PLANO, TEXAS — Plano Independent School District has awarded Cadence McShane Construction Co. a 75,715-square-foot addition and renovation assignment at Vines High School in Plano. The project includes 50,000 square feet of state-of-the-art updates to the school as well as a 25,715-square-foot, two-story addition for the school’s new science wing. Construction will begin in late July with completion scheduled for November 2010. Corgan Associates, Inc., is providing architectural services. Vines High School is located on a 17-acre site at 15th Street and Highedge Drive.
PRINCETON, N.J. — KSS Architects has completed one aspect of continuing expansion at the Research and Collections Preservation Consortium (ReCAP) at Princeton University. Prior to the expansion, the facility consisted of four 15,000-square-foot refrigerated modules that held 7.5 million library items. The expansion has added a fifth module that increased the total area to 85,000 square feet and total capacity to 10 million items. The expansion included adding 5,000 solar panels to the roofs of both the new and existing modules to control the temperature in the buildings. The ReCAP partners expect the facility to eventually comprise of 11 modules, and KSS is currently designing the next phase of ReCAP, which is known as Module 8.
HOUSTON — Rice University has received $11.1 million in federal stimulus funding for the Brockman Hall of Physics, a new research facility that is currently under construction at the school’s Houston campus. The building will total 110,000 square feet, and it will provide space for research and education in fundamental and applied physics. Faculty from the Department of Physics & Astronomy and the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering will occupy the facility, which is slated for a spring 2011 completion and will be applying for LEED-Silver certification. The funding was awarded by the National Institute of Standards & Technology. Philadelphia-based KieranTimberlake Associates has serving as project architect, with Gilbane Building Co. providing general contracting services.
THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS — The J. Beard Real Estate Company has brokered the lease of the former Crossroads Baptist Church, a 40,170-square-foot church complex located at 6565 Research Forest Dr. in The Woodlands. The lessee, Celebration Church, has re-opened the church and held its dedication ceremony earlier this month. Its lease carries a purchase option for the complex. Karyn Stephens of J. Beard represented the lessor, Crossroads Baptist Church.
NEW YORK CITY — The New York City School Construction Authority has awarded a 3-year, $8 million contract to Hasbrouck, N.J.-based DMR Architects. The contract provides for the firm to provide design consulting services at various schools throughout the city on an on-call basis. The scope of work will include an assessment of existing mechanical HVAC and climate control systems, followed by upgrades or replacement; plumbing and bathroom renovations; installation of new elevators; and the installation of fire alarms and security systems. DMR recently completed a 2-year, $5 million contract with the Authority in which the firm provided design consulting services at 15 public schools. In addition, construction is nearing completion for another DMR-designed project. This week will mark the completion of the Meadowlands Rail Station, a train station located in the New Jersey Meadowlands that will primarily serve the new football stadium and the Xanadu project. The 950-foot long station features pedestrian overpasses that connect several platforms and a pedestrian plaza with a series of ramps. The project is part of the larger Meadowlands Railroad and Roadway Improvement Project. The stadium and Xanadu are slated for completion in 2010.
CONCORD, N.C. — Castle & Cooke has borrowed a $26 million loan for construction of a 62,322-square-foot building on the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College campus in Concord. The property will include classrooms, offices and research and development labs. US Bank provided funding for the 20-year loan, which carries a 7 percent interest rate. Hal Kempson of CB Richard Ellis’ Charlotte, N.C., office secured the loan. Royal Net Lease and William Blair & Co. also helped with the deal.
WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS — Construction is complete for the $6.2 million renovation of Fowler Hall, located on the campus of Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls. The 23,000-square-foot renovated building houses academic space for the McCoy School of Engineering. Construction included the upgrade of several laboratory spaces; the construction of classrooms, offices and collaborations areas; and new study pods that overhang into the lab space. The exterior of the building now features a translucent glass box that showcases the building’s three major labs and the design studio while providing ample daylight to the building’s interior. Finally, a new landscape plan was implemented that includes the use of indigenous plants, custom fabricated outdoor seating and new walking surfaces. The project architect was Dallas-based SHW Group.
DALLAS — Corgan Associates has been selected as the architect of record for the renovation of Dallas’ Love Field airport. The Love Field Modernization Program will begin with the demolition and consolidation of the airport’s three original concourses into one central concourse. The check-in and baggage claim areas will be redesigned and the main lobby space will be renovated. The number of airport concession areas will be more than doubled. The project plans to pursue LEED certification. Demolition work will begin in the fall, with Phase I construction scheduled for a 2012 completion. The project will wrap up by fall 2014. Corgan Associates has been involved in several renovation projects for the airport and was part of the original design team when it was constructed in 1956.
IRVING, TEXAS — Cadence McShane Construction Co. has completed Northlake College – South Campus, a satellite campus for the Dallas County Community College District that is located in Irving. The two-story, 33,278-square-foot facility is situated on 11.72 acres at 1801 W. Shady Grove Rd. It features 15 classrooms, three computer labs, a science lab, a library, administrative areas, study lounges, a multi-purpose room, catering facilities, a GED testing suite, a law enforcement office, vending areas and a 225-space parking lot. The project architect was F&S Partners. Dallas County Community College District currently operates a network of seven colleges with more than 89,000 students.
AZUSA, CALIF. — Hodgdon-Miank Construction, serving as design-build contractor, has broken ground for the $4 million remodel of the 30,000-square-foot Carl E. Wynn Academic Center at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa. The project includes the gutting and renovation of the former Carl E. Wynn Science Center building on the campus’ east side. The remodeled center will be renamed Carl E. Wynn Academic Center. The new center will feature 11 classrooms, 30 administrative and staff offices, a 1,800-square-foot lecture hall, a conference room, a small library, a computer lab and workrooms, two focus rooms with a viewing area and a presentation room for new and prospective students and parents. Irvine, Calif.-based GAA is providing architectural services for the project. The new center is scheduled to open for classes in January 2010.