NEW YORK CITY — The New York City Council has given Solar One, an environmental educational organization, $1.25 million for the construction of Solar 2, a building designed to maximize energy sustainability. The grant is in addition to the $6.1 million already raised toward the $10 million goal before construction commences. The 13,000-square-foot building will sit on the East River at 23rd Street and will offer the city community and educational programs. The building will feature geothermal heating, a water reclamation system, an outdoor green theater, a green roof and a vegetative green screen to filter carbon dioxide. Solar 2 will pursue LEED Platinum certification and will add a native wetland exhibit area to Stuyvesant Cove Park.
CONSHOHOCKEN, PA. — Academy in Manayunk (AIM), a nonprofit school for children with language-based learning disabilities, has signed a 15-year, approximately 63,500-square-foot lease at River Park 2 at 1200 River Rd. in Conshohocken. The facility will house a professional development wing and outdoor facilities. Mike Barker and Dan Dagit of CB Richard Ellis’ Philadelphia office represented AIM in the lease.
MARBLE FALLS — SHW Group has completed construction on the Marble Falls High School Transitional Facility, a 3,000-square-foot facility that is designed to help 18-22 year old students with significant disabilities learn how to live independently. The site resembles a single-family home and features a living room, dining room, a full-size kitchen and a wheelchair ramp. The site supports the Marble Falls Independent School District’s Learning Independence for Everyday Life program and will serve approximately 40 special education students. The facility is entirely funded through government grants and donations from local businesses.
AUSTIN — Wind Energy Transmission Texas (WETT), a joint venture between Brookfield Asset Management and Isolux Corsan Concesiones, has finalized its $500 million construction loan with a consortium of financial institutions to build five substations and 378 miles of transmission lines in west Texas. The transmission lines will bring renewable wind energy from west Texas to the metropolitan areas throughout Texas. WETT was awarded a contract to build the transmission lines and substations by the Public Utility Commission of Texas as part of the Texas Legislature’s Competitive Renewable Energy Zone project. The construction is set to be complete in 2013.
ARLINGTON — Arlington Independent School District has hired Cadence McShane Construction Co. to build the new two-story, 44,605-square-foot expansion for Arlington High School at 818 W. Park Row Dr. in Arlington. The new addition is expected to house 14 classrooms, a kitchen and a cafeteria. The project is expected to be complete in July 2012.
NEWARK, N.J. –– Newark Collegiate Academy, a 63,855-square-foot charter high school, has celebrated its topping out ceremony, which was hosted by Hollister Construction Services. The school is located at 18-36 Norfolk St. and will be operated by The Friends of TEAM Academy Charter Schools. The school will feature a four-story classroom building with a two-story gymnasium/auditorium/cafeteria area. The construction is set to be done in spring of 2012.
HOUSTON — E.E. Reed Construction has broken ground on the $20 million Church Without Walls Queenston campus at 5725 Queenston Blvd. in Houston. The project will consist of a 94,000-square-foot sanctuary, a 10,000-square-foot chapel, and a 43,000-square-foot youth/children classroom building. The Church Without Walls has three locations with more than 20,000 members in the Houston area. Construction of the Queenston campus is expected to be complete in June 2012.
MILWAUKEE — The groundbreaking will be held tomorrow for the new Graduate School of Public Health for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The project is located within The Brewery Project, Zilber's redevelopment of the former Pabst brewery. Construction will include the redevelopment of an existing manufacturing building, which has already commenced, as well as the construction of an adjoining building. The new Graduate School of Public Health will contain approximately 60,000 square feet of space. Completion is expected in fall 2012.
WHEELING, ILL. — Construction has commenced for a new community center at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, located at 181 W. Dundee Road in Wheeling. The project will include a 9,970-square-foot building containing meeting space, banquet space and a full kitchen. Completion is expected later this summer. The project team includes Woodridge, Ill.-based general contractor Morgan/Harbour Construction and architect Ruben L. Anastacio & Associates.
SAN MARCOS — Morris Architects has designed the $43 million state-of-the-art performing arts center that has recently broken ground at Texas State University-San Marcos. The complex features a 400-seat proscenium theatre with fly tower and a 300-seat music recital hall. The performing arts center faces University Drive and will include a 450-car parking garage.