Industry News

Sysco Corp. is planning to invest $37 million in a new distribution center in Selma, N.C. The 300,000-sf facility will be sited on 80 acres in Johnston County. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2005.

Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente is planning to break ground in spring of 2005 on a 166-bed medical center in Vacaville, Calif. The 340,000-sf facility is expected to cost between $200 million and $250 million. Slated for occupancy in 2009, the development will include a 271,000-sf medical office building, an ER, eight labor and delivery rooms, expanded pharmacy and lab services, and parking for 2,300 cars.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is planning to break ground in mid-2005 on a new seven-story cancer hospital. The facility, slated to open in 2009, will house clinical cancer programs for the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the UNC Health Care System. Designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, the project will also include a physician's office building. The construction manager is Skanska USA Building Inc.

Wichita State University is planning to relocate its westside campus to a new 24,000-sf facility in Wichita. Slated for completion by year-end 2005, classes are expected to begin in January 2006. The new facility will house 13 classrooms and several labs, tripling the footprint of the current location. The project architect is Curt McNay with Randy Cunningham as general contractor.

Research Triangle Institute International (RTI) began construction in February 2005 on its new 78,000-sf science and engineering building in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Designed by the Washington, D.C., office of Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, the $20 million facility will be constructed by Clancy & Theys of Raleigh, N.C. Stantec is the lead project engineer. Completion is expected in summer 2006.