www.floridaconstructionnews.com DECEMBER 2018 - JANAURY 2019 Florida gets “A” ranking in Merit Shop Scorecard, ranking highest in nation Designers overestimated load capacity of critical FIU pedestrian bridge section: NTSB update report Florida has seven of the nation’s 10 fastest growing construction job markets: AGCA NEW FRONTIERS: Focusing on technology in facilities engineering and design © Can Stock Photo / microgen
Editor’s Viewpoint By Mark Buckshon Publisher, Florida Construction News We’re preparing this issue of Florida Construction News for publication just before the Christmas holidays begin, though you’ll probably be reading these words in the New Year. The holiday season provides a break- time for reflection and contemplation (as well as family and personal connections) for the year ahead, which I believe will be truly challenging. Will the multi-year boom that has created labor shortages in Florida’s construction market conclude? Will technological changes including modular construc- tion take hold in the marketplace, shaking up traditional relationships and processes? I cannot say for sure, because we cannot be sure of all of the variables that will impact our business lives in the months ahead. But I know that it is better to be pre- pared for change than not; and that means understand- ing what could happen technologically, and designing robust business systems and rules so that you aren’t caught off guard if the market shifts quickly. Regardless of how things turn out, I think 2019 will be an exciting and challenging year, and I’m looking for- ward to the months ahead. Let us know if there are stories you would like to share, or topics you would like us to cover. You can reach me by email at buckshon@floridaconstruction- news.com or by phone at (888) 627-8717 ext 224. Here’s how to build your business in Florida’s architecture, engineering and construction community You can achieve measurable results, within days For more information, please visit the Your Business Promotion/Publicity page at Floridaconstructionnews.com, or email Chase: chase@floridaconstructionnews.com You can also call toll free at 888-627-8717 ext 212. Florida Construction News combines a bi-monthly magazine with a weekly newsletter and a website (updated daily), delivering news, analysis and networking opportunities to Florida’s architecture, engineering and construction community. The magazine is distributed primarily online to 9,000 general contrac- tors, specialty contractors, developers, professional services and building owners throughout Florida. For more information on promoting your business to our au- dience and to request rates, see the advertising rates page on the Floridaconstructionnews.com website. You can also contact Chase at chase@floridaconstructionnews.com or phone him at 888-627-8717 ext 212. You can send editorial news releases and announcements to Mark Buckshon at buckshon@floridaconstructionnews.com. Florida Construction News is published by Construction News and Report Publishing Inc. 332 S Michigan Ave, Ste 1032 - C319, Chicago IL 60604-4434. Publisher: Chase Interim editor: Mark Buckshon Production and design: Raymond Leveille Administration: Katherine Jeffrey, Kathy Lepage Printed subscriptions You can request a printed single copy for $18.95 (postage included) or a four issue printed subscription for $60.00 at the floridaconstructionnews.com website. Alternatively, you can read the digital version free of charge online at Floridaconstructionnews.com. © Copyright 2018 Construction News and Report Publishing Inc.
Florida gets "A" ranking in Merit Shop Scorecard, ranking highest in nation Florida Construction News staff writer Florida topped the list this year for the Associated Builders and Contractors' (ABC) 2018 Merit Shop Scorecard, an annual annual state ranking based by the non-union contractors' group “on policies and programs that encourage open competition, education and job growth, and award construction contracts based solely on merit, re- gardless of labor affiliation.” Florida vaulted from ninth posi- tion in 2017 to first based on the state’s free-enterprise and open- competition approach to the con- struction sector, increased career and technical education opportuni- ties and job growth rates. Mean- while, Michigan saw the biggest improvement in its ranking, rocket- ing from 24th in 2017 to seventh this year after the repeal of its pre- vailing wage law, which will result in greater competition and lower costs for construction projects. The Florida Merit Shop Scorecard details “States like Florida and Michigan have built an environment that al- lows merit shop construction con- tractors to thrive,” said Ben Brubeck, ABC’s vice-president of regulatory, labor and state affairs. “Prioritizing policies that support small business owners, the Ameri- can worker and the overall con- struction sector spurs economic growth, which directly leads to more projects and therefore more construction jobs across the coun- try.” Comparatively, California tum- bled from 38th to 50th this year due to a decreased focus on workforce development and careers in techni- cal education, which remains a pri- ority for ABC members and the overall construction sector. Califor- nia was trailed only by Illinois, which was ranked last for the sec- ond year in a row with an F rating in project labor agreements, prevailing wage, Right to Work and workforce development incentives, according to ABC’s scorecard. “Much of the movement up and down in the rankings was due in part to the level of state policy- maker support for workforce devel- opment and technical education,” said Brubeck. “With an estimated 500,000 open construction posi- tions in the United States, it is es- sential that states prioritize work- force policies that recruit, educate and benefit the American worker and fill the skills gap.” Now in its fourth year, Building America: The Merit Shop Scorecard rates state laws, programs, policies and statistics to highlight those that have created the conditions for growth and identify areas where strategic improvements are needed. Criteria and definitions are avail- able at meritshopscorecard.org. Florida Construction News — DECEMBER 2018 - JANAURY 2019 – 3
