Developer Ballymore has received funding from British property investor M&G Real Estate for the construction of the £200m Three Snowhill development in Birmingham, UK.The office development, which will cover an area of 420,000 sq ft, is due to be the largest ever speculative city centre office project built outside London.The property will feature 385,000 sq ft of office space, 35,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space, accommodating nearly 4,000 workers.BAM Construction was appointed as preferred contractor for the project in June 2015. The project is expected to be completed at the end of 2018.Ballymore CEO Sean Mulryan said: “Ballymore is delighted to announce a start on the third and final phase of our Snowhill scheme. “Working with the city, our funding partner, M&G Real Estate, and our main contractor, BAM, we will deliver a landmark building and the final element of what is one of the largest and most prestigious commercial developments in central Birmingham.”
A joint venture (JV) of Bouygues Travaux Publics and Cimolai has signed a construction contract with the Garden Bridge Trust to deliver the Garden Bridge project in London. The JV’s scope of the work will include the completion of the detailed design, construction and planting the trees and shrubbery for the project, which is estimated to cost £175m. In April 2015, the JV won the contract for preconstruction services.The project has been designed by Flint and Neil and Moxon Architects. Arup, Heatherwick Studio and Dan Pearson Studios will offer advice to the trust on the bridge design and construction.Construction work on the project is expected to start in mid-2016 and will be completed in late 2018.Garden Bridge Trust chairman Lord Mervyn Davies said: “The Garden Bridge is a reality. We are on course with our fundraising targets, we are meeting the requirements of our planning conditions.“We have huge public support for the project and we look forward to working with Bouygues TP and Cimolai and all our partners to make this a special place to be enjoyed by Londoners and visitors in the heart of the city for years to come.”
A consortium led by ACWA Power has completed work on the Bokpoort Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province.The project, valued at ZAR5bn ($310.3m), offers more than nine hours of thermal storage capacity. The plant will provide 220,000MWh power annually, which is sufficient to power over 200,000 South African households.ACWA Power managing director for the Southern Africa region Chris Ehlers said: “We are here to serve the nation and to contribute to its development.“Our commitment to the development of South African economy beyond reliably supplying renewable energy at a cost competitive tariff is demonstrated by the ZAR2bn worth of locally sourced components made in South Africa that has been used in the construction of this plant and the creation of 1,300 construction jobs.”The CSP project is the first in a series of investments by ACWA Power in South Africa. The company also plans to start construction on the 100MW Redstone CSP Project in Northern Cape. At the same time, it is waiting for the outcome of tender submissions for a 300MW coal-fired plant in Mpumalanga and a 150MW CSP plant at Northern Cape.
Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) construction division has secured contracts with a combined value of INR16.72bn ($248.3m) across various businesses.The company’s building and factories business has won contracts worth INR9.67bn ($143.6m). These include an EPC contract for a multi-storied residential project in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. The scope of the contract, awarded by UP Avas Vikas Parisad, will include civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and finishes. The business has also secured a turnkey contract from a Mumbai developer to build a multi-storied residential building and retail space. The scope of the work will include civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing as well as finishes.L&T’s power transmission and distribution business has won contracts valued at INR5.8bn ($86.1m) in the international markets. These include an EPC contract in Ethiopia for construction of a 400/230/15 kV substation, as well as three 230/15 kV substations at various locations. The project, awarded by Ethiopian Electric Power, has secured financing from the French Development Agency.The business has also received another EPC contract in South East Asia to build a high-voltage substation.In addition, L&T Construction’s Water & Effluent Treatment Business has secured order worth INR1.25bn ($18.6m).
Ground has been broken on the first phase of the £400m Kirkstall Forge mixed-use project in Leeds, UK.Located on 57 acres, the development will include 1,050 new homes, 300,000 sq ft of office space, as well as 100,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and community space. Wates will serve as the project’s principal contractor. Phase one of the project will involve the creation of a Grade A office building, covering an area of 110,000 sq ft. The seven-storey building is expected to be ready for occupation in the third quarter of 2017.With the ground breaking, Zenith, a leasing, fleet management and vehicle outsourcing business, has signed a pre-let agreement to occupy a new flagship headquarter office building at the development. Under the deal, the company will occupy over 45,000 sq ft net over the three upper stories that include a roof level meeting room suite.In addition, developer CEG has announced plans to relocate its northern office to the new development. The developer will occupy nearly 10,000 sq ft on the ground floor, with the remaining ground floor and three remaining floors of 18,500 sq ft each to be made available to the market.CEG director Jon Kenny said: “Kirkstall Forge is unique, it will deliver fresh, sustainable new ways of living and working amongst acres of green space in a wooded riverside setting. With schools, contemporary housing, restaurants, cafés and light-filled offices, it will provide the vibrancy of city life as well as the tranquillity of the outdoors.“Ultimately, this will not only be an ambitious and innovative development for Leeds, but will establish a new benchmark for office developments across the rest of the UK.”
