NEW YORK CITY — A partnership between The World-Wide Group and the Educational Construction Fund branch of the New York City Board of Education has completed Manhattan’s first green public school. Located at 213 E. 63rd St., the building features classrooms, science labs, common learning areas, a full-sized gymnasium and a rooftop play area. It is certified by the School Construction Authority under the NYC Green Schools Rating System, which is modeled after the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program. Sustainable features include an ultra-efficient HVAC system, windows glazed with low E coating and the use of steam for heat. The building was designed by Ehrenkrantz & Kuhn Architects, and will serve as the temporary home of Public School 59. The temporary location for the school is part of a larger project World-Wide is currently developing at 57th Street and Second Avenue, where the former PS 59 was located. Once the project is complete, PS 59 will return to its original address and the school on 63rd Street will become a new neighborhood school for the city.
CHICAGO — Chicago-based Reed Illinois Corp. has completed an 80,000-square-foot build-out for Argosy University on the 13th floor of 205 N. Michigan Ave. and the upper concourse of 225 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago. Renovations included the construction of classrooms, offices, lecture halls and a library, as well as seminar and conference facilities. The build-out also featured new student and faculty lounge areas, computer labs, an IT equipment room and a new mechanical system. Additionally, Reed Illinois Corp. has connected the 13th floors of 205 and 225 N. Michigan Avenue in order to provide a more strategic flow to the properties. Michael Machat of Reed Illinois Corp. is the principal involved in the project; Scott Pickands of Reed Illinois Corp. oversaw the construction team. The cost of completion was not disclosed.
SCRANTON, PA. — Scranton-based The Commonwealth Medical College has broken ground for the development of its new 185,000-square-foot Medical Sciences Building. Designed by the New York office of HOK in association with Highland Associates, the building will house education and research facilities. Features include biomedical laboratories, a gross anatomy lab, simulation rooms, standardized patients’ rooms and a 250-seat auditorium. The west research wing and the east educational wing will surround a shared courtyard. The building also will contain additional student common areas, a café, and a bookstore. In addition, the project will include sustainable features such as rainwater collection, heat recovery systems, CO2 and occupancy sensors, high performance glazing, integrated daylight control, and the use of local stone and indigenous landscaping. Completion is scheduled for 2011.
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans office of Walton Construction Co. will break ground this month on its renovation and expansion of Andrew H. Wilson Elementary School, located at 3617 General Pershing St. in New Orleans. Construction, scheduled for completion in December 2009, will include remodeling the existing 48,000-square-foot, three-story structure and building an additional 50,000-square-foot, three-story facility. The property, which is owned by the State of Louisiana Department of Education, will house classrooms, administrative areas, a cafeteria and a gym. Design services will be provided by New Orleans-based HMS Architects.
BLACKSBURG, VA. — New York-based Cannon Design—along with Ballou Justice Upton Architects, civil engineers Anderson & Associates and the Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.— has begun construction on a 50,000-square-foot basketball facility on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University in Blacksburg. The building will house college basketball programs for women and men, and it will include two practice courts, physical therapy facilities, conference rooms, coaching offices and locker and lounge areas. Construction costs for the building, which will be completed in August 2009, are estimated at $18 million.
CHICAGO — Chicago-based Reed Illinois Corp. is acting as general contractor for a 28,000-square-foot build-out of the Illinois Institute of Art, which is located within The Mart Center at 350 N. Orleans in Chicago. The project includes construction of enhanced classrooms, private offices, lecture halls, restroom facilities and corridor upgrades. The Illinois Institute of Art is expanding to 16,000 square feet of space within the first floor of The Mart Center. Scott Pickands of Reed Illinois is overseeing construction of the project; Atul Karkhanis Architects has provided architectural services for the project. The estimated cost of completion was not disclosed.
COCONUT CREEK, FLA. — Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based Stiles Construction Co. has commenced construction on Junior Achievement World’s 59,500-square-foot Huizenga Center, located on Broward College’s north campus in Coconut Creek. The center, which will be completed next year, will help Junior Achievement of South Florida educate 50,000 K-12 students a year in economic matters. The property will serve as the organization’s headquarters, house two new programs, JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, and include training and meeting space.
MEQUON, WIS. — Butler, Wis.-based Berghammer Construction Corp. has begun work on a 27,700-square-foot worship facility for Christ Church in Mequon. The two-story building, which will be located at the southeast corner of Bonniwell and Port Washington roads, will seat approximately 400 people. Classroom and other community amenities will also be housed at the facility. Construction is slated for completion in May 2009.
STOCKTON, CALIF. — University of the Pacific has completed the development of The University Center, the campus’ first green building, which is slated to open in August. Designed by San Francisco-based Gensler, the two-story, 55,000-square-foot building will serve as the campus’ gathering place and dining facility. Situated along the Calaveras River, the facility features a two-story entry atrium, wireless Internet, a full-service pub, entertainment venues, high-tech meeting rooms and a gaming room. The project, which is seeking LEED Silver certification, also features retractable skylights, daylight sensors, large windows and doors for natural lighting and cooling; a mixed-mode heating and air conditioning system for natural ventilation; and various water-saving components, including dual-flush toilets and dishwashers that function with a minimum amount of water usage. The $38 million center was funded in part by donations, bonds, and operating and reserve funds. Milpitas, Calif.-based Devcon Construction Inc. served as general contractor for the project.
LAKELAND, FLA. — Thomas D. Wood & Co.’s Doug Rozzell has secured a fixed-rate $3.2 million loan through a national financial institution for the 14,212-square-foot Lakeland Social Security Administration Building, located at 550 Commerce Dr. in Lakeland. The 6.8 percent, 10-year loan comes with a 20-year amortization and a 97 percent loan-to-cost rate.