Industry News

Mercy Hospital opened its new $40 million heart center in Coon Rapids, Minn., in August 2004. Adding three floors to the hospital, the project created 24 new inpatient rooms and 14 short-stay rooms. The expansion also accommodates a women's cardiovascular center, a sleep disorders center, a vascular center, catheterization labs, emergency services, and pediatric rehabilitation services. Construction began on the heart center in January of 2003. Mercy Hospital is owned by Minneapolis-based Allina Hospitals and Clinics.

Twelve Oaks Medical Center broke ground in August 2004 on a $14 million expansion of its River Oaks Hospital campus. Project contractor D.E. Harvey Builders of Houston will construct a new ambulatory care center on the first level and six new operating rooms on the second level. Completion is expected in 14 months. Twelve Oaks recently completed a $13 million renovation at the River Oaks campus: the eighth floor of its patient tower was renovated and dedicated to spinal care.

Pre-packaged lunch meat manufacturer Land O'Frost is planning to construct a $49 million, 175,000-sf meat processing facility on 28-acres near Madisonville, Ky. The facility will be the company's third plant in Madisonville.

The University of Kansas Edwards Campus dedicated the new 82,000-sf Victor and Helen Regnier Hall classroom facility on August 13, 2004. The $17.8-million building includes a 240-seat auditorium, 21 classrooms, and 45 faculty offices. The facility is the first phase of a $71-million, ten-year expansion plan for the 36-acre Edward Campus. Plans describe a total of four buildings forming a quadrangle.

Duke Energy Corp. has received approval from the California Energy Commission to build an $800 million natural gas-fired power plant at Moro Bay in California. One of the largest power stations in the state, the plant will have a generating capacity of 1,200 megawatts.