Industry News

Walt Disney World has selected the Scott Partnership Architecture Inc. to design two YMCA Childcare Centers. Located in Orlando, Fla., the 49,901-sf, $10-million project features playground settings with wood and trees, customized millwork, and a large indoor play space. The first center is currently under construction and is expected to reach completion in July 2004. The second center is in the permitting phase, with construction slated to conclude in fall 2004.

The Lone Star Girl Scout Council is constructing a new $8-million headquarters and technology center in north Austin, Texas. Designed by Wiginton Hooker Jeffry Architects of Dallas, the 20,000-sf facility will be constructed by the Austin office of Dallas-based general contractor Constructors and Associates Inc. Ground was broken in March of 2004. The current Girl Scouts headquarters is comprised of 6,000-sf.  

Time Warner Cable is expanding with the construction of a $36-million facility adjacent to its existing offices in Charlotte, N.C. Time Warner, the second-largest operator of cable systems in the nation, currently employs 700 workers in Charlotte and plans to expand operations with 350 new jobs to include additional functions.

Time Warner opened its new headquarters in New York City  in early February 2004. The $1.7-billion facility will house the future Manhattan studios of CNN. The two-tower development accommodates 211,000 sf of office space. The 2.8 million-sf complex also contains a luxury hotel and high-end retail space.

H&R Block has selected Houston-based Hines to develop and manage its new 500,000-sf headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. Approximately 1,200 employees will be relocated to the new facility from the company’s Main Street headquarters and other leased locations when the new building is ready for occupancy in summer of 2006. A second 250,000-sf expansion phase of the headquarters is planned in 2013. The project team includes general contractor JE Dunn Construction Co. and architect CDFM2.