Industry News

Host Marriott has contracted architect OP-X of Washington to design its newly leased 67,000-sf office at Two Democracy Center in Bethesda. Host, a hotel real estate investment trust, plans to relocate its 250 employees in August 2002.

The University of the Incarnate Word is expanding with a new building providing student housing, conference facilities, a bookstore and a parking garage. The first phase of the 150,000-sf facility is being funded by a $9 million bond issue and is currently under contract.

Northwest Vista College is planning a new 30,000-sf Advanced Technology Center to house the college's Corporate and Community Development Department. The two-story facility will also house academic functions, providing a biotechnology lab, 5 computer labs and 8 classrooms.

Cypress Semiconductor plans to install a $2.1-million, 335-kW solar power array at its new administrative facility in San Jose, providing about 12 percent of Cypress’ energy. The three-story building is scheduled to open in January 2002, and the solar energy system installed by PowerLight Corp. of Berkeley, Calif., is expected to pay for itself in seven years. The system can be retrofitted as technology improves, and is expected to last 25-30 years.

The Internal Revenue Service will have a new 45,504-sf office at SouthTech Business Center, a recently completed 260,000-sf complex in Austin. The building will house offices featuring raised flooring. Parking for 192 vehicles is also included. Move-in is scheduled for the first quarter of 2003. The General Services Administration found the space for the IRS. Hill Partners Inc. is the developer of the complex.