Designers overestimated load capacity of critical FIU pedestrian bridge section: NTSB update report Florida Construction News staff writer The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says in an investigative update about the fatal Florida In- ternational University (FIU) pedestrian bridge collapse in Miami that errors were made in the design of the 174- foot span, and that cracking observed before the col- lapse is consistent with those errors. Six people died and eight others were injured when the bridge collapsed on March 15, 2018. Eight vehicles were crushed in the collapse, and seven of the vehicles were occupied, the NTSB says in its mid-November up- date. Munilla Construction Management built the struc- ture based on designs from FIGG Bridge Group (FIGG). Two days before the collapse, a FIGG engineer left a voicemail for Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) officials to report cracking had been found at one end of the concrete span, but the company did not think it was an issue, the Associated Press has re- ported. State officials did not hear the voicemail until after the collapse. University officials said DOT officials had been included in a meeting to discuss the cracking hours before the collapse. The NTSB update states errors made were in the de- sign of the northernmost nodal region of the span where two truss members were connected to the bridge deck. The design errors resulted in an overesti- mation of the capacity (resistance) of a critical section through the node, and, an apparent underestimation of the demand (load) on that section. The design review was conducted by the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Bridges and Struc- tures in support of the NTSB’s ongoing investigation. The Federal Highway Administration is a party to the NTSB’s investigation. The Turner-Fairbanks Highway Research Center, part of the Federal Highway Administration, conducted nu- merous tests and examinations of concrete and steel samples taken from the bridge following its collapse. The concrete and steel specimens tested by Turner-Fair- banks Highway Research Center personnel met the pro- ject’s build plans specified minimum requirements. Findings from the materials tests include: • Concrete core specimens from the bridge deck and bridge canopy met the compression requirements in the project plans; • The design plans specified concrete used for the project had to be in accordance with Florida Depart- ment of Transportation specifications. All specimens 4 – DECEMBER 2018 - JANAURY 2019 — Florida Construction News Samples of rebar recovered from the collapsed FIU pedes- trian bridge, await transport to the Federal Highway Ad- ministration’s Turner-Fairbanks Highway Research Center, where the samples underwent materials testing as part of the NTSB’s ongoing investigation of the March 15, 2018, fatal, bridge collapse. (NTSB photo by Adrienne Lamm) from the bridge deck and bridge canopy were within the specified range for total air content; and • Tension test results of size #5, #8 and #11 steel re- inforcing bars revealed all met minimum yield and tensile strengths and percent elongation at fracture, for their respective sizes. Size #7 bars could not be tested due to collapse-induced deformation. The NTSB’s investigation of the bridge collapse is on- going and the information contained in the investigative update is preliminary and will be supplemented or cor- rected as the investigation progresses. As such, no con- clusions about probable cause should be drawn from the information contained in the investigative update, the agency says. The investigative update is available online at https://go.usa.gov/xPGnG. Discover more construction, more cities, more opportunites www.floridaconstructionnews.com www.ncconstructionnews.com www.chicagoconstructionnews.com www.newyorkconstructionreport.com www.newjerseyconstructionnews.com www.californiaconstructionnews.com www.indianaconstructionnews.com www.cadcr.com For more information about the opportunities Call Chase: 1-888-627-8717 Ext. 212 chase@floridaconstructionnews.com
