INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis-based Shiel Sexton has commenced construction of a $25 million pharmacy and health sciences building at Butler University, located in Indianapolis. The four-story, 40,000-square-foot facility will contain a student lounge, faculty offices and two laboratories — a history and physical lab for the school’s Physician Assistant program, and a research lab for the pharmaceutical sciences faculty. The building will also be applying for LEED certification, which upon completion would make it the first building on campus to achieve the designation. Sustainable amenities will include increased use of natural lighting, carpet and flooring made from recycled materials, bicycle storage and shower facilities, reserved parking for hybrid vehicles, and heat generated partially from the University’s data center, which will be housed in the building. Electricity will also be purchased through a green energy program with Indianapolis Power & Light. Completion is expected in summer 2009.
RENO, NEV. — The PENTA Building Group has been awarded the contract to construct the $42 million Davidson Mathematics and Science Center at the University of Nevada, Reno. Located on the southeast corner of the campus, the 105,000-square-foot facility will feature a 14,000-square-foot auditorium, a new dean’s office, chemistry and biology laboratories, state-of-the-art classrooms and major site improvements. Designed by Hershenow and Klippenstien, the project is slated for completion in December 2009.
WESTWOOD, N.J. — Cushman & Wakefield have completed the $45 million sale of a 20-acre former hospital site in Westwood. Hackensack University Medical Center and Touro University College of Medicine purchased the facility. The new owners plan to construct a medial school, which is slated for occupancy in 2009. The site was formerly occupied by the 251-bed Pascack Valley Hospital, which filed for bankruptcy fall 2007. Andrew Merin, Jose Cruz, David Bernhaut and Gary Gabriel of Cushman & Wakefield orchestrated the sale.
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — Sundt Construction Inc. has broken ground for the construction of Valley Hi North Laguna Library, which is located at the corner of Bruceville Road and Cotton Lane in Sacramento. Designed by Berkeley, Calif.-based Noll & Tam, the $9.9 million, 20,000-square-foot library will feature several interior and exterior public art projects. Additionally, the facility is utilizing various sustainable elements to achieve LEED Gold Certification upon completion in April 2009.
O’FALLON, ILL. — Swansea, Ill.-based Holland Construction Services has completed construction of the $6.5 million Joseph Arthur Middle School, located on St. Ellen Mine Road in O’Fallon. The 35,888-square-foot school features 11 classrooms, a dedicated art room, a science room, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, a library, a computer room, and a dedicated music and band room. The project was designed by St. Louis-based William B. Ittner Inc. Joseph Arthur is the first middle school for O’Fallon Central School District 104.
BOSTON — Tufts University has started a vertical addition to an existing 10-story building in the School of Dental Medicine in Boston. The 5-story addition will include 95,000 square feet and is expected to meet LEED certification. Two clinical patient floors, expanded simulation lab and teaching facilities, a conference center and administration offices will occupy the addition. Project partners include ARC/Architectural Resources and Shawmut Design and Construction. Completion is slated for 2010.
LUBBOCK, TEXAS — Texas Tech University has opened the Mark and Becky Lanier Professional Development Center at the School of Law. The 34,560-square-foot facility, which was designed by Dallas-based SHW Group, features the 130-seat Donald Hunt courtroom; a 300-seat auditorium/classroom; space for the Office of Academic Success Programs, Career Services, Alumni Development and student organizations; and a practice courtroom. Houston-based Vaughn Construction served as general contractor for the $13.6 million project.
LOS ANGELES — Snyder Langston has completed the development of Catholic Charities/Good Shepherd Center Women’s Village Phase III, a 35,892-square-foot mixed-use building located at 1671 Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles. The four-story facility features a retail bakery/café, which will provide employment assistance for the residents, an employment and client service center, computer training area, classrooms, conference rooms, and a transitional housing area offering 21 one-bedroom apartments. The new building will provide services to all of Good Shepherd Center’s facilities. Pasadena, Calif.-based Onyx Architects provided design services for the project.
FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS — Hillwood recently sold 62 acres in its 3,827-acre Sienna South community in Fort Bend County to the Fort Bend Independent School District. The site will be used for the development of a high school and an elementary school. Construction on the high school is planned to begin this summer, and completion is expected in August 2010. Johnson Development Corp. is assisting Hillwood by providing the necessary infrastructure, including roads and utilities, to serve the schools.
DALLAS — The U.S. Green Building Council has awarded Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) Embrey Engineering Building with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction (LEED-NC) Gold level certification. This makes the building, which was built by Turner Construction and designed by Hahnfeld Hoffer Stanford, the only collegiate academic building in Texas to receive this level of certification. The Embrey Engineering Building opened in 2006.