Governor Hands Out $78 Million Toward Philadelphia Projects

The Pennsylvania Governor's Office offered a big financial boost to Philadelphia's development efforts in September. Gov. Edward Rendell presented checks totaling almost $78 million for 16 economic development and community projects in the city. State funds helped leverage nearly $1.4 billion in additional public and private investment in Philadelphia.

The governor presented $15 million for construction of the new 35,000-sq.-ft. Calder Museum.

A total of $10 million was appropriated for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, which is a $1 billion construction project. The multi-phased project, which is expected to span 12 years, is the largest in Philadelphia in recent years.

Another $10 million was awarded to support the University of Pennsylvania's Riverview Project. The University plans on constructing a 2 million-sq.-ft. clinical and research facility.

The Fox Chase Cancer Center received $10 million toward its plans to double the size of its facilities over the next 20 years. By the end of the expansion, the center is expected to be one of the largest comprehensive cancer centers in the country.

Mayor Unveils Master Plan for $2 billion Navy Yard Development

Philadelphia Mayor John Street and the Philadelphia Development Corporation unveiled its master plan to guide the $2 billion mixed-use, waterfront development of the Philadelphia Navy Yard in September.

The 1,200-acre site will include a mix of office, research, commercial and residential development, including a new marina district and extenstion of the Broad Street Subway to access the Navy Yard.

Initial planning and development of the site have been ongoing since the federal government formally transferred control of the Navy Yard to the City of Philadelphia in 2000. At that time, the city and PIDC agreed that an updated master plan would be required to guide and coordinate future development of the Navy Yard.
New York-based Robert A.M. Stern Architects led the team that designed the master plan.

The master plan focuses on the development of more than 500 acres and 2.5 miles of waterfront. The plan breaks this acreage into four development zones, including the 167-acre historic core, the 72-acre corporate center, the 81-acre research park, and 200 acres of future development space.

Opus East Lands Two Projects in Maryland

Rockville, Md.-based Opus East added two major projects in Maryland to its growing list of properties recently. The developer was selected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to oversee development of 200 acres at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The company will plan, design, finance, construct, market and manage development at the site. The enhanced-use leasing project could include high-technology office space and labs, as well as a hotel and conference center.

Opus East also acquired the 20-acre Rock Spring Park office development in Bethesda. The company is considering up to three office buildings and parking structures on the site. The first project will include development of 450,000-sq.-ft. office space.

Both projects are expected to commence in spring 2005.

Dewberry, PSA to Merge

Fairfax, Va.-based Dewberry and Peoria, Ill.-based Phillips Swager Associates have agreed to merge their architecture and building design operations effective this fall. Executives from both companies recently signed a letter of intent on the deal.

The combined practice will operate as PSA-Dewberry with a total of 260 employees in the new division. Dewberry's remaining practices will remain intact.

Dewberry currently ranks #50 on the Engineering News-Record "Top 500 Design Firms" list with 2003 billing at more than $175 million. The 1,500-person firm has 27 offices, primarily located on the East Coast.

PSA ranks #400 on the ENR list with 2003 billings of $21.3 million. In addition to its Peoria headquarters, the 160-person firm has offices in Chicago, Naperville, Ill., Dallas, Texas, and McLean, Va.

PSA's Peoria location will remain the managing headquarters of the new division.

Perini to Acquire Cherry Hill Construction

Framingham, Mass.-based Perini Corp. signed a letter of intent in September to acquire Jessup, Md.-based Cherry Hill Construction Co. for $20 million in cash.

The 300-person Cherry Hill Construction recorded revenues of $119 million and pretax earnings of $3.6 million in 2003. Ronald Tutor, Perini's chairman and chief executive officer, said the acquisition would help Perini expand its civil construction market presence in the mid-Atlantic and southeast regions.

Cherry Hill construction will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Perini Corporation and will be managed by its current senior management team, according to terms of the agreement.

Clark/Shea Begins Tunnel Project at Dulles International Airport

Clark/Shea, a joint venture of Bethesda, Md.-based Clark Construction Group and J.F. Walnut, Calif.-based Shea Co., recently began work on a $78.5 million tunnel project at Dulles International Airport. The West Domestic Tunnel Corridor project will support an automated airport train system, which will run underground and connect the main terminal with the midfield concourses. It will replace the existing mobile lounges currently in use.

The contract consists of three phases. The 1,880 linear feet of tunnel excavation will occur in the first phase. Atkinson construction, Clark's heavy construction subsidiary, will participate in the tunneling portion of the project.

Arlington, Va.-based HNTB is serving as the structural and civil engineer for the first phase. Additional team members for this phase included Rockville, Md.-based Hatch Mott MacDonald as tunneling engineer and Alexandria, Va.-based Wisnewski Blair and Assocs., as architect.

Davis Construction Begins Work at D.C. Wax Museum Site

James G. Davis Construction began construction in September on a new mixed-use facility at 5th and K Street N.W. in Washington, D.C.

The project is on the site of the former wax museum. The 1.036 million-sq.-ft. project will include 320,000 sq. ft. of below-grade parking, 520,000 sq. ft. of residential, 128,000 of retail, and 188,000 sq. ft. of condominiums.

Construction began Sept. 8 and is scheduled for completion in December 2007.

Tompkins Nabs Fourth Straight Inauguration Stand Contract

Tomkins Builders was selected as general contractor to construct the viewing stands for the 2005 presidential inauguration ceremony, which will take place January 20.

The $1.36 million project, which is located on the west front of the U.S. Capitol, began in October. The project owner and architect is the Architect of the Capitol, Washington, D.C.

The deal marks the fourth consecutive time that Tompkins has been selected to construct the stands for the inauguration ceremony. This time around, Tompkins will have to comply with all post-Sept. 11 security measures during the assignment.

L.F. Jennings to Build Phase One of South Riding Market Square

L.F. Jennings was selected to build the first building of phase one for South Riding Market Square, a new 40-acre neighborhood shopping center. The $1.1 million project is the first of 10 projected phases in the project.

Phase one consists of 13,600 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space. Primary materials used include steel, masonry and EIFS. All masonry work will be performed by L.F. Jennings' in-house masonry division.

South Riding Square is located at the entrance to South Riding, a master planned community of more than 6,000 homes by Toll Brothers Realty Trust.

Work on phase one began in Sept. and is scheduled to be completed in January.

Forrester Awarded Pax River Naval Air Station Contract

Forester Construction was awarded a $2 million contract for work on the Aircraft Hush House at Naval Air Station, Pax River, Md.

Forrester is replacing the acoustical panel and baffles in an existing hush house on site. A hush house is a sound absorbing hangar used for nearly all high-power jet engine tests conducted at the site. When fully operational, the sound level outside of the hangar should be about 48 decibels, the equivalent of everyday street traffic.

Construction began in the fall and will last approximately one year.

Coakley & Williams Interiors Awarded Three Contracts

Coakley & Williams Construction's Interiors Department recently announced three new contracts.

The company was awarded renovation of the third and fifth floors of ManTech in Fairfax, Va. The project involves interior renovations in three areas of the building encompassing 11,000 sq. ft. and including demolition, drywall, ACT and grid, carpet, VCT, paint, millwork, doors, frames, and hardware.

C &W was also awarded renovations to 1425 New York Aveneu in Washington, D.C. The project involves the removal of drywall surfaces, remediation and replacement of drywall in a 14-story atrium.

In a third deal, the company will renovate the existing Marlo Furniture Showroom and entrance at 3300 Marlo Lane in Forestville, Md.