Pennsylvania's SugarHouse Casino has completed the $164M casino expansion project.Designed by Cope Linder Architects, the project increased SugarHouse’s facility from 10,000 sq m to 24,000 sq m, excluding the new seven-storey parking garage of about 56,000 sq m. The new parking garage offers 1,500 new spaces for guests, with direct elevator access to the casino floor.The project also includes additional restaurants and a 2,800 sq m event centre.The expansion project created 500 new full-time jobs, raising the number of current employees to 1,700.
The state government of Victoria has approved a new master plan to transform the former Melbourne Convention Centre site on Spencer Street, Australia.Plans to transform the under-used site include a $200M three-tower development and feature three apartment buildings ranging from 27–34 levels, with 1,060 apartments, retail space, and spaces for 451 cars and 160 bicycles.While portions of the former Melbourne Convention Centre are being demolished to make way for the development, the 13-level Crown Plaza Hotel, which overlooks the Yarra River, will remain as it is.Minister for Planning Richard Wynne said: “This is a good development in a prime location near Southern Cross Station, trams and public space along the Yarra River which will provide more housing at the gateway between the CBD and Docklands.“This master plan shows how we can deliver more housing in under-used parts of the city while increasing the amount of parks and open space for the public.”
High-tech components manufacturer SATA Group is set to construct an $114M machine plant in Brownsville, Texas. The 350-acre development will be located on newly designated Interstate 169 and will include a vertically-integrated machining-foundry-forging operation by 2020. Further plans include an aluminium die cast operation, a plastic injection molder, a distribution centre and an apprenticeship training centre.SATA’s USA vice president Pietro Cinotto said: “Our level of quality and superior manufacturing productivity created a global demand for our machined products and services.“It grew to the point where it made sense for us to enter the North American market and that’s when Brownsville, Texas came into our site selection process. The overwhelming support helped us make the decision to settle in Brownsville.”The project is expected to create 300 jobs in the region.
Etobicoke Healthcare Partnership has secured a $330M contract to design, build, finance and maintain the new Etobicoke General Hospital Phase 1 Patient Tower Project in Ontario, Canada.The scope of the contract will include the construction of a new four-storey wing and will add about 23,225 sq m of space to the existing facility.The project will feature an emergency department, an ICU/CCU about four times larger than the current space, a maternal newborn unit and an ambulatory procedures unit.Designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver certification, the Phase 1 Patient Tower Project is expected to create 300 jobs at the construction peak. Infrastructure Ontario president and CEO Bert Clark said: "Infrastructure Ontario is proud to partner with William Osler Health System to deliver the Etobicoke General Hospital expansion — another great example of what can be achieved through public-private partnerships."Construction work will commence immediately and is anticipated to be complete in late 2018.
US-based developer VanTrust Real Estate is set to construct the first phase of the $1bn Frisco Station mixed-use project in Texas
Bayhealth Medical Center has received approval for the construction of a new health campus in southern Delaware, USA.The $300M project, designed by CannonDesign, will be developed on a 165-acre site and will offer inpatient and outpatient care services. CannonDesign’s senior vice president Troy Hoggard said: “Our team explored southern Delaware to learn more about the landscape and we used our findings as inspiration in developing a concept for the exterior façade of the hospital and outpatient centre.“What we found were sprawling farmlands, waves crashing onto the beaches, and sand rippled after a summer storm, and each is reflected in our design.”The work on the project is set to commence in spring 2016.
UK-based construction firm Laing O’Rourke has secured a £76.2m contract from Imperial College London’s development management partners Voreda to build a residential tower.
German automobile manufacturer Daimler has unveiled plans to build a new €500m production facility in Poland.The new plant will be located in Jawor, about 70km west of Wroclaw, and will manufacture four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. Markus Schäfer, member of the divisional board Mercedes-Benz Cars, production and supply chain management, said: “The planned establishment of a new engine plant in Poland is a further step in our global growth strategy.“Capacity expansion in Eastern Europe reflects the increasingly international orientation of our powertrain production compound. This will lead to more flexibility and efficiency in our worldwide production network.”Frank Deiß, head of production powertrain Mercedes-Benz Cars and site manager of the Mercedes-Benz plant at Untertürkheim, said: “With the new facility in Jawor, we want to start the second engine production of Mercedes-Benz Cars outside Germany.“This allows us to react flexibly to market changes across several plants. The powertrain production compound is managed by the lead plant in Untertürkheim.”The plant is scheduled to commence production in 2019.
