Last year, construction teams broke ground on 30 large-scale projects across the Northwest totalling $4.5 billion of work. Some projects beginning in 2008 were also included if they weren’t included in last year’s Top Project Starts. One project, the $240-million Sea-Tac Airport Rental Car Facility, is actually the largest ‘re-start’, having shut down in 2008 and then restarted in summer 2009. Photo: CH2M HILL Spokane County Regional Water Reclamation Facility Related Links: Washington Oregon Alaska Rankings from the past five years, as well as an electronic version of this year’s, are available on our web site at www.northwest.construction.com The projects
A $187-million medical college building in downtown Phoenix is moving forward despite the sudden pullout of one of two universities responsible for the project. Related Links: Construction Underway on New State Forensic Hospital Master Plan Construction Commences at St. Francis Xavier SRP Buys Entire Output of Dry Lake 2 Wind Power Project Renamed to reflect the solo university in control, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix had planned to break ground on the 268,000-sq-ft, five-story Health Science and Education Building this month, after a long-postponed review by the Arizona Legislature finally gave it a green light to
Construction of a $27-million runway project for Spaceport America is on track for completion this summer, nearly two months ahead of schedule. Crews are underway on the final concrete finish phase of the runway project, which began in August 2009. Spaceport runway paving underway. Image: NMSA Related Links: Miller Bonded Builds Fab Shop, Anticipating Future Demand Contract Awarded for Carlsbad Medical Center Renovation GLHN Selected to Design NMSU Utility Building The multi-layered runway is made up of 24-in. of prepared subgrade with the top 6 in. being a soil-cement mix foundation, followed by 4 in. of asphalt, and finally a
The Tohono O�odham Nation is moving forward on development of a new $500-million resort and casino in the West Valley of Phoenix despite opposition from several fronts. Image courtesy Hnedak Bobo Group The $500-million West Valley Resort�s design includes a hotel, casino, spa and convention center. The Tohono O�odham Nation is awaiting Department of Interior action to place the project�s site into a land trust in order to proceed. Related Links: Native American Construction on the Rise: Unique Market Sector Poses Challenges, Benefits for Builders Here Comes the Sun: Pascua Yaqui Tribe Starts Work on Sol Casinos Expansion Play Ball!:
In last year’s ranking of general contractors, the Top 100 reached a record high of $19.6 billion of work performed in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico in calendar year 2008. This year’s Top 100 (ranked with 2009 revenue) only managed to bring in $14.2 billion, a drop of 27.7%. At no other point in the 14-year history of Southwest Contractor’s ranking has there been as precipitous of a drop. Photo: David Huff Austin Bridge & Road crews pour concrete for Arizona’s $100.8-million Loop 303 Happy Valley Road to Lake Pleasant Parkway project. Related Links: Top 112 Contractors Top Contractors by
The Tohono O’odham Nation is moving forward on development of a new $500-million resort and casino in the West Valley of Phoenix despite opposition from several fronts. Image: Hnedak Bobo Group The $500-million West Valley Resort’s design includes a hotel, casino, spa and convention center. The Tohono O’odham Nation is awaiting Department of Interior action to place the project’s site into a land trust in order to proceed. The tribe selected Memphis-based Hnedak Bobo Group as the lead architect firm, which has produced the initial renderings for the West Valley Resort, located near the University of Phoenix Stadium and Glendale’s
The next phase of Portland Streetcar will be doing loops around downtown Portland upon its opening in 2012. The 3.3-mi extension will add the east side to its service line, closing a loop of service long in the planning. Photo: Portland Streetcar Inc. Crews working on the newest phase of the Portland Streetcar Loop project first saw cut an 8-ft swath out of the existing roadway and excavate down approximately 13 in. Then crews lay the rebar cage and align the track prior to pouring concrete. The project will extend service another 3.3 mi, adding 28 new stops and bringing
A lot has changed since 1938, the year Southwest Contractor magazine commenced publication under a different name. Now in our 72nd year, we enter a new era with the unveiling of our first bimonthly issue. We are living in a rapidly changing world where news is delivered through print and, increasingly, through electronic means. With this in mind, as our print edition becomes a bimonthly publication, we are significantly stepping up our daily coverage of the Southwest�s construction and design industries on our newly re-designed web site, www.southwest.construction.com. In the near future, we will be adding an e-newsletter and Twitter
While modest in budget, the Tempe Library and Historical Museum renovations bring new life to old buildings. The Tempe Historical Museum�s former entryway (below) was demolished and replaced by an aluminum and glass storefront (above) with 72 LED lights that are programmed to wash the facade in four different colors. A 10-ft by 40-ft graphic scrim invites visitors to enter. Photo: Brignall Construction Related Links: No Walk in the Parq Complex Renovation Turns 1920�s Hospital into Boutique Hotel Wiseguys Return to Las Vegas Tight budgets didn�t restrain creativity during the concurrent renovations of the $8-million Tempe Public Library and the