IKEA announced plans to build its first Florida store in Sunrise, in western Broward County, as part of the planned Gateway at Sawgrass retail center being developed by Fort Lauderdale-based Stiles Corp. Construction was anticipated to begin soon, with the grand opening currently scheduled for summer 2007.

The 20-acre IKEA site will reportedly include a 293,000 sq.-ft. IKEA store at-grade with 1,100 parking spaces in a two-level parking deck in front of the store.

$130M Lauderdale Lakes Project Breaks Ground

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the 32-acre Bella Vista mixed-use project in Lauderdale Lakes. The project is being developed through a partnership between the Lauderdale Lakes Community Redevelopment Agency and developer United Homes International.

The project will feature a new two-story Broward County Public Library and the Lauderdale Lakes Cultural and Educational Resource Center. The library will be flanked by clock tower entryways, as well as nearly 20,000 sq. ft. of ground floor commercial space in two new six-story buildings along Oakland Park Boulevard. Condominium residences will be built above.

The community will be anchored by a scenic town green nearly two football fields in size, surrounded by more than 450 residential units, ranging from 700 sq.-ft. condominiums to 1,800 sq.-ft. townhomes with private courtyards and garages.

Panama City Facility Close to Takeoff

Construction of the first U.S. greenfield airport in the 21st Century is about to become a reality. The building of a new Panama City-Bay County airport is being spurred by a donation of 4,000 acres by Florida's biggest real estate developer, regional growth and safety issues at the old facility.

Groundbreaking for the three-year construction project is scheduled for early 2007, pending an expected record of decision from the Federal Aviation Administration this fall, said Tom Reddaway, project manager with San Francisco-based Bechtel Corp. It is the architect and engineer for the $240 million airport relocation.

The airport is the centerpiece of the West Bay Sector Plan, an ambitious 74,000-acre long-term development for the Gulf Coast. Initial steps in the land-use plan include building 4.4 million sq. ft. of industrial, commercial and retail space. Another component is establishing a 37,000-acre conservation area, including nearly the entire shoreline of West Bay.

Jacksonville-based St. Joe Co. offered the acreage to airport officials several years ago during their search for a new site and the offer was approved late last year. "It's good for our shareholders," said Nathan Sparks, economic development director for St. Joe. "It adds value to our assets." The company sees the donation as a necessary investment for growth - 15,000 new condo units have already been built in the past 18 months.

The 98,000-sq.-ft. new terminal, nearing conceptual design completion, will be ready to accept both low-cost carriers and legacy carriers at five or six gates, says Reddaway. "We're meeting frequently with the Transportation Security Administration folks," he added.

The new airport, located north of the current one and across West Bay, is needed because the old one's 6,000-ft.-long runway does not meet FAA safety requirements, said Kip Turner, airport executive assistant. A safety waiver expires in 2015, but congestion, residential encroachment, military air space conflicts and runway flooding during hurricanes make the replacement more urgent.

The new airport will have two runways, including one that eventually will reach 12,000 ft. in length, Turner said. The annual 400,000 passengers using the current airport is expected to grow to 600,000 by 2020, he added. Ted Clem, executive director of Bay County Economic Development Alliance, noted that cargo operations and commercial activity will be a big part of the airport. Almost 900 acres will be set aside directly adjacent to the runways for such activity.

Officials currently are in the process of reviewing requests for proposals to sell the old 713-acre airport. Source: Engineering News-Record. By Tom Ichniowski

Florida Contract Activity Starts '06 With 3 Percent Gain

As 2006 started, the value of new contracts in Florida continued to increase, McGraw-Hill Construction reported, with two of three sectors positive and a 3 percent overall increase in January. The total value of new contracts signed in January for future construction totaled roughly $5.25 billion.

Nonresidential contracts showed the greatest percentage increase, improving by 18 percent over last January to a roughly $959.3 million total. The residential sector continued to show growth, improving by 4 percent compared to a year ago, with an estimated $3.9 billion in new contracts in the first month of '06. Nonbuilding construction - which includes roads, bridges, sewer and other - fell 21 percent, however, to total approximately $442.7 million, down from last year's $563.2 million.

WELBRO to Build $160 Million Lighthouse Key Resort and Spa

ICI Homes has named Welbro Construction of Maitland general contractor at its Lighthouse Key Resort and Spa, a luxury fractional ownership resort the home builder is developing 4.5 mi. west of Walt Disney World on U.S. 192. ICI has reported construction costs as $160 million, and that the resort is planned to be built in phases over the next five years.

Altogether, ICI plans to build 600 condominiums at Lighthouse Key in 15 buildings. The development's plan includes a 26,000 sq.-ft. clubhouse facility, a 4,500 sq.-ft. spa and other amenities.

Brasfield & Gorrie Under Way With $133 Million Florida Hospital Project

Brasfield & Gorrie is under way with its $133 million contract to build the Florida Hospital Orlando Patient Tower-Lakeside Cardiology project in Orlando. Construction started in January.

Adventist Health Systems, Winter Park, Fla., is the project owner. Hunton-Brady-Pryor-Maso Architects of Orlando is the project architect.

Lee Co. Awards Design-Build Contracts for Five Schools

The School District of Lee County has awarded a contract for design-build services for five Lee County schools to Gates McVey Butz Institutional Construction, in concert with Alliance Design Group of Fort Myers.

Gates McVey Butz will simultaneously construct projects at Caloosa Elementary School, Diplomat Elementary School, Hancock Creek Elementary School, Tropic Isles Elementary School and Bayshore Elementary School. The projects focus on classroom expansions at each school.

Baker Barrios Designing Mona Lisa and OUC Projects in Orlando

Baker Barrios Architects or Orlando is designing the Mona Lisa at Celebration, a 240-unit condominium hotel in Celebration. The five-story facility, designed by Morris Adjmi of Morris Adjmi Architects, will feature one- and two-bedroom condo units ranging from 700 sq. ft. to 1,260 sq. ft. It will also feature up to 3,000 sq. ft. of meeting and reception space as well as an upscale restaurant.

Construction was set to begin this spring, with completion currently anticipated for summer 2007.

The firm also was recently selected to design the core and shell of the new administration building for the Orlando Utilities Commission. The project is necessary due to the demolition of the current administration building's parking garage in downtown Orlando. The garage is being demolished to make room for a new exit ramp for the 408 Expressway.

HNTB to Design 17 Miles of I-95 Upgrades

The Florida Department of Transportation's District Five recently awarded a design contract to HNTB Corp. of Lake Mary to upgrade a 16.8-mi. section of Interstate 95 from the Brevard/Volusia County line to 0.5 mi. north of SR 44.

As the prime consultant, HNTB is currently managing all services for the PD&E, which covers 43 mi. of I-95. The project includes widening this section of I-95 from four to six lanes, resurfacing the mainline and adding acceleration and deceleration lanes.

Company Creates Division to Facilitate Roof Design

Suncoast Roofers Supply of Tampa announced it has launched The Roof Design Group to help the building and development industries with roof design and project bidding.

A free service for architects, property managers and owners, building consultants, developers and general contractors, The Roof Design Group is being developed as a third-party source assisting with the development of roofing plans for all types of building projects. It will assist building and development professionals with design, code review and planning, supply management, cost analysis, roofing education and general consultation.

Service will be available throughout the state of Florida.

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