Industry News

The Pentagon anticipates proceeding with its renovation. The announcement of a $620 million contract award to the developer/architectural team of  Colorado-based Hensel Phelps is expected. The 12 to 14 year project would include the reconstruction of 4 million sf in four wedges of the five-story building, each wedge housing approximately 5,000 employees. In addition to Hensel Phelps Construction, the project team includes Shalom Baranes Associates, HDR Architecture, MC Dean, Studio Architecture, and Southland Industries.

Southwest Business Corp. plans to consolidate its services at a new 100,000-sf headquarters on a 3.7-acre site in North Central San Antonio. Groundbreaking for the $12 to $14-million building plus 4.5-story parking structure is planned for 2003, with occupancy anticipated in 2005. The company provides insurance and financial services.

BioMerieux, a medical test products company based in France, is expanding at Teer Technical Parking in Durham. The 36,378-sf facility, formerly occupied by Organon Teknika, will house the company’s corporate sales office and training center, and will accommodate approximately 95 employees. BioMerieux currently has offices down the street from the new facility.

Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union is seeking a 10 to 20-acre site in San Antonio for a new 100,000-sf administrative service center to house back-office operations carried out by approximately 250 employees. Executive offices will remain at Randolph Air Force Base. Once a site has been selected, Chesney-Morales & Associates Inc. of San Antonio will design the facility.

SPX, a Michigan company producing technical products and systems, has selected Balantine Corporate Park in Charlotte as the site of their new 100,000-sf office headquarters. Washington, D.C.-based Hickok Warner Fox will design the interior of the building, which will be constructed by Bissell Development. Completion is anticipated in April 2002, at which time at least 50 employees will move in.