Florida has seven of the nation’s 10 fastest growing construction job markets: AGCA Florida Construction News staff writer Data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) indicates that seven of the 10 fastest-growing construction job markets in the country are in Florida. The Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island metro area had the fastest rate of construction-employment growth nationwide during the September-to-Septem- ber period (27 percent). The Miami-Miami Beach- Kendall metro area had the third-fastest growth rate (22 percent). Cape Coral-Fort Myers had the fifth- fastest rate (20 percent). Rounding out the top 10 were the Orlando-Kissim- mee-Sanford and Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach- Deerfield Beach metro areas, which, at 17 percent, each tied for the seventh-fastest rate of job growth. And the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Delray Beach and the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville metro areas tied for ninth-fastest rate at 15 percent each. Meanwhile, the state added 3,000 new construc- tion jobs between September and October, according to federal Labor Department data. However, this growth – at 23rd in the nation – reflects a slow-down from overall annual employment growth from October 2017, which had placed the state sixth nationally -- with an increase of 43,400 employees to a total of 552,000 -- an increase of 8.5 percent for the year. “Construction activity continues to expand at a steady clip, with employment growing by more than 10 percent during the past year in five states and by more than five percent in another 18 states,” said chief economist Ken Simonson. “As contractors pay more for labor and most of the materials they use to build, construction costs will climb, potentially damp- ening future demand for their services. Association officials said in a statement that wide- spread construction employment gains are a sign of strong demand for construction services in most parts of the country. But they cautioned that without new in- vestments in career and technical education, immigra- tion reform and swift resolution of trade disputes, labor and materials costs will continue to climb. “Firms in many parts of the country are hiring as fast as they can find qualified workers to bring on- board just to keep pace with demand,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the AGCA’s chief executive officer. “But at some point, the increasing costs of labor and con- struction materials are going to drive construction prices to the point where many customers reschedule or rethink their projects.” Finally, a financing partner that helps you do more business. More approvals, less effort with OneApp SM The Renovate America mobile app makes applying for home improvement financing faster and simpler than ever - and can bump up your approval rates to 70%*. Receive better support, tools and training From day one, you receive sales training and back office support from experienced account managers. We’ll also help your prospective customers apply and receive financing decisions in as little as two minutes. Get seen by more qualified customers The Renovate America Marketplace makes it easy for more qualified homeowners to connect with you, with contractor search tools, maps, and social media ratings. Learn more. renovateamerica.com/contractors or call us at 1-844-722-7759 *The majority of contractors may see approval rates up to 70%. Projected combined approval rate based on applicant pool and applicable underwriting criteria from 4/1/18 to 6/1/18. Florida Construction News — DECEMBER 2018 - JANAURY 2019 – 5
NEW FRONTIERS: Focusing on technology in facilities engineering and design By Russell Clarke and Greg Powell Special to Florida Construction News The continued infiltration of tech- nology into our daily lives has brought with it advanced capabilities, new efficiencies and greater connec- tivity on many different levels. It has also brought headaches along the way. This same dynamic (of technol- ogy advances causing heightened ex- pectations and complexity) is occurring in today’s facilities and buildings industry—driving the need for skilled technology-focused engi- neers to design, integrate, maintain and maximize the increasingly com- plex, integrated and connected sys- tems. Technology design and system in- tegration expertise is developing into a prerequisite for engineering firms focused on vertical buildings, allow- ing firms with strong system integra- tion skill sets and user-friendly analytical tools to capture a growing market need. Key benefits accrue to those firms that can extend their technological expertise and capabilities across a broader range of the facility project life cycle—spanning the upfront de- sign, systems integration and ongo- ing technical service needs. This depth of expertise positions the provider as the first call for new pro- jects, as well as the trusted advisor for future facility needs. What Is driving the change? Simply put, today’s buildings are more complex and sophisticated than in the past, and people have higher expectations from their build- ings. No longer are well-functioning HVAC systems, smart lighting, strong Wi-Fi, video-enabled meeting rooms and classrooms, and easy controls things that building stakeholders want—these are now things they have come to expect. New buildings are designed and built with the latest technology systems, and owners are retrofitting older building stock with new technologies. These systems have made significant strides from those even five years ago, and now stakeholders expect them to interact and function seamlessly as one. Analysts predict there will be over 25 billion connected things in use in 2020, a major increase from the 4.9 billion in 2015. Sensors and systems are interacting to deliver optimal tem- perature, air quality, lighting levels 6 – DECEMBER 2018 - JANAURY 2019 — Florida Construction News and security. As these traditionally separate systems are integrated and controlled as one, the ability to en- able effective inter- action is more critical than ever before. Garry Montgomery, vice-president and head of technology at Dynamix Engineering, states, “It is also the most rapidly changing building sys- tem. Technology systems impact workflow, efficiency, expectations, safety, communication, connectivity and so many other things.” The skill set needed to design and then blend multiple systems to func-
