Industry News

Webster University in St. Louis is planning to invest $15 million to construct two new residence halls. Completion is expected by fall of 2006. The first 64,400-sf freshman dormitory would house 198 beds. The second 35,400-sf upperclassmen dormitory would house 112 beds. The architect for the project is Mackey Mitchell & Associates.

Camino Medical Group is planning to construct a 250,000-sf outpatient medical center on nine acres in Mountain View, Calif. In January 2005, the closed Emporium department store that occupies the site will be razed and construction will begin. Completion is expected in 2007. The three-story center will house medical offices, an outpatient surgery center, labs, diagnostic radiology, and a pharmacy.

On November 29, 2004, the California Public Library Construction and Renovation Board awarded public library construction grants for a total of $80,588,293 to 12 library projects. The three largest grants included $13,961,277 to the Castro Valley Library, $14,900,075 to the  Fontana Library & Resource Technology Center, and $11,880,531 to the Lafayette Library & Learning Center.

Community Hospital North, part of Indiana's Community Health Network, has awarded the design contract for its new 850,000-sf expansion in Indianapolis to the Dallas office of RTKL. Groundbreaking was held recently for the $170-million construction project, which is expected to reach completion in early 2007.

Construction on the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center in Austin has reached completion. The newly expanded 30,000-sf museum features exhibit space, a new 140-seat theater, a darkroom, and library equipment storage areas. The project also included renovation and expansion of the adjacent Carver Public Library. The project contractor was Cadence McShane Corp. of Dallas.