CHICAGO — Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Leopardo Cos., in a joint venture partnership with Markham, Ill.-based Reyes Group, has been selected to build an elementary and middle school located in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago. The Public Building Commission of Chicago awarded the contract for the three-story, 106,000-square-foot facility. The $25 million building, which will house students ranging from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, is being designed to achieve LEED for Schools Silver Certification. Serving 900 students, the facility will include science, computer, music and art classrooms, as well as a library, a gymnasium and dining facilities.
MEDINA, OHIO — The United Baptist Church of Parma has purchased a two-building commercial site located at 2920-2934 Pearl Rd. in Medina. The 11-acre property includes an 8,300-square-foot commercial building, as well as a 3,000-square-foot residential building. Debra Kaplan in the Akron, Ohio, office of NAI Cummins represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction. The acquisition price was not disclosed.
BELLEVILLE, ILL. — Holland Construction Services has completed renovations for the former Illinois American Water Maintenance Facility, which is now Firehouse #4. The $1.8 million, 13,611-square-foot warehouse remodel consists of a fully functioning firehouse with drive-through garage space for fire trucks, a generator system, office space, restrooms, a kitchen, lockers and sleeping quarters for four. EWR Architects provided architectural services for the project, which is located at 1125 S. Illinois St. in Belleville.
BOSTON — Norwell, Mass.-based Acella Construction Corp. has completed a 4,500-square-foot renovation at Northeastern University in Boston. Construction consisted of the renovation of the Education Technology Center at the Snell Library. A new wall configuration was put in place, which created individual offices for the staff. The new space also contains a kitchenette, a training lab, a resource library, a digital media suite and a recording studio. In addition to this most recent project, Acella recently completed its seventh laboratory renovation at Northeastern University in the past 12 months.
SANTEE, CALIF. — San Diego-based Barnhart Inc., serving as general contractor, has completed the construction of an 18-classroom addition to Cajon Park School in Santee. The two-story, 32,823-square-foot addition houses 450 students in grades 5 through 8. The $10 million junior high building is adjacent to the existing 42,000-square-foot Cajon Park School campus, which is currently undergoing a $6.7 million modernization covering K-4 classrooms, offices, a library/technology center, a kitchen and bathrooms.
OXFORD, MISS. — The Place/BV Student Housing Fund, managed by BVP Managers, is developing the 366-bed Lafayette Place student housing complex. The project is part of a two-property development worth $48 million. Located near the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford, the property features furnished apartments with washers and dryers. Complex amenities include a clubhouse, a computer lab, a fitness center and a pool. Lafayette Place is slated for a summer 2009 opening.
REYNOLDS COUNTY, MO. — St. Louis-based Kwame Building Group is serving as construction manager for the redevelopment of Johnson’s Shut-In’s State Park located in Reynolds County. The park, which has been closed since it was damaged by the breach of the Taum Sauk Reservoir in December 2005, is scheduled to reopen to the public this year. Buildings being constructed at the park include an orientation center, a retail store, a residence for the assistant superintendent, seasonal staff residence quarters, shower house and laundry facilities, restrooms, camper cabins and picnic shelters. Atlanta-based MACTEC is acting as designer and builder for the project. The redevelopment is being completed on behalf of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
CHICAGO — Summit Design + Build has completed construction of a Teen Living Programs facility located adjacent to the organization’s existing Belfort House in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. The three-story, 12,000-square-foot building includes 26 private rooms for local homeless youths. Additionally, the first floor of the facility houses 13 private offices, as well as a multi-purpose room with a private kitchen. The existing house is being demolished this spring to make room for a fully landscaped front yard. Mark Heffron and Erik Hauser of Summit Design + Build served as project manager and superintendent, respectively. Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture was the designer for the project.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. — St. Louis-based KAI Design & Build is providing construction administration services for an 82,000-square-foot residence hall located near the main entrance of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. The $24.6 million facility will house 306 beds. The first floor of the building, which will open up to Houck Field, will include a dining hall and a locker room for the university’s football and soccer programs. Additional plans for the L-shaped hall call for double occupancy rooms connected by shared bathrooms, multiple small living rooms, game rooms and laundry rooms. Each of the facility’s top three floors will include a study lounge. The project is slated for occupancy by the fall.
MIAMI — Tilt-Con Corp. of Orlando, Fla., has completed construction of the 157,735-square-foot High School YYY-1 for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The six-building property, located at 11035 S.W. 84th St. in Miami, was developed by Miami-based Betancourt Castellon Associates. Silva Architects of Miami designed the project.