EL CAJON, CALIF. — San Diego-based Gafcon Inc., a construction and management consulting firm, has started construction on a new $40 million Public Safety Building in El Cajon. Proposition O, a half-cent sales tax, is funding the 119,400-square-foot property. The five-story building will include administrative and operational space for all divisions, a joint police and fire emergency operations center, a community meeting room, a communications center, an indoor firing range, a crime laboratory, property processing and storage area, a short-term custody facility and a central data center. The project is scheduled for completion in June 2011. KMA Architecture & Engineering was selected as the primary architect in partnership with McClaren, Wilson & Lawrie. Ledcor Construction is serving as general contractor for the project.
Civic
ORLANDO, FLA. — The Florida division of Clancy & Theys Construction Co. will construct the 117,000-square-foot Partnership III Building on the University of Central Florida campus in Orlando. The $15.6 million property will contain offices, classrooms and research labs. Designed by SchenkelShultz Architecture, the building is expected to deliver in December 2010.
ENCINITAS, CALIF. — The city of Encinitas has completed the reconstruction of Fire Station No. 3 in Encinitas. Located at 801 Orpheus Ave., the two-story, 7,256-square-foot station is twice the size of the 1970s-era station, which formerly occupied the site. The first floor features offices, a training classroom, a physical fitness center and three oversized bays for fire trucks and other emergency equipment. The second floor features a living area with bedrooms, a dining area, a kitchen and a day room with an outdoor deck. Barnhart Inc. served as construction manager for the $3.55 million project. Domusstudio Architecture provided architectural services for the project.
COLUMBUS, GA. — West Point, Ga.-based Batson-Cook Co. has completed the 170,000-square-foot National Infantry Museum in Columbus for the National Infantry Foundation. The $91 million development follows the evolution of the infantryman from the Revolutionary War to modern conflicts. More than 500 employees worked on the project.
CASA GRANDE, ARIZ. — The city of Casa Grande has selected Phoenix-based Accelerated Construction Technologies as general contractor for the development of Performance Institute, a 59,700-square-foot facility in Casa Grande. Scheduled for completion in mid-September, the $20 million, 50-acre campus will be the west coast training facility for the new United Football League, a new location for Greenville, S.C.-based ProaxisTherapy, and a top-level tennis, golf and soccer training center called Grande Sports Institute. Local residents will also have use of the facility, which will include soccer and football fields, tennis courts, an Olympic track, a fitness center and locker rooms, as well as a physical therapy facility, a sports academy, classrooms, data rooms and two lobbies.
LAKELAND, FLA. — Orlando, Fla.-based Construct Two Group has completed its renovation and expansion of the Coleman-Bush Building, upgrading 20,328 square feet and expanding 2,420 square feet of space. The $1.8 million project included constructing larger meeting rooms, more spacious restrooms and offices for Lakeland’s Code Enforcement and Housing departments. The government property is located on Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive in Lakeland. The local firm Swilley Curtis Mundy Hannicutt Associates Architects designed the project.
UNIVERSAL CITY, TEXAS — The first phase of renovations are nearing completing for the Taj Mahal, one of the buildings located on Randolph Air Force Base in Universal City. Construction under way includes the $800,000 renovation of the building’s movie theater. The roof is being replaced, the ceiling is being restored, new air conditioning equipment is being installed, walls are being re-plastered and painted, carpeting is being replaced and a handicapped-accessible restroom is being built. Completion is scheduled for July. The theater renovation is part of a $10 million project designed the improve the Taj Mahal, which houses the headquarters for the 12th Flying Training Wing and the 12th Mission Support Group, as well as base offices for the legal, public affairs and inspector general departments. The next phase of construction, which will begin in 2010 or 2011, will include ensuring ADA compliance, installing elevators and re-plastering work.
DUNNELLON AND OCALA, FLA. — Ocala-based Edwards Construction Services is eyeing a second quarter 2010 completion of two classroom school wings for the School Board of Marion County. Starting this fall, the firm will construct a 10-classroom wing at Romeo Elementary School in Dunnellon and a 12-room expansion at Evergreen Elementary School in Ocala. Included in the projects are construction of new play areas and multi-purpose courts.
HOUSTON — The University of Houston has selected the Austin, Texas, office of Hardin Construction Co. for a new $50 million undergraduate housing project. The facility, which will be situated on the university’s central campus, will consist of a seven-story, 300,000-square-foot residential building. It will feature 1,172 beds. Resident advisor offices, a social lounge, a computer lab, multi-purpose rooms, a fitness center and a convenience store. Construction will begin this month, with completion expected by the start of the fall 2010 semester. The new facility will accommodate incoming freshmen and is part of the university’s goal to increase the number of students living on-campus. The university eventually plans to house the entire first-year class on campus. According to university officials, this new project marks the first time since 1970 that the university will have a residential building dedicated specifically to freshmen.
DULUTH, MINN. — Minneapolis-based Kraus-Anderson Construction Co. has been selected to serve as construction manager for the new $65 million terminal for Duluth International Airport. Phase I is expected to break ground July 1, pending approval by the Federal Aviation Administration. This phase, which is slated for completion at the end of the year, will include site preparation and infrastructure work. Phase II will include the construction of the terminal. Completion of the project is expected in late 2011. The project is expected to apply for LEED certification. The airport will remain open during construction.