Florida Contracts: 40% Overall Decline in May

McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Southeast Construction, reported that the value of new Florida contracts declined by 40% overall in May, compared to the same period of a year ago. That follows an identical 40% decline in April. According to the latest report, the value of May contracts for future construction totaled roughly $2.6 billion, compared to last April’s $4.3 billion total.

Once again, all three of the sectors used by McGraw-Hill Construction experienced double-digit percentage declines. Residential fell 53% compared to last May to total about $1.1 billion for the month. The nonbuilding sector declined by 40% compared to last May to total $494 million. Nonresidential fell by 13% compared to last May to total roughly $980.9 million.

For the year to date, the total value of new contracts is an estimated 41% behind the 2007 pace. Residential is 49% behind 2007, and is valued at about $5.6 billion so far. Nonresidential is 27% behind ‘07, with approximately $5.3 billion in new starts. The nonbuilding sector is 45% behind last year, with nearly $2.4 billion in new projects to date.

SFWMD Halts Work on Everglades Reservoir

Mediation was scheduled on a year-old lawsuit that has led to the suspension of construction on the flagship project of the comprehensive program to restore Florida’s Everglades. Faced with a go/no-go choice, the West Palm Beach-based South Florida Water Management District decided to halt further work on the 25-sq-mile Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir A-1 pending resolution of the suit.

The water district began construction in June 2006 on the reservoir to retain water that now is discharged from Lake Okeechobee into the ocean via the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers. Under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, a joint state and federal program, the water would be released gradually through manmade wetlands to re-create sheetflow southward through the historic Everglades.

In May 2007, the Natural Resources Defense Council, National Wildlife Federation and Sierra Club sued the Army Corps of Engineers in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on the grounds that the reservoir’s construction violated CERP because the Corps had not completed the reports and agreements required under federal law. “When Congress authorized the project…it was concerned that the reservoir, as well as other CERP projects, would be subverted into simply providing more water supply for Florida’s burgeoning population or its agri-businesses,” says the complaint. The reports and agreements were required to guarantee that the water would mostly benefit the Everglades, it asserts.

But the Corps is not doing the work; the state is constructing the reservoir under its Acceler8 program. “It came down to funding,” says Tommy Strowd, the water district’s assistant deputy executive director. Congress was not appropriating funds, but the work needed to be done and costs were rising. “The state is trying to provide those assurances that the people complaining claim are only provided through the federal process,” he says. When the project reached the stage where embankment construction had to be started, the board decided it would be less risky to suspend work and pay $1.9 million per month for no more than six months, he says.
Source: Engineering News-Record

Skanska Chosen as CM for $400M Nemours Hospital Project

In June, Nemours finalized its acquisition of 60 acres of land in the Lake Nona “medical city” of Orlando, and named Skanska USA Building as the construction manager for its $400 million children’s hospital project, to be located there.

The Nemours Children’s Hospital project will be located at Lake Nona Science and Technology Park, which will also feature the University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine, Burnham Institute for Medical Research and Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Marlins Negotiating With Hunt/Moss Over New Ballpark

The Florida Marlins are negotiating with the joint venture of Hunt/Moss on a construction management contract for the Major League Baseball club’s new ballpark on the site of the old Orange Bowl near downtown Miami.

“The Marlins are extremely pleased to enter this stage with Hunt/Moss as we prepare our plans to open a first-class, retractable-roofed ballpark in Miami,” Claude Delorme, Marlins senior vice president of stadium development, said in a news release. The team’s selection committee had unanimously chosen the Hunt/Moss partnership.

Hunt/Moss is a joint venture between Hunt Construction Group, based in Indianapolis, and Moss & Associates of Fort Lauderdale.

HOK Sport is designing the project.

IKEA Breaks Ground for Tampa Store

Home-furnishings company IKEA broke ground recently for a future store in Tampa. Scheduled to open next summer, it will be the third IKEA store in Florida.

The 353,000-sq-ft store will be built on 29 acres near Tampa’s Ybor City district. It will include 1,700 parking spaces.

Doster Tapped for $34M Jacksonville Multifamily Project

Doster Construction Co. of Birmingham, Ala., was selected by Miles Development Partners as general contractor for its $34 million Brooklyn Park multifamily development project in Jacksonville.

The residential units will consist of four-story wood frame structures, surrounded by precast parking structures. The project was scheduled to start last month, and is tentatively set for completion by next November.

PPI Tops Out Projects at UCF, Gainesville Retirement Community

PPI Construction Management topped out its $61 million expansion at The Village retirement community in Gainesville. The Village is part of the SantaFe HealthCare family of not-forprofit organizations. The expansion totals 270,000 sq ft and includes two independent-living towers, the five-story, 110-unit Cypress Building and the four-story, 60-unit Magnolia Grand.

The project also will expand the community’s assisted-living capabilities by adding 60 units. Also, the existing amenities building will be renovated and increased in size. The project was designed by three Architecture. The project is scheduled to complete in phases between December and next June.

The company also topped out its $18 million, 68,010-sq-ft Physical Science building project at the University of Central Florida. The facility will provide research laboratories and support space for UCF’s physics and chemistry departments.

The four story building was designed by Ponikvar & Associates and is being constructed to achieve LEED silver certification.

Construction is scheduled to complete in the spring.

BRPH Wins AirTran Airways Project at OIA

BRPH Cos. of Melbourne has won a $2.4 million contract to design and construct the new AirTran Airways Operations Center at Orlando International Airport.

The 16,000-sq-ft, single-story structure will be used for flight operations with a data center on a 24/7/365 schedule. The facility will be designed to meet Miami-Dade hurricane requirements and utilize materials certified by Miami-Dade code, which exceeds Central Florida standards, with backup power and support communication systems for continuous operation. Concrete tilt-wall construction will be utilized.

The facility will also be designed to meet LEED building standards. The project was scheduled to start construction last month, with completion estimated for next July.

Andrew Will be CM for Nona Park Mixed-Use Project

Andrew General Contractors of Orlando is managing construction for the first phase of the Nona Park mixed-use development in Orlando. The project will include retail, commercial, medical and multi-use facilities. AGCI will oversee the master site development and infrastructure, including underground utilities, storm water management system, roadways, hardscape, landscape, irrigation and road improvement.

The contractor expects to be completed by November. The civil engineer for the project is Kimley-Horn and Associates.

DooleyMack Building Lakeland Assisted-Living Facility

DooleyMack Constructors of Sarasota broke ground on the $8.4 million Estates at Carpenters project in Lakeland. The 60,000-sq-ft, four-story facility will provide 32 residential assisted living units, reception and entertainment areas, a media center and library. The architect is Freeman White of Charlotte, N.C.

Owen-Ames-Kimball Completes Peace River Elementary Replacement

Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. has completed construction of the Peace River replacement elementary school for the Charlotte County School District.

The two-story, 112,000-sq-ft school includes 47 classrooms and labs, a media center and multipurpose/dining area. It also features a separate physical education building, covered play area and two fenced-in playgrounds. The school was designed and constructed to LEED certification standards.

Click here for more Florida News >>