Nonresidential Construction Booming

Two major construction and design organizations are highlighting the increase in nonresidential construction work.

The Alexandria, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America noted that nonresidential construction jobs jumped in January as homebuilding employment grew chillier.

Moreover, the Washington, D.C.-based American Institute of Architects is forecasting the nonresidential construction market to increase by almost 7% in 2007 in inflation adjusted terms, following the growth of near 6% in 2006.

Nonresidential construction employment growth has been "sizzling," said Ken Simonson, chief economist with the AGC of America.

"In January, construction accounted for one out of five net new jobs in the entire nonfarm economy-22,000 out of 111,000," he said. "Not bad for an industry that constitutes less than 6% of total nonfarm employment."

Over the past 12 months, nonresidential building contractors and nonresidential specialty trades have boosted employment by 160,000, or 5%. Heavy and civil engineering construction has added 25,000, or 2.5%. Those rates greatly outstrip the 1.6% growth rate for nonfarm payroll employment as a whole.

"A further favorable omen for nonresidential construction is that architectural and engineering employment rose more than 5% in the past year," Simonson said.

Construction wages rose 4.5% in the last 12 months, outpacing the 4% increase for all private industry production workers, according to Simonson.

10-Story Office Breaks Ground in Loop

Ground was broken recently for 111 W. Illinois St., a 10-story, 227,604-sq-ft office in downtown Chicago's River North neighborhood.

The anchor will be the Erikson Institute, one of the nation's graduate schools dedicated to the education of child development professionals, which will occupy approximately 75,000 sq ft. Building completion is expected in early 2008.

111 W. Illinois St. offers users the unique opportunity to be a single-floor user with expansion options in a Class A product. Other potential users include a boutique hotel, a white-tablecloth restaurant and retail space.

The building was designed by Martin Wolf, senior principal with Chicago-based Solomon Cordwell Buenz & Associates, and it will incorporate a suite of green building, sustainable design and performance elements.

The building's technological capabilities include 10 watts/psf of electricity capacity; ample cable and fiber optic capacity; a high-density HVAC system that assures maximum flexibility; energy-efficient low-e glass; a high-efficiency air-handling system; a dedicated telecommunications room that accommodates multiple fiber carriers; dual power grids; an automatic transfer switch to assure uninterrupted power supply; and ample room for dedicated user generators.

The structure's window expanse will provides panoramic views, while the natural light increases productivity and reduces energy costs. A technological platform supports user needs into the future in an environment where the zoned variable-air-volume HVAC system allows after-hours heating and cooling. Two rooftop decks provide space for corporate events.

Chicago-based James McHugh Construction Co. is the general contractor.

National Korean War Museum Planned for Central Illinois

The $18 million Korean War National Museum was announced for Springfield, Ill.

It is dedicated to providing historical information and educational resources to Korean War veterans, family members, students and the public. The facility will house the only full-scale educational resource center of its kind devoted entirely to the preservation, study and understanding of the Korean War.

The first phase was expected to start this spring and be complete by the fall.

No other information was available on the future phases and their timetable.

The 47,000-sq-ft facility will be located on the corner of Madison and Fifth across from the Lincoln Depot and one block west of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.

It will be built in two phases. The first phase will include the main exhibit space and the lobby rotunda.

The exhibit space will feature a high-tech gallery with displays including military equipment, a Korean Village and a foxhole theater designed as a multimedia presentation of the events in Korea from 1950-53. The lobby rotunda, which serves as the main entry, will also be used as a flexible space for temporary exhibits and gatherings.

The second phase will consist of a Hall of Heroes dedicated to veterans and POWs, and additional exhibit spaces.

The Korean War Veterans National Museum & Library Board of Directors is the formal owner.

Springfield-based Harold O'Shea Builders Inc. is the general contractor, and Bloomington, Ill.-based BLDD Architects Inc. is the designer.

Hyatt Regency Indianapolis Unveils $14-Million Renovation Plans

The Hyatt Regency Indianapolis and National City Center office have announced the groundbreaking for their $14-million renovation plans.

The redesigned hotel will include an additional 10,000 sq ft of meeting space, an Italian/American restaurant, cosmopolitan lounge, coffee shop and lobby.

National City Center's renovation plans include a new look for the main entrance and elevator lobbies and a newly designed patio area.

The Hyatt Regency renovation plans are under way and due for completion by mid-July. The National City Center enhancements will begin in the spring 2007.

5,300-Seat Baseball Park Coming in Southern Illinois

Construction is proceeding on Miner's Baseball Stadium in Marion in southern Illinois on land previously mined for coal.

The $17 million ballpark will be completed for the home opener of the Southern Illinois Miners in May. The Miners are the newest addition to the independent Frontier League.

The facility aspires to become a new regional gathering place for families in southern Illinois. Featuring an artificial turf field, it will also be used by college and high school baseball, high school football and high school soccer teams as well as a venue for concerts and other nonsporting events.

The masonry structure will be accented by a bold, intricately designed, sculptural steel canopy that in addition to aesthetic appeal will provide shade for summertime fans. It will host refreshment stands and a team store, accessible from outside the stadium or from its concourse.

A 2,800-sq-ft banquet room will be available for year round use. In deference to the beauty of its setting-the ballpark overlooks a lake and forested area-the grounds will be landscaped with distinctive grasses and vegetation.

Kansas City, Mo.-based 360 Architecture is the designer, and Swansea, Ill.-based Holland Construction Services is the general contractor.

IU Reportedly First in Indiana to Use Design-Build

A service building constructed at Indiana University in Bloomington is the first in the state to take advantage of a new law that allows public entities to use the design-build process.

The law established procedures so that state agencies and educational institutions would be able to select a firm for a public-works project based not solely on price.

Benefits included having the building ready to occupy sooner than usual, and contractors and design partners had an opportunity to be selected on criteria other than price.

Indianapolis-based Wilhelm Construction Co. was the general contractor, and Indianapolis-based Axis Architects was the designer.