UK-based Caddick Construction has been selected by Derwent Group to develop a £100m retail and leisure site on Edge Lane in Liverpool.To be known as Liverpool Shopping Park, the 727,000sq ft mixed-use commercial development will include 41 retail units, parking for 1,500 cars and leisure space.The project, designed by AEW Architects, also involves the construction of industrial units and two large retail units.Phase one of the development, known as Western Quarter, will feature 92,500sq ft of retail space.Derwent Group’s managing director David Lyons said: “This is a transformative project and the final piece of Liverpool’s retail puzzle. Liverpool Shopping Park will bring branded fashion retailers, restaurants and leisure operators together in an out-of-town location, complete with plenty of free parking and great access in and out of the city.“This is a sizeable and strategic £100m investment for the Derwent Group and it will deliver much needed regeneration and jobs in this part of the city. “It’s taken some time to get this project on the table but everything is now in place for work to begin in earnest in April. We are delighted to be working with Caddick Construction again.”
London-based residential developer Anthology has submitted plans to Brent Council to transform Amex House in Wembley into contemporary apartments. The developer wants to convert the 16-acre site, which formerly served as an office base for a civil engineering firm, into 195 housing units.Designed by GRID Architects, the project will feature a mixed tenure of affordable and private homes.Anthology’s executive director Adam Gaymer said: “We have worked closely with local residents and the council to ensure that our proposals offer a positive benefit to the local area. Aside with creating a unique space for people to live, work and play, these plans will create jobs, provide a boost the local economy and deliver much needed homes.“Amex House which will be known as ‘Anthology Wembley Parade’ forms part of our growing London portfolio and reflects our policy of investing in prime regeneration sites. We look forward to enhancing communities and unlocking the potential of other sites around London in the near future.”Anthology expects to secure planning approval in summer 2016 and construction work is set to commence in autumn 2016 with homes for sale in 2017. The project is expected to be completed in 2018.
Hochtief has been selected as the general contractor by the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) for the construction of the €200m Mercedes Platz public space in Berlin. The construction site, which is located in front of the Mercedes-Benz Arena next to the East Side Gallery, will be handed over to Hochtief this month and its ground-breaking will take place on 6 June 2016.AEG’s real estate and development vice president Michael Kötter said: “We are delighted that in Hochtief we have acquired a reliable partner with great experience of major projects for the construction of Mercedes Platz. Our agreement ensures that the project will be completed on time and within budget.”Hochtief Building Berlin branch manager Thilo Warlich said: “We are honored by the trust Anschutz has placed in us to build Mercedes Platz.“We have already prepared thoroughly for the project in an effective pre-construction phase, and implemented technical optimizations. We look forward to this exciting construction challenge and an excellent working relationship with Anschutz.”The project is set to be completed in late 2018.
Dublin City University (DCU) has unveiled a €230m capital development plan to transform the multi-campus university. The five-year development will improve the university’s capacity in research and innovation. The construction of a new student centre, new sports facilities, additional on-campus accommodation and 21st century digital teaching spaces are also part of the transformation.€54m of funding provided by Ireland Strategic Investment Fund will be used to improve facilities on the All Hallows Campus and the construction of student accommodation.It will also facilitate the construction of two new floors on the F Building on the St Patrick’s College campus.On the Glasnevin campus, the finance will allow a buy-back of existing campus residences and construction of an additional on-campus student housing project.
The Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah is planning to construct a $740m concourse north of the existing terminal. The new concourse is expected to accommodate forecasted growth in passenger traffic and replace aging facilities.The project is in addition to the South Concourse, which is just starting construction as part of the Salt Lake City Department of Airport’s (SLCDA) Terminal Redevelopment Program (TRP).The new facility will increase the TRP from $1.8bn to $2.6bn and will replace existing gates on Concourses B, C and D, which have deficiencies that would require costly renovations if retained.The plans are on to include a flexible gate layout to serve a mix of aircraft sizes, even though the concourse will primarily be used for narrow-body and small, wide-body aircraft.The north concourse layout will allow an additional 15 gates to be added to the east for a total of 45 gates. Further, a passenger tunnel will be built to connect the North Concourse to the South Concourse and the new terminal.Phase one of the construction work will commence on the west portion of the building and is set to be finished in 2020, in conjunction with the opening of the South Concourse-West and the new terminal.
US-based chemical company Chemours is set to build a new $230m facility in Ingleside, Texas. The new move is part of the company’s five-point transformation plan to invest in large-scale manufacturing to expand supply of its Opteon family of products.Set to be built over three years, the new facility will be located at the Chemours Corpus Christi site and it is expected to triple the production capacity of Opteon products.The new plant will use an innovative, patented process to produce Opteon YF (HFO - 1234yf), which is used in automotive air conditioning and in Opteon refrigerant blends for a range of applications.Chemours’ president and CEO Mark Vergnano said: “Opteon products were developed in response to increasingly stringent environmental regulations, and in many cases they perform better than the products they replace.“This is another step in our transformation plan, and is a shining example of how Chemours is investing in innovative growth opportunities as we become a higher value chemistry company, delivering essential solutions that improve the quality of life.”The site is expected to be operational in the third quarter of 2018.
