Residential construction activity remains significantly subdued in Florida, but the nonresidential sector is holding its own and nonbuilding construction is currently soaring past last year’s pace, McGraw-Hill Construction reported. Despite the positive news from the other sectors, the residential decline was so steep that the value of all Florida contracts for future construction still dropped 33% during the month of March, compared to the same period of a year ago. For the month, the total value of new contracts totaled roughly $4 billion, down from the $5.9 billion reported a year ago.

Residential was the only declining sector, turning down by 52%. The total of new residential starts for the month was roughly $2.1 billion, down from last March’s total of about $4.4 billion. The nonresidential category was flat compared to last March, with a total of about $1.1 billion. The nonbuilding segment jumped by 97% to total $717 million for the month, compared to the $363.3 million of last March.

Developers Converting Flamingo South Beach

Chicago-based developers MCZ Development Corp. and Centrum Properties announced their purchase of the north tower at Flamingo South Beach in Miami Beach for approximately $170 million. The companies plan to convert the 614-unit apartment building into condominiums. Prices for individual units will range from the $300,000s to the $800,000s.

“We continue to remain bullish about the Miami Beach condominium market, particularly because we closed more than 400 units in Flamingo’s south tower during the fourth quarter of 2006,” developer Michael Lerner said in a press statement.

M.A. Mortenson, HNTB to Design-Build Hangar at Jacksonville Naval Air Station

Minneapolis-based M.A. Mortenson Co. and design partner HNTB Architecture have been awarded a contract to design-build a new hangar at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station. When completed, the $122 million project — including office space, personnel support, site development and aircraft parking apron — will be one of the largest Navy hangars in the U.S., measuring more than 277,000 sq ft.

The need for the hangar as well as additional aircraft access and parking apron was driven by recommendations from the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission and subsequent U.S. Congressional action to relocate six aircraft squadrons to the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville.

The hangar will be equipped with special solar shading, light shelves and heat-resistant designs to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified standards and protect the building against environmental strains – a key factor for the P-3 and C-130 fixed-wing aircraft and six squadrons that will occupy the building.

Suffolk Breaks Ground on $82M North Miami Senior High School

Suffolk Construction Co. of West Palm Beach broke ground on its $82 million North Miami Senior High School project in March and is proceeding with site remediation and demolition.

Miami-based Zyscovich Architects designed the project, which is expected to be completed in June 2008.

The project includes the construction of a 321,000-sq-f campus with athletic fields. The new school will accommodate approximately 3,000 students.

Turner Wins $155 Million Contract for Hilton Grand Vacations Club Resort

Turner Construction Co. of Orlando has been awarded a $155 million contract to provide construction management services for the latest addition to Hilton’s portfolio of Grand Vacations Clubs in Orlando. The new Hilton Grand Vacations Club resort will be operated by Hilton Grand Vacations Co., the timeshare division of Hilton Hotels Corp.

Turner’s contract includes construction of two 14-story towers for a total of 321 units, surrounding support facilities and 48 acres of site development. The first tower is scheduled for completion in January 2009 and the second in January 2010.

When fully complete, the resort will feature vacation villas, swimming pools, restaurants and retail shops.

I-4 Widening Project in District 5 Starts

SEMA Construction has started construction of a $58.6 million, 4-mi-long Interstate 4 widening project between SR 472 and SR 44 in the Florida Department of Transportation’s District 5.

HNTB of Lake Mary, Fla., designed the project, which widens I-4 from four to six lanes between SR 472 and SR 44 and includes four new overpass bridges.

Skanska Picked as CM for Springstead High School 

The School Board of Hernando County has awarded a $12 million construction management contract to Skanska USA Building of Tampa for 49,000 sq ft of additions and renovations to Springstead High School in Springhill. Gould Evans Associates is the architect for the project, which is scheduled to complete in October 2008.

Project scope includes a new 24,000-sq-ft cafeteria and kitchen and a 7,000-sq-ft addition for a fine arts facility. Renovations of 18,000 sq ft of existing cafeteria and classroom space will result in new science classrooms, laboratories and administrative offices.

G.L. Commercial Starts on Canyon Town Center

Sunrise, Fla.-based G.L. Commercial recently broke ground on its Canyon Town Center project, one of only two commercial projects approved in Palm Beach County's Agricultural Reserve.

Located just west of the Florida Turnpike, the development will include 200,000 sq ft of retail and office space. Designed as a Main Street-style shopping plaza, it will include a one-acre town green, open plazas, sidewalk cafés and covered walkways, fountains and other items. Future development of an adjacent 85 acres is scheduled to include a park, sports fields and an elementary and middle school.

Construction is expected to complete in 2008. G.L. Commercial is the owner, developer, broker and manager of the project.

Pirtle Starts on New Green Elementary for Palm Beach County

James B. Pirtle Construction Co. of Davie, officials from Florida Atlantic University and the Palm Beach County School District recently broke ground on one of Florida’s first “green” elementary schools and a new facility for the Pine Jog Environmental Education Center. The school, scheduled to open no later than August 2008, will have an environmental focus, using the Pine Jog wilderness sanctuary as an outdoor classroom.

According to project officials, the facility will be the first public elementary school in the state to become LEED-certified.

The school district will build a 15,000-sq-ft facility for the Pine Jog Environmental Education Center and by agreement will share school facilities with Pine Jog.

Miami-based Zyscovich is the project architect.

Stiles Starts on Lake Shore Plaza II in Sunrise

Stiles Corp. of Fort Lauderdale announced construction is under way on its $29 million Lake Shore Plaza II project, a 130,000-sq-ft, Class A office building within Sawgrass International Corporate Park in Sunrise. 

A joint venture between Stiles and WLD Enterprises is developing the five-story building, which is heading for a 2008 completion.

Stiles’ Architecture 6400 division designed the building, and Stiles Construction Co. is the general contractor.

Creative Starts on $14 million Green School in Holiday

Creative Contractors of Clearwater has signed a $14 million contract with Pasco County to build Gulf Trace Elementary School, a 93,000-sq-ft school in Holiday.

The school is made up of seven buildings that include classrooms, a library, art and music rooms, offices, kitchen and a multi-purpose cafeteria.  Creative is using tilt-wall construction for this project, making it the first tilt-wall structure used for a Pasco County School. 

Similarly, Gulf Trace Elementary will be Pasco County’s first “green” school and will seek LEED certification.

Peter Brown Construction Starts $28.4M High School in Merritt Island

Peter R. Brown Construction of Clearwater is progressing on a $28.4 million design-build contract for Merritt Island High School. The project includes a new 31,000-sq-ft classroom building, facility upgrades, improvements to the school’s sport facilities and parking/lighting upgrades.

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