State Breathes Life into One Penn Plaza

The state of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia approved $30 million in funds for a controversial 57-story office project in center city.

Liberty Property Trust got a boost to its proposed One Pennsylvania Plaza in December, when the Philadelphia City Council approved $30 million in state aid for the project. The 57-story office tower, pictured in this rendering, has an estimated construction cost of $455 million.

Pennsylvania Offers $30 million for One Penn Plaza Project

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Efforts to develop a controversial 57-story office tower in Philadelphia continue to move forward thanks to the approval of $30 million in state aid for the project. The city council approved the offer from the state's Capital Redevelopment Assistance Fund for One Pennsylvania Plaza in December.

The 1.2 million-sq.-ft. office tower at 17th St. and John F. Kennedy Blvd. in center city Philadelphia is proposed as the new headquarters for Comcast. Liberty Property Trust is the developer of the $445 million office tower.

The project has drawn criticism from some in Philadelphia, where office vacancy rates are nearly 14 percent, according to Grubb & Ellis. Cira Centre, the first new office tower built in the city in more than a decade, was topped out in November. Cira Centre was built on a Keystone Opportunity Improvement Zone. Liberty is seeking the same designation for the One Pennsylvania site.

Worker Dies in NIH Parking Garage Collapse

BETHESDA, MD - A 25-year-old worker was killed on the job at the Northwest Parking Garage construction project at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., Nov. 29. Ronal Alvardo Gochez was killed when three precast double tees, each weighing approximately 62,000 pounds, progressively collapsed at the leading edge of the erection.

Gochez was working on the fourth floor of the six-floor structure when the top floors collapsed and pinned him around 9 a.m. He was recovered at 8:30 p.m.

Gochez worked for Williams Steel Erection Co., which is a subcontractor to Structural Concrete Products on the $14 million project. Coakley & Williams is the general contractor.

Coakley & Williams hired Allyn Kilsheimer of KCE Structural Engineers to supervise the disassembly of the affected area, inspect the entire structure, and investigate the cause of the accident, according to a Coakley & Williams statement. That investigation is ongoing and there are no findings yet.

Forecast Touts Optimistic 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - Contractors and distributors in the Mid-Atlantic region are among the most optimistic of any in the country about construction market conditions, according to a survey by CIT Equipment Finance, a unit of CIT Group. The Tempe, Ariz.-based company's 29th annual CIT Construction Industry Forecast shows the south Atlantic states - including Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida - as the most optimistic area of the country.

The forecast shows that 58 percent of contractors agree that the business outlook for 2005 is very positive. Sixty-three percent of contractors see more bidding opportunities in their future, according to CIT. That is above the 55 percent national average. Forty-four percent think construction activity will increase in 2005.

Tishman Selected as GC for One NoMa Station

WASHINGTON, DC - Tishman Construction of Washington, D.C., was recently selected by The Bristol Group as general contractor for the renovation of 131 M St., NE in Washington, D.C. - also known as One NoMa Station. The project, valued at just over $32 million, is the complete renovation of a former technology facility to a 480,000-sq.-ft. Class A Office building. Tishman has completed preconstruction and is beginning the construction phase.

Bovis Lend Lease of Washington, D.C., is providing preconstruction and construction management services for the $26 million Joule Condominiums project in Arlington, Va. The 85-unit building, pictured in this rendering, consists of eight levels of above-ground structure with two levels of below-grade parking.

Bovis Lend Lease Earns Joule Condo Contract

WASHINGTON, DC - Bovis Lend Lease of Washington, D.C., was recently selected by Ed Peete Co. of Arlington, Va., to provide preconstruction and construction management services for Joule Condominiums. The $26 million 85-unit condominium project is situated between Ballston and Clarendon in Arlington. WHA Architecture & Planning is the architect.

The project consists of eight levels of above-ground structure with two levels of below-grade parking. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2006.