tion as intended is most valuable. Without the proper integration of open protocol systems, buildings will remain stuck in decades past, even despite having the most up-to-date “smart” systems. Additionally, engi- neering firms with a product-agnostic stance and flexible capabilities can best allow the integration to take precedent over the product. Facility stakeholders can therefore achieve the goal of smooth and proper func- tionality—all without being reliant on one brand name, proprietary system or specialty service provider. Roles of service providers are con- tinuing to blend as facilities become smarter and more connected. The blending of these roles further drives the need for someone that can “make sense of it all” and bring the many moving (and traditionally inde- pendent roles) together to work as one. No longer does only the facili- ties manager control the building. The roles of HVAC service compa- nies, electricians and facility service providers are all evolving as well, with each entity relying on data- driven, connected systems. In many cases, facility managers act as the boots on the ground but don’t neces- sarily know how to utilize the data and analytics. Engineering firms with these technology and analytical capa- bilities can help with both pro- active and reactive systems management and optimization. These firms bring significant value by analyzing systems data to plan for maintenance activities and direct the boots on the ground to correct prob- lems as they arise. This solution re- lies on technologically sophisticated engineers who can design, internal- ize and leverage systems data through remote monitoring. As this capability becomes more widespread, the value that these out- side providers bring to on-site facility and IT managers will continue to grow. What are the skill sets? The ability to bring fully function- ing systems, simplicity and action- able insights to end users requires a unique blend of skill sets. These skill sets span the facility life cycle from Exhibit 1. Top Energy Efficiency Measures United States Global 68% Building controls improvements 55% 65% Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning improvements 62% Energy focused behavioral or educational programs 64% 55% 61% Integration of fire/life safety systems 49% 60% Centralized building operations center 41% 59% Integration of security systems 45% 58% Fire/life safety system improvements 46% 57% Onsite renewable energy 48% Source: “2018 Energy Efficiency Indicator Survey. United States.” Johnson Controls. 2018. Opportunity abounds The market is demanding increased technology capabilities across all facility service providers, but the landscape of skilled providers as well as the underlying talent base remains fragmented. Firms that recognize, develop and prioritize expertise in the initial design of technology systems, system integration and ongoing technical services are likely to benefit significantly. Capitalizing on this opportunity has greatly benefited early movers in the industry and may benefit many additional firms as technologies continue to advance and become further embedded in today’s facilities. initial technology design to integra- tion expertise and remote monitoring of building systems. Initial design for technology- focused systems Designing the data, voice, video, network, energy management, secu- rity and similar systems is a growing skill set and key differentiator for de- sign engineering firms working on large vertical building projects. The ability to sell these services sepa- rately from more traditional MEP en- gineering services also provides inroads into new projects at an ear- lier phase, where the technology component of the project can lead to an expanded role and future work. Montgomery sums up the point, “Technology engineering is now the fourth utility in an industry tradition- ally based around three (mechanical, electrical and plumbing). It is also the most rapidly changing building sys- tem. Technology systems impact workflow, efficiency, expectations, safety, communication, connectivity and so many other things.” Systems integration expertise Vendor-agnostic control system expertise is key to solving problems and delivering an optimized facility. Control system engineering and the ability to connect disparate systems are important to bridging gaps among the mechanical, electrical and security contractors—ensuring proper functionality of the various systems. Control integrators are criti- cal players in the facility landscape, increasing their value beyond the ini- tial project and ongoing maintenance processes. “There are system integration op- portunities that exist today that could never successfully be realized in the past,” Montgomery adds. Florida Construction News — DECEMBER 2018 - JANAURY 2019 – 7
