Industry News

Progress Energy will begin construction in late 2002 on a new $80-million facility in downtown Raleigh. Located behind the company's current high rise, the 19-story building will house up to 400,000-sf of office space accompanied by 27,000-sf of street level retail space, 72 condominiums, and seven parking levels.

The new 2,300,000-sf headquarters of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) is under construction. Located on eight acres in Alexandria, the facility consists of five 10-story buildings in a U-shaped complex, with a total of 3,800 parking spaces in two garages. Designed by architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the headquarters features a pedestrian accessible 10-story atrium connecting the two wings of Building A, with all five buildings linked via underground walkways.

Current plans for the proposed Raleigh Convention Center describe a 410,000-sf facility housing 150,000-sf of exhibition space. An additional 30,000-sf of meeting and conference facilities will be accompanied by 25,000-sf of ballroom space. Estimated project cost is $175- to $200-million.

Electronic Arts has built the $86-million Electronic Arts Phase II in Redwood City, Calif. Located on a 649,000-sf site, the project began construction in December of 2000 and reached completion in May of this year. The contractor was Webcor Builders.

North Carolina State University is planning a $35-million bioprocessing training facility on its Centennial Campus. The biotechnology manufacturing facility is part of a work-force training initiative aimed to develop the state's bioprocessing industry.  Additionally, UNC Hospitals is planning to build a $140-million cancer tower.