Prime Outlets San Marcos Gets $30 Million Expansion

White Construction is scheduled to complete work on the popular Central Texas outlet center in time for a fall grand opening.

Prime Outlets San Marcos rendering

Construction on the 200,000-sq.-ft. expansion is scheduled to be complete this fall. Rendering courtesy of Carter & Burgess.

Carter & Burgess Adds Venetian Touch to San Marcos Expansion

Prime Outlets San Marcos, one of the nation's top-performing outlet centers, is poised to build upon its stellar reputation with a $30 million expansion and renovation designed by the Dallas and Baltimore offices of Carter & Burgess. The outlet, owned by Baltimore-based Prime Retail Inc., is located on Interstate 35 in San Marcos and is considered to be one of the state's biggest tourist draws in the area.

The 200,000-sq.-ft. expansion features a Venetian theme with the addition of a bell tower, piazzas, a lagoon and canals that will include gondolas, statues and gardens. The existing 658,000-sq.-ft. center will receive a façade and public space renovation to complement the expansion. The addition of stores such as Neiman Marcus Last Call, Ferragamo, Hugo Boss and other upscale fashion outlets will further develop the center's reputation as a premier shopping destination in Texas.

The general contractor is Austin-based White Construction. Work is scheduled to complete in the fall.

FaulknerUSA Enters Into Negotiations With Hyatt

Austin-based FaulknerUSA, the developer of the San Antonio convention headquarters hotel, recently announced it has begun exclusive negotiations with the Hyatt Corp. to become the project's operator.

Hyatt currently operates two properties in San Antonio - the Hyatt Regency San Antonio and the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa.

"After months of evaluation to find the right hotel operator that will bring the highest quality operating standards to this extensive project, we are excited about a possible partnership with Hyatt," said FaulknerUSA vice president Laura Roe. "Hyatt is a proven hotel operator and industry leader that has a long history of service in the San Antonio community."

If an agreement is finalized, Hyatt would operate the 1,000-room convention headquarters hotel, which is projected to create 600 new jobs. With an estimated project value of more than $200 million, the hotel is scheduled to open in 2008.

"The innovative design of the San Antonio convention hotel will truly make it a city landmark," said Hyatt's executive vice president Steven Goldman.

Tellepsen Awarded $60 Million in Retail Facility Contracts

Tellepsen Builders was recently awarded retail projects for ALORE III, IV & V, Cypress Towne Center and Adren-L-N Extreme Sports Center, totaling more than $60 million.

The ALORE concept is a leisure-oriented entertainment destination. Cypress Towne Center is a traditional 200,000-sq.-ft. development. The Adren-L-N sports center will include rock-wall climbing and a wind tunnel.

"We continue to see healthy investment in retail product of all size ranges from large malls down to small strip centers as developers have continued to follow the rooftops," said Tadd Tellepsen, vice president of Tellepsen.

Steele & Freeman Begins Work on new Watauga City Hall

Steele & Freeman Inc., one of Tarrant County's leading general contracting firms, has begun site-preparation work on a new municipal government building for the city of Watauga, located 10 mi. north of Fort Worth.

The 18,200 sq.-ft. building will be nearly double the size of Watauga's existing city hall. The architect is Jim Tharp of GSBS in North Richland Hills.

The new building, to be constructed at a cost of $2.7 million, will house the offices of senior city staff as well as a City Council chamber with seating for 130. Framed in conventional structural steel and clad in brick, the building's identifying design feature is a clock tower.

The current city hall will be converted to a headquarters for Watauga's Department of Public Safety.

Medical City Dallas Holds Topping-Out Ceremony

Medical City Dallas Hospital, general contractor Bovis Lend Lease and health care architecture, design and consulting firm Jonathan Bailey recently held a topping out ceremony to celebrate on-time completion of the new, six-story critical care tower. The tower, part of phase one of an aggressive expansion plan, houses the hospital's emergency department, a 44-bed adult critical care unit and two 36-bed cardiac telemetry units. The emergency department is designed to handle 100,000 visits annually. The tower is engineered for expansion of up to six additional levels to accommodate future growth.

Cadence McShane Awarded Contract for Universal Technical Institute

Cadence McShane Corp. recently announced that the firm has been selected to complete an expansion and renovation project for the Universal Technical Institute in Houston. Cadence McShane, and project architect, Munson Kennedy Partnership, will provide completion this month.

The school campus will be expanded by 12,600 sq. ft. The new facility will include eight new classrooms, a computer lab, student facilities and a new auditorium. The existing structure will also be remodeled to expand the shop training area and establish a new wash station at the rear of the building.