Texas A&M University System chancellor John Sharp has unveiled plans for a new $150m research and development (R&D) campus. The new project will be located at the Riverside Campus, in the former Bryan Air Base, a World War II facility that Texas A&M University acquired in 1962. The 2,000-acre tract will be named the Rellis Campus.The $150m investment includes $25m to demolish 32 old buildings, rebuild roads and update utilities. The base's chapel and two hangars will be renovated in recognition of the site's role of training pilots for the World War II.Construction of the first building is likely to begin in September 2016 and the $25m in upgrades is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.
Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Hungary is set to expand its activities in Hungary by investing HUF185bn (€594m) in its Kecskemét factory.The investment includes the construction of a new HUF80bn (about €265m) bodywork plant.The project will also include the development and expansion of the company's existing capacities, with the 99,000 sq m facility due to be fitted with the latest technology.Hungary Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó pointed out that this is the largest investment in Hungary to be announced within the past 18 months.Szijjártó added: "Hungary and every Hungarian can be rightfully proud of the fact that one of the world's largest and most innovative automotive industry companies has manufactured more than half a million cars in Kecskemét during the past four years."Construction is already underway and is projected to be completed by 2018.Kecskemét Fidesz mayor Klaudia Pataki Szemereyné said: "The new investment is a message that Mercedes, which in addition to its 4,000 direct employees also provides a living for a further 10,000 people, is also proud of Kecskemét and is not only one of the city's largest employers but is also a partner, ally and friend to the city."
Construction work is set to commence shortly on the £100m Shieldhall Tunnel project in Glasgow. The Costain-Vinci Construction Grands Projets Joint Venture project is a key part of Scottish Water's £250m five-year programme of work that began in 2013 with the aim to improve river water quality and the natural environment and tackle flooding in the Greater Glasgow area.The tunnel, between Craigton and Queen's Park, will follow a 3.1-mile long route. The front sections of the 1,000t TBM, to be used in the construction, have already arrived in Glasgow from Germany and its remaining parts will be delivered and assembled in the next few weeks. The complete TBM will measure 180m in length.Construction of the trench is already underway and is scheduled to be completed by the end of May 2016. The Shieldhall Tunnel is projected to take more than a year to complete.
Braeburn Estates, a joint venture between Canary Wharf Group and Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, has broken ground on the £1bn Southbank Place mixed-use development at London's Shell Centre tower site.The Shell Tower will anchor the development that will feature five residential buildings and two buildings for business use.Canary Wharf Group said that 80% of the apartments, equating to 800 units, in five buildings are already sold. The two business buildings will total up to 530,000sq ft. Southbank Place will also house 48,000sq ft of retail outlets, restaurants and cafés.The project is expected to create over 13,000 construction and supply chain jobs in total and when completed, Southbank Place is expected to employ over 6,000 workers.Canary Wharf Group CEO Sir George Iacobescu said: "This is an area that has long been neglected, but will offer the best of all worlds, from the bustling culture of the South Bank to some spectacular views of the most recognised landmarks in the Capital, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben."Southbank Place is also playing a major role in the development of the local community by creating new jobs, providing affordable housing and stimulating the growth of local businesses through our South London Procurement Network initiative."Construction work is slated to be complete by 2019.
Construction has started on phase one of the £107m Warrington Time Square regeneration project that will transform the centre of the UK town into a contemporary marketplace. The development will house a Cineworld Cinema, a new 42,000sq ft market hall, restaurants, retail units, new council offices, a 1,100-space multi-storey car park and a new public square. The new 25,000sq ft retail shell will temporarily house the town's market while the £10m market hall is built.During the construction phase, about 400 workers will be employed and when completed, Warrington's Time Square regeneration project will create 400 new permanent jobs in the leisure, retail and hospitality sectors.Steve Green, director for the North West region at Gleeds, which is providing cost management services to the project, said: "We are really excited to see work begin on the Time Square development and believe the project is pivotal in regenerating and revitalising Warrington town centre."Not only will Time Square create hundreds of jobs for the community and help boost the local economy, it also will help attract inward investment to the region."The project, undertaken by Muse Developments and Warrington & Co. on behalf of Warrington Borough Council, is expected to be completed in 2019.
UK-based property developer Nikal has received planning approval to build a £100m 603-unit residential project in Birmingham, UK. The development, known as Exchange Square, will be located between Birmingham's central business district and Eastside City Park, close to the proposed HS2 railway terminal in Birmingham City Centre.Designed by Stephenson Studio, the development will feature a range of one- and two-bedroom units alongside a small number of studios, and will be built across three blocks of 27, 16 and nine levels.It will also include 27,500sq ft of ground floor retail and leisure space; 186 car parking slots; a 5,000sq ft members' club-style hub and a landscaped rooftop garden covering over 20,000sq ft.Nikal’s managing director Nick Payne said: "Exchange Square is a development of both regional and national importance due to its location within a major area of investment and regeneration right next door to the proposed HS2 terminal."Now that planning consent has been secured we are in a position to bring forward the first phase of what we are sure will be an exemplar scheme for Birmingham's residential market."Construction work is expected to begin in mid-2016, with completion of the first block scheduled in 2018 and the final block before the end of 2019.