Industry News

The 32,000-sf San Diego Electrical Training Center just became the largest commercial building in San Diego powered by solar energy. The facility's photovoltaic system, installed by students, currently provides 50% of needed electricity, with the remaining sections to be installed by classes throughout the school year. The completed system will be large enough to power the entire facility. The Center provides hands-on training for union electricians in installation of traditional and renewable energy solutions.

Inova Health System broke ground on Sept. 24 on an $18-million emergency department expansion at Inova Fairfax Hospital/Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children. The emergency facilities will be expanded by 11,000 sf of additional space, and 20,650 sf of existing space will be renovated. The project will increase the number of treatment spaces form 35 to 54, as well as adding new trauma rooms, 12 pediatric treatment rooms, 19 acute care treatment rooms, a 7,300-sf ambulance bay, and a helipad.

Kubota Corp., Japan's largest farm equipment maker, has purchased a 170,000-sf distribution facility in Oakwood South Industrial Park. The facility will accommodate assembly of larger tractors, alleviating operations at Kubota's 220,000-sf facility in Suwanee. Kubota also has a 600,000-sf manufacturing facility in Gainesville. The new plant is sited on 18 acres purchased by Kubota; an additional 32 adjacent to the site was purchased to facilitate future expansion.

The University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School has completed the $139.9-million Jon M. Huntsman Hall. Providing the business school with the latest technology, the 324,000-sf building features 48 classrooms equipped with multimedia, broadband audio, and videoconferencing capabilities provided to the school's San Francisco, France, and Singapore programs. Special infrared hearing devices enable the hearing-impaired to listen to lectures.

Memorial Hermann Healthcare System and the University of Texas Health Science Center are planning to build a 400,000-sf, 25-story medical office and ambulatory care center in Houston.