Minneapolis-based architectural/engineering firm Ellerbe Becket was acquired by AECOM. Related Links: 13 Architectural Firms Awarded Courthouse Projects by the AOC AGC of California Tells Members to Stop Retrofitting Diesel Fleets Ellerbe Becket, which also has offices in San Francisco, Dallas, Kansas City and Washington, D.C., as well as Doha, Qatar, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, will be called AECOM Ellerbe Becket. “We’re bringing together top-notch professionals committed to building the next generation integrated design practice,” says Joe Brown, FASLA, chief executive of Planning, Design + Development for AECOM. “Together, we have an opportunity to forge new responses to better serve
California’s Administrative Office of the Courts last week unveiled the winning architectural firms for 13 new courthouse projects. Legislation signed last year by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger authorized $5 billion in lease-revenue bonds to support the construction or renovation of 41 courthouses statewide, including the 13 courthouses awarded last week. The lease-revenue bonds are to be repaid through increased fines, penalties and court fees. The AOC received over 300 qualification submissions from more than 100 firms for just thirteen design commissions. These were evaluated and narrowed to 44 firms, who were interviewed by panels of AOC personnel and representatives of the
Designing �value� into plans has become the prime product development strategy for builders, regardless of price point. The consumers coming back into the market are requiring builders to provide product that is BOTH cost effective and have a high level of appeal. The success of this effort depends on how well cost controls are integrated throughout the design process and followed through to actual contract executions. It takes the early involvement of experts in the estimating/purchasing fi elds to make this a reality. At BSB Design we see the need for a better integration of these cost control experts throughout
HKS Inc., in partnership with Architectural Resources Group, won a $7.9 million design contract from the U.S. General Services Administration for the renovation/green upgrade of the historic 50 United Nations Plaza Federal Building in San Francisco. The 50 United Nations Plaza Federal Building has a long history in the city. Related Links: Swinerton Breaks Ground on NASA Project at Ames Research Center KMA Architecture, Straub Construction Begin Design-Build Project at Camp Pendleton McCarthy Completes Parking Garage for Grossmont College Jacobs Receives Hospital Contract from City and County of San Francisco Bernards Starts Construction on Harley Ellis Devereaux-designed Child Development Center
Although the number of new projects has declined due to tight financial markets and the recession, several Texas Top Design Firms finished 2008 in good shape and continue working on projects. Photo: AkerZvonkovic Photography Turner Partners designed an addition to the Village High School in Houston. The three-story project consists of 21 classrooms totaling 45,000 sq ft of new facilities. Related Links: Top Design Firms - Wrapup Feature Top Design Firms - Ranking/Chart Top Design Firms - Ranking by Industry Sector Photo: John Lindy Photography Turner Partners performed the site master planning and designed a 1,100-seat sanctuary addition to the
Related Links: Government Budgets Stable Due to Stimulus Funding WSDOT Stimulus Projects Peak with Construction Season Stimulus Funds Intersection Repair for Light Rail Portland - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oregon State Office announced $32.4 million to fund 60 BLM projects throughout Oregon and Washington with stimulus dollars. The $32.4 million is part of the $305 million that will fund more than 650 projects across the country. The BLM investments include the following types of projects: • Renewable Energy Authorization ($1.85 million); • Habitat Restoration ($7.05 million); • Construction and Deferred Maintenance ($11.4 million); • Abandoned Mines ($1.15 million);
Related Links: WSDOT Stimulus Projects Peak with Construction Season Stimulus Funds Intersection Repair for Light Rail BLM to Upgrade Public Lands with $32 million Seattle - Government spending at all levels will remain level or increase pace in the second half of 2009, as federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-funding continues to help stabilize state and local budgets, according to a mid-year report released by Onvia, a provider of business-to-government data based in Seattle. Of the almost $90 billion in funded recovery projects to-date, nearly $15 billion in contracts have been awarded, with that number now accelerating monthly, the
Related Links: Government Budgets Stable Due to Stimulus Funding WSDOT Stimulus Projects Peak with Construction Season BLM to Upgrade Public Lands with $32 million Portland - TriMet and the city of Portland are using $1.6 million of federal stimulus funds to repair bricks in 20 intersections on Morrison and Yamhill streets in downtown Portland. As the backbone of Portland’s light rail system, the Morrison and Yamhill corridors have experienced significant wear and tear and have not had major repairs in the 25 years since the tracks went in. The contractor is Stacy and Witbeck/Kiewet Pacific, Inc. Subcontractors include C.O.A.T. Flagging,
Related Links: Government Budgets Stable Due to Stimulus Funding Stimulus Funds Intersection Repair for Light Rail BLM to Upgrade Public Lands with $32 million Olympia – Construction activity on Washington’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) highway projects is in high gear. The Federal Highway Administration provided $492 million for state and local highway projects in Washington state, advancing projects and jobs to address high-priority highway preservation needs and fund low-cost, high-benefit transportation system improvements. WSDOT reports monthly on a range of measurements to the U.S. Department of Transportation and to Congress. The most recent report showed that contractor payrolls
San Fernando-based Bernards has started construction on a Harley Ellis Devereaux-designed child development center at Santa Ana College. Related Links: Skanska USA Completes Central Utility Plant to Power State Capitol, Offices Swinerton Breaks Ground on NASA Project at Ames Research Center KMA Architecture, Straub Construction Begin Design-Build Project at Camp Pendleton McCarthy Completes Parking Garage for Grossmont College Jacobs Receives Hospital Contract from City and County of San Francisco The $8.6-million, 18,200-sq-ft project will accommodate nearly 200 infants, toddlers and preschool children as well as students from the college’s Early Child Development Program. The center will feature eight children’s classrooms,
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