Former FDOT Secretary Abreu Leaves FDOT for Miami-Dade County

The Miami-Dade County Aviation Department announced that Jose Abreu has been hired as aviation director. Abreu previously served as secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, a position he held since 2003 when he was appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush.

The appointment was effective July 11. As aviation director, Abreu will assist in overseeing the current redevelopment of Miami International Airport.

Florida Contract Activity Jumps 7 Percent in May

The overall value of May contracts for future construction in Florida improved by 7 percent over the same period of a year ago, McGraw-Hill Construction reported recently. The total value of new May contracts was estimated at roughly $5.75 billion, compared to last May's $5.35 billion.

The May improvement was due entirely to the residential sector, however. The value of residential contracts improved by 23 percent over last May to total roughly $4.4 billion, up from the $3.6 billion figure of the same period of a year ago. The value of nonresidential contracts decreased by a significant 29 percent to tally $876.7 million, down from last May's approximately $1.2 billion total. The value of nonbuilding contracts decreased by 9 percent, to total roughly $484 million, compared to last May's $530.1 million.

For the year-to-date, Florida activity is valued at roughly $26.2 billion for the first five months of 2005, or about 8 percent ahead of the same period of a year ago. However, the strength of the increase is due entirely to the state's residential construction. The nonresidential category is down by 18 percent, totaling approximately $4 billion. The value of nonbuilding contracts, estimated at nearly $2.5 billion, is 7 percent behind the 2004 pace. Residential is approximately 18 percent ahead of the first five months of 2004, with a cumulative value of roughly $19.7 billion.

Clancy & Theys Constructing $25 Million NASA Support Building

The Orlando-based Florida division of Clancy & Theys Construction Co. is building the new $25 million, 190,000-sq.-ft. NASA Operations Support II office building at Kennedy Space Center. Designed by Wolfberg Alvarez & Partners, the six-story project is scheduled for completion in January.

Developer Announces Plans for Medical Office Building

Rendina Companies of Deerfield Beach recently announced its plans to develop a four-story, 60,000-sq.-ft. medical office building on the campus of the North Broward Medical Center in Deerfield Beach.

Work Progressing on Alzheimer's Center in Tampa

Construction is progressing on the Johnnie B. Byrd Sr. Alzheimer's Center & Research Institute, located at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

The $22 million facility will house eight scientific teams, a clinic, an imaging center and space for community events. Office space, a vivarium, clinical evaluation areas and research laboratories will be included in the 100,000-sq.-ft. space. The project is scheduled for completion in August.

HDR is providing programming, architectural and engineering services.

Baker Barrios Completes Design for Orlando Condo

Baker Barrios Architects of Orlando announced it recently completed designs for 217 Eola, a 150,000-sq.-ft., $20 million residential project planned for the Thornton Park section of Orlando. The project is being developed by Orlando-based Urban Innovations International.

Construction is scheduled to start in January, with a tentative completion date set for March 2007.

HuntonBrady Designing Pair of Community College Projects

HuntonBrady Architects of Orlando recently announced it is working on a pair of community college projects: the new Bryant Student Union building for Central Florida Community College in Ocala, and the new Altamonte Springs campus for Seminole Community College.

According to HuntonBrady, construction of the Altamonte Springs project is scheduled to begin in 2006. The project will include a four-story, 100,000-sq.-ft. building that will feature an allied health education facility as well as expanded associate of arts and language studies facilities. The new campus will include classrooms and labs, faculty offices, a 120-seat multi-purpose auditorium, bookstore, dining facilities and library.

Construction of the CFCC project in Ocala began in January. The project includes a 25,000-sq.-ft, two-story facility, and will include offices as well as classroom and conference space.

SWFIA Opens New Terminal

The new $438 million terminal at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers opened recently. The new 798,000-sq.-ft. terminal is one of the first built-from-the-ground-up airport terminals in the U.S. to incorporate post-Sept. 11 security mandates into its design.

Seretta Construction Announces Work on Two New Contracts

Seretta Construction of Orlando has been appointed the concrete tilt-up contractor for Coconut Point in Estero for Bovis Lend Lease. Construction of the 16 retail buildings, which total 330,000 sq. ft., began in May 2005 and is scheduled for completion in May 2006.

The company also is working as the tilt-up contractor for Pero Growers, a 132,000-sq.-ft. insulated warehouse and office building in Delray Beach, scheduled for completion in December. Edwards Construction is the general contractor.

Tilt-Con Wins Three Safeguard Storage Contracts

Altamonte Springs-based Tilt-Con Corp. has been awarded the contract from Itasca Construction of Boca Raton to build three Safeguard Self Storage Facilities in Miami. Tilt-Con will build all concrete walls, foundations and floor slabs for these four-story storage buildings totaling 80,000 sq. ft.