Baird/Williams Construction of Temple is serving as the construction manager for an expansion and renovation of Austin's Westlake High School. The $20 million project will add approximately 60,000 sq. ft. of new space and a new central plant. The existing 275,000-sq.-ft. campus is also receiving a new fire sprinkler system.
Approximately 150,000 sq. ft. of existing science classrooms, computer labs and general classrooms are receiving major renovations, including updated HVAC systems.

SHW Group Architects began working on the project in February 2002, and construction is expected to be completed in August 2005.

GISD Special Events Center Underway

Lee Lewis Construction Co. of Lubbock recently broke ground on construction of the new Garland Independent School District Special Events Center, a state-of-the-art assembly and conferencing center that will serve the school district and community.

Located in one of the fastest-growing areas in Dallas County, the $30 million, 190,000-sq.-ft. multiuse building will allow the school district to host high school convocations, graduations, sports events, concerts and teacher in-service activities as well as national and regional tournaments. The facility will also be available for seasonal events, corporate training, trade shows and other municipal functions.

The new facility will have 7,000 fixed seats for convocations, basketball and volleyball games, gymnastics and fine-arts performances. Parking for 1,750 cars will be adjacent to the facility.

The conference facility will include an 8,000-sq.-ft. ballroom, a 125-seat tiered lecture hall and additional meeting/conference rooms.
Completion is anticipated in 2005.

HISD Headquarters Getting New Home

The Houston Independent School District is in the process of choosing an architect and developing a financing plan to move its headquarters to the 65-acre Delmar Sports Complex in northwest Houston.

Under a recently approved plan, the district's new central office will be housed in a 300,000-sq.-ft. building that is expected to cost between $28 million and $30 million to construct.

The decision was made to build a new facility on HISD-owned property next to Delmar Stadium after a team of architects, mechanical engineers, civil engineers and roofing consultants analyzed the administrative complex's facilities to estimate the costs for making them economically viable for the next 20-25 years.

The team concluded that the aging complex is in poor condition and would require between $26 million and $28 million to renovate.

Cadence McShane Selected to Construct new Church in Mesquite

Neal L. Harper, president of Dallas-based Cadence McShane Corp., recently announced that his firm has been selected to provide comprehensive construction services for the new 17,480-sq.-ft. Cornerstone Baptist Church in Mesquite.

Upon completion in November, the new facility will double the church's current capacity and will include a 408-seat sanctuary, 60-seat choir area, 11 classrooms and church administration offices.

Cadence McShane said it will construct a steel-frame structure with an EIFS and native Austin stone facade designed to blend the traditional steeple-tower design with contemporary materials. The interior of the sanctuary will feature a 22-ft.-high ceiling accented by synthetic stone, oak panels and metal finishes. The new church was designed by nca Architecture of Dallas to create a functional environment for both worship and education with integrated flexibility for future expansion.

Azteca Enterprises Receives Federal and Military Construction Contracts

The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded Dallas-based Azteca Enterprises Inc. a $10.6 million contract for repairs and alterations of the existing 15-story Earl Cabell and Santa Fe Federal Buildings in Dallas.

Work includes exterior stone work, heavy mechanical, electrical, fire-protection lighting, interior finish-out and window cladding and film replacement. Work is beginning, and completion is scheduled for June 2005.

The Pentagon recently awarded Azteca a $22.1 million contract for the construction of a Mission Support Training Facility and Training Aids Support Center at Fort Polk, La. The estimated completion date is Jan. 28, 2007.

IKEA Frisco Will be Company's First Store in Metroplex

Swedish furniture retailer IKEA recently announced plans to build a store in Frisco.
Pending city approval, the store will be the company's first in the Metroplex and its second store in Texas.

Construction on the proposed 25-acre site, which includes a 310,000-sq.-ft. store, could begin in the spring with an anticipated opening date of summer 2005.