Industry News

Santa Fe Christian Schools in Solana Beach has plans for a $2.5 million, 14,800-sf technology center and library to serve its 750 students. HMC Architects has designed the center with six computer teaching labs, several research stations, and laptop interfaces. Distance learning, with access to video-conferencing and interactive educational instruction, will be provided in one dedicated lab. The center will provide high-speed Internet connection, with sophisticated filtering software blocking inappropriate material.

Capital One Financial, based in Falls Church, Va., has plans to consolidate five regional offices at a new corporate campus in Tysons Corner in Northern Virginia. The 28-acre site will accommodate 700 employees in 2002, when the facility is scheduled for completion.

USAA's Western Operations Center has broken ground in Phoenix. Two three-story buildings with 116,097 sf each will house 550 employees when construction is completed in 2001. A second phase of construction will commence in 2001. In 2002, 700-750 more employees will be added.

General Services Administration (GSA) is planning a new $35 million, 215,000-sf facility in Washington for the Office of Student Financial Assistance, a Department of Education division. Groundbreaking is scheduled for May 2000, with occupancy anticipated by October 2001. Greenbaum & Rose of Washington is the developer for the project. The general contractor is  Centex Construction of Fairfax, Va.

Discovery Communications has plans to house 2,000 employees at a $150 million, 500,000-sf global headquarters to be built on four acres in Silver Spring. Gensler is the strategic planning/interior design architect for the project. The Smith Cos. will design the base building. The general contractor is Clark Construction.