While depressed residential construction activity has been the major factor for Florida’s declining numbers this year, in May the nonresidential sector also showed a steep decline from the period of a year ago, McGraw-Hill Construction reported. The overall value of all Florida contracts signed in May for future construction fell 35% below last May. For the month, the total value of new contracts totaled roughly $3.9 billion, down from the $6 billion reported a year ago.

Residential still showed the biggest decline, down by 46% from last May to tally $2.1 billion, compared to last May’s $3.9 billion. The nonresidential category, meanwhile, was 29% behind last May, with a total of about $946.5 million. The nonbuilding segment improved by 9% to total about $800.4 million for the month, compared to the $734.7 million of a year ago.

Fort Lauderdale Runway Expansion Moves Ahead

Despite strong vocal opposition from residents and environmental activists, Broward County, Fla., commissioners decided June 5 to move forward with plans for a $694-million expansion of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport — considered by the Federal Aviation Administration as one of the fastest-growing airports in the country.

Commissioners voted 6-3 in favor of lengthening runway 9R/27L to 8,000 ft, after listening to citizens at a standing-room only public meeting in a packed 1,200-seat convention center ballroom. Those opposed have voiced concerns related to noise, quality of life, home devaluation and environmental impacts, which the FAA deems minimal. Supporters cite benefits to business, especially the hospitality industry.

Coastal to Build Trump Hollywood in Hollywood Beach

 Coastal Construction Group of Miami has been awarded the $150 million contract for the construction of Trump Hollywood, a 44-story oceanfront condominium tower in Hollywood Beach.

The development team includes Jorge Perez of The Related Group of Florida and Donald J. Trump. Construction of the 44-story, 220-unit glass tower is scheduled for completion in May 2009.

Units start at $1.5 million and range from 2,088 to over 7,500 sq ft. The project was designed by architect Robert M. Swedroe of Miami Beach.

Beck Building $22 Million Epicurean Hotel

The Beck Group of Tampa is working on a $22 million design-build contract for Bern’s Properties to The Epicurean Hotel in South Tampa. The project is a five-story luxury condominium-hotel project with 75 guest rooms and retail space.

The project is designed by Urban Studio Architects of Tampa.

A five-level parking garage is currently under construction. Construction of the hotel is expected to commence this fall, with completion targeted for late 2008.

Baker Barrios Designs LEED-Certified Building for VCC

Baker Barrios Architects of Orlando is designing a LEED-certified Science and Allied Health building for Valencia Community College, in Orlando. The estimated 80,000-sq-ft building will be constructed on the college’s West Campus.

Construction was set to begin in August 2007.

Terra Group’s Quantum on the Bay Tops Out

The Terra Group announced that its Quantum on the Bay project in Miami has topped out and is on schedule for completion in 2007. The project includes 51- and 44-story towers located in Miami’s arts district.

The project also will house 9,307 sq ft of retail space on the ground floor. The general contractor is Facchina-McGaughan of Fort Lauderdale, and architectural firm Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates is the project’s designer.

HNTB Awarded MIC, Orlando Projects

HNTB Corp. was awarded a three-year contract for construction engineering and inspection services for the Florida Department of Transportation’s $400 million Miami Intermodal Center project, near Miami International Airport. When completed, the MIC will serve as a transportation gateway from MIA to the Miami metropolitan area.

HNTB will oversee several projects under the contract, including the MIC rental car facility and exit ramp, MIC terminal access roadway, MIC Central Station and the MIC/MIA Connector Station.

The improvements will allow travelers to transfer from MIA to Metrorail, local commuter rail; Tri Rail, the regional commuter rail; bus transit; and taxicabs. They also will consolidate all rental car companies within a single 4 million-square-foot facility. Construction is expected to begin this summer, with completion slated for 2010.

Another project HNTB is involved with is also starting construction this summer. The 1-mi “center-piece” stretch of State Road 408 over Lake Underhill in downtown Orlando, designed by HNTB, is going to construction this summer. PCL Civil Constructors will construct the $77.9 million project, scheduled for completion in 2009.

The project involves the widening of 1 mi of SR 408 from six to eight lanes, with twelve lanes across Lake Underhill, as well as various ramp modifications, as well as the widening of the mainline bridges at Crystal Lake Drive, Lake Underhill Road and the 1,700-foot bridge over Lake Underhill.

Roger B. Kennedy Starts City Centre Project in Kissimmee

Altamonte Springs-based Roger B. Kennedy has been selected as the general contractor and construction manager for the $19.3 million City Centre project in Kissimmee. The project involves the redevelopment of one historic city block in downtown Kissimmee.

Roger Kennedy’s contract includes managing the construction of underground utilities, infrastructure and surface parking, and construction of two mixed-used buildings totaling 268,000 sq ft.

The project includes a three-story commercial office building with ground-level retail and two levels of office condominiums, as well as a second structure, called Park View at City Centre, an eight-story structure that includes retail, office, parking and residential space.

Charles H. Parsons and McMillen Design Group, both of Kissimmee, are the project architects.

CORE Starts St. Pete Condo Conversion

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