Clark Construction to Renovate W.Va. Air National Guard Base

MARTINSBURG, W. VA - Clark Construction was recently awarded a $16 million contract with the West Virginia National Guard to construct a new 10-story 130-ft. airport control tower at the West Virginia Air National Guard facilities in Martinsburg, W.Va. The project involves demolition of the existing control tower, construction of a new tower, and installation of new infrastructure for the entire base, including all new utilities services, a new main entrance road, a new guard house and security upgrades.

The construction is the first step in converting the 167th Airlift Wing into a site for the C-5 fleet - a component of the Air Mobility Command's strategic airlift concept. The project is scheduled for completion in fall 2005.

Inova MRI Suite Contract Awarded to Scott-Long

ALEXANDRIA, VA - Scott-Long Construction of Chantilly, Va., was recently awarded the construction contract for the Inova Healthplex MRI Suite in Alexandria, Va. The project will include relocation of an existing darkroom with the existing and operating radiology department. The renovation encompasses approximately 2,000 sq. ft. of existing radiology space to advanced technology MRI Suite and Control Room. Key trades include structural upgrades, extensive mechanical and electrical work and conversion of the wet fire sprinkler system.

Centex, Kling Break Ground on FDA Facility

Centex broke ground on the Food and Drug Administration's Central Shared Use Facility in White Oak, Md., in November. The Kling-designed facility, pictured in this rendering, is designed to physically link four FDA centers.

WHITE OAK, MD - Ground was broken on the Food and Drug Administration's Central Shared Use Facility in White Oak, Md. in November. The Kling-designed facility will be the third building in the phased FDA consolidation. The U.S. General Services Administration is the owner and developer of the campus for the FDA. Centex Construction is the general contractor.

The 125,000-sq.-ft. facility will house training, conference, library, fitness and food service for the campus. The design will physically link four distinct FDA centers through shared amenities. Construction is scheduled for completion in May 2006.

Hess Construction Proceeds on Two Maryland Schools

GAITHERSBURG, MD - Hess Construction recently broke ground on a new Montgomery County high school and commenced the design phase of a high school in Frederick, Md. The $48 million Clarksburg Area High School in Montgomery County, which has a capacity of 2,000 students, is scheduled to be completed in July 2006. The new school will be built on the site of Rocky Hill Middle School, expanding elements of that school to high school proportions.

Hess is also designing the $39.3 million East County High School in Frederick. Construction on the 226,000-sq.-ft. school is scheduled to begin in June 2006. Completion is slated for June 2008.

MICA Moves Forward with RTKL Residence Hall Project

BALTIMORE, MD - Plans are moving forward on the construction of a new student residence hall at Maryland Institute College of Art. The RTKL-designed hall will be built on the former site of the Ditch, Bower and Taylor building, which was demolished in December. The College purchased the site, located at 1601 Mount Royal Ave., in January 2004. Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2007.

Jag Deshpande, Vollmer Merge

WILMINGTON, DE - Jag Deshpande Assoc. of Wilmington, Del., recently merged with Vollmer Assoc., which has six offices in the Mid-Atlantic region including Wilmington, Del. The deal combines Jag Deshpande's architectural services with Vollmer's expertise in engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, planning and surveying.

Jag Deshpande's operations will integrate into Vollmer's architectural practice. Founded in 1989, some of Jag Deshpande's recent projects include the Embassy Suites Hotel in Newark, Del., the Cigna Office Building in Claymont, Del., the Indian Cultural Center in Hockessin, Del., and the Ketlay Plaza Medical Office Building in Middletown, Del.

Gov. Rendell Provides $7 Million for Coatesville Projects

COATESVILLE, PA - Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell presented $7 million in state funds for the construction of a new hotel, conference center and office building in Coatesville, Pa. Gov. Rendell awarded $5.75 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funds to Coatesville for the construction of a new hotel and convention center. The four-story hotel at the intersection of Route 82 and Route 30 bypass will feature 125 guest rooms and a 135-space parking lot. Funds will also be used for the construction of a 90,000-sq.-ft., Class A office building with an additional 315-space parking lot.

In addition, $1.25 million from the Infrastructure Development Program (IDP) will be used for infrastructure, site development, traffic signals and the extension of utilities and street lighting for both the hotel and office building.

