Industry News

Central Texas College is building the $23 million Nursing Education Building in Killeen. Ground was broken on the facility in July of 2009 with completion expected in spring of 2011. The two-story, 85,000-sf project will be shared with Tarleton State University-Central Texas and Metroplex Hospital. The building will provide 19 classrooms, 69 faculty offices, and eight medical simulation labs.

Johnson Controls is partnering with French manufacturer Saft to construct an advanced lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant in Holland, Mich. Supported by $299.2 million in stimulus funding from the Department of Energy, the 127,000-sf facility will feature cleanrooms for next-generation automotive battery manufacturing. Production of battery assemblies for electric and hybrid vehicles will begin in fall of 2010 with full production capacity expected by 2013.

Brown University is engaged in multiple construction projects on its campus in Providence, R.I. Faunce Hall, a 36,000-sf sf student center, is undergoing a $20 million renovation. Construction began on the $40 million Creative Arts Center in May of 2009. The 35,000-sf facility is slated for completion in fall of 2010. A $42 million renovation of the 73,000-sf Metcalf complex to house cognitive sciences and linguistics will begin in summer of 2010 with completion expected in fall of 2011.

Syngenta Biotechnology initiated construction on a research and development facility in Beijing in December of 2009. The project represents an investment of $5 million over five years. The center will support research in crop genetics and biofuels.

Deloitte has awarded Turner Construction a $130 million contract to build a 712,000-sf learning and leadership development center in Fort Worth, Texas. Slated for completion in 2011, the facility will house 800 guest rooms, conference spaces, 35 classrooms, and 800 guest rooms. LEED Gold sustainable design certification will be sought for the project.