Industry News

Northside Hospital is constructing a three-story, $39-million surgical center at its existing hospital in Cumming, Georgia. The project consists of 109,000 sf of new construction and 29,000 sf of renovations and will house 8 operating rooms, 17 post-anesthesia care units, and expanded radiology services. Occupancy is expected in summer of 2006.

The Florida School for the Deaf and Blind has selected the Stellar Group to design, build, and provide construction management for the expansion and renovation of Gibbs Hall in St. Augustine, Fla. The $4.8-million project includes the construction of a covered walkway. The renovated 28,000-sf facility will accommodate career-specific training for blind students, classrooms, and teacher offices. Construction will commence on May 28, 2005, with project completion slated for November of the same year.

Camden County College is planning an $83 million project to rebuild more than fifty percent of its Blackwood, N.J., campus over the next six years. The Madison Hall Connector Building will be the first facility to be constructed, which will house the college's Center for Civic Leadership and Responsibility. Other new construction projects include a science facility, a student services building, an interactive classroom and atrium for public forums, and upgraded athletic fields.

RETS Tech Center, a private technical school, is planning a 13,000-sf expansion to accommodate a registered nurse training program. The $1.7 million project will allow enrollment to increase thirty percent for a projected total of 700 students. Alleviating crowding in the school's existing 43,500-sf of classroom and laboratory facilities, the facility is expected to be ready for occupancy in September 2005. Between 75 and 100 registered nurses will graduate from the program annually.

Thales Avionics has completed the design and construction of a tenant improvement project for its two-story, 127,000-sf Irvine, Calif., facility. Located in the Irvine Spectrum Business Park, the project was designed by Irvine-based Ware Malcomb with Turelk of Long Beach, Calif., as general contractor. The facility includes a manufacturing area; R&D engineering and training space; corporate lobby; general office space; conference rooms; demonstration rooms; secure access; a vibration room; and an exterior LN2 tank.