Makeover for Madison Middle School

Originally built in 1890, Madison #1 Middle School sits on site with the Madison Elementary School District offices on 16th St. in Phoenix. Working with members of the school district and DL Withers Construction, DLR Group of Phoenix designed the $16.1 million Construction Management at Risk Project, which will include three new buildings totaling 101,000-sq.-ft.

Set on 15.8 acres, the new facility will be built on the site of the current ball fields and parking lot. The first building will include a new gymnasium, cafeteria and locker rooms. Building two will house administrative offices for the school and district, as well as the new library. The final building is a two-story structure for classrooms. With the need for updated technology, classrooms will include wireless access for computers, digital smart boards and video technology.

Phase I is targeted for completion in March 2007. At that time, students and staff will move into the new school and the old facilities will be demolished to make room for construction of the new ball fields, basketball courts and parking lot. The school is projected to hold 440 students in grades 5-8 with final completion targeted for Fall 2007.

Tempe Lands Biotech Lab Facility

The City of Tempe will welcome a new biotech/laboratory facility along with a Class "A," LEED certified corporate office >> facility, both totaling 260,000-sq.-ft., following the signing of an 82-year ground lease between San Diego-based developer Chesnut Properties and Papago Park Center, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Salt River Project. Papago Gateway Corporate Center will be located on the five-acre site at the northwest corner of Mill Avenue and Washington Street.

Construction is expected to begin in September on a 225,000-sq.-ft., six-story corporate office building. Additionally, a 35,000-sq.-ft. building that will be the city's first speculative biotech/laboratory facility is planned as well. The anticipated completion date for the project is January 2008.

The new development is intended to accommodate emerging biotech start-up companies with requirements as small as 1,500-sq.-ft.

Designed by The Smith Group, the Class "A" office building will include a full-service cafeteria, fitness center, a 900-car parking structure and desertscape with cooling reflective ponds.

Summit Builders to Construct Corporate Center

Summit Builders Construction Company is set to break ground this month on the Whispering Winds Corporate Center located just southeast of 23rd Avenue and Whispering Winds Drive in Phoenix for Vazza/BN Phoenix LLC.

The office complex will encompass 76,376-sq.-ft. within two buildings. The two-story buildings will feature an elaborate lobby with a combination of exposed structural
steel and glass. The building shells will be tilt panel construction.

Construction commences this month with a nine-month schedule duration. DFD CornoyerHedrick, of Phoenix, serves as project architect.

Eight Charter Schools in Design and Construction

Modular Technology is currently in various stages of design and construction of permanent charter schools located throughout the Valley. Projects range from new campuses to additions to existing campuses.

Modular Technology has built 17 charter schools plus additions on most of those campuses since the Arizona Legislature approved the charter concept. Schools in design include: the 34,000-sq.-ft. Franklin High School at Power Road & Guadalupe
in Mesa; the 11,000-sq.-ft. Pinnacle Point Academy on West Pinnacle Peak Road in Glendale; the Benjamin Franklin School, a 63,000-sq.-ft. K-8 campus at Power Road
& Ocotillo in Queen Creek; and the 30,000-sq.-ft., two-story addition to the Sequoia School on South Horne in Mesa.

Schools currently in construction include: North Pointe Preparatory, a 10,000-sq.-ft. classroom building in Phoenix; Precision Academy in Phoenix; and Air Academy, a 35,500-sq.-ft. campus at 51st Avenue & Southern.

Renovation Begins for Airline Training Center Arizona

Construction is currently underway on a renovation project for Lufthansa Airlines pilot dormitories in Goodyear, Arizona.

Located at the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport, the project includes the renovation of two, two-story buildings totaling 28,450-sq.-ft. In addition to 100 dormitory units, the buildings will feature a television lounge as well as a recreational area complete with billiards room.

The owner of the $2.8 million project is Airline Training Center Arizona, a pilot school that is a 100 percent subsidiary of Lufthansa German. The architect is TranSystems Corporation which is also currently working with Weitz on the Terminal 4 Retail Renovation project.