded to 372 schools in 29 states. The company plans to increase that number to more than 500 by the end of 2020. Now serving more than 54,000 students, Primrose Schools plans to increase its number of employer-sponsored and small suburban city locations and multi-unit Franchise Owners to reach its ambitious goals.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8014459-primrose-schools-franchise-growth-2018/
Just 15 vehicles qualify for the TOP SAFETY PICK+ award from IIHS after the requirements were strengthened to include good-rated headlights and good or acceptable passenger-side protection in small overlap front crashes.
Another 47 vehicles earn the TOP SAFETY PICK award, which now requires acceptable or good headlights. In contrast, headlights weren’t factored in for 2017 TOP SAFETY PICK, and an acceptable headlight rating was enough to bump a 2017 award winner into "plus" territory.
The inclusion of a passenger-side crash test is a first for any IIHS award. The Institute developed the passenger-side small overlap front crash test after it became clear that some manufacturers weren't paying sufficient attention to the passenger side as they made improvements to achieve better performance in the driver-side small overlap front test.
Consumers who choose a 2017 TOP SAFETY PICK+ award winner shouldn’t have trouble seeing the road on nighttime drives. Good or acceptable ratings in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s new headlight evaluations set the latest crop of qualifiers apart. Thirty-eight models earn the “plus” accolade, and 44 earn TOP SAFETY PICK.
IIHS toughened the criteria for TOP SAFETY PICK+ to reflect new headlight evaluations launched in 2016. The recognition program is meant to encourage manufacturers to offer state-of-the-art protection for people in crashes, along with features that help drivers avoid crashes in the first place. In addition to good or acceptable headlights, the latter includes automatic braking technology, which has been part of the criteria since 2015.
For both awards, models must earn good ratings in the Institute’s small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention with standard or optional autobrake. Headlights are factored in only for the top award.
A year ago, Falaniko Penesa, 26, of Upolu, Apia, Samoa, finished second in the World Fireknife Championship, losing out to five-time champion Mikaele Oloa of Waialua, Hawaii.
Penesa spent the past year “practicing every day to make my moves flow” and the hard work paid off, as he won the 25th Annual World Fireknife Championship on Saturday night (May 13), beating out Oloa by one point on the combined scorecards of the seven judges. Kepanipaa Damaso of Waikoloa, Hawaii finished third.
Penesa, who performs at Hong Kong Disneyland, dazzled the sold-out crowd at the Polynesian Cultural Center’s Pacific Theater with an amazing routine that had him spinning, twirling and juggling one and two fireknives at lightning-fast speed, often behind his back and overhead.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8105951-world-fireknife-championship-falaniko-penesa/
Summit Homes, a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary through Clayton Properties Group, presented St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital representatives a check for $718,000 following the sale of the builder’s 2017 St. Jude Dream Home Showplace.
Summit Homes, the largest new home builder in Kansas City, built the 2017 St. Jude Dream Home Showplace as an extension of the St. Jude Dream Home® Giveaway Program, to support children battling cancer and other catastrophic diseases. The builder pledged 100% of proceeds from the sale of the home to as a donation for the research hospital.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8011654-clayton-summit-homes-st-jude-dream-home-2017/
Kia Motors America (KMA) today unveiled the all-new 2017 Sportage at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The fourth-generation Sportage, KMA’s longest-running nameplate, wraps stunning contemporary design around a structure that is both stiffer and more spacious than before. Advanced driver assistance technologies, significant suspension and steering improvements, and available intelligent AWD vastly improve the Sportage’s driving dynamics while premium materials and world-class craftsmanship create a class-up experience in an otherwise utilitarian segment.
“Simply put, the Sportage is a breed apart in the compact CUV segment,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA. “Instead of bland utility, the Sportage combines distinctly European and sporty styling with thoughtful design and functionality, including innovative packaging, premium materials, a turbocharged engine and surprising features. Sales of compact CUVs are on a sharply upward trajectory, and the all-new 2017 Sportage hits the sweet spot by providing an alternative for those seeking to express themselves with a vehicle that’s versatile enough to suit their unique lifestyle.”
