Tropics

• Much of the media coverage has focused on the region’s traditional architecture.
• In the immediate aftermath of an earthquake, it is common for local building cultures to be blamed for their own destruction.
• Vulnerabilities arise when patterns of knowledge transfer – and the traditional systems of repair and maintenance – are disrupted.
• Further, when new materials, such as concrete and cement, are introduced, they can be incompatible and so can reduce the buildings’ seismic resilience.

The resilience of earth buildings

• Ethnographic research into earth being used as an element of Aboriginal architecture in Australia suggests its use probably goes back much further.
• Rammed earth or “pise” was used in both Yemen’s 11th-century tower houses in Sanaa and Shibam and 17th-century farm buildings in Switzerland.
• In Morocco, both single story and multi-storey houses are constructed from mudbrick, rammed earth (where walls are built up with layers of compressed earth between wooden shutters), stone and timber.
• The thermal properties of earth ensure these traditional buildings stay cool in the height of the summer.

A history of mis-characterisation

• There is a long history of earthen buildings, and traditional construction methods, being labelled as “primitive”.
• The British proponents of the Tropical Modernism architectural movement, among others, claimed to have “invented” architecture in West Africa.
• This resulted in a shift away from vernacular architecture to colonial architecture and its “new” materials.
• Earth buildings, today, are still often classified “unsafe” with limited building codes or standards to enable the use of the material.

• “We truly wanted this Earls location at Southcentre Mall to reflect the lifestyle and energy of our Calgary guests,” says Christine Meijer, Vice President of Operations.
• Earls signature cocktails will also be available including the Passion Fruit Chili Margarita and Earls Old Fashioned.
• The brand looks forward to sharing their exciting new space with the community and welcoming guests into the Southcentre location this fall with doors officially opening on September 21.
• For more information about Earls Restaurant Group or to make a reservation to visit Earls Southcentre, please visit earls.ca.

• This momentous milestone has catalyzed the merger with AMFRESH’s SNFL Group, an industry leader in table grape genetics, paving the way for the birth of an extraordinary global breeding entity: BLOOM FRESH International.
• Marking a historic milestone, AMFRESH Group, EQT Future and Paine Schwartz Partners successfully complete the acquisition of International Fruit Genetics, merging it into SNFL Group to establish BLOOM FRESH International as a consolidated breeding powerhouse.
• Alvaro Muñoz, AMFRESH's Chief Executive Officer, exclaims, "Today signifies a pivotal moment, uniting two global breeding forces.
• AMFRESH is the controlling shareholder of BLOOM, with significant minority investment from EQT Future and continued investment from Paine Schwartz Partners.

• ARB is a holding company with a portfolio of powerhouse, iconic regional food and beverage brands, with extraordinary customer brand loyalty and rich, authentic stories.
• Current brands include Primanti Bros Restaurant & Bar, P.J.
• Upon closing the transaction, Fiesta will operate as a privately held company and Pollo Tropical will remain based in Miami, FL.
• Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. is acting as financial advisor to the Special Committee of the Fiesta Board of Directors.