Industry News

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recently celebrated the structural completion of its South Tower with a topping-off ceremony. The 10-story, 332,000-sf inpatient-care facility, part of a multi-year $650-million expansion plan, will enable the hospital to increase its bed capacity from 381 to 430. As part of the South Tower project, the pediatric intensive care unit, cardiac center and pediatric oncology center will also be expanded and renovated. The emergency department, which annually accommodates 67,000 visits, will be expanded as well.

The Advanced Technology Center (ATC) at KellyUSA, part of the Alamo Community College District's Information Technology and Security Academy, houses 23,000-sf of classroom and computer lab facilities for training students in the aerospace and information technology industries.

American University will break ground in January 2003 on the $55-million, 130,000-sf Katzen Arts Center. Site preparation began in June for the center, which will house the university's art programs and will include a 30,000-sf gallery, a 200-seat recital hall, and a 500-space underground parking garage. General contractor for the project is Holder Construction. Additionally, American University began developing the Greenberg Theater in March.

The Coca-Cola Co. has opened its new regional headquarters in the MCI Center in Los Angeles' historic downtown. The $600-million facility was designed and built using ecologically sensitive methods and materials.

Microsoft has dedicated its first facility in Northern Virginia, the $25-million Innovation & Technology Center. Located at Reston Town Center, the four-story, 63,000-sf facility can accommodate 1000 employees and includes 25 conference rooms, a technology lab, a government solutions center, and offices for over 100 Microsoft workers. The center will eventually house an executive briefing center and secured facilities for classified meetings with intelligence agencies.