HOUSTON — The Lone Star College System has acquired a significant portion of the Hewlett Packard North Campus, located at the intersection of State Highway 249 and Louetta Road in northwest Houston. The college purchased eight major buildings totaling 1.2 million square feet, as well as parking garages and other support structures for the buildings. The campus had previously housed Compaq’s world headquarters. The purchase will provide the college with space for a new University Center for north Harris County, an instructional satellite campus, a Corporate College conference and training facility, and College System administration and support space. Classes will be held at the location starting in spring 2010. The new campus is more than double the size of school’s largest campus, Lone Star College – CyFair, which is located in Cypress, Texas. Terms of the deal were not released.
BOSTON – Live Nation has entered into an agreement with an undisclosed party to divest three of its non-core venues located in Boston for approximately $22.5 million in cash plus an earnout at the Orpheum Theatre over the next 5 years. The venues include the Boston Opera House, Orpheum Theatre and Paradise. The transaction is set to close third quarter of this year. Live Nation will continue to promote non-theatrical shows at each venue.
NEW YORK CITY — A joint venture between The Durst Organization and Bank of America has completed the historic restoration of Henry Miller’s Theatre, located on West 43rd Street in New York City’s Times Square. The 50,000-square-foot theater contains 1,055 seats and is situated adjacent to the 55-story Bank of America Tower. The original façade of the theater, which was constructed in 1918, was preserved and restored, and many historic elements of the theater were used in the new construction. The theater was closed in 2004 due to the construction of the Bank of America Tower. The project also is applying for LEED-Gold certification and, upon receipt of the designation, would be the first LEED-certified theater in the city. An emphasis was placed on renewable and recycled construction materials. The building’s finishes use Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood; wall panels and baseboards contain high amounts of recycled content; and almost half of the foundation and superstructure’s cement was replaced with blast furnace slag, a byproduct of iron manufacturing. Other sustainable features include advanced air filtration systems, locally sourced construction materials, low-flow fixtures and a recycling program for demolition and construction waste. The construction manager for Henry Miller’s Theatre was Tishman Construction …
FORT MYERS, FLA. — Locally-based J.L. Wallace has completed the renovations of Fort Myers Christian Center, a non-denominational Christian church and community outreach center. The renovations included the addition of a new lobby, kitchen and classrooms to the 8,000-square-foot building. Additionally, the company created a new sanctuary space in the existing building. The property is located at 3500 Fowler St. in Fort Myers. David Grossman of J.L. Wallace served as project manager, Dennis Tyeryar served as superintendent and Robbyn Spears served as project manager assistant.
LONG ISLAND, N.Y. — Saratoga Springs, N.Y.-based Atlantic Energy Solutions has been awarded a $12 million contract from the Long Island, New York, School District. The project entails installing energy efficient systems in various schools in the district, including a new 200kW solar photovoltaic system, a 300kW cogeneration system, an IT network management system, weatherization improvements, major HVAC renovations, and boiler and lighting system replacements. The project is estimated to save the school district $700,000 in energy costs per year. The construction timetable was not released.
PHILADELPHIA — Construction is underway on Lenfest Hall, a new $65 million, 106,000-square-foot music education and student residence center for The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Located at 1610 to 1618 Locust Street, the nine-story facility will include 88 student residences, an orchestra rehearsal room, studios, a kitchen, dining, lounge spaces and practice rooms to accommodate the school’s long-established needs for additional space. The new building is registered for LEED certification with the U.S. Green Building Council. The development manager for the project is Razak/Athenian and the architect of record is Venturi, Scott Brown Associates. The project is slated for completion in time for the fall 2011 semester.
THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS — The Woodlands Development Company has held the grand opening for Riva Row Park & Boat House, a 1.6-acre public park located along The Woodlands Waterway in The Woodlands. The park is located at the junction of the upper and lower levels of The Woodlands Waterway. The park features the Riva Row Boat House, which rents kayaks for use on the waterway. The project was conceived by Sasaki & Associates. Contractors for the project include Millis Development & Construction and Jones & Carter.
GLEN BURNIE, MD. — The Children’s Guild and The Monarch Academy have signed leases with Platt Development Group to occupy space at 6730 Baymeadow Dr. in Glen Burnie. Monarch, an arts and technology-based school, has signed a 24,320-square-foot lease that carries an option to expand by 13,000 square feet. The lease can be extended for the next 25 years. By 2012, the school hopes to house 600 kids in grades K-8. The Children’s Guild, a special-education charter school, has signed a 25-year lease for 17,621 square feet. Greg Masi of Columbia, Md.-based Manekin represented both tenants, and Sage Platt represented Platt Development Group internally.
PLANO, TEXAS — Plano Independent School District has awarded Cadence McShane Construction Co. the comprehensive construction assignment for Douglas Otto Middle School in Plano. The new 153,400-square-foot educational facility, which will be located on a 22.77-acre site at 6600 Alma Dr., will feature 63 classrooms, eight science labs, a music room, a 500-seat competition gymnasium, cafeteria, library, practice gymnasium, administration facilities and dedicated space for special education and guidance counseling. The assignment also includes construction of two football fields, four fenced tennis courts and a 133-stall surface parking lot. Dallas-based PBK Architects are providing architectural services.
ORLANDO, FLA. — Colonial Properties Trust is overseeing the interior renovation of a 33,000-square-foot facility for the allied health education firm Concorde Career Colleges. The property, located at 3444 McCrory Place in Orlando, is scheduled for an August completion. Concorde’s facility will feature offices, staff and student lounges and classroom and lab areas. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Pasquale Kuritzky Architecture designed the project, and RTM & Associates and Blaney Engineering will serve as engineering consultants.