Continued commissioning and service mindset Continuous monitoring and maintenance of facility sys- tems is key to maintaining a “first-call” position with facil- ity owners. The ability to collect and analyze data to help prevent and solve problems is an important core compe- tency that allows stakeholders to derive actionable in- sights from the massive amounts of data that too often go unused. In a recent CBRE report, Matthew Eastwood states, “You can measure a million different things—but focus on what you want to control and do it differently.” The ability to collect and analyze data also permits service providers to communicate both proactive and reactive solutions to a facility manager or subcontractor. These teams can then act on-site to troubleshoot the identified issue with pur- pose, avoiding potential problems and solving issues faster as they arise. Who has the expertise and skill sets? The landscape of true technology experts and smart fa- cility providers is not always obviously identified. The unique combination of skill sets needed to bring all of this expertise together currently sits in various places within the broader industry landscape. As time goes on, the skilled leaders will further emerge, and increased consoli- dation will likely occur. The early leaders able to build a We Protect You, We Protect Your Investment, We Make A Difference Low Slope / Flat Single & multi-ply membranes Roof Coating / SPF Liquid applied & spray foam Maintenance / Repair Service for most products Tile Concrete, clay & custom tiles Metal Structural & architectural panels Shingles Yes, we do them R&R Industries Your Roof Done Right Since 1948 Phone: 386.253-7627 www.YourRoofDoneRight.com 8 – DECEMBER 2018 - JANAURY 2019 — Florida Construction News CCC0011650 large base of loyal clients will benefit the most. This evolv- ing competitive landscape will impact industry stakehold- ers differently: Engineering firms Traditional MEP design and consulting engineering firms have varying depths of technology practices—from zero to extremely advanced. Those firms that are more deliberate in developing technology design and integra- tion capabilities across key end markets are more likely to enjoy a stronger competitive position. “Today, building occupants across all asset types ex- pect 24/7 connectivity and a positive user experience,” says Val Loh, principal at Syska Hennessy Group. “That’s why we view our capabilities in technology design as a core component of our services rather than as a specialty add-on. Because our technology practice is fully inte- grated into our team structure, we can offer our clients a form of holistic design that differentiates us from other engineering firms.” Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) Skilled controls professionals inside OEM organiza- tions are a recognized talent pool in the industry. The dif- ference between an OEM representative and a controls engineer from a product-agnostic firm is the knowledge and ability to integrate one specific product type (as op- posed to taking a broader view). As more systems and users move toward open systems not tied to a single product provider, the value assigned to the expertise and ability to work with multiple systems will increase. This will likely pressure the OEM providers to broaden exper- tise and/or further utilize product-agnostic service providers to execute the integration. Facility managers Certain facility managers possess the skill sets needed to optimize building systems, but they’re focused on re- sponding to problems and fixing tangible issues. Utilizing well-designed technology with remote systems expertise, analysis and support from technical service providers, on- site facility managers who live and work with the equip- ment every day can truly maximize the performance of the buildings they manage. IT managers As new technology is integrated into buildings and fa- cilities, and as equipment becomes further integrated, greater reliance and power have shifted to IT managers. IT managers are increasingly the gatekeepers for critical facility system decision-making and troubleshooting. The role of IT staff and the accompanying core information technology knowledge is a key component of today’s properly functioning facility. As a result, the IT staff is a group that is likely to see an increased share of responsibility among facility stakehold- ers. Montgomery states, “Additionally, many traditionally managed systems (i.e., building automation systems) are now being managed and operated by IT personnel as
these systems become more data- driven. Organizations/companies de- siring to truly separate themselves from the competition are pushing for greater levels of technology and often hiring the professionals that plan/design such systems indepen- dent from traditional MEP engi- neers.” Talented practitioners skilled in the design, integration and ongoing technical services of the technolo- gies embedded in today’s facilities are in high demand. The ability to find, retain and train an optimal talent base is hampered by the specialized skill sets spread among these dis- parate providers. In addition to hav- ing a fragmented talent pool, the competition for talented engineers is intense as the technology giants con- tinue to grow. Engineering talent with three to seven years of experi- ence is more valuable than ever, and acquiring such talent is a critical ob- stacle in building the best facility technology teams. The acceleration of growth in technology spend Technology is expanding as a component of overall building invest- ment. This trend offers providers value through revenue diversification from the more traditional design seg- ments and can offer improved mar- gins for those increasingly commoditized firms. A recent energy efficiency survey by Johnson Controls clearly identifies the expected growth in technology- enabled facility systems and integra- tion (Exhibit 