Implenia has secured a contract valued at over CHF100m ($101.2m) to construct a new landmark for North Zurich, Switzerland.The company has won the total contractor mandate by making use of digital 4D Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the tender phase. The scope of the contract, awarded by SBB Immobilien, will include the construction of the Andreasturm building. The 80m high building, located next to the railway station in Oerlikon, Zurich, has been designed by architects Gigon/Guyer.The development will include about 20,000 sq m of office space, ample room for shops, cafés and restaurants, and a direct link to the platforms and station underpass. It will also be energy efficient, and will comply with the DGNB Platinum label standards adapted by the Swiss Sustainable Building Council. Construction work on the project is expected to commence in April 2016.
Plans have been unveiled for a casino and deluxe destination resort in East Taunton, Massachusetts.The project, dubbed First Light, is estimated to cost $500m. Work will be carried out in phases, with phase one involving construction of the casino, restaurants, entertainment and retail offerings. This phase is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.Plans for other phases will include the construction of three hotels, a parking garage, as well as a water park.The project is being financially backed by the Genting Group of Malaysia. It is also anticipated to create at least 1,000 construction jobs, and about 2,600 permanent jobs.The project is expected to break ground by April, subject to state approval.
Tutor Perini has won contracts from Related Companies and Oxford Properties Group for the construction of 15 Hudson Yards (Tower D) and The Shops & Restaurants (Retail Complex) at Hudson Yards in New York.The construction value managed by Tutor Perini for the two projects is worth about $1.2bn.The 70-storey, 960,000 sq ft 15 Hudson Yards building will be the first residential building at Hudson Yards. Expected to open in 2018, the building will feature 391 for-sale and rental residences, along with other amenities including an Equinox Fitness Club, and social and entertaining venues.The seven-storey Retail Complex will cover 1m sq ft area. The property, expected to open in 2018, will be home to The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards.Tutor Perini Building Group executive vice president and CEO Craig Shaw said: “We are proud to be working with Related and Oxford on the Hudson Yards development, the largest privately funded development project in US history, and we are pleased to continue our work on the newest Hudson Yards buildings currently under construction.”
Town Centre Securities (TCS) and GMI Construction Holdings have formed a joint venture company known as Belgravia Living Group to deliver a residential project in Piccadilly Basin, Manchester.Phase one of the residential project, which has already received planning approval, will include the construction of the 90,000 sq ft Burlington House building. Designed by architect Simpson Haugh, Burlington House will feature 91 apartments.The Greater Manchester Combined Authority has approved a £9.741m loan from the Greater Manchester Housing Fund to support the first phase on Tariff Street. Preparatory site work is expected to begin in April 2016, with an 18-month development programme expected to commence in June 2016.Overall, the project will deliver 900 homes over the next six years. The development of all phases of the project is expected to entail an investment of nearly £300m.GMI Construction Holdings group managing director Jarrod Best said: “We are delighted to have joined forces with TCS to deliver what will be a high quality residential scheme to suit discerning owners and occupiers within the key Manchester M1 postcode.”
Gemma Power Systems has received full notice to proceed to start construction on a 475MW natural gas-fired power plant in Kings Mountain, North Carolina.The company has secured an EPC services contract from NTE Energy affiliate NTE Carolinas for the project, which is expected to be completed in the second half of 2018.The facility will incorporate an advanced Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas M501GAC combustion turbine generator, a Vogt Power International supplementary-fired heat recovery steam generator, along with a Toshiba America Energy Systems steam turbine generator.The power generated by the plant will be sold to nine municipal and state owned utilities in North Carolina and South Carolina, under individual long-term power sale agreements. The project is being funded by a group of nine financial institutions, led by ING Capital and MUFG Union Bank, which offered $387m in various senior secured credit facilities. Capital Dynamics and Wattage Finance-NC, LLC is providing $218m in equity commitments for the project.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport general manager Miguel Southwell has unveiled details of the airport’s capital plan.Dubbed ATLNext, the 20-year capital plan will include upgrades to atrium and the exterior of the domestic terminal.
Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a contract worth AED611m ($166m) for the Sheikh Rashid Road-Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road Interchange Project in Dubai, UAE.
