Industry News

Washington Park, a multi-phased 1,100,000-sf corporate office development on a 25-acre campus in Phoenix, is being designed by Phoenix-based DFD Architecture. SunAmerica Investments Inc. is the master developer for the project. The office buildings range from 5 to 10 stories in height. The American Family Insurance building is the first building slated for construction, which is scheduled to begin in August, 2001 and reach completion in fall of 2002.

United States Can Co. of Illinois is consolidating two Georgia facilities into a new 185,000-sf plastics manufacturing facility in the Shenandoah Industrial Park in Newnan, Ga. Developed by First Fulton Associates, the building will be a prototype for other U.S. Can facilities nationwide.  

Laminate flooring manufacturer Pergo AB is planning to add 33,000-sf to its Garner manufacturing plant. Slated for completion in December 2001, the $27-million expansion includes relocation of Pergo's Durham distribution center to an adjacent 180,000-sf facility at the Garner site. Pergo, formerly Perstorp Flooring Inc., is based in Sweden with U.S. headquarters in Raleigh, N.C.  Pergo currently employs 108 workers at its Garner production facility which opened in 1996.  

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is scheduled to open in December 2001. Designed by architect Rafael Vinoly, the $265-million facility features the 2,500-seat cello-shaped Verizon Hall with acoustics by Artec, Inc.  Housing 650 seats and a turntable stage, the Perelman Theater contains an all-weather indoor plaza for free performances, studio and rehearsal space, a cafe and restaurant, and a gift shop.  

Boston Medical Center has selected Boston-based RF Walsh Co. Inc. to renovate an 8-story, 66,000-sf former surgical building. The $14 million project, designed by Beacon Architectural Associates, will provide office facilities for departments including human resources, patient financial services and payroll.