1). Sixty-eight percent of respondents plan to invest in building controls over the next 12 months, up from only 38 percent of respondents two years ago, exceeding Johnson Control’s expectations. Survey results show that six of the eight top mea- sures that organizations plan to im- plement in the next 12 months relate to connected technological building systems requiring specialized design and integration. This trend highlights the significant growth opportunities available to engineering firms in the technology market. This article was originally published in the FMI Quarterly. FMI Corp. is a Raleigh, North Carolin, based management consultancy and investment banker dedicated exclusively to engineering and construction, infrastructure and the built environment. Authors are Russell Clark (rclarke@fminet.com), responsible for executing merger and acquisition advisory and capital formation engagements and Greg Powell gpowell@fminet.com), a managing director with FMI Capital Advisors, Inc., FMI Corporation’s investment banking subsidiary. Russell Clark Greg Powell Here’s how to build your business in Florida’s architecture, engineering and construction community You can achieve measurable results, within days If you have upcoming events, business announcements, appointments and opportunities, and wish to attract some quick responses, you will be rewarded with publicity opportunities with Florida Construction News. Your message will reach 7,592 readers in the weekly eletter*, and in the past month, the Floridaconstructionnews.com website attracted 1,426 unique visits with 4,490 page views. As well, there are extended opportunities in the Florida Construction News online magazine. There’s more. While we welcome news releases and announcements from everyone, advertisers will always receive priority. (We’ll still publish plenty of non-advertiser supported content, of course.) And we can provide you with tracking data and response information so you know how well your advertising is working. Your one-time $395.00 investment provides: • A block/banner advertisement in the weekly eletter for four weeks; • A banner advertisement (multiple pages) on the floridaconstructionnews.com websites; • Opportunity to highlight your event or busi- ness in a guest column or news release; and • Weekly response tracking reports. For more information, please visit the Your Business Promotion/Publicity page at Floridaconstructionnews.com, or email Chase: chaseconstruction@floridaconstructionnews.com. You can also call toll free at 888-627-8717 ext 212. 9 – FALL 2017 — Florida Construction News * Data based on elist mailing March 10, 2016. Florida Construction News — DECEMBER 2018 - JANAURY 2019 – 9
PROJECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES Plaza Construction to build Florida’s tallest building Berkowitz Development Group has hired construction management and general contracting firm Plaza Construction to build what will be- come Florida’s tallest building. SkyRise Miami, a 1,000-foot-tall entertainment and observation tower, will cost $540 million to con- struct. The Arquitectonica-designed tower will include an indoor drop tower-style ride with a 95-mph de- scent speed, as well as five obser- vation decks, a 55-mph base-jumping experience, a zero- gravity tunnel, a transparent slide, a transparent deck at 866 feet and a skywalk at 908 feet. In addition, the tower will have restaurant, music and bar space, an indoor playground, 14,000 sq. ft. of combined event and ballroom space, a 9,500-sq. ft. conference center with another 4,000-sq. ft. area for circulation and an open-air terrace. The project’s design team in- cludes structural and civil engineer- ing firm Magnusson Klemencic Associates and mechanical and electrical engineering firm Cosentini Associates. Construction is expected to be completed in 2023. Kaufman Lynn to build H3 Hollywood after new owner closes $48.65 million loan to restart stalled project The new owner of H3 Holly- wood, a previously unfinished condo development, has closed on a construction loan to complete the project stalled as a shell since 2016. Kaufman Lynn Construction is ex- pected to complete the building in less than 18 months. Hollywood East LLC, led by bro- ker Vivian Dimond and Cristina Pereyra Alvarez, closed on a $48.65 million construction loan from Trez Forman Capital Group for the un- named 15-story, 247-unit building on Van Buren Street in Hollywood, according to a statement. Dimond and a group of investors took over the project last year, set- tling with the buyers who had put down deposits at what was then H3 Hollywood, a 154-unit condo project being developed by Hollywood Sta- tion Investments. Hollywood Sta- tion Investments halted construction in the fall of 2016. The original project's general contractor LB Construction, which won the bid for the project at a fore- closure auction, sold the property in April 2017 to Dimond’s Hollywood East LLC. The previous owner built the shell for 13 of the 15 floors. The building will feature a pool deck on the fifth floor, nearly 4,800 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail space and a 433- space parking garage. 