Industry News

Franklin Machine Products (FMP) is constructing a new $5.5-million headquarters in Lumberton, N.J. The 80,000-sf facility will double the size of the food-service supplies manufacturer's existing Evansham operations; the Evansham plant will be sold when FMP's headquarters is completed in May 2003. Preliminary site work has begun on the building, which will house 20,000 sf of corporate offices and 60,000 sf of warehouse space.

State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) will begin building a new 267,300-sf San Francisco facility in 2003. Expanding the worker's compensation insurer's Market Street headquarters, the 11-story, 170-ft-tall building will be connected to SCIF's existing 350,000-sf facility by a pedestrian bridge. The $82-million project will accommodate 800 employees and will enable the state-owned agency to consolidate its existing 2,100 employees as well as allowing for future growth.

Arcadia University in Glenside, Pa., has completed a 26,000-sf expansion of its Landeman Library, doubling the library's existing square footage. The facility is also undergoing a major renovation that will reach completion in 2003. The cost of both projects is estimated at $11 million.

Buck Distribution recently completed the design and construction of its new 150,000-sf office and distribution facility in Upper Marlboro. Designed and built by R.W. Murray Co., the building houses 65,000 sf of warehouse space and 42,000 sf of interior loading and staging areas. Also on the project team were Ben Dyer Associates of Mitchellville, Md., GMA Architects of Tampa, Fla., and Beverage Distribution Facilitators of St. Louis.

Keyspan Energy will relocate its New England headquarters from Boston to Waltham, consolidating several offices including locations in downtown Boston and West Roxbury. Keyspan will lease between 115,000 sf and 125,000 sf in the new location at 52 Second Ave.