Tidewater Skanska Wins $76.8 Million Bridge of Lions Contract

The Florida Department of Transportation has awarded Tidewater Skanska of Virginia Beach, Va., a $76.8 million contract to build a new Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine. The contract covers construction of a new bridge to replace the 445-meter-long existing bridge and to construct a temporary bridge 670 meters long for use during construction.

The Bridge of Lions spans the Matanzas River and connects downtown St. Augustine with Anastasia Island. The characteristic steel arched beams of the 76-year-old bridge will be reused in the new bridge. Work on the project will begin in February 2005 and the construction period is estimated at five years.

Tidewater Skanska is a subsidiary of Skanska USA.

Nonresidential, Residential Activity Increases by Over 20 Percent in June

The value of contracts for future construction in Florida continued its remarkable pace in June, increasing by 14 percent over the same year-ago period, McGraw-Hill Construction reported. Both the residential and nonresidential sectors improved by more than 20 percent during the month. Together, these two sectors accounted for roughly $4.5 billion of Florida's $4.9 billion total for June.

In June, the value of residential contracts improved by 22 percent over June 2003. The most recent month's report indicated an estimated $3.5 billion for this sector, compared to the roughly $2.9 billion of a year ago. Nonresidential increased by 21 percent to total just over $1 billion. Nonbuilding construction declined by 35 percent, however, to end at about $402.5 million, compared to last June's $621.6 million.

For the year-to-date, overall activity has increased by 21 percent, from the cumulative $23.6 billion reported in the first six months of 2003 to 2004's $28.5 billion total. Residential is up 31 percent so far in 2004, with roughly $19.9 billion in activity reported. The nonbuilding sector is down 2 percent compared to 2003, with a roughly $3 billion total. Nonresidential is 5 percent ahead for the year, with $5.5 billion in contracts reported to date.

Florida Contract Activity Continues Remarkable Pace

The value of contracts for future construction in Florida continued to show remarkable strength, increasing by 26 percent in May over the same year-ago period, McGraw-Hill Construction reported. All sectors improved, as the value of May contracts for Florida totaled roughly $5 billion, or about $1 billion more than was reported in May 2003.

In May, the residential sector continued to soar, improving by 26 percent over May 2003. The most recent month's report indicated an estimated $3.4 billion for this sector, compared to the $2.7 billion of a year ago. Nonresidential market also increased markedly, improving by 34 percent to total nearly $1.1 billion, or about $300 million ahead of the amount generated in May 2003. Nonbuilding construction improved by 7 percent to end at nearly $526.6 million, compared to last year's $490.3 million.

For the year-to-date, overall activity has increased by 21 percent, from the cumulative $19.2 billion reported in the first five months of 2003 to 2004's $23.2 billion total so far. The residential market has shown the greatest strength to date, having improved 31 percent so far in 2004, with roughly $16.2 billion in activity reported. The nonbuilding sector is approximately 7 percent ahead of last year with roughly $2.7 billion in activity reported so far in 2004. Despite its 34-percent improvement in May, the nonresidential category continues to be 2 percent down for the year, with $4.3 billion in contracts reported to date.

Clancy & Theys Building Shuttle Support Facility for NASA

The Orlando office of Clancy & Theys Construction Co. was recently selected as the general contractor for the NASA Operations Support Building II at Kennedy Space Center. Located immediately adjacent to the vehicle assembly building at KSC, the $24 million OSB II facility will house the NASA shuttle support team.

The 190,000-sq.-ft., six-story structure has a structural steel frame with a precast and aluminum curtain wall exterior. A unique design element of the building is a fifth-floor observation deck, where employees and guests can view future shuttle launches from the nearby pad.

Yates Building Tallahassee's First Downtown Residential High-Rise

Yates Construction announced its initial ground-breaking on Tallahassee's first downtown, residential high-rise, The Tennyson. Two Pensacola, Fla.-based developers, Granger Development and Merrill Land Co., are the project's development consultants. The $30 million project is the first lead development project for Granger Development and is scheduled for completion in October of 2005.

Located in downtown Tallahassee, the 14-story Tennyson will include ground-level retail space, enclosed parking and 90 upscale residential units.

Yates' Atlanta-based eastern division headquarters will oversee construction.

Hunt Awarded Hotel/Condo Project in Tampa

The Tampa office of Hunt Construction Group has been awarded the Westin Hotel and Rocky Point Condominium project in Tampa. The company, located directly across the street from the project, will provide construction manager-at-risk services with a guaranteed-maximum-price contract.

The Westin portion of the project will include construction of a 12-story, 200-room, 227,279-sq. ft. hotel with a three-story elevated parking garage and 157 on-grade parking spaces. This work was scheduled to start in October, with an anticipated completion of February 2006.

