Another Condo Announced in Sunny Isles Beach

Alliance Construction to Build La Perla

Alliance Construction of Coral Gables was named general contractor for La Perla Ocean Residences, a 42-story, 326-unit oceanfront condominium being developed by Cornerstone Premier Communities in Sunny Isles Beach.

Work on the $86 million project was scheduled to begin in April, with completion set for June 2006.

WCI Names BCBE to Build One Bal Harbour

Developer WCI Communities of Bonita Springs, Fla., has named Boran Craig Barber Engel Construction Co. of Naples, Fla., as the general contractor for its 26-story, 185-unit One Bal Harbour residential and hotel condominium project in Bal Harbour.

In addition to the 26-story condominium, the project will incorporate a five-star-quality, 17-story hotel component.

Taylor Woodrow to Build 28-Story Condo in Hollywood

Taylor Woodrow recently announced it has purchased a 2.9-acre site adjacent to The Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood, where it will build The Diplomat Oceanfront Residences, a 28-story luxury condominium. The project will feature 135 condominium units.

Florida Contract Activity Increases in February

McGraw-Hill Construction reported that the value of contracts for future construction in Florida increased by 15 percent in February.

In February, the nonresidential sector decreased 14 percent to roughly $754.1 million, while the residential market showed no signs of slowing, improving by 28 percent to nearly $3.1 billion for the month. Nonbuilding activity was flat, though, with roughly $480.2 million reported.

For the year-to-date, activity has increased by 10 percent, from the $7.5 billion reported in the first two months of 2003 to 2004's cumulative $8.3 billion. The residential market has improved 24 percent so far in 2004, with nearly $5.9 billion in activity reported. The other sectors remain down, though. Nonbuilding activity has decreased by 32 percent, with a cumulative $777.6 million to date. The nonresidential sector has also decreased, but only by 1 percent, and ended at just over $1.6 billion through the first two months.

AGC of Greater Florida Presents Horizon Awards

The Associated General Contractors of Greater Florida presented its 2004 Horizon Awards recently. Projects were judged on seven guidelines including exceptional overall project management, unique challenges, exceptional client service, safety, innovative use of construction techniques, community involvement, and positive public relations for the construction industry.

By category, winners included:

• Subcontractor, $100,000 to $500,000 - R.D. Masonry of Jacksonville for the Harvest Dome Church.
  
• Subcontractor, $500,000 to $1,000,000 - R.D. Masonry of Jacksonville for the Episcopal Fine Arts Center.
  
• Subcontractor, greater than $1 million - Regency Electric Co. of Jacksonville for the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.
  
• General Contractor, Heavy/Industrial Renovation, $2 million to $6 million - Ed Waters and Sons Contracting Co., Jacksonville, for the Sebastion Inlet Pier Renovation.
  
• General Contractor, Building Renovation, $2 million to $6 million - C. Young Construction LLC of Jacksonville for the T-Mobile MSC-2 Jacksonville project.
  
• General Contractor, Building New Construction, $2 million to $6 million - Creative Contractors, Clearwater, for the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center.
  
• General Contractor, Building Renovation, $6 million to $15 million - Auld & White Constructors, Jacksonville, for the JEA Laboratory & Waterworks Facility.
  
• General Contractor, Building New Construction, $6 million to 15 million - Biltmore Construction Co. of Belleair for the FIU School of Architecture.
  
• General Contractor, Municipal/Utility New Construction, $6 million to $15 million - Walbridge Aldinger Co., Tampa, for the Pierce Street Parking Garage.
  
• General Contractor, Building New Construction, $15 million to $30 million - Turner Construction Co., Tampa, for the Clearwater Main Library.
  
• General Contractor, Building New Construction, greater than $30 million - Turner Construction Co., Tampa, for the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa.
  
• 2004 Horizon Awards Project of the Year - Elkins Constructors of Jacksonville for the Seven Rivers Presbyterian Church in Lecanto, Fla.

Granite Awarded $46 Million Toll Road Project

Granite Construction Co. of Tampa has been awarded a $45.6 million contract by Turnpike Enterprise, a division of the Florida Department of Transportation, for the construction of a limited access toll road in Orange and Osceola counties west of Orlando.

This project is a continuation of State Route 429, the Western Beltway that interconnects the greater Orlando area. Work will include the construction of 5.7 mi. of a new four-lane divided asphalt paved roadway and seven bridges.

Work is scheduled to begin in early May 2004 with project completion slated for early 2006.

Franklin Co. Builds First Correctional Facility

The Florida Department of Corrections awarded The Clark Construction Group of Tampa a $46.5 million contract to build the Franklin Correctional Institution, the first of its kind in Franklin County. The maximum-security prison is located on Highway 67 just north of Carrabelle.

The new facility features a 40,000-sq.-ft. front support building and 55,000-sq.-ft. rear support building. Construction is expected to be complete by summer 2005.

AGC Presents "Build Central Florida" Awards

The Associated General Contractors of Central Florida recently honored five member firms with its "Build Central Florida Awards" for seven construction projects. This year's winning contractors and projects were:

• Roger B. Kennedy, Inc. - National Training Center Sports Medicine Institute
  
• Martin K. Eby Construction Co. - Interstate 4 Pedestrian Overpass
  
• Turner Construction Co. - Windermere Preparatory School
  
• WELBRO Building Corp. - UCF Rosen School of Hospitality Management
• Wharton-Smith - David B. Lee Waste Water Treatment Plant Phase III Improvements
• WELBRO Building Corp. - Caribe Royale Resort Convention Center Expansion
• Wharton-Smith - Eastside Waste Water Treatment Facility Expansion

Entries are judged on excellence in project management; responsiveness to client needs; innovation in construction techniques, materials or equipment and state of the art advancement; overcoming circumstances; exceptional service in areas such as safety, training, employee relations, environmental protection, etc.; and contributions to the community.