A consortium of Enel Green Power (EGP), Moroccan energy firm Nareva Holding (Nareva) and Siemens Wind Power has been pre-awarded a contract to design, construct, develop, finance, operate and maintain five wind projects in Morocco.The wind projects, awarded by Moroccan utility ONEE, will have a total capacity of 850MW. Construction on the projects is estimated to entail a total investment of about €1bn, which will be mostly financed through project finance facilities.Three wind farms, including the 150MW Midelt, 100MW Tanger, and 200MW Jbel Lahdid will be built in northern Morocco. The remaining two facilities, the 300MW Tiskrad and the 100MW Boujdour, will be constructed in southern Morocco.EGP and Nareva will set up and own five special purpose vehicles holding the projects. Siemens Wind Power will offer the wind turbines, with several components manufactured locally.The wind farms are expected to be completed and become operational between 2017 and 2020. Energy produced by the facilities will be sold to ONEE under 20-year power purchase deals. EGP CEO Francesco Venturini said: “We are leveraging on our knowledge and expertise, in collaboration with our partners, to contribute to Morocco’s ambitious energy plan that has renewables at its core. “The country is an example in North Africa of reliability and transparency in supporting the development of renewable technologies.”
Arabtec Construction, a subsidiary of UAE-based construction group Arabtec Holding, has won a contract to build an AED1.1bn ($300m) residential project in central Dubai, UAE.The project will involve the construction of two 50-storey towers featuring residential apartments. It will have a built-up area of over 227,000 sq m. Construction on the residential apartments is due to commence immediately, with completion expected within two-and-a-half years.Arabtec has not yet disclosed the name of the project’s client.Arabtec Holding acting CEO Saeed Mohamed Al Mehairbi said: "We are delighted to have been chosen to execute this important project adding further to the strong momentum in which we have begun 2016."
AGC Asahi Glass (AGC), a manufacturer of glass, chemicals and high-tech materials, has unveiled plans to invest around JPY18bn ($158.1m) in its consolidated subsidiary, AGC Glass Brazil, to build a second float glass production plant in Brazil’s southeast region. The new facility is expected to boost AGC’s glass production capacity in the country to 2.4 times the existing capacity. Work on the plant is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2018.The company said in a statement: “With a relatively young population of approximately 200m people and abundant natural resources, Brazil is expected to maintain its economic growth from a medium and long-term perspective. The demand for architectural glass and automotive glass is also projected to grow. “In such a business environment, AGC will enhance its production capacity in Brazil to 530,000 tonnes per year, up 310,000 tonnes from the current 220,000 tonnes a year.” AGC Glass Brazil was set up in 2011 and became operational in 2013. The company manufactures and supplies float glass for architectural and automotive uses, mirrors, fabricated glass products for architectural use, as well as laminated/tempered automotive glass.
Aecom Capital and FFP New Hydro have formed a new partnership to develop and build six hydropower projects on the Muskingum River in southeastern Ohio.The six projects, developed by the Muskingum River Hydro partnership, are expected to produce a total of 23MW, which is sufficient to power 11,500 households. The projects will entail an investment of over $100m.Four of these projects have already secured Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licenses. The low-impact generation facilities will be added to existing lock and dam structures, which are owned and operated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.The projects are anticipated to commence construction in 2017 and will be operational by 2018. Each project is anticipated to create 100 to 150 jobs during the construction phase, and continued staffing and service employment during operations.Aecom Capital CEO John Livingston said: “Muskingum River Hydro LLC represents an attractive opportunity for Aecom Capital to strengthen our commitment to clean energy projects and invest and develop in new hydropower on existing dams alongside the industry leading team of investors and developers at FFP New Hydro.”
A joint venture between Japan's Marubeni and South Korea's Posco Energy has won an $800m contract to expand the Morupule B power plant in Botswana.The project would expand the coal-fired plant’s capacity by an extra 300MW, from its existing capacity of 600MW. The power generated would be sold to the Botswana Power Corporation under a 30-year power purchase deal at a cost of 812.56 pula per megawatt hour.Construction work on the new plant is due to start in late 2016, with the first power generated added to the national grid by May 2020. The project is expected to increase national power generation capacity to over 1,000MW from the existing capacity of 600MW.
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has broken ground on a project to expand its passenger tyre manufacturing facility in Wilson, North Carolina.
A joint venture (JV) of Granite Construction Company, Fluor, and Ames Construction has won a $917m contract from the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to build the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway in Phoenix, Arizona.
ONEOK Partners has completed the first phase of the Roadrunner Gas Transmission pipeline project in West Texas, US.