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FPL to Invest $2.4B in Solar Power Generation
A $2.4-billion investment in solar thermal power generation was announced Sept. 26 by FPL Group Inc. The Juno Beach, Fla.-based utility company plans to invest up to $1.5 billion in new solar thermal generating facilities in Florida and California over the next seven years.
The program will begin with a 10-MW project at subsidiary Florida Power & Light, using solar thermal technology supplied by Ausra Inc., Palo Alto, Calif. that could be expanded to 300 MW. It is believed to be the largest solar thermal project ever proposed for the Sunshine State and one of the largest in the U.S.
FPL also will invest up to $500 million to create a smart network that will provide its 4.5 million customers with enhanced energy management capabilities. A new consumer education program and new products that could increase renewable energy resources will cost $400 million more, FPL says.
The initiatives were announced at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City.
Source: Engineering News-Record. By Tom Armistead.
Contracts: Residential Drops Again in September
The value of total new project starts in Florida continued to fall in September, due almost exclusively to yet another drastic drop in the value of new residential starts, McGraw-Hill Construction reported. For the month, the value of new contracts declined 28% for a total of nearly $3.3 billion, down from last September’s total of about $4.5 billion.
Residential continued its precipitous decline, again registering a 51% drop compared to last September and totaling nearly $1.4 billion. That compared to last September’s $2.8 billion tally for state residential projects. After declining in August, however, the nonresidential category returned to its positive territory in September, recording a 17% improvement over the same period of a year ago for a total of about $1.2 billion for the month. The nonbuilding segment, with about $642.8 million in new contracts during the month, was just 1% behind the pace of last September, when it experienced $650 million in new contracts.
For the year-to-date, Florida contract activity now totals nearly $37.7 billion, or 25% below the first nine months of 2006. The residential market, estimated at about $18.1 billion, is 48% behind last year’s pace. The other sectors remain positive, though. Nonresidential, at about $12.2 billion, is 15% ahead of 2006’s pace, while nonbuilding construction is approximately 43% ahead of last year with a nearly $7.4 billion total so far.
FAU College of Nursing Earns LEED Gold Certification
The Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University, based in Boca Raton, has earned LEED Gold certification from the United States Green Building Council, making FAU only the second university in Florida with a Gold Certified building.
Additionally, the project earned the “Project of the Year” award from the Southeast Florida/Caribbean District Council of the Urban Land Institute.
SchenkelShultz Architecture of Orlando utilized a combination of Feng Shui principles, sustainable design and a philosophy of interconnectedness in designing the College of Nursing.
Foram Group Proceeds with Green Rental Property in Gainesville
Miami-based Foram Group announced the closing of a $45 million construction loan by SunTrust Banks to develop The Bartram in Gainesville. According to Foram, when completed, the luxury multi-family apartment complex will be one of the first LEED-certified rental properties in the U.S.
Catering to the high-end renter, The Bartram will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with multiple courtyards and resort-style amenities.
Moss Wins $32 Million Soho Beach House Project in Miami Beach
Moss & Associates of Fort Lauderdale has been awarded a $32 million construction management contract for Soho Beach House in Miami Beach. Ryder Properties has hired Moss for the 83,000-sq-ft luxury beachfront hotel/condo development.According to Moss, the project was scheduled to start construction this fall.
The project will renovate and upgrade the historic Sovereign Hotel and construct a 15-story luxury condominium tower at the site, located on Collins Avenue, adjacent to the landmark Fontainebleau.
Architect Allan T. Shulman’s design will create a total of 67 units –44 hotel rooms for Soho House and 23 condos.
H.J. High Design-Building Mitsubishi Manufacturing Plant Expansion
H.J. High Construction Co. of Orlando announced it has been selected to design-build an 111,500-sq-ft expansion of Mitsubishi Power Systems America’s manufacturing facility in Orlando.
The project will approximately double the size of the existing facility. The facility will be built with 35-ft-high tilt walls, and will include two five-ton bridge cranes running the length of the building. The project will also provide an additional 20,000 sq ft of office space.
The architect for the project is KZF Design of Orlando.
Inwood Designing S.R. 426 Project in Oviedo
Seminole County has hired Inwood Consulting Engineers of Oviedo, Fla., to provide final design services for the widening of State Road 426/County Road 419 in Oviedo.
The proposed roadway is scheduled to consist of four lanes separated by a 22-ft-wide median, and will also include sidewalks and bicycle lanes in both directions. Inwood will be responsible for the roadway design, drainage design, signalization, signing and pavement marking design and public involvement.
HuntonBrady Designs SCC Heathrow Technology Center
HuntonBrady Architects of Orlando has completed design of Seminole Community College’s Heathrow Technology Center, a new hub for technology workforce development and economic development throughout Central Florida.
Tenants will include the Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Seminole County Government/Economic Development, SCC Small Business Development and Leadership Seminole. The Center also will provide a focal point and expanded space for SCC's growing construction/architecture and digital media programs.
Clancy & Theys Starts Elementary School J in Osceola Co.
The Orlando-based Florida division of Clancy & Theys Construction Co. has started work on Osceola County Schools’ two-story, 109,000-sq-ft Elementary School “J” in Harmony. The prototype design-build project is being constructed in collaboration with SchenkelSchultz Architecture of Orlando. The project is scheduled for completion in August.
Owen-Ames-Kimball Completes Canterbury Upper School
Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. of Fort Myers has completed construction of the Canterbury Upper School campus in St. Petersburg.
The expansion included construction of a two-story 37,173- sq-ft classroom building; a one-story 4,550-sq-ft music/drama building; a one-story 2,525-sq-ft administration building; and a separate fire pump building.
Outside, practice athletic fields were added to the site, andthe existing tennis court was renovated and expanded. Site work included a lake reconfiguration, major drainage changes and completion of a nature area.
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