PARAMOUNT, CALIF. — McCarthy Building Companies Inc. has completed a 6,000-seat stadium at Paramount High School in Paramount. As the first phase of a $70 million campus renovation, the stadium features a Field Turf synthetic field for football and soccer; a nine-lane, all-weather urethane track; a lighted scoreboard; equipment for track and field activities, including the high jump and pole vault; and a fully equipped press box with an elevator. McCarthy is currently constructing a baseball complex, which is also part of the first phase of development. The complex will feature a collegiate-level field with 350-foot left and right field lines, a 385-foot center field fence, a vinyl-coated backstop, fully sub-drained natural turf, concrete dugouts, multiple batting cages and enclosed bullpens. When fully completed in 2010, the renovation project will include a stadium field house, expansion to the existing gymnasium, a new mini gymnasium, a new library, upgrades to the existing auditorium and classrooms, and a new science building. LPA Inc. is providing architectural services for the projects. The projects are being funded through Measure AA, a $100 million bond that was approved in November 2006 by Los Angeles County voters.
PALO ALTO, CALIF. — Embarcadero Capital Partners (ECP) has acquired 661 Bryant Street in Palo Alto from First Church of Christ, Scientist. ECP plans to renovate the 10,895-square-foot property for high-end office use. Designed by Elmer Grey and constructed in 1916 by Frank & Sons, the property was designated a historic landmark in 1978 (a Class 2 historic structure) by the city of Palo Alto. This transaction marks the first change of ownership since the building was constructed. The transaction value was not disclosed. Patty McGuigan, Dan Skehan and Randy Gabrielson of Cornish & Carey Commercial’s Palo Alto office represented the seller in the transaction. The First Church of Christ, Scientist merged membership with the Second Church of Christ, Scientist in 2006 and holds services at 3045 Cowper St.
SAVANNAH, GA. — Atlanta-based R.J. Griffin Co. will break ground November 17 on a 54,896-square-foot classroom building on the campus of Savannah Technical College in Savannah. The three-story building will house faculty offices, a computer lab, clinics for sports medicine and neuro-muscular therapy and 23 classrooms. Delivery of the facility, which was designed by Savannah-based Hansen Architects, is slated for December 2009.
LA CROSSE, WIS. — Wisconsin-based Eppstein Uhen Architects has been retained by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse to supply programming and design services for a new student housing community. The new facility will house 500 residence hall beds, as well as associated program and community spaces, and permanent office space for the UW-La Crosse Office of Residence Life. Additionally, the building will include front desk and lobby areas, limited retail spaces, study and television lounges, laundry facilities and light recreation areas. The project is being designed to achieve LEED Silver Certification. The estimated cost of completion of the residence hall was not disclosed.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — The Dallas-based Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) North Texas Health Care System, along with the Dallas office of BremnerDuke Healthcare Real Estate, have broken ground for a new VA Outpatient Clinic in Fort Worth. Located at 2031 SE Loop 820, the new facility will total 239,256 square feet. Once it opens in 2010, it will be the VA’s largest leased space. It is replacing the existing 48,691-square-foot Fort Worth Outpatient Clinic located at 300 West Rosedale. It is expected that the new VA clinic will handle a workload of 165,238 visitors annually by 2025.
TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIF. — Straub Construction Inc. has selected KMA Architecture & Engineering to assist in the design coordination for eight sites within the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms. Currently under construction, the 14-site project will total 231,834 square feet when complete in April 2010. The 147-building project features 41 administrative buildings (32,640 square feet); nine maintenance structures (16,980 square feet); two large storage structures (8,500 square feet); 63 ISO containers (3,040 square feet); three CMS vaults (1,440 square feet); 12 restroom trailers (3,528 square feet); 13 armories (3,564 square feet); and 4 classroom buildings (7,274 square feet). The KMA project team consists of Jay Janda, Tim Rubesh and Alison Warren. RBF Consultants is providing civil engineering services, while Grace Evan Technical Services is providing engineering specification services.
ARLINGTON, VA. — Washington, D.C.-based Tompkins Builders begins construction in December on a 250,000-square-foot addition to the Army National Guard Readiness Center, located in Arlington Hall Station in Arlington. The $98 million project will be built to meet all force protection requirements and to achieve silver LEED certification. Delivery is expected in 2010.
BREWSTER, MASS. — Norwell, Mass.-based Acella Construction Corp. has completed construction for the Tom & Jean Yawkey Dormitory at Latham School in Brewster. The two-story, elevator-served dorm totals 9,600 square feet. It features basement storage and an unfinished second floor for future expansion. The building will be able to house 16 students and eight staff members. Acella partnered with Orleans, Mass.-based S.A. Architecture for the design/build process. Latham School is a program offered by Latham Centers that teaches students ages 8 to 22 who have experienced troubled histories or suffer from Prader-Willi Syndrome.
LAS VEGAS — CORE Construction–Nevada has completed the construction of Thomas O’Roarke Elementary School in Las Vegas. Located at 6002 S. Durango Dr., the 66,112-square-foot school features classrooms surrounding an exterior learning courtyard. Additionally, the company constructed playgrounds, parking lots and offsite improvements. JMA Architecture Studios provided architectural services for the $20.4 million project. The Clark County School District contracted CORE Construction for the project.
COLUMBIA, MO. — The University of Missouri-Columbia’s Brady Commons student center is undergoing a multi-phased renovation and expansion that will combine three existing buildings into a single 230,000-square-foot facility. Located at the center of the university’s Columbia campus, the new three-story building will house more than 500 organizations, several dining venues, student programming spaces and multiple lounges. The first phase of the project, which is slated for completion by the end of this year, will house the Center for Student Involvement. Phase II of the project includes the complete renovation of the existing Brady Commons building. St. Louis-based Gray Design Group has begun providing interior design services for the renovated facility. Upon completion of the second phase in 2011, Brady Commons will house the university’s Center for Social Justice, including the Women’s Center, Multicultural Center and Student Life office. A two-story commons area that will include dining venues with seating for more than 600 will connect the two buildings. KCI is the general contractor; Holzman Moss and Mackey Mitchell are the architects for the project. The estimated cost of completion was not disclosed.