ST. LOUIS — The Peabody Opera House, located at 1400 Market St. in St. Louis, was recently reopened after undergoing a $78 million restoration that began in July 2010. Updates to the 77-year-old building included adding quiet air conditioning, modern fire protection and washroom facilities. The developers include Sports Capital Holdings-St. Louis; Optimus Development; and St. Louis-based Paric Corp., in partnership with KAI Design & Build.
SAN ANTONIO — KAI Texas has been selected as the architect for renovations and additions to Sam Houston High School in the San Antonio Independent School District. The school will receive a total of $16.9 million of major renovations funded by a $515 million bond that voters passed in November 2010. Improvements to the school will include creating collaborative learning environments throughout the campus, updating fire, emergency, security, lighting and alarm systems, creating teaching spaces for new educational programs and creating design space. The project is in the planning phase and is slated for a late 2014 completion.
BROKEN ARROW, OKLA. — Tulsa Tech has opened a new automotive training facility at their Broken Arrow campus. The 249,000-square-foot facility is dedicated to alternative fuel technology. The 362,698-square-foot Broken Arrow campus sits on 53 acres, and was established in 1983 with recent renovations completed in January.
BROOKLYN CENTER, MINN. — Welsh Construction has started construction on a 63,000-square-foot facility, located at 7051 Brooklyn Blvd. in Brooklyn Center, for the Community Emergency Assistant Program (CEAP), Hennepin County and Osseo Area Schools. The family services center will offer education services to economic assistance and will replace CEAP's main facility in Brooklyn Park, Minn., and its smaller facilities in Maple Grove, Minn. Additionally, it will house the first regional hub for Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department. Completion is slated for September 2012.
ST. LOUIS — Kwame Building Group (KWAME) has completed work on a $15 million, 200-bed residence hall and dining facility at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis. KWAME managed the year-long project, with K&S Associates as the general contractor. Grice Group Architects and Trivers Associates provided architectural services for the project. Amenities include a cardio fitness room, laundry facility, mailboxes, community kitchen, 24-hour vending and a public safety office.
BELTON — SHW Group has completed construction of South Belton Middle School, a 149,346-square-foot facility that serves the Belton Independent School District's sixth- through eighth-graders. SHW constructed the classrooms into grade-level pods with four classrooms clustered around a community multipurpose flex space. The classrooms feature glass walls, and the school's corridors and stairways feature 7-foot high marker boards for interactive lessons outside the classroom. The facility includes sustainable features, including a highly reflective white roof, south-facing windows, smart walls and daylight controls. Funding for construction came from residents voting for a $29 million bond.
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MINN. — Brown College has signed a 55,263-square-foot lease to occupy the Mendota Tech Center, located at 1345 Mendota Heights Rd. in Mendota Heights. The school will finish relocating from its current campus, located at 1440 Northland Dr. in Mendota Heights, in August. Dan Gleason and Tony DelDitto of NorthMarq Capital's Minneapolis office and Anita Veith of the firm's Edina, Minn., office represented the landlord in the lease transaction. Charlie Snyder of CB Richard Ellis' Minneapolis office and Nathan Lamb of CBRE's Chicago office represented the tenant.
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.