The Rocky Point condo will be 14 stories high, and feature 108 units totaling 335,102 gross sq. ft. The schedule for this work was still pending.

Weitz Expands Palm Beach Co. High School

The School District of Palm Beach County selected The Weitz Co. of West Palm Beach to provide construction management-at-risk services for the expansion of William T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens. When complete in fall 2005, the new 48,000 sq.-ft., two-story educational center will feature more than 25 classrooms and laboratories.

Weitz built the original 310,000-sq.-ft. campus five months ahead of schedule in 1991.

Walbridge Aldinger Wins Arena, School Projects

Walbridge Aldinger Co., Tampa, has been awarded a $46-million design-build, construction-management contract by DVA Sports for the new 220,000-sq.-ft. Sarasota-Bradenton Hockey Arena at Lakewood Ranch in east Manatee County.

The firm will work in association with the architectural firm of Brisbin Brook Beynon. The multi-use facility will have 7,400 seats, two sheets of ice, a restaurant, a club level and luxury boxes. Construction started in August and will be completed for the 2005 hockey season.

Also, another construction management contract has been awarded to Walbridge Aldinger by the Pinellas County School Board for the new 103,587-sq.-ft. Lealman Intermediate middle school in St. Petersburg. Construction, budgeted at $13.5 million, started in August and is to be completed by July 2005. Source: Engineering News-Record.

Beck Selected for $10 Million Call Center

Beck has been selected to construct a $10 million call center for Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union. Designed by Holmes Hepner and Associates, the center will accommodate 350 call stations and is scheduled to open in July 2005.

The 75,000-sq.-ft. facility will have three levels, with the bottom two dedicated to parking.

Summit Contractors to Build 350-Unit Jacksonville Apartment Complex

Crescent Resources Development of Charlotte, N.C., has awarded Jacksonville-based Summit Contractors the contract to build The Gardens at Bridgehampton apartment complex in Jacksonville. The 14-building, 350-unit complex is slated for completion in December 2005.

Parsons Brinckerhoff Wins CEI Contract for SR 60 Project

The Florida Department of Transportation has awarded Parsons Brinckerhoff a contract to provide construction engineering and inspection services for improvements to State Road 60/Memorial Highway in Tampa.

The project extends from Interstate 275 to the Courtney Campbell Causeway interchange, near Tampa International Airport. Among other items, it entails two new interchanges; new westbound and eastbound local collector/distributor roads; 20 new bridges; new lighting, signing and signalization; and an approach lighting system for a TIA runway.

Parsons Brinckerhoff is responsible for providing all engineering management and quality-assurance services, document and change-order management and status reporting. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2009 at a cost of approximately $192 million.

Taylor Woodrow Taps Interior Designer for Diplomat Residences

Developer Taylor Woodrow recently selected Michael Wolk Design Associates as the interior design firm for the common and public areas at its 135-unit Diplomat Oceanfront Residences project in Hollywood.

"The overall feeling of the public spaces will be tropical contemporary," said Michael Wolk, principal of Michael Wolk Design Associates. He indicated the lobby will feature glass walls, tropical foliage and water features. Light woods and light stone also will be incorporated.

ASPE Starts Three Florida Chapters

The American Society of Professional Estimators, based in Alexandria, Va., recently announced an expansion with three new chapters in Florida. The new chapters will be located in the Tampa Bay area, Naples/southwest Florida and Jacksonville.

"With the incredible growth of construction taking place all over the state, we felt it was time to meet the needs of construction estimators in every major metropoilan area of Florida," said Edward Walsh, executive director of ASPE's national association. ASPE also has chapters in southeast Florida and Orlando. More information is available by email at edwalsh@ASPEnational.org.

OGS&P Designing CentrePark West Office Building

Oliver o Glidden o Spina & Partners, Architecture o Interior Design has been selected by Navarro Lowrey LLP to design a new 63,685-sq.-ft., single-story office and 'flex' building for Centrepark West, a business park in West Palm Beach.

H.J. High Design-Building New Food Supply Distribution Center

H. J. High Construction Co. has been chosen to design/build Food Supply Inc.'s new distribution center in South Daytona. The $3.8 million project will consist of remodeling the existing interior space for dry storage and building out approximately 8,800 sq. ft. of new office space. The refrigerated area will consist of a new 19,420-sq.-ft. freezer, 13,730 sq. ft. of cooler space, 4,700 sq. ft. for meat holding and meat processing areas for a total of approximately 37,850 sq. ft. of new construction added to the existing building.

The project began in May.