BRAINTREE, MASS. — The Triad Group has arranged the 20-year lease for the former Kindred Hospital campus, located at 2001 Washington St. in Braintree. CATS Academy, a United Kingdom-based prep school, has leased the 100,000-square-foot facility from 2001 Washington Street LLC. The landlord completely renovated the former hospital facility, which was built in 1918, and built 400 dorm rooms to accommodate students on the property. Andrew Mann of The Triad Group represented the tenant, while David Stubblebine, James Stubblebine and Micah Stubblebine of The Stubblebine Company represented the landlord in the transaction.
Civic
Eckman Construction Completes High School Renovations, Addition in Canaan, New Hampshire
by Amy Works
CANAAN, N.H. — Bedford, N.H.-based Eckman Construction Co. has completed renovations and a large addition at Mascoma Valley Regional High School in Canaan. The new addition features a 500-seat auditorium and performing arts theater, band room, media center and art room. Renovations to the original building, which was built in 1963, included a new handicap-accessible main entrance, classrooms, a new main office and administrative area, and energy-efficient upgrades throughout the facility. New Hampton, N.H.-based Marinace Architects provided architectural services for the project.
Mc Gowan Completes Renovation, Modernization of The Nightingale-Bamford School in Manhattan
by Amy Works
NEW YORK CITY — Mc Gowan, a construction management firm, has completed the renovation and modernization of The Nightingale-Bamford School, a private K-12 school located at 20 E. 92nd St. on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Mc Gowan served as general contractor for the project, which included the modernizing of the existing 75,000-square-foot property and integrating 25,000 square feet from two adjacent townhouses into the main building. Renovations included the reconfiguration of spaces to a more user-friendly design; expansion of the existing library for middle and upper schools; the addition of modern teaching technology in classrooms; an upgrade of cafeteria spaces; replacement of all floors, ceiling and millwork; an upgrade of the fire alarm system; and replacement of all light fixtures.
OAKDALE, N.Y. — Amity University, a non-profit international educational organization, has acquired St. John’s University’s 170-acre campus, located at 500 Montauk Highway in Oakdale for $22.4 million. The campus includes 11 buildings totaling 260,000 square feet. The acquisition enables the seller, St. John’s, to continue offering its existing academic programs under a lease agreement through June 2017 as Amity University assumes control of the property immediately. Helen Hwang and Karen Wiedenmann, formerly of Cushman & Wakefield, along with Andrew Merin, David Bernhaut, Gary Gabriel, Brian Whitmer, Ryan Dowd and David Pennetta of Cushman’s Metropolitan Area Capital Markets group, represented St. John’s in the transaction.
Summit Design + Build Starts Construction of 316,650 SF Athletic/Academic Facility in Chicago
by Amy Works
CHICAGO — Summit Design + Build, serving as general contractor, has broken ground on XS Tennis and Education Foundation’s XS Tennis Village, a state-of-the-art athletic and academic facility in Chicago’s Washington Park neighborhood. Situated on 14 acres at 510 S. State St., the 316,650-square-foot project will feature 110,000 square feet of indoor space, including 12 full-size tennis courts, four mini tennis courts, locker rooms, offices, players’ lounge and an 8,100-square-foot fitness center with a basketball court and sprinting lane. The complex’s 206,650 square feet of outdoor space will feature 15 full-size tennis courts (four clay and 11 hard surface), three stadium courts, two basketball courts and a 150-meter running track. Williams Architects is providing architectural services for the project.
PORTLAND, MAINE — The University of Maine has selected Harriman and The Cecil Group, a newly merged architectural firm, to master plan facilities across the seven state campuses in Fort Kent, Presque Isle, Orono, Machias, Augusta, Farmington and Southern Maine, among other locations and sites. The comprehensive suite of documents, which will be created, will guide the future development and management of the university system’s physical campuses. Harriman and The Cecil Group will perform master planning and facilities planning across the university system in a unified effort with all campuses. As part of Maine’s One University Initiative, the planning activities at each individual campus will develop a site-specific identity that integrates with the system as a whole. The university system intends for the master plan to build community engagement, provide opportunity for input and for constituents to have an awareness, understanding and stake in the outcome. Additionally, the comprehensive and long-range plans will be tied to strategic direction and planning of each campus, as well as responsive to current requirements and future development needs. Harriman and The Cecil Group are collaborating with Goody Clancy and Rickes Associates on master planning, campus planning and in-depth facility programming.
Public-Private Partnership to Begin Construction on Avalon’s $112M Hotel, Conference Center
by John Nelson
ALPHARETTA, GA. — A public-private partnership involving North American Properties (NAP), Long Wharf Real Estate Partners, Stormont Hospitality Group and the city of Alpharetta will break ground tomorrow on The Hotel at Avalon and the connecting 65,000-square-foot Alpharetta Conference Center. The $112 million project will anchor Phase II of the 86-acre Avalon mixed-use development. The 330-bed hotel will be part of Marriott International’s Autograph Collection and will feature a local chef-driven restaurant, 24-hour fitness center, upscale pool, valet service and Club Avalon Concierge. The conference center will feature a 12,500-square-foot exhibit hall, 10,000-square-foot ballroom with six salons, six meeting rooms, boardroom, reception area, pre-function space and outdoor venues. The hotel and conference center are set to open in January 2018. The design team includes architect Cooper Carry and general contractor Brasfield & Gorrie. SunTrust Bank is providing construction financing, and HEI Hotels & Resorts will serve as the manager of the new hotel.
MILTON, N.H. — Bedford, N.H.-based Eckman Construction Co. has begun site work and will soon commence construction on a new 9,000-square-foot fire and rescue station in Milton. Designed by Cowan-Goudreau Architects, the facility will include four apparatus bays and will be designed to accommodate a full-time staff with living quarters. Situated on a plot of land donated by the Downs family, the property will replace the 65-year-old current station.
LEBANON, TENN. — The city of Lebanon has approved the extension of Legends Drive near Cumberland Center, a 165-acre mixed-use project situated along I-40 East. Upon completion, Cumberland Center will feature retail shops, Class A offices, restaurants, hotels and possibly apartments. Phase I of Cumberland Center includes a Logan’s Steakhouse and a Boot Barn. The extension of Legends Drive is estimated to last roughly 18 months and cost about $4.6 million. Legends Drive will be extended about three-fourths of a mile and will connect Highway 231 and Highway 70. The road will also connect to Briskin Lane, which is scheduled for improvements.
ORLANDO, FLA. — Orlando-based Williams Co. Building Division has broken ground on a new $60.7 million school located at 701 W. Livingston St. in downtown Orlando on behalf of Orange County Public Schools. The unnamed school will serve roughly 1,211 preschool to eighth grade students on its 14-acre campus. The preschool wing is being supported by the Harris Rosen Foundation and a branch of the Boys & Girls Club. Construction on the 190,526-square-foot facility is slated for completion in summer 2017 in time for the school’s fall 2017 opening. Orlando-based Baker Barrios Architects designed the project.