Industry News

Johnson & Wales University broke ground on February 11 on its $82-million academic center and residence halls. The five-story, 145,000-sf facility, designed by LS3P Associates, is located in Charlotte's Gateway Village. Slated to open in fall 2004, the Charlotte campus will offer Business, Culinary Arts & Hospitality associated and bachelor's degree programs. The first floor and mezzanine levels will contain a chocolate laboratory and four bakeshops.

Cox Radio is consolidating the operations of its five Jacksonville radio stations into a single 28,000-sf facility in Southside Jacksonville. Construction of the facility is expected to begin in early March 2003 with occupancy slated for September. The project will cost $2-million to build, for a total occupancy cost of approximately $3.4-million.

DynCorp, the EPA's new technology contractor, has leased 68,000 sf in Highwoods Properties' Research Commons development in Research Triangle Park.

The Ohio State University Medical Center will initiate construction on a 44,000-sf expansion of the Comprehensive Cancer Center in February 2003. The project is a vertical expansion of  the 3rd and 4th floors on top of Wiseman Hall, creating additional space for research and supporting the growing Human Cancer Genetics programs.

Lucasfilm Ltd. broke ground in February on a $300-million special effects campus at San Francisco's Presidio, a 490-acre national park and former army base. Located on the site of the demolished Letterman Army hospital, the 850,000-sf Letterman Digital Arts project will eventually accommodate 2,500-workers. The campus is slated for completion in 2005.