SMITHS STATION, ALA. — Hoar Construction has broken ground on the 263,316-square-foot Smiths Station High School for the Lee County Board of Education. Spread across 106 acres in Smiths Station, the property encompasses 88 classrooms, tennis courts, a gym and athletic fields. Completion of the school, which was designed by McKee & Associates Architects, is expected in fall 2011.
BOWIE, MD. — Columbia, Md.-based Manekin Construction will break ground on the 80,000-square-foot Bowie City Hall Wednesday with an eye toward completing the development in 15 months. Administrative offices for the city government, as well as the Bowie Police Department, will be housed in the property. The $15 million project will spread across 6.2 acres at the intersection of Excalibur Road and Evergreen Parkway in Bowie. Manekin won the contract after bidding $10 million less than the city’s targeted budget for the property. The city has placed a call for artists to design two structures in the new city hall — a kinetic mobile for the building’s lobby and a working sundial to be placed in the hall’s front courtyard.
NEW YORK CITY — Construction has topped out for the new Lincoln Square Synagogue located at the intersection of Amsterdam Avenue and 69th Street in Manhattan, New York City. The new synagogue will be a three-story, 50,000-square-foot structure. It will feature a 450-person sanctuary space, educational facilities, administrative offices, a large ballroom for evens and outdoor activity areas. Completion is scheduled for late 2010. McGowan Builders is serving as general contractor, with CetraRuddy providing architecture services. Winston Consultants is serving as owner's representative.
LIBERTYVILLE, ILL. — McShane Construction Co. has completed the construction of West Parking Deck, a 360-stall multi-story parking structure in Libertyville. Situated at the corner of Lake and Brainerd streets, the three-tiered structure is located just behind Village Hall. The structure features prefabricated pre-cast panels, a masonry exterior and a glass canopied entrance. Walker Parking Consultants served as program manager, structural engineer and owner’s consultant. Loebl Schlossman & Hackl provided architectural services for the project, which was developed by the village of Libertyville.
NEW YORK CITY — Massey Knakal Realty Services has brokered the sale of the former site of Bay Ridge United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, New York City, for $9.75 million. The property totals approximately 1 acre of land and is located at 362-364 Ovington Ave. The church building was demolished last October. The buyer, the School Construction Authority, plans to construct a new 680-student elementary school on the site as well as a new building for Bay Ridge Church. Stephen Palmese of Massey Knakal handled the transaction.
LOS ANGELES — UCLA Capital Programs is developing a 1,525-bed housing complex for the UCLA Housing & Hospitality Services at the University of California, Los Angeles campus. Situated on 8.1 acres, the four-building, 500,000-square-foot project will offer students living space as well as a 750-seat dining room and support space. Gafcon Inc. is serving as construction manager for the project, which was designed by Pfeiffer Partners Architects Inc. Completion is expected by winter 2013.
WILMINGTON, CALIF. — McCarthy Building Cos. has been awarded the design-build contract for a $19.9 million parking facility that will be located on the Los Angeles Harbor College campus in Wilmington. The 1,000-stall parking structure is scheduled for completion in spring 2011. The structure features metal canopies, brick veneers and painted concrete that integrates with the architecture of other campus buildings. Additionally, the project features green elements including a vegetated bioswale to treat run-off water, fly ash in the poured-in-place concrete and drought-tolerant landscaping.
PLANO, TEXAS — Cadence McShane Construction Co. has completed a renovation project at Hendrick Middle School in Plano. Construction included renovations to 55 classrooms, six science labs, the 480-seat cafeteria and kitchen, the library, the gymnasiums, band and choir rooms, locker rooms, and the weight room. The project architect was the Arlington, Texas, office of VLK Architects. Hendrick Middle School is a two-story, 170,739-square-foot educational facility located at 7400 Red River Dr.
SAN ANTONIO — The University of Texas System has selected Dallas-based HKS and San Antonio-based Overland Park Partners to design Phase I of the new Competitive Athletics Complex at the University of Texas – San Antonio (UTSA). The $22 million phase will include a 1,000-seat soccer stadium, a 5,000-seat track and field stadium, and the initial infrastructure needed for the complex. The entire project is expected to cost $84 million and will be located on 60 acres at Kyle Seale Parkway and North Loop 1604 on UTSA's Main Campus. The university expects the complex to be open by 2012.
WILMINGTON, DEL. — Construction has commenced for the new Delaware Children's Museum. Located in Wilmington at the former waterfront home of the Kahunaville restaurant and bar, the project will consist of the 37,000-square-foot renovation of the building. The façade will be redesigned and Kahunaville's famed volcano will be removed. The interior of the facility will include several high-tech, hands-on exhibits for children. The completion date was not disclosed. Emory Hill & Co. is the project's general contractor.