An extensive prefabrication strategy aims to keep the $1-billion University Medical Center project in New Orleans on target to meet the project's daunting scope and aggressive construction schedule. With more than 2 million sq ft of built space, the project for the state of Louisiana is one of the largest health care campuses under construction in the U.S. Its 31-month construction schedule has prompted construction-manager-at-risk Skanska USA Building, New York City, and joint venture partner MAPP Construction, New Orleans, to pursue prefabrication of mechanical systems, headwalls and bathroom facilities. Related Links: Parkland: A 'Hospital for the Future' Top Starts: Texas
FHP Tectonics Corp, New Orleans, will start construction in June on a $26.5 million school in New Orleans. Image courtesy FHP Tectonics The $26.5-million Morris Jeff Community School was designed by the joint venture of VergesRome Architects and Fanning Howey. The new Morris Jeff Community School is being funded by State of Louisiana Recovery School District and was designed by the joint venture of VergesRome Architects and Fanning Howey, both of New Orleans.The three-story building will be constructed in accordance with the Educational Specifications for PK-8 schools with 35 teaching stations and a total area of 108,000 square feet. It
As of April 20, it's been three years exactly since BP's Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 and pouring some 5 million barrels of oil into the sea. Related Links: The Ocean Conservancy Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Coast Builders Coalition Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC Some coastal restoration and protection work has occurred since the 2010 disaster, funded by initial payouts from the oil giant and other responsible parties. But plenty of work has yet to be done, with potential opportunity for engineering and construction firms in the Gulf Coast
With natural gas production continuing to gain momentum, the oil and gas industry is fueling major construction work in the region. The total cost of the top 25 projects that broke ground in the region in 2012 was $13.2 billion, a $1.1-billion increase over the previous year, according to ENR Texas & Louisiana's Top Starts list. Megaprojects in the oil and gas, petrochemical and energy sectors provided the big boost to this year's list. Analysts believe these projects are just the first swell of a huge wave of future work. Related Links: Top Project Starts of 2012 Liquid Gold The
Nearly 11% of the nation's animal fat waste, used cooking oil and other discarded grease streams will be turned into renewable diesel fuel when work is completed on the $368-million Diamond Green Diesel facility now under way in Norco, La., near New Orleans. The biomass project will nearly triple the amount of renewable diesel produced domestically, according to the U.S. Energy Dept., and may be the first of several such innovative technology projects planned in the state. Related Links: Valero Diamond Green Diesel The project, a joint venture between independent oil refiner Valero Energy Corp. and animal rendering and food
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has started work on a $44.8 million project to construct 5,000 feet of underground drainage canal in central New Orleans. Related Links: Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project Cajun Constructors The 38-month contract is being performed by Louisiana-based Cajun Constructors. It is part of the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project (SELA), which is designed to reduce the risk of flooding from a 10-year rainfall event. A licensed arborist has commenced tree removal along the medians and pathways. Cajun Constructors will build 3,700 feet of underground drainage canal along Jefferson Avenue and 1,300 feet of
A fter years of being "repurposed by attrition," as the project team puts it, a building in Plano, Texas, that has housed the city's government operations for 47 years is finally getting a real makeover. The much-needed $8-million face-lift and expansion of the facility, which now centralizes technology, communication and data services for the city's traffic, police, fire department and administration will now become the Plano Technology Services Center, a Tier 3 data center. Related Links: Alliance Architects, Inc. Turner Construction Co. In 2011, the City of Plano saw it had a need for a consolidated data center, says Jim
Construction on the University of Houston’s new football stadium is now underway. Design firms PageSoutherlandPage and DLR Group, as well as contractor Manhattan Construction and university staffers celebrated the project’s groundbreaking February 8 near downtown Houston. Photo courtesy of PageSoutherlandPage The University of Houston hosted the groundbreaking of its new stadium February 8. Shown from left to right: Jonathan Thurston, Executive Director of UH Facilities Planning & Construction; Matt Doffing, Manhattan Construction; Duane Duffy, Manhattan Construction; David Quenemoen, PageSoutherlandPage; Rob Owens, PageSoutherlandPage; Don Barnum, DLR Group; Greg Garlock, DLR Group; Tony Levine, UH Football Coach; Mack Rhoades, UH Vice President
Two wind farms will soon be up and running in Texas, thanks to work being done by the North American Development Bank (NADB) and Duke Energy Renewables, a commercial business unit of Duke Energy.
An aging hospital in Fort Hood, Texas, is being honorably discharged. The 47-year-old Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center was initially designed to support 17,000 troops; today, it serves 45,414 active personnel and 125,000 family members and retirees. The 70-year-old, 340-sq-mile military base midway between Austin and Waco is the state's largest single site employer. Related Links: Engineering News Record Despite several upgrades, including a $49-million expansion that doubled its size in 1984, the medical center has been unable to keep pace with Fort Hood's growing health care demands. Each day, Darnall delivers seven babies, fills 4,500 prescriptions and has
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