Jacksonville Taps Turner for $224-Million Duval Co. Courthouse

Turner Construction Co. was selected by the City of Jacksonville for a $224-million design-build contract for the $224-million Duval County Courthouse project.

Construction has started, and the project is scheduled for completion in May 2012.

The 800,000-sq-ft facility will serve as a combined civil and criminal courthouse for Duval County. The seven-story courthouse will include 51 courtrooms, judges’ chambers and offices, and other space. The courthouse will be a cast-in-place concrete structure with a glass and pre-cast exterior in a traditional and classic design.

This latest development appears to finally put this long-sought project on track to reality.

This project was originally proposed in 2000 as a signature piece of the Better Jacksonville Plan, and budgeted at $190 million. Cannon Design of Grand Island, N.Y., won a high-profile design competition with its plan for a traditional, five-story structure, complete with central rotunda and oculus-topped dome. The cost of building materials and land escalated, and the project increased in size and scope to incorporate security concerns and greater than expected county growth. Mayor John Peyton presented a plan to raise money through bonding and a $15 surcharge on traffic tickets, bringing the budget to $268 million.

Even these extra dollars were not enough at the time. in October 2004, the city received a guaranteed maximum price for construction of $225.3 million from former construction manager Skanska Dynamic Partners, a joint venture between Skanska USA Building, SL Construction & Remodeling, Hernandez Enterprises and QC Management, all with offices in Jacksonville. The Skanska-led team had been awarded its contract in 2002, shortly after completing a new federal courthouse located directly across from the proposed county courthouse site.

Combined with other costs, such as land at more than $25 million, the GMP brought the overall courthouse budget to nearly $300 million. The city terminated its contract with Skanska Dynamic Partners at that time.

Florida Contracts Drop 22% in July

McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Southeast Construction, reported that the value of new Florida contracts signed in July for future construction declined by 22% overall, compared to the same period of a year ago. The total of all new contracts was roughly $2.3 billion, compared to last July’s $3 billion.

After several months of huge gains, the nonbuilding sector dropped 41% in July, compared to a year ago, for a total of about $405.5 million. The residential market also declined significantly, by 36%, to total $782.7 million for the month. The nonresidential sector improved by 7%, however, experiencing more than $1.1 billion in new contracts.

For the year-to-date, Florida’s overall total for new contracts of nearly $15.7 billion is 25% behind 2008’s pace. So far, nonbuilding is 37% ahead of last year, with nearly $5.5 billion in new contracts. Nonresidential, which totals roughly $5.9 billion through July, is 33% behind '08. Residential is still the smallest market on a year-to-date basis. Its $4.3-billion total is 47% behind last year's pace.

Coastal Construction to Build Sunny Isles Beach Park

Miami-based Coastal Construction Group was awarded a $9.2-million contract for the construction of Sunny Isles Beach Heritage Park and Parking Garage, a four-acre multi-use facility in Sunny Isles Beach.

The project will consist of government offices and a three-acre park featuring two playgrounds, a gazebo, a basketball court, an exercise trail, and a large play/event area. The Park will also house the City’s Public Works Department, as well as a concession stand and public restrooms.  Additionally, Coastal will be responsible for the construction of a 500-space parking garage, which is scheduled for completion in June. The park is scheduled for completion by next August.

Groundbreaking Held for 8333 Downtown Doral in Miami

HuntonBrady Architects of Orlando announced a groundbreaking had been held for 8333 Downtown Doral, a Class-A, six-story, 150,000-sq-ft office building in Doral. The project represents the first for-lease office building in the mixed-use community and is nearly 30% pre-leased by the State of Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration.

The building’s exterior will feature architectural precast panels.

HuntonBrady states the project is targeting LEED Gold certification. Occupancy is scheduled for the third quarter of 2010.