Hollander Rock to Develop Former Public Housing Site

BALTIMORE, MD - The Baltimore Development Corp. selected Hollander Rock as developer for Hollander Ridge, a former public housing site in northeast Baltimore, Md. Hollander Rock, which includes Mark Levy, Wayne Newsome, Dean Harrison and Mark Shapiro, proposes five buildings on two properties, 7200 Pulaski Highway and 1601 62nd Street.

The $32 million development would total 511,500 sq. ft. of manufacturing, warehouse, office, flex and retail space on 51-acres. GI Plasteck, a plastics manufacturer based in Newburyport, Mass., has been identified by the developer as an anchor tenant for the project.

Grunley Construction Completes DOI Wing Renovation

WASHINGTON, DC - Grunley Construction recently completed the base bid portion of its contract with the U.S. General Services Administration to modernize 200,000 sq. ft. of Wing 6 building space and the central utility plant at the U.S. Department of the Interior Headquarters Building. The $39 million project included the replacement or upgrades of the existing heating, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing and life safety systems. Over 200 offices, including two historic suites, were modernized.

Coakley & Williams Completes Four Projects

GAITHERSBURG, MD - Coakley & Williams Construction's interiors department recently announced the completion of four projects.

The Gaithersburg, Md.-based company completed the contract for a new Houlihan's restaurant in Springfield, Va. The project involved the renovation and conversion of an existing 8,000-sq.-ft. restaurant within the 12-story, 145,000-sq.-ft. Springfield Hilton.

The build-out of medical offices at Metropolitan Orthopedics and Sports Therapy in Germantown, Md., was also completed. The build-out included millwork, glass and glazing, doors, drywall, ACT, X-ray room, carpet, VCT, Base, rubber seamed flooring, painting, wallcovering, lockers, mechanical, sprinkler, plumbing, electrical and fire alarm.

Coakley & Williams also completed the construction of a new office for Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald in McLean, Va. The project included demolition, millwork, doors, frames, glass, drywall, acoustical ceilings, acoustical panels, paint, wallcovering, flooring, mechanical, sprinkler, plumbing and electrical.

The build-out of the new French Quarter Café in Germantown, Md., was recently completed. The project included drywall, paint, millwork, mechanical, plumbing, sprinkler and electrical work.

Myers Bills Most Mid-Atlantic Highway Work

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Allan A. Myers Inc. of Worcester, Pa. is the largest federal highway contractor in the Mid-Atlantic, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association's ninth annual ranking of the "Top Federal Highway Contractors." The company tallied $108.4 million in awards in 2003, the report showed. Myers had the highest regional rank in the Mid-Atlantic, which Mid-Atlantic Construction defines as Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and eastern Pennsylvania. Tidewater Skanska of Norfolk Va., ranked second and Kinsley Construction of York Pa., ranked third with $94 million and $63.9 million in billings, respectively.

In the national rankings, Oldcastle Materials of Washington, D.C., was ranked 11th with $171.9 million, the highest Mid-Atlantic-based company ranked in the national survey. American Infrastructure of Worcester, Pa., ranked 14th in the nation at $153.1 million and Clark Construction Group of Bethesda, Md., ranked 19th with $100 million.

Dwyer Opens Second Office

BURTONSVILLE, MD - Dwyer Engineering of Leesburg, Va., opened a new location in Burtonsville, Md. the Montgomery County location gives the company an office 10 miles north of Washington, D.C. Matt Toth, Tom Leake and Ray Glenn will head the new office. The three engineers worked for Giant Food Engineering before joining Dwyer.

DMJM, Grunley Relocate Offices

DMJM Design has relocated its 200-person Washington, D.C.-area office. Previously located at 1525 Wilson Blvd. in Arlington, Va., DMJM moved operations to the recently developed Hartford Building at 3101 Wilson Blvd. in Arlington.

Grunley Construction moved to its new corporate headquarters at 15020 Shady Grove Road, in Rockville, Md., in December. The 20,000-sq.-ft. space was designed by RTKL Assoc.