May Contracts: Nonbuilding Sector Soars Again

McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Southeast Construction, reported that the value of new Florida contracts signed in May for future construction declined by 16% overall. However, the nonbuilding market—which includes roads, bridges, sewers and other infrastructure—improved significantly for the second month in a row. The total of all new May contracts was slightly more than $2.3 billion, compared to last May’s $2.8 billion.

The nonbuilding sector improved by 40% in May, compared to a year ago, for a monthly total of about $747.7 million in new contracts. The nonresidential market declined 7%, however, to total slightly more than $1 billion. That compared to last May’s $1.1 billion.

Residential continued its nosedive, and was again the least active market in the state. Its $546.9-million total for May was 51% behind the same time of a year ago, when it experienced nearly $1.1 billion in new contracts.

For the year-to-date, Florida’s overall total for new contracts of nearly $10.5 billion is 31% behind 2008’s pace. So far, nonbuilding is 24% ahead of last year, with more than $3.7 billion in new contracts. Nonresidential, which totals roughly $4 billion through May, is 36% behind '08. Residential is the smallest market on a year-to-date basis. Its $2.7-billion total is 53% behind last year's pace.

Santiago Calatrava to Design USF Polytechnic Campus

The University of South Florida Polytechnic has commissioned the acclaimed architectural firm Santiago Calatrava/Festina Lente Services to design the first building for the school’s new campus in Lakeland, and update the campus master plan, the school announced in June.

Santiago Calatrava will design the 100,000-sq-ft USFP Science and Technology building, which will sit at the intersection of Interstate 4 and the Polk Parkway. The Science and Technology building will be the cornerstone of the new campus, and will establish the design scheme for all buildings within phase one of the campus master plan. Groundbreaking is expected late this year, with a scheduled opening in late summer 2012.

The USF Polytechnic facility, which will be Calatrava’s first design in the Southeast, is projected to cost $45 million.

Santiago Calatrava/Festina Lente will operate in partnership with Tampa-based architectural firm Alfonso Architects.

Morganti Completes Key West International Airport Terminal

The Morganti Group, based in Danbury, Conn., completed the renovation of the McCoy Terminal at the Key West International Airport. The renovated terminal features new ticketing, luggage and security areas along with a central area for concessions and restaurants.

The project included construction of a 50,000-sq-ft addition to the existing airport, 30,000 sq ft of new floor area on the second level and renovation of 20,000 sq ft of existing terminal space on the ground level.

The airport’s new upper parking deck also doubles as a secure shelter for Monroe County’s Emergency Response equipment.

Conservancy of Southwest Florida Breaks Ground on $17M Campus Renovation

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, located in Naples, and its construction management partners celebrated a ceremonial ground “planting” on Earth Day to mark the launch of its campus renovation project. The $17-million initiative will transform the 21-acre campus into a model for sustainable design and environmental responsibility.

It will feature a wildlife rehabilitation clinic, nature discovery center, hands-on learning lab, environmental planning center, conservation hall, a new entrance and a filter marsh designed to enhance Gordon River and Naples Bay water quality.

Team members include: Keith Predmore & Associates; Warner Architects; Cambridge 7 Associates; Heatherwood Construction; Hole Montes; and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. Wins FGCU Arts College Project

Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. of Fort Myers was selected to construct the first phase of Florida Gulf Coast University’s new Fine Arts Building 2.

The new facility will be located near the existing arts complex building on the Fort Myers FGCU campus and will house the Bower School of Music and the visual and performing arts program.

Construction will include a lobby, music classrooms, practice rooms, 210-seat recital hall and offices. The project will be seeking LEED certification.

Stellar Development Selected to Construct Manatee School for the Arts

Stellar Development was selected to construct a new classroom building and office addition at the Manatee School for the Arts, a public charter middle and high school in Palmetto. The project consists of an 8,470-sq-ft addition to the school’s office and administration areas, including renovating existing space to add a student art gallery and relocate the music classrooms. A 9,790-sq-ft classroom building will house the school’s music department, physical education classroom and exercise facility.

Palmetto-based architecture firm Moore 2 Design is the project architect.

DeAngelis Diamond to Build Pollywog Creek Commons

DeAngelis Diamond Construction of Naples was awarded the Pollywog Creek Commons, Phase I and II, in Labelle. The 64-unit apartment community will include a clubhouse, maintenance building and recreation shelter.

Pollywog Creek is being developed by Rural Neighborhoods, whose mission is to create housing for low-income, migrant and seasonal farm workers in rural areas. Construction is slated to begin in late 2009.

J.L. Wallace Building Affordable Housing in Immokalee

J.L. Wallace of Fort Myers was awarded a contract by Florida Non-Profit Services to construct the first phase of Esperanza Place Apartments, an affordable-housing development for farm workers in Immokalee.

The project, financed by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and the Florida Housing Finance Corp., will include three two-story multi-family buildings and all associated site work. When complete, the development will offer housing for 47 families. The apartments range in size from almost 800 sq ft for a one-bedroom, one-bath unit to approximately 1,350 sq ft for a three-bedroom, two-bath unit. Two-bedroom, two-bath units are also available.

Architectural design services were provided by Slocum Platts.

Hawkins Constructing Emergency Services Complex in Clay Co.

Hawkins Construction of Tarpon Springs was selected to construct a new $5-million Emergency Services Complex in Green Cove Springs for Clay County. The new 27,000-sq-ft facility will house the county’s emergency management staff, 911 emergency management communications, fire-rescue administration and the geographic information systems department.

During an emergency situation, the ESC will function as the command center for county government operations. The project is scheduled for completion in May 2010.

Edwards Lands Marion County School Projects

Ocala-based Edwards Construction Services was awarded two new projects with the School Board of Marion County. The projects include a construction management contract for 10 new classrooms at Romeo Elementary School and 12 classrooms at Evergreen Elementary School.

The contractor expects to start construction this fall, and is expected to complete in the second quarter of 2010.

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