Finfrock to Design-Build Dania Beach Garage

Finfrock Construction of Orlando was selected to lead the design-build construction of a new parking garage in Dania Beach for the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority’s Tri-Rail system. The $5.2-million, three-level garage is scheduled for completion by the end of 2010. 

Cuhaci & Peterson Designing Senior Living Facility, Prototype Publix

Orlando-based Cuhaci & Peterson Architects is performing preliminary design work for a 140,000-sq-ft senior living facility at Avalon Park in Orlando. The firm indicated construction of the first phase of the facility, which would accommodate 130 senior living units, could start before the end of the year.

The firm is also designing a new prototype Publix Supermarket, expected to offer 61,000 sq ft of space.

Royal Concrete Concepts Relocates Modular Classrooms

Working on behalf of the Palm Beach County School District, Royal Concrete Concepts of West Palm Beach recently relocated modular concrete classrooms from Palm Beach Gardens High School for reassembly at an addition to Jupiter Middle School of Technology.

Joseph Sanches, chief of facilities management for Palm Beach County schools, stated in a news release that "It's probably going to save us more than 50% for this addition compared to building a new classroom addition."

Work on the addition took less than two months to complete. It included 16 classrooms and a restroom facility.

Miami Beach Awards Lincoln Park Design Contract to West 8

The City of Miami Beach awarded the Lincoln Park design contract to Dutch urban design and landscape architectural firm West 8. Lincoln Park is the third and final component of Miami Beach’s City Center Redevelopment Project. The park will sit adjacent to a new campus for the New World Symphony designed by Frank Gehry, scheduled to open in January 2011. The project also includes a 520-space public parking garage with ground-level retail space, also designed by Gehry.

Lincoln Park will add 2.5 acres of green space to Miami Beach, replacing a surface-level parking lot. A major element of the $13-million park will be its relationship with the façade of NWS’ new campus, which features a projection wall on which users of the park will be able to watch and listen to concerts, films, commissioned video art, city-provided content and other digital installations. West 8’s design approach calls for an integrated relationship with the building.

West 8's New York office will run the Lincoln Park project.

June’s Nonresidential Drop Results in 37% Overall Decline

McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Southeast Construction, reported that the value of new Florida contracts signed in June for future construction declined by 37% overall. A 58% decline in the nonresidential sector, along with continued dropoff in residential, contributed to the overall downturn. The total of all new June contracts was nearly $1.9 billion, compared to last June’s $3 billion.

The nonbuilding sector improved again, however, this time by 67%, compared to a year ago, for a monthly total of about $468.1 million in new contracts. Nonresidential’s decline resulted in $675.6 million in new contracts. Residential continued to decline, with a 32% downturn in June for a $737.1-million total.

Clancy & Theys Awarded $15.6-Million UCF Contract

The Orlando-based Florida division of Clancy & Theys Construction Co. was awarded a contract for the University of Central Florida’s new $15.6-million, 117,000-sq-ft Partnership III Building. The facility, to contain research labs, offices, computer rooms and classrooms, will provide technology for simulation and professional training. The facility was designed by SchenkelShultz Architecture of Orlando to meet LEED Silver standards. The project is slated for completion in December 2010.

DeAngelis Diamond to Renovate OR Suite at Sebring Hospital

DeAngelis Diamond Construction Healthcare Group of Naples, Fla., announced it has been awarded a contract for the 10,500-sq-ft renovation of the existing operating room Suite at Highlands Regional Medical Center in Sebring. The project consists of nine phases in the existing operating room suite and adjacent areas.

GS&P Designing Women's Center for Holy Cross Hospital

The Fort Lauderdale office of Gresham, Smith and Partners was selected by Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale to complete a design for the new Dorothy Mangurian Comprehensive Women’s Center. Located within the hospital’s HealthPlex facility, the project will include master planning of approximately 55,000 sq ft of renovation area to include a new 25,000-sq-ft comprehensive women’s center, physician offices, imaging modalities, physical and aqua therapy, an education center and a café. This $15-million project is being funded completely through philanthropic efforts.