10 – DECEMBER 2018 - JANAURY 2019 — Florida Construction News YMCA of Central Florida gets $8.9 million to build new Orlando project Dr. Phillips Charities has an- nounced $8.9 million in funding to the YMCA of Central Florida to build and equip a new family center for the College Park within The Packing District, a 202-acre, $480-million project at the intersection of Prince- ton St. and Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando. The YMCA Family Center will have 24,500 sq. ft. of space span- ning two stories. In the future, the family center could expand up to 40,000 sq. ft. of space. The family center is projected to break ground in late 2019 and be operational by early 2021. Preparations are underway to ready the site for construction, which will span the next 10 to15 years in four phases. $65 million UF Gators baseball park cleared for construction in February Construction will start in Febru- ary for the $65 million University of Florida's (UF) Gators baseball park in Gainesville, pending UF Trustee Board approval. The project on the southwest part of the university's campus adja- cent to Dizney Stadium, has a planned completion date of June 2020. The Gators' first season in the new ballpark will be in 2021. "This is an exciting day for Gators Baseball and our entire athletic de- partment," athletic director Scott Striklin said in a statement. "While our original hope was to have the
PROJECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES ballpark available at the beginning of 2020, and therefore available for play that season, this period of ris- ing construction prices has required additional time to finalize the de- sign, and has caused us to adjust our timeline by a few months.” The baseball park and the ongo- ing $15 million renovation to soft- ball's Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, along with renovations to the Gators' track and tennis facili- ties, are Phase II of the University Athletics Association's (UAA) Facili- ties Master Plan. The work at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium is nearing completion, with a ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled Feb. 12. The UAA says in its news release that design work and planning also continues on the Football Training Complex, which is Phase III of the Facilities Master Plan. This transfor- mational project, which is going on the site currently occupied by base- ball's McKethan Stadium, will break ground as soon as the site is avail- able following the Gators' 2020 baseball season, with a completion goal before the end of 2021. In ad- dition, the UAA is moving forward with plans for significant upgrades to the current football locker room in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, which will serve as the game day locker room once the new complex is built. Funding for Phases I-III of the UAA Facility Master Plan, which total $285 million, includes a target of $155 million in private support. To date, Gator Boosters, Inc. has re- ceived nearly $86 million in private gift commitments, marking progress at 55 percent of the nec- essary philanthropic support for these phases. Zoi House to be Orlando's tallest structure Orlando has approved construc- tion of what will be the city's tallest building, says its architect. Wayne Dunkelberger said Zoi House will include retail, office and apartments. “Zoi' means 'life' in Greek, so at the very top is going to be a pool and pool deck that looks over the city of Orlando, 300 apart- ments, underneath that will be 6 floors of office, and below that, parking deck.” Miami-based MEC Development Associates and architects Baker Barrios have refined the 41-story structure with a gentle, sweeping curve at the building’s most promi- nent corner at Orange Avenue and Livingston Street, The Orlando Sen- tinel reports. The developers say 467-ft. tall Zoi House will be taller than the Or- ange County Courthouse, as well as the SunTrust Center. "The Court- house is around 419 feet, and Sun- Trust around 427," Dunkelberger said. TRX Investments taps PREMIER for 163,000 sq. ft. industrial project in Hialeah Gardens dens into a class A, 163,000 sq. ft. distribution facility. The building has a flexible design and can accommo- date tenants from 9,000 sq. ft. The project is owned jointly by TRX and by Everwest Real Estate Partners. “TRX has been great to work with,” says PREMIER project man- ager Yoan Aedo. “Our teams are in close communication to ensure everything stays on track for com- pletion.” The building has all of the mod- ern features that today’s tenants need, such as a 120’ deep truck court and a 32’ clear height. TRX/Everwest will speculatively construct offices in a number of bays allowing for immediate occu- pancy. The building will be constructed of tilt-up concrete slab and struc- tural steel and will include an im- pact-resistant aluminum storefront system with tinted glass. The sin- gle-ply TPO roofing system will fea- ture an ESFR fire suppression system, and 277/480 volt 3-phase, 4-wire electrical service will ensure ample power for commercial opera- tions. Aedo and Omar Lopez, PRE- MIER's director of project develop- ment, Southeast market leader, are overseeing the project, and RLC Ar- chitects is providing architectural services. Engineering services are being provided by DDA Engineers, P.A. (structural); Puga and Associ- ates (mechanical, plumbing and electrical); and Thomas Engineering Group (civil). The building will be delivered in May 2019 and Devin White, senior vice-president of CBRE, is the ex- clusive leasing agent. U.S.-based real estate developer TRX Investments has tapped PRE- MIER Design + Build Group, LLC to transform a truck stop on about 8.42 acres of land in Hialeah Gar- Florida Construction News — DECEMBER 2018 - JANAURY 2019 – 11
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