The all-new Sportage’s roomier, more luxurious cabin features an impressive level of craftsmanship, with high-quality, soft-touch materials and a range of technologies improving overall comfort, convenience, and connectivity. Updates to the drivetrain provide enhanced efficiency and performance, while changes to the suspension deliver better ride and handling. Like the outgoing model, the all-new Sportage will be built at Kia’s production facility in Gwangju, Korea, and be available in three distinct trim levels (LX, EX, SX Turbo) when it goes on sale next year. Pricing will be announced closer to the Sportage’s on-sale date.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7436354-2017-kia-sportage-l-a-auto-show-debut/
Nearly 7,000 women from around the world took to New York’s Central Park on Sunday, April 30, to participate in the 14th Annual SHAPE Women's Half-Marathon. The race, presented by SHAPE magazine in partnership with the New York Road Runners (NYRR), is one of the largest women’s-only half-marathons in the country.
“It’s always inspiring to see so many beautiful and strong women pounding the pavement in Central Park,” says SHAPE Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Goodman Artis. “We’re thrilled to be a part of this empowering event.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8091051-shape-womens-half-marathon-2017/
2017 Renault Zoe
Renault has introduced a new Z.E. 40 battery for ZOE. At the same, ZOE owners can benefit from a range of new connected services and equipment upgrades. Order books for the new ZOE line-up are open. The new ZOEs fitted with the new Z.E. 40 battery are made at Renault's Flins plant in France and will be available for delivery before the end of 2016.
Double the range for even longer journeys
As the pioneer of all-electric mobility and Europe's number one seller of electric vehicles, Renault has stepped up its innovation programme and the deployment of its Zero Emissions strategy.
Fitted with the new Z.E. 40 battery, the Renault ZOE now delivers a record NEDC driving range of 400km, which is twice the distance delivered by the model at the time of its original launch.
The new Z.E. 40 battery has a real-world range of 300 kilometres in urban or suburban areas, for example.
The range permitted today by the ZOE is the longest of any mainstream all-electric vehicle and motorists can take advantage of this step forward now.
The ZOE is the best-selling electric vehicle in Europe and provides a real alternative to internal combustion-engine cars, since average daily commuting distances are well within the ZOE's capabilities.
The new battery removes the final psychological barrier that stands in the way of buying an electric car since ZOE users can now travel further and enjoy a wider variety of driving situations without worry about charging. This makes weekend trips a real possibility.
The Z.E. 40 battery's charging rate is similar to that of the standard battery, so 'topping up' doesn't take long at all. For example, just 30 minutes are required on average to charge the battery for an extra 80 kilometres of driving range when plugged into one of the many public charging points in operation in Europe. The ZOE continues to be equipped with the Quick Charge function to take full advantage of the maximum capacity of fast charging points located predominantly along motorway corridors.
An innovation that doubles battery capacity with no increase in size
The ZOE's new Z.E. 40 battery boasts 41kWh of useful energy, equivalent to almost double the storage capacity of the ZOE's standard battery (22kWh of useful energy).
Developed in close partnership with LG Chem, the battery uses high-energy density lithium-ion technology.
Renault and LG engineers have succeeded in increasing storage capacity without making the battery any bigger or a lot heavier. It was optimised by working on the chemistry of the cells in order to increase their energy density, rather than stacking additional battery modules, a commonly used technique.
This major new technology has been developed while ensuring the battery's reliability or safety.
The battery's large storage capacity ensures longer range for the ZOE thanks to the meticulous work that went into integrating the battery in the vehicle. The electronic management system of the battery optimises the ZOE's energy use on the move, while the new air circulation system maintains the temperature of the ZOE's battery at a constant level, making the car economical to run in very hot or very cold weather.
Kia Motors America (KMA) today unveiled the all-new 2017 Optima Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) at the Chicago Auto Show. Kia’s first PHEV joined two other fuel-efficient additions to the brand’s growing line-up of eco-friendly vehicles, including the all-new 2017 Niro Hybrid Utility Vehicle (HUV) and all-new 2017 Optima Hybrid (HEV), all three of which are being introduced under the Kia Motors EcoDynamics environmentally friendly sub-brand. A host of new technologies and features in the Kia Optima PHEV, including a more powerful hybrid engine, a smarter and more robust telematics system, exterior design enhancements, and greater interior refinement, all combine to deliver a superior hybrid drive experience.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7731854-kia-optima-plug-in-hybrid-chicago-auto-show/
Kia Motors America (KMA) today unveiled the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid (HEV) at the Chicago Auto Show. The Optima HEV enjoys the same full redesign – inside and out – as the conventional gas-powered model, the all-new fourth-generation Optima sedan, bringing with it a new hybrid powertrain that targets a 10 percent improvement in fuel economy over the outgoing model. The enhanced HEV blends modern styling and a premium driving experience with an even more intense focus on efficiency and is being introduced under the Kia Motors EcoDynamics environmentally friendly sub-brand.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7731855-kia-2017-optima-hybrid-cas/
