CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS — The Dallas office of Omniplan has been selected to design the new $25 million O’Connor Business Building for the Corpus Christi campus of Texas A&M University. The 76,000-square-foot building will be located next to Lee Plaza and will house the university’s College of Business. It will include classrooms, computer labs, executive education facilities, business incubators, and faculty and administrative offices. The building features a two-story lobby with a sculptural staircase, a bridge connecting second-floor spaces, an electronic stock ticker, video monitors tuned to business networks, and a second-level balcony that can accommodate student study space or reception space for the building’s multi-purpose room. The project is applying for LEED-Silver certification. Construction will begin in summer 2009, with completion scheduled for fall 2010.
GAGES LAKE, ILL. — Elgin, Ill.-based IHC Construction has been selected to complete a $22.5 million project for the Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOLC) in Gages Lake. The project includes the construction of a new $18.6 million Laremont-Ureche School at the Gages Lake campus. Additionally, the project calls for a $3.9 million renovation to the existing Gages Lake/Laremont School and the Sally Potter School at the Mundelein, Ill., campus. The 78,000-square-foot, single-story Laremont-Ureche School will house 20 classrooms, as well as a multi-purpose gym, physical therapy rooms, a sensory room, a library, a computer lab, a nurse station, a therapy pool and locker rooms. All classrooms will have a ceiling-mounted human lift system for wheelchair-bound students. Construction is scheduled to begin in March, with completion slated for August 2010. Barrington, Ill.-based RuckPate Architecture is providing design services for the project.
EDISON, N.J. — Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.-based DMR Architects has been selected to design a new academic building at Middlesex County College in Edison. The building will be located on Blue Colt Drive at one of the college’s main entrances. It will total two stories and 36,000 square feet; it will feature classrooms, computer labs, administrative offices, a culinary demonstration lab, kitchen facilities and meeting rooms. The $11 million project is also applying for LEED-Silver certification. The project is expected to go out for bidding in June, with construction expected to begin in August.
KISSIMMEE, FLA. — Tilt-Con Corp. of Orlando, Fla., has finished construction of the 53,893-square-foot Osceola County Joint Communication Emergency Operations Center in Kissimmee. Located at 2588 Partin Settlement Rd., the two-story property features a chiller yard and command vehicle shelter. The center was designed by Winter Park, Fla.-based Architects Design Group.
LAS VEGAS — CORE Construction—Nevada, serving as general contractor, has broken ground on the Ralph and Betty Engelstad School of Health Sciences, which is located at 6375 W. Charleston Blvd. on the campus of the College of Southern Nevada. The 10,000-square-foot facility will house the college’s Cardiorespiratory Sciences Program. The $3.99 million project is slated for completion in June 2010. SH Architecture is providing architectural services for the project.
BIG CYPRESS, FLA. — Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Gulf Building Corp. has completed construction on the 50,000-square-foot Public Safety Complex in Big Cypress. The $16 million property is located on Josie Billie Highway and will house fire and police personnel and a U.S. Post Office. The building features a bay for emergency vehicles, dormitories, kitchens, break rooms, a gym and training rooms. Gulf Building constructed the property to withstand Category 5 winds.
ST. LOUIS — The Center for Emerging Technologies (CET) has plans to construct a 60,000-square-foot laboratory building on a site adjacent to its existing two-building campus in St. Louis. Monsanto Co. has donated $1 million to help fund the $28 million project. Monsanto’s commitment is part of $3 million in private contributions needed for Phase I of the building, with an additional $6 million in contributions needed to complete the innovation center. Upon completion, the facility will feature 60 percent wet labs, with space for transitional research and a pilot plant. CET supports life science and other advanced technology companies with a range of research and development labs and support services. St. Louis-based Cannon Design is the architect for the project. The estimated date of completion was not disclosed.
PALM BAY, FLA. — Bradenton, Fla.-based W.G. Mills is constructing the 321,666-square-foot Heritage High School for Brevard Public Schools. The $64.7 million property, located at 2351 Malabar Rd. in Palm Bay, is slated for delivery in August. The school encompasses three two-story buildings, a gymnasium, a courtyard and an 869-seat auditorium. Features include a closed-circuit television studio and digital projectors and DVD/VCR players in each classroom. Orlando, Fla.-based SchenkelShultz Architecture designed the building.
DODGE CITY, KAN. — Global Entertainment Corp. has signed an agreement to develop a $41.5 million multi-purpose events center in Dodge City. International Coliseums Co. (ICC) — a subsidiary of Global Entertainment Corp. — will serve as project manager for design and construction of the new facility. The Dodge City and Ford County commissions have approved the agreement. The events center will be situated adjacent to a state of Kansas authorized destination gaming casino that is currently underway. The development, which is scheduled to open in 2010, will include approximately 4,300 seats with designated VIP seating, as well as luxury suites. The master-planning group for the project includes ICC, Dodge City, Ford County and the casino development team.
FORT RILEY, KAN. — The Weitz Company, as general contractor, has completed two projects totaling $32 million in Fort Riley. The company has completed a 132,000-square-foot Army Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) Post Exchange. Developed on a 9-acre site, the $24 million Post Exchange was designed by Springfield, Mo.-based Marshall Waters Woody Architecture for use by Fort Riley soldiers, their families and military retirees. The facility, which will celebrate its grand opening on February 13th, will sell clothing and electronics, and will house services including a pharmacy, a barbershop and a spa. A food court with five restaurants and a Starbucks Coffee was also completed as part of the project, and will be available to Department of Defense civilians. AAFES Real Estate Division in Dallas administered the contract for the project. Additionally, as part of a joint venture design-build agreement with Denver-based MaxFour Engineers & Architects, The Weitz Company has completed the Combat Aviation Brigade Whiteside Dining Facility. The 18,000-square-foot building has achieved LEED Silver certification. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers administered the $8 million project. Situated on a 5-acre site, the facility houses 500 soldiers for three meals a day.