Construction for the 104,000-sq-ft Arizona State Hospital New Forensic Hospital in Phoenix has commenced. Related Links: U of A to Break Ground on 5-Story Downtown Phoenix Building Master Plan Construction Commences at St. Francis Xavier SRP Buys Entire Output of Dry Lake 2 Wind Power Project Gilbane Building Co. is providing construction manager at risk services for the $23-million facility designed by Cannon Design and Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. The hospital will provide patient rooms, testing and evaluation areas, nurse stations, isolation rooms, multi-purpose rooms, security center, sally port, visitors’ center and kitchen dining facilities. Completion of construction is estimated

Salt River Project agreed to purchase the entire output of Phase 2 of Iberdrola Renewables’ Dry Lake Wind Power Project in northern Arizona for a 20-year term. Related Links: U of A to Break Ground on 5-Story Downtown Phoenix Building Construction Underway on New State Forensic Hospital Master Plan Construction Commences at St. Francis Xavier When permitted, the Dry Lake 2 Wind Project will be located approximately 7-mi northwest of Snowflake on a combination of private and state lands. Dry Lake’s Phase 2 will use up to 31 Suzlon wind turbines and is expected to generate up to 65 MW

Construction of a $27-million runway project for Spaceport America is on track for completion this summer, nearly two months ahead of schedule. Crews are underway on the final concrete finish phase of the runway project, which began in August 2009. Spaceport runway paving underway. Image: NMSA Related Links: Miller Bonded Builds Fab Shop, Anticipating Future Demand Contract Awarded for Carlsbad Medical Center Renovation GLHN Selected to Design NMSU Utility Building The multi-layered runway is made up of 24-in. of prepared subgrade with the top 6 in. being a soil-cement mix foundation, followed by 4 in. of asphalt, and finally a

United Construction Co. has begun work on an office building for WMS Gaming. Located at 887 Trademark Drive in Reno, the design-build project is expected to be completed in December. The two-story building includes 50,000 sq ft of office space and 3,000 sq ft of warehouse. Related Links: Harmon Hotel & Spa at Heart of CityCenter Disagreement Korte Awarded Nevada Cancer Institute Project The project will pursue LEED gold, incorporating a 36KW photovoltaic solar panel system that is anticipated to provide over 6% of the annual electrical load of the building; daylighting and occupant lighting controls to minimize artificial light;

When the owner of CityCenter finally ended its relationship with contractor Perini Building Co., the last scene involved security staff escorting the contractor�s personnel off-site and then changing the locks. Like a bad divorce, this one could get expensive. Photo: MGM Mirage What happened in Las Vegas on the CityCenter project ended up in court. On March 25, Perini filed a lawsuit in Nevada state court against several entities controlled by CityCenter�s owner, MGM Mirage Inc. and Infinity World Development Corp., a unit of Dubai World, for $490 million in unpaid invoices. �We are doing whatever we have to do

Las Vegas� $8.5-billion CityCenter development � the country�s largest privately backed project � may soon have the country�s largest mechanic�s lien. Tutor Perini Corp., Sylmar, Calif., recently notified co-developers MGM Mirage Inc., Las Vegas, and Infinity World Development Corp., that it planned to file a $492-million mechanic�s lien on the seven-building, 18-million-sq-ft complex of hotels, homes and entertainment space. The news was disclosed in a Mar. 12 MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM) Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Photo courtesy of CityCenter Land LLC The closeout of CityCenter, the country�s biggest private project, may get complicated. Related Links: Strip Superstar: CityCenter makes

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, claims that a three-year-old student recreation facility at its main campus fails to meet some seismic requirements under the 2002 Uniform Building Code. The structure remains open, but a warning notice is posted. Photo: Luetta Callaway Investigator alleges differences between flexible and rigid components cause problems. Designed by the Phoenix office of DMJM Design, a unit of AECOM, with St. Louis-based Hastings+Chivetta Architects Inc., the building is likely to end up in court. Bennett & Jimenez Inc., Las Vegas, which has since shut down, was the structural engineer. Phoenix-based Kitchell Contractors was the construction

CityCenter is Las Vegas� grandest, most extravagant Strip production yet, encompassing 18 million-sq-ft of high design shops and restaurants, hotel and homes. The $8.5 billion, seven-building complex is the equivalent of nine Empire State buildings. It�s also the largest privately financed project in United State history. Construction required a well-coordinated, herculean effort from project contractor Perini Building Co., with Tishman Construction Corp. as executive construction manager and Gensler was executive architect. Slide Show Image courtesy of CityCenter Land LLC. The recently opened $8.5 billion CityCenter development on the Las Vegas Strip is the largest private project in US history. "We

Voters in Bernalillo County, N.M. handily approved $617 million in school construction funding during a special mill levy and general obligation bond election Feb. 2nd. Related Links: UNM Facility Examined for Safety The mill levy’s 68.3% ‘yes’ vote continues existing property taxes through 2015 while $225 million in general obligation bonds received 72.1% approval. “The focus with this money will be on renewal and renovation of our older schools,” says Karen Alarid, AIA, executive director of capital operations and director of facilities design and construction at Albuquerque Public Schools. “The average age of an APS school is about 40 years

Tessera Solar and Stirling Energy Systems unveiled the Maricopa Solar Power Plant, the first commercial project for the SunCatcher concentrating technology. The project’s 60 dishes will provide 1.5 MW of renewable energy to SRP customers in Greater Phoenix. Photo: SRP The Maricopa Solar Power Plant is located in Peoria, next to the Agua Fria Generating Station. Related Links: Developers Begin 60-Acre SkyWay 202 Professional Park Phoenix Police Precinct Underway New Learning Center, Medical Building from T.L. Roof Second Phase of Grand Ave. Starts Grand Canyon West Paving Underway The highly-efficient SES SunCatcher is a 25-kilowatt solar power system which uses