SEGUIN, TEXAS — Koehler Construction has broken ground on the 9,400-square-foot Lundquist Athletics Center at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, located northeast of San Antonio. Designed by Pfluger Architects and named after sportscaster and alumnus Verne Lundquist, the facility will feature a weight room and flexible spaces that serve as locker rooms, players’ lounges and team meeting spaces. Completion is slated for the fall.
BETHLEHEM, PA. — International developer and construction firm Skanska has completed the $70 million redevelopment of a historic building on the campus of Lehigh University in Bethlehem. The Clayton University Center was originally built in 1868. The redevelopment involved upgrading the electrical and mechanical systems, installing a full fire protection system and adding multiple kitchen and food delivery areas. The redevelopment also entailed renovations of numerous interior common areas, as well as the preservation of the building’s façade, and the project team also undertook various sustainability measures. Shepley Bulfinch designed the redevelopment, which began in late 2022.
NEW YORK CITY — A partnership between airline JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU), The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and aviation facilities and operations manager Fraport USA has unveiled plans for the redevelopment of Terminal 5 at JFK International Airport in New York City. The redevelopment, which is part of a larger $19 billion overhaul of the airport, will include the addition of more than 40 new concessions and new amenities, such as art installations. The project team will also redesign the center concourse to pay homage to New York parks via greenery, benches and concrete chess tables. The redesigned center concourse will also feature a dedicated space for pop-up experiences, interactive events and live performances. The first new concessions are expected to open throughout 2025, with terminal improvements slated for full completion by the end of 2026. Today, about 165 JetBlue flights and 35,000 travelers pass through Terminal 5, which opened in 2008 and was expanded in 2014. The project follows the redevelopment of Terminal 6, which carries a price tag of $4.2 billion.
ATLANTA — Swinerton has obtained a $23 million contract for construction at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on behalf of a partnership between the City of Atlanta and WEBMyers Construction. Swinerton will complete three projects at the airport. The first project — which is expected to be completed by the end of the year — will include the $21 million renovation of six pairs of restroom facilities located in the North Terminal and Concourses T, C and F, as well as several family restrooms. The second project, designed by Atlanta-based Brink Design, will include a $1 million renovation of the airport’s Security Badging Office, which is slated for completion in early spring. The space will nearly double in size and feature 15 desk-style, seated stations with data ports, card printers and fingerprinting machines. The final project, a $1.2 million expansion of all TSA breakrooms, will total 42,000 square feet of space and comprise 13 breakrooms upon completion in July. These projects follow the recently completed $600,000 renovation of the Department of Aviation Finance Office at Hartsfield-Jackson by Swinerton and WEBMyers.
CHILLICOTHE, MO. — Crossland Construction Co. has broken ground on the new 11,600-square-foot police department headquarters for the City of Chillicothe, located in northern central Missouri. Hoefer Welker designed the facility, which is located at 624 Cherry St. The new headquarters replaces the existing police station. Upon completion, the building will feature spacious training facilities to support officer development as well as private and open office areas. Officer resource areas will be complete with mailboxes, copy machines, radio charging stations and space for evidence processing and storage. To enhance safety, the property will feature a fully enclosed sallyport, which provides direct access to the station and holding areas. There will be dedicated space for taking public reports and conducting private interviews as well as advanced communication technologies integrated throughout. Staff will have access to an exercise room, outdoor patio space, quiet room and communal break room. Additional project partners include BHC Engineering, J&S Structural Engineers and Landworks Studio.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Easterly Government Properties (NYSE: DEA), an office REIT that owns assets leased to the U.S. government and affiliates, has released its fourth-quarter 2024 results. The company exceeded its initial full-year guidance and achieved results at the upper end of raised guidance, with a net income of $20.6 million. In 2024 alone, Easterly purchased 10 properties either solely or in joint venture arrangements totaling $230 million. The company also expanded its investment strategy to include office properties leased to private sector government contractors and reduced its total portfolio energy consumption by 4 percent year-over-year. “We are pleased with the position of our portfolio,” said Darrell Crate, president and CEO of Easterly. Easterly has been directly affected by the recent activities of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a newly created federal department championed by Elon Musk, owner of Tesla, X (formerly Twitter) and SpaceX. According to multiple media outlets, DOGE has announced that it has terminated 2.3 million square feet of federal office leases and saved $145 million. DOGE is now targeting the termination or consolidation of nearly 100 more leases at government offices in several markets, most notably in the nation’s capital, according to The Wall Street Journal. …
IRVINE, CALIF. — C.W. Driver Cos. has completed Irvine High School Performing Arts Center, a facility designed to inspire creativity and support the performing arts. The $35 million, 25,000-square-foot complex opened to the community in early February. The state-of-the-art venue features a 650-seat main theater equipped with advanced sound, lighting and rigging systems, providing students and the community with a professional-grade performance experience. Additionally, the center includes a Black Box theater, scene shop, dressing rooms and a modern lobby. The single-story complex consists of a steel and metal frame diaphragm building featuring a combination of metal panels, plaster and curtain wall system finishes. The ground-up construction began in January 2023. Ruhnau Clarke Architects served as architect for the project.
PORTLAND, TEXAS — General contractor Fulton-Coastcon has broken ground on TM Clark Elementary School in Portland, located just outside of Corpus Christi. Designed by Pfluger Architects, which also recently opened a new office in downtown Corpus Christi, the school will span 94,573 square feet and will feature a media center, courtyard and collaboration areas, in addition to classrooms and administrative spaces. The school will be able to support about 650 students and is expected to be complete by fall 2026.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Locally based general contractor Linbeck Group has completed the $25 million Annie Richardson Bass Lower School at the 104-acre campus of private school Fort Worth Country Day. The 32,720-square-foot building can support about 325 students in grades first through fourth. Academic facilities include a library, two science labs, breakout study rooms and administrative offices for support counselors and healthcare personnel, as well as outdoor learning areas. San Antonio-based Lake|Flato Architects designed the project, and Dallas-based Hocker Design provided landscape architecture services. Construction began in early 2024.
WHITE BEAR LAKE, MINN. — Kraus-Anderson has completed a $226 million renovation and addition at White Bear Lake Area High School – North Campus in White Bear Lake, a northern suburb of St. Paul. The project allowed for the former North Campus site to become the single high school site serving grades 9-12 for the White Bear Lake Area School District. Designed by Wold Architects and Engineers, the three-story, 595,000-square-foot high school features a 250,000-square-foot addition with new classrooms, a 37,000-square-foot performing arts center and a 92,000-square-foot athletic facility with track and field house. Kraus-Anderson also completed 216,000 square feet of renovations to existing classrooms, the media center, gym and union space. Construction began in June 2021. The high school project is part of a long-range facilities plan that in total includes 16 district projects, all funded by a 2019 $326 million school bond referendum. The former White Bear Lake Area High School – South Campus has been converted into Mariner Middle School.