Educational Tech Campus Breaks Ground

The Educational Technology Campus broke ground, with Clark County School District and Vegas PBS joining forces to create this $37.5 million project located on East Flamingo and McCloud. The $37.5 million building nearly completes a $61 million capital “Campaign for the Digital Future” launched in 2000 by Vegas PBS.

The Educational Technology Campus will house Vegas PBS studios and offices, the CCSD Virtual High School, and emergency response data casting operations to backup Nevada’s Homeland Security capacities. 

Martin-Harris Construction is the general contractor and the architect is JMA. The three-story campus totals 112,000 sq ft and once completed, will be applying for LEED gold certification.  Green building features include a light-colored parking lot to reduce urban heat island effects, geothermal wells to lower cooling costs, solar-voltaic panels, recycled steel, wood products from replanted forests, recycled or agriculturally-based floor and wall coverings, energy-efficient window and shading systems and water-use reduction systems.

JMA and Martin-Harris received the first Public Works LEED certification in Nevada for the CCSN Telecommunication building on the Cheyenne Campus.

The Educational Technology Campus is scheduled for completion in October 2008.

St. Bridget’s Catholic Church Underway

Construction for St. Bridget’s Catholic Church is underway, with JVC Architects as the design firm. The 18,168-sq-ft, two-story church, at 220 N. 14th St. in downtown Las Vegas, features an old mission-style design, masonry building, separate chapel, covered walkways and stained glass. Stone similar to the type used in the original 1940s church will be included in the new building. The second phase of the project consists of offices and meeting rooms. Once complete, the new church will contribute to the city’s current revitalization of the downtown area.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Las Vegas and His Successors contracted JVC Architects for the $4.5 million project that is scheduled for completion in December. Burke and Associates Inc. is the general contractor, and JVC’s Robert Agapay is serving as project manager.

Graham Downes Designs New Vegas Residential Condo

San Diego-based Graham Downes Architecture has design underway for ArtHaus, a new 132,200-sq-ft residential condominium building located on South Casino Drive between East Charleston and East California streets in Las Vegas. The new building will include 78 modern work-force condominium units with an additional 81 parking spaces for residents and visitors. The units will be housed in a four-story, wood-framed building, which will be constructed over a grade-level, concrete parking podium. Each unit within the $14 million project will feature an expansive, private outdoor living space. Construction is slated to begin in December, with completion scheduled for December 2008.

Art Central LLC is the owner of the building, while Blokhaus Development LP, is serving as the project developer. The project team for Graham Downes Architecture includes Graham Downes as principal-in-charge, with Vaki Mawema serving as designer and project manager.

Crisci Commences Construction of Bank and Offices

Crisci Builders has begun construction of the Colonial Bank at 1440 Paseo Verde Pkwy.

Colonial Bank contracted Crisci Builders for the 3,900-sq-ft, one-story project. The general contractor will provide ground-up, shell construction and interior build out for the project, which is the first new national prototype of Colonial Bank’s to be built in Nevada. Crisci Builders has prior experience in constructing banking centers, having built four Colonial Banