Industry News

Fairfax-based Lorton Arts Foundation has submitted a proposal to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to redevelop the 41.4-acre former Lorton prison site as a community arts, education and cultural center. Centerbrook Architects of Centerbrook, Conn., designed the proposed Lorton Workhouse Arts Center, which would include galleries, event space, offices, artist studios, theatrical and production areas, heritage exhibits, and an outdoor music shed.

Northwestern University is developing Phase One of the Gladys & Arthur Pancoe Life Sciences Pavilion, a new 88,000-sf research facility housing the Center for Experimental Animal Research on the university's Evanston campus. The project will accommodate research for the University and Northwestern Healthcare’s Evanston Hospital. Designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership of Los Angeles, the four-story building with basement will house flexible research labs, faculty offices, vivarium, auditorium, and a café.

Northwestern University has selected lead architect Davis Brody Bond to design its new 72,000-gsf Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center on the Evanston campus. The project team also includes engineers BR+A of New York and Chris P. Stefanos & Associates of Oak Lawn, Ill., with Tishman Construction Corp. as pre-construction contractor. The $30-million project is slated for completion in spring of 2003.

Digital Optics Corp., maker of integrated micro-optical systems, recently occupied a 100,000-sf facility in Charlotte's University Research Park. Manufacturing operations will utilize 67,000 sf, with office space in the remaining 37,000 sf.

The City of Chester is engaged in a 63,000-sf renovation of City Hall. The 20-year-old, two-story facility will be updated by A&E Construction with a new, open glass atrium lobby overlooked by the Council Chamber. Designed by Hillier Architecture, the project began construction in February of 2002 and is slated for completion by December. Part of Chester's downtown revitalization initiative, the renovated facility will consolidate public services in a single structure.