FRISCO — Balfour Beatty Construction is nearing completion on a renovation of the Frisco Discovery Center, turning a 150,000-square-foot warehouse into a performance arts complex. The property, which is located at 8004 N. Dallas Parkway in Frisco, houses a 100-seat theater, an art gallery and a science discovery center. BOKA Powell designed the project, and the Frisco Community Development Corp. provided funding. The Frisco Association for the Arts will manage the space.
ATLANTA — Passion City Church has leased a 134,000-square-foot property from Ram Realty Services and has begun converting the former big-box store into a worship area. The property had housed a Home Depot EXPO, a PGA Superstore and a Sam's Club, and is located at 515 Garson Drive in Atlanta's Lindbergh City Center area. The renovations will be complete by the end of this year.
BOSTON — Architectural Resources Cambridge (ARC) has been selected to complete a 70,000-square-foot interior renovation for Boston College. Construction will take place at the Chancery Building, which is located at 2121 Commonwealth Ave. on the school's Brighton Campus. The building will be renovated to house the consolidated offices of the college's University Advancement Departments. The new design will increase the amount of natural light the interior receives, and a new multi-story, sky-lit atrium will provide flexible meeting and event space. The construction timetable was not released.
PHILADELPHIA — Brandywine Realty Trust has completed the $252 million historic rehabilitation of the 30th Street Post Office in Philadelphia. Upon completion, the Internal Revenue Service took occupancy of the 862,692-square-foot building for a 20-year term. Concurrent with this project, Brandywine completed the $90 million construction of the Cira South Garage, which is located across the street. The project consists of 1,662 parking spaces and 9,788 square feet of ground-floor retail space. The project is on track for a LEED-Silver rating. As a result of the completion, Brandywine has received $256.5 million in financing from an affiliate of CTL Capital that had been escrowed pending completion of the two projects. The two loans carry a 5.93 percent interest rate and a 20-year term.
ST. LOUIS — The City of St. Louis has selected Kwame Building Group as project manager for the $23 million O'Fallon Park Recreation Complex project, which is currently under way in St. Louis. Located on 13 acres at Interstate 70 and West Florissant Avenue, the two-story, 79,000-square-foot complex will feature an indoor aquatic center with a splash pool, lazy river, vortex pool, children's pools and a rock climbing wall; an outdoor lap pool; a sauna; a steam room; and a spa. Additionally, the project will feature a double gymnasium with lockers, a fitness center, an indoor running track, and a community center with a senior center, a teen lounge and multi-purpose community rooms. Scheduled for completion at the end of 2011, the complex is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification. S.M. Wilson is serving as general contractor and KAI is providing architectural services for the project.
BAYSIDE AND NEW YORK, N.Y. — Turner Construction Co. has been awarded two new construction projects in New York totaling $126.7 million. First, Turner will provide pre-construction and construction management services for the renovation and expansion of St. Mary's Hospital for Children in Bayside. The $72 million project will include a five-story, 90,000-square-foot expansion and the modernization of the existing 90,000-square-foot building. The phased project is slated for completion in May 2013. Turner is also providing construction services for the new $54.7 million PS/IS 51M public school. The 98,433-square-foot school will be located on West 44th Street in Manhattan. it will have 24 classrooms and will be able to accommodate 640 students. Completion is scheduled for July 2013.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — W.G. Mills has completed the $69.5 million Atlantic Coast High School for Duval County Public Schools. SchenkelShultz Architecture designed the 303,000-square-foot school, which is located at 9735 R.G. Skinner Road in Jacksonville. The property includes classrooms, a 1,621-seat gym and am 840-seat auditorium.
COON RAPIDS, MINN. — St. Louis Park, Minn.-based RJM Construction has been selected to construct a new Coon Rapids Ice Arena on Coons Rapids Boulevard. The 55,000-square-foot facility will replace the existing ice arena in Coon Rapids. The new facility will feature a 45,000-square-foot first floor and a 10,000-square-foot second floor mezzanine level. Construction is scheduled to begin in September with completion expected in fall 2011. Perkins + Will is providing architectural services for the project.
PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. — Demeter Pembroke Pines has purchased a 7.64-acre vacant land parcel in Pembroke Pines from Duke Realty Corp. for $4.65 million. The company intends to develop the parcel, which is located at the northeast corner of Interstate 75 and Pembroke Road, as a Keiser University campus. NAI Rauch Weaver Norfleet Kurtz & Co.'s Michael and Jennifer Scarpino represented the buyer. Richard Levinson of CB Richard Ellis represented Duke Realty.
DARIEN AND LAKE ZURICH, ILL. — Leopardo, serving as general contractor, is currently renovating two libraries in Illinois. In Darien, Leopardo is completing a renovation to the two-story, 43,000-square-foot Indian Prairie Public Library. The project includes new carpeting, paint, fabrics, doors, furniture, plumbing and electrical work. Additionally, the library will receive new computers, an expanded teen area and a new family center for preschoolers. PSA-Dewberry is providing architectural services for the project. Leopardo is also completing renovations at Ela Area Public Library in Lake Zurich. The library is undergoing a radio frequency identification improvement project and Leopardo is performing drywall, demolition, carpentry and acoustical ceiling trade work.