Non-residential construction volumes and pricing continued their upward trend in the second quarter, with prices increasing an average of 2 to 4 percent in the first half of 2013. These factors, along with growing market confidence and a narrowing labor supply, will continue to push new construction costs closer to the trend line for the near to medium term.
The 351,0000-gsf Consolidated Forensic Laboratory (CFL) in the District of Columbia serves the Department of Forensic Services, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the Department of Public Health. The building rises seven stories above ground; two below-grade levels contain evidence storage, vehicle exam, firing range/bullet recovery, lab/exam areas, BSL-3, autopsy, support lab areas, offices/conference space, and the parking garage.
The Department of Energy opened the $135 million Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) in June of 2013. Located at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., the 182,500-sf facility provides 15 labs and four outdoor test sites for electrical grid integration research. The center features a petascale supercomputer for advanced modeling and simulation as well as a hardware-in-the-loop system for product testing.
Continued signs of stable economic growth indicate that the recovery is gaining momentum in many parts of the United States and Canada. Construction selling prices for institutional projects grew at a 6 percent annualized rate in 2012, on top of a 3 percent increase in 2011. Construction costs are expected to continue stabilizing and rising in many regions as market confidence and capital spending increase.
The average lifespan of a building is 60 years, but the forces that drive the workplace may change as often as every six months. The challenge, whether for new construction or renovation, is to design a workplace that will adapt to a fluctuating timetable of changes in technology, business goals, and the workforce. The keys to success are a flexible workplace and a strong change management process.
The two-story, 93,455-sf Saint Louis County Health Campus replaces and consolidates two facilities: the old headquarters and the John C. Murphy Health Clinic, which was located on the site. The first floor houses the vital records office, as well as the Murphy Health Center. The clinic includes women's health, pediatrics, dental, WIC, nutrition, X-ray, and clinical labs. The modern, spacious facility also houses health education, with three community classrooms and a larger community room. The Chest Clinic has a separate entrance on the west side of the building.
Creating an "agile workplace"—by determining the overall business goals of an organization, making an in-depth appraisal of how employees work, and creating an efficient, cost-effective workspace that satisfies various work requirements—can save money in the long run by providing a satisfying workplace designed around employee's work activities.
Johnson County's new Criminalistics Laboratory houses distinct forensic science labs—biology/DNA, firearms/toolmarks, latent prints, controlled substance, trace analysis, digital/multimedia, and crime scene investigation. Additional space allows for expansion of computer forensics and instrumentation. Other amenities include: wireless capability, expanded crime scene processing and evidence handling areas, separate section evidence storage areas, and a large multipurpose training room.
NASA opened its $25 million, 50,000-sf office building in late spring of 2012 in Mountain View, Calif. The facility is expected to attain LEED Platinum sustainable design certification and features Bloom Energy fuel cells, ventilation pumps, photovoltaic panels, a water recovery system, and advanced building controls. The building provides collaborative open offices and is located at the Ames Research Center at Moffett Field. The facility is reputedly the most environmentally advanced federal building in the nation.
Federal Center South, the nearly completed 209,000-sf regional headquarters building for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, features a host of innovative workplace design strategies, and is on track to exceed aggressive high-performance goals set by the client, the U.S. General Services Administration. The $72 million project is the redevelopment of an existing waterfront building in Seattle.
A $4.5 billion renovation of the Pentagon is now complete. The 17-year design-build project included extensive reconstruction of the 6.5 million-sf facility, including reconfiguration to accommodate modern technology and communications systems. The completed Department of Defense headquarters will officially open in summer of 2011.
The new Augusta-Richmond County Judicial Center and John H. Ruffin Jr. Courthouse was dedicated on May 18 in Augusta, Ga. Heery International served as Augusta-Richmond County’s Capital Improvements Program Manager for the $62 million, 183,000-sf facility that houses eight courtrooms, nine hearing rooms, grand jury room, judges’ chambers, and offices for the district attorney, solicitor general, and clerk of courts. The four-story structure was designed by Turner Associates.
The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded a contract to Heery International for construction management services for a new federal courthouse in Harrisburg, Pa. The 270,000-sf facility, which is scheduled for completion in 2016, will replace an existing courthouse built in 1966. The project was designed by Ennead Architects to provide enhanced security and allow for future expansion. LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the project.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Jefferson Laboratories was awarded LEED Gold sustainable design certification in August of 2010. Designed by KlingStubbins, the facility was created by transforming a former chemical weapons arsenal building into the modern day research facility known as Building 50. Located in Jefferson, Ark., the seven-story tower was retrofitted to accommodate administrative, financial, and computer operations offices and support space.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded Hoar Construction a $26.2 million contract to renovate the Jamie Whitten Delta States Research Center in Stoneville, Miss. The funding was made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The research center’s mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems will be upgraded. The Jamie Whitten Delta States Research Center houses agricultural research laboratories.