Ajax Awarded $27.3 Million Hernando Co. Schools Project

Hernando County School recently awarded Ajax Building Corp. a $27.3 million contract to build a K-8 school in Springhill. The K-8 facility will open to students in August 2005. Harvard Jolly Cleese Toppe is the project architect.

The dual-school facility will be situated on 38 acres, complete with classrooms, administration, media centers, labs and athletic facilities.

Hardin Wins Three Central Florida Projects

The University of Central Florida has contracted with Hardin Construction Co. for construction of the "Bundle Project" located on the main UCF campus in Orlando. The project consists of four distinct elements: a two-story addition to the student union; renovation of two existing student resource center buildings; expansion of the tennis center; and a new 6,700-sq.-ft. resort-style swimming pool. The architect is the Orlando office of Schenkel Schultz Architecture. Completion is scheduled for January 2005.

The county of Volusia has selected the joint venture of Hardin/Peck Associates for the construction management/general contracting services for the Ocean Center Expansion in Daytona Beach. The preliminary program includes a 325,000-sq.-ft. convention center and a 1,250-space parking deck. The expansion will include exhibition hall space, meeting rooms, a ballroom, a banquet kitchen and associated pre-function and service space. The preliminary schedule includes a construction start date of mid-2004. The architect is TVS/DJ Design.

CNL Realty & Development Corp. has contracted with Hardin to construct its latest office tower, CNL Center II, adjacent to City Hall in downtown Orlando. The project consists of an 11-story, 260,000-sq.-ft. office tower with an expansion of 391 spaces to the existing parking deck, a bridge connecting the two and associated site work. The developer is Carter and Associates and the architect is HKS Architects. Completion is scheduled for July 2005.

Kaufman Lynn Announces Pair of Projects

Kaufman Lynn General Contractors of Boca Raton has been selected to build the $2.4 million first phase of the Louis and Anne Green Alzheimer's Research Center and Care Facility at the Florida Atlantic University campus in Boca Raton. Phase I will be the construction of a 17,000-sq.-ft. building to be used for teaching and interdisciplinary research.

Additionally, Oskey Development has selected Kaufman Lynn to provide pre-construction services for the planned $30 million mixed-use City Marketplace project in Punta Gorda. The planned 250,000-sq.-ft. project will feature a mix of retail/office and residential apartments. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2004.

Skanska to Build New Edward Waters College

The Jacksonville office of Skanska USA Building has been named the construction manager for the Edward Waters College expansion project. The six building expansion includes a multipurpose athletic building for court games, library, classrooms, retail shop, 200-room dormitory and hotel.

Construction started recently and is expected to be complete for the incoming 2005 fall class. A second phase will follow close behind.

Hennessy Construction Awarded Pair of Projects

St. Petersburg-based Hennessy Construction Services was recently awarded the $4.3 million Transportation Management Center project for the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority. The 26,400-sq.-ft., three-story facility will function as a gateway for the Selmon Expressway's Reversible-Lanes Bridge, currently under construction.

The company also recently started its 1250 Holdings project in Sarasota. The four-story medical office building project is valued at approximately $6 million.

St. Johns Co. Approves St. Joe's RiverTown Plans

The St. Johns County Commission recently approved a land-use plan for a proposed 4,500-unit mixed-use development located on approximately 4,170 acres of land owned by The St. Joe Co. The proposed community is located along more than 3 mi. of the St. Johns River within commuting distance to Jacksonville.
Plans for RiverTown call for a town center with 3,700 single-family homes and 800 multi-family units. In addition, RiverTown is being planned to include 300,000 sq. ft. of retail, commercial and services uses, 100,000 sq. ft. of office space and 100,000 sq. ft. for light industry. The plan also includes a riverfront park, protected environmental areas, eight athletic fields, nature trails and an 18-hole golf course.

Cotter Ryan Building Citrus Tower Medical Center

Longwood-based general contractor Cotter Ryan Construction is building the $30 million, 200,000-sq.-ft. Citrus Tower Medical Center in Clermont. The facility is south Lake County's first ambulatory surgical center providing care for numerous specialties within a full-service medical park.

The center will encompass physician offices, surgical suites, laboratories, pharmacy and other facilities.

Keene Building Boca Raton Retail Center

Maitland-based Keene Construction Co. is under way on The Reserve at Boca Raton, an $8.2 million, 121,500-sq.-ft. retail center in Boca Raton, which includes a 51,000-sq.-ft. Publix Supermarket and 70,500 sq. ft. of additional retail space.

Gallo Architects to Convert Apartments Into Dorms

Gallo Architects & Development Consultants of Deerfield Beach has been awarded a contract to convert a 55-unit apartment building into modern housing for freshman students attending Johnson & Wales University in North Miami, Florida.

The $3.7 million project will transform a1950s-era three-story apartment building into a 220-bed student dormitory. The 58,000-sq.-ft. building has been completely gutted and major structural improvements will be performed. When completed, Tropical Pointe will accommodate four students per two-bedroom module. Project completion is scheduled for late 2004.