Industry News

The Home Depot has purchased a 158,300-sf facility in northeast Austin, Texas to house its new data center. The center will employ approximately 500 workers when it becomes operational by spring of 2006.

Rheem Manufacturing Co. has initiated construction on a $6.1 million facility in the West Randleman Business Park in Randleman, N.C. Housing Rheem's Air Conditioning division, the 180,000-sf distribution facility will serve as the North American distribution headquarters for the company's replacement-parts operations. Completion is expection by March 2005. Future plans describe expansion of the facility by an additional 72,000 sf. The project team includes three Greensboro-based firms: Samet Corp.

Package delivery company DHL opened a $3-million sorting facility in Erie, Pa., on Sept 29, 2004. The 55,000-sf center is part of DHL's $1.2-billion initiative to expand ground delivery capacity by sixty percent with the creation of seven additional sorting centers. The Erie facility begins operations on October 8, 2004 with the sorting capacity of 7,000 parcels and 4,000 letters per hour.

Washington & Lee University has initiated construction on a 66,000-sf art and music facility on its Lexington, Va., campus. Slated for completion in August 2006, the building will include a 250-seat performance hall, classrooms, art studios, music practice rooms, and a new art gallery. The project contractor is Birmingham, Ala.-based Brice Building Co.

Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala., has completed construction of its 77,000-sf Mamie & John Burke Memorial Library. Designed by Shepley Bulfinch Richardon & Abbott of Boston, the $11.6-million facility is the cornerstone of the college's master plan.