Phase one of the three phase project will include a new lobby, mammography center with ultrasound, bone density and stereotactic capabilities, as well as registration and two physician office suites.

Fisher Koppenhafer Designing Cultural Center in Green Cove Springs

Fisher Koppenhafer Architecture and Interior Design is designing the Augusta Savage Cultural and Community Arts Center, a Green Cove Springs community redevelopment and restoration project. The facility will be dedicated to the cultural arts, education and outreach services, and will honor the memory of Augusta Savage, a renowned sculptor and Green Cove Springs native who found success in Harlem during the 1920s and 1930s.

Five buildings encompassing approximately 40,000 sq ft on the site will be renovated in a historic Florida coastal vernacular style and include the addition of unique Cracker-era porches. The classroom building will be redeveloped into a mixed-use facility with a day care, medical clinic, food bank and other services. There also will be an educational museum recognizing Savage’s contributions and achievements.

Zyscovich Re-Designing Turnpike Service Plazas to LEED Standards

Miami-headquartered Zyscovich Architects is re-designing service plazas along the 312-mi length of Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise. The firm is a member of the Areas USA team, which was recently awarded a 30-year contract to manage turnpike plazas from South Miami-Dade County to Okahumpka in north-central Florida. Zyscovich will design seven service plaza buildings with various retail and food service options.  Four of the buildings will be new facilities and three existing buildings will undergo major renovations.

All of the new plazas will be designed to LEED Silver standards.

The entire renovation/rebuild project, which also includes five smaller fuel/convenience stores designed by other members of the design-build team, is estimated at more than $100 million. In addition to Zyscovich Architects, the Areas USA design-build team includes OHL/Arellano Construction; Jacobs; Gannett Fleming; Donnell, Duquesne and Albaisa; and WRScompass.

J.L. Wallace Starts Construction of Self-Sustaining Bunche Beach Preserve

J.L. Wallace of Fort Myers, Fla., has started construction of Bunche Beach Preserve, a new Lee County park along San Carlos Bay. The preserve will be self-sustaining, with no electric or water utilities needed to maintain it.

The project, which is just over one acre in size and near Bunche Beach, includes site work, storm water retention system, parking area, restroom facilities, fishing piers, kayak launches and boardwalks.

Several “eco-friendly” building strategies will be implemented throughout the project.  The boardwalks and piers will be constructed using recycled wood and plastic. Electricity will be generated from solar power. All of the restrooms will use reclaimed rainwater, and all rain run-offs from the parking area will be captured and managed through a subsurface storm water management system.

R.C. Stevens to Design-Build Plant City Bakery Expansion

Orlando-based General Contractor R.C. Stevens Construction Co. has been awarded a design-build contract with Toufayan Bakeries for the 83,000-sq-ft expansion to the company’s Plant City bakery. Construction will commence in late 2009 to early 2010.

DooleyMack Wins Contract for Chatsworth Health Center

DooleyMack Constructors of South Florida was awarded the contract for the construction of Chatsworth Health Center at Wellington Green. The project will provide assisted-living services, assisted-living apartments, skilled-nursing center, and short- and long-term rehabilitation services. Construction of the 127,000-sq-ft, three-story building was scheduled to begin this past June.

Edison State College Achieves First Gold LEED Certification in Collier Co.

Kraft Construction of Naples announced that the new Edison State College Childcare Center in Naples has obtained LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The Gold certification resulted from some of the following: more than 75% of construction waste recycled and diverted from landfills; over 18% recycled content in construction materials; more than 27% materials harvested and manufactured locally (within 500 mi of the project site); more than 53% wood-based materials from sustainably harvested sources; 100% use of low/no-VOC carpet systems, adhesives, sealants, paints and coating; strict indoor air quality standards held throughout construction; and strict erosion and sediment control measures throughout construction.

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