Industry News

BellSouth  began construction in December 2000 on the Unbundled Network Element Services Center, a $35-million, 75,000-sf technical support center at a 15.5-acre site in Clay County, Fla. Completion is anticipated in June 2001. The center will serve to assist new phone companies that sell local phone service by buying BellSouth’s phone line service. The center will provide backup for similar operations BellSouth has in Birmingham, Ala., and  in Atlanta.

Associated Press (AP) is renovating their 40,000-sf broadcast news center in Washington, D.C.  AP is working with the architectural firm Liminality, based in Washington, on the $1-million phased overhaul to increase the functionality of the 200-person space by improving lighting and flooring, and creating clearer lines of sight between work areas and the command desk. The general contractor on the project is F.J. Corbett  of Fairfax, Va. The external project manager is Magellan Group Real Estate Services based in Vienna, Va.

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s new 746,000-sf headquarters is under construction in Midtown Atlanta. The $145-million project was designed by the Atlanta company Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates  in association with a New York architectural firm, Robert A.M. Stern Architects. In addition to the bank, the facility will include a monetary museum, public areas with plazas, grassy areas with park benches, and historic elements. The ten-story building is scheduled to open in 2001.

DaimlerChrysler Financial Services has retained HarleyEllis for the design of a new $80-million North American headquarters in Auburn Hills. A 360,000-sf complex is planned for 24 acres adjacent to the company’s existing headquarters. The five-floor building will house 1,500 employees and will include a five-level parking deck and atrium, cafeteria with patio seating, 200-seat auditorium, and training and conference center. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2000, with completion in 2002. Walbridge Aldinger of Auburn Hills is the construction manager.

Nissei Sangyo America Ltd. (NSA) and Hitachi Instruments Inc. (HII) have plans to jointly occupy a new 64,405-sf structure under construction in Pleasanton. NSA provides sales, and HII provides service, for Hitachi electron microscopes. The new facility provides a single location for customers seeking service, instruction, and demonstrations. A class-100 cleanroom will be incorporated in the demonstration area.