Stimulus Funds Move into Mid-Atlantic

Local fi rms are queuing up for billions of dollars in funding available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for projects ranging from paving work to major new federal buildings.

Agencies Commit Stimulus Dollars

Sizeable infrastructure demands coupled with a high concentration of federal facilities has helped the Mid-Atlantic reap significant funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Crews add new energy-effi cient systems during phase I of the Dept. of Commerce Herbert Hoover Building modernization project in Washington, D.C. The stimulus package offers $225.6 million for phase II and III of the project. (Photo courtesy of Grunley Construction.)

Nearly $3 billion in work will go to transportation projects in the region. Maryland, which received $610 million for transportation under the ARRA, was the first state in the nation to release a project. On March 4, two days after federal funds became available, the state awarded a $2.1 million road resurfacing and improvement project along New Hampshire Avenue in Montgomery County to American Infrastructure of Fallston, Md.

Maryland began advertising potential stimulus-funded work as early as December, in anticipation of the stimulus bill, said Neil Pedersen, administrator of the Maryland State Highway Administration. All projects under its $223.4 million first phase of funding were advertised by March 22—100 days before the federal deadline. The first phase of projects focused primarily on resurfacing work. The state reserved more complex projects, such as bridge work, for the second phase of funds.

The list was culled primarily from projects that were recently cut from the state’s transportation plan because of sagging state revenues.

“We had been getting these projects ready when we thought we had more money in place,” he said. “The timing was ideal.”

With projects ready to go early, Pedersen said the state was able to use traditional design-bid-build procurement.

“With the time we have to obligate funds, we decided we’d be better off with design-bid-build,” he said. “We get better competition that way.”

In neighboring Virginia, politics slowed progress on the state’s $694 million in stimulus funds, according to state officials. The state began advertising its first wave of projects in the second week of April, while potential lists of additional projects continued to work their way through numerous state and federal entities. Initial projects include $110 million for 18 resurfacing projects around the state. To help speed the process, the state packaged 119 small bridge and culvert rehab projects into seven design-build contracts, said Pierce Homer, Virginia Secretary of Transportation. The packages range from $1.2 million to $9.9 million in estimated contract value.

Future larger projects could include infrastructure to support BRAC-related expansions in the northern Virginia and Hampton Roads areas.

Although time is of the essence, Homer says VDOT is focused on releasing a broad balance of work using both design-bid-build and design-build methods.

“A major goal is to keep the small and mid-size contractors alive,” he said. “They are the backbone of the industry and we need to make sure they get a good mix of work.”

Saddled with the highest number of deficient bridges in the country, Pennsylvania is dedicating a major portion of its more than $1 billion in federal stimulus funding to bridges. Nearly $350 million will go to 103 bridge projects, including $66 million for the preservation of Girard Point Bridge on Interstate-95 in Philadelphia.

Rich Kirkpatrick, PennDOT spokesman, said the vast majority of work will be procured as design-bid-build with some bridge work expected to go out as design-build.

Although Delaware is the region’s smallest state, it is targeting one of the largest stimulus-funded transportation projects in the Mid-Atlantic. Of the state’s $200 million in funds, $48 million will add high-speed toll lanes to the state’s I-95 toll plaza. Another $70 million will fund paving and rehabilitation.

Significant funding for water infrastructure will wash over Pennsylvania. With the help of $220 million in stimulus funds, the state was able to approve $530 million for 60 water infrastructure projects. Much of that funding will be low-interest loans.

While the state has focused much of its funding in recent years toward meeting looming deadlines to upgrade its wastewater treatment plants in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the bulk of the latest round of funds will go to general maintenance and rehabilitation work. An $85 million loan will go to replacing old sewage collection lines in various parts of Philadelphia.

The General Services Administration’s $5.5 billion in ARRA funds includes more than $1 billion for the region. Top projects include $450 million for the new U.S. Department of Homeland Security headquarters planned at the St. Elizabeth’s Hospital campus in Washington, D.C.

Several federal buildings in D.C. will also undergo modernization to make them more energy efficient. Big dollar green projects include $225.6 million for phase II and III of the Dept. of Commerce Herbert Hoover Building; $161.3 million for the GSA Headquarters; and $128.8 million for the Lafayette Building.

The Social Security Administration will also spend $500 million to replace its National Computer Center with a new facility in the Baltimore area.

The National Park Service’s list of $750 million in projects, released April 22, includes work on buildings, monuments, trails and water and sewer lines in the region.

The District of Columbia ranked second on the list behind California, with $76.9 million for 11 projects, including $55.8 million to repair the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, repairs to the Jefferson Memorial sea wall and restoring the D.C. War Memorial.

Virginia received $27.2 million, including $17 million for projects on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.

Museums, Memorials Hit the Design Boards

Several major cultural projects in the D.C. metro area are on the boards of prominent designers. The Smithsonian announced April 14 that it selected Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroup as the architectural team to design the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The National Children’s Museum recently unveiled plans for its new Pelli Clarke Pelli-designed building at National Harbor.

WASHINGTON—Despite a general slowdown in construction plans, several major cultural projects in the D.C. metro area are on the boards of prominent designers. The Smithsonian announced April 14 that it selected Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroup as the architectural team to design the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It will take up to three years to design the $500 million project with construction to begin in 2012. The museum is scheduled to open in 2015.

The General Services Administration and the Eisenhower Memorial Commission announced on March 31 they selected Los Angeles-based Gehry Partners, led by Frank Gehry, to design the Eisenhower National Memorial. The memorial will be built on a 4-acre site at the base of Capitol Hill across from the National Air & Space Museum.

The National Children’s Museum unveiled plans for its new Pelli Clarke Pelli-designed building at National Harbor. The 150,000-sq-ft LEED certified building is slated to break ground in 2011 and open in 2013. Green features include a wind turbine, a sun reflector, a green roof and recycled materials.

Skanska Lands $178 Million Christiana Health Care Project

WILMINGTON, DEL—Skanska USA Building of Blue Bell, Pa., signed on for more work with Christiana Health Care in April. The company was awarded a $178 million construction management contract for an expansion of its Wilmington Hospital Campus. The project, which has a total cost of $205 million, will include a nine-story 286,000-sq-ft tower; 13 operating-room suites, 30 single-patient rooms; a intensive care unit; space for 90 additional beds; a 51,000-sq-ft medical office building; and a new main lobby.

The emergency department will be upgraded and expanded to twice its current size. Two new floors will be added to the emergency ward with 26 new treatment bays. The project will be the fifth major construction assignment for Skanska at Christiana Health. Completion is scheduled for 2013.

Crosland to Redevelop Charlottesville Hospital Site

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA—Crosland of Charlotte, N.C., won exclusive negotiating rights to redevelop Martha Jefferson Hospital’s 14-acre property in downtown Charlottesville, Va. The hospital will be vacated in 2012 when a $275-million replacement hospital will open 2.5 miles away.

The team led by Crosland includes Celebration Associates and Insite Properties, both of Charlottesville, as the core development group. Key consultants include Urban Design Associates of Charlottesville; urban planning and architecture firm Cooper, Robertson & Partners of New York; Charlottesville-based landscape architect Nelson Byrd Woltz; engineering firm Patton Harris Rust & Associates of Chantilly, Va.; and Staunton, Va.-based Frazier Associates, which will provide historic preservation consulting.

The redevelopment will include the preservation and adaptive reuse of the hospital’s 1929 Patterson Wing.

Developer Selected for Mixed-Use Project in Southwest DC

WASHINGTON—The District of Columbia selected E Street Development to build a 500,000-sq-ft mixed-use project on a pair of District-owned parcels in Southwest. E Street Development, which is a partnership of Potomac Investment Properties, City Partners and Adams Investment Group, will build more than 450,000 sq ft of office space; a café and training center run by the DC Central Kitchen; more than 300 parking spaces; and a 22,000-sq-ft fire station. The first phase will include a 10-story building and is expected to break ground in 2010. An 11-story 300,000-sq-ft office building will be built during the second phase.

Hensel Phelps Starts $56 million Defense Media Activity HQ

FORT MEADE, MD—Hensel Phelps Construction of Chantilly, Va., broke ground April 8 on the new $56-million Defense Media Activity facility at Fort George G. Meade, Md. The 186,000-sq-ft project is scheduled for completion in 2011. Hensel Phelps was awarded the project in March.

Foulger-Pratt Start $79 million Penrose Square Project

ARLINGTON, VA—Foulger-Pratt Contracting of Rockville, Md., has been awarded a $79 million contract to provide construction services for the Penrose Square project in Arlington, Va.

Foulger-Pratt Contracting of Rockville, Md., has been awarded a $79 million contract to provide construction services for the Penrose Square project in Arlington, Va.

The transit-oriented development will consist of 354,523 sq ft of luxury rental apartments, 97,000 sq ft of retail space, and three levels of below grade parking. The scope of work includes the base building construction and tenant build-out for a new Giant grocery store. Construction started in spring and completion is slated for in fall 2011.

Forrester Lands $14 million Hubbard Hall Project

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Forrester Construction of Rockville, Md., has been awarded the $14 million Hubbard Hall project at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. The design-build project involves the restoration and modernization of the three-story Building 260, which is the historic home of the United States Naval Academy’s crew teams. Muse Architects of Bethesda, Md., is the architect. The project is expected to be completed by January 2011.

Washington Center Housing Breaks Ground in NoMa

WASHINGTON—Ground has broken for The Washington Center’s $38 million housing facility in the NoMa—North of Massachusetts Avenue—neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The 140,000-sq-ft 95-unit project is slated for completion in August of 2010. It will serve as a centralized mini-campus for college students participating in the TWC’s internship programs. Paradigm Development Company of Arlington, Va., is developing the project.

Clark Construction to Build $51 Million Science Center

ROCKVILLE, MD—Clark Construction Group of Bethesda, Md., has been selected to lead construction of a 140,700-sq-ft Science Center at Montgomery College’s Rockville Campus. The $51 million Rockville Science Center will contain offices, classrooms, and laboratory space for biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering programs. Clark also will manage the construction of a greenhouse and a rooftop observatory.

Supported by a cast-in-pace skeleton, the building will feature a structural steel roof and a curtain wall and metal panel façade. The Science Center is designed to achieve LEED Gold certification. Construction began in early 2009 and completion is scheduled for spring 2011. Burt Hill of Washington, D.C., and Cho Benn Holback + Associates of Baltimore, are the project architects. Cagley & Associates of Rockville, Md., is the structural engineer. SST Planners of Arlington, Va., is the consulting laboratory planner.

Oak Earns Germantown Elementary Job

Oak Contracting of Towson, Md., was selected by Anne Arundel County Public Schools to serve as construction manager on the new Germantown Elementary School in Annapolis, Md.

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Oak Contracting of Towson, Md., was selected by Anne Arundel County Public Schools to serve as construction manager on the new Germantown Elementary School in Annapolis, Md. The project, which will break ground in 2010, is being designed by Grimm + Parker Architects of Calverton, Md.

The new school will be situated in the southwest corner of the existing site. While still in the early phases of design, the new school is expected to be about 75,000 square feet and house approximately 500 students. Once open for the 2012-13 school year, the existing facility will be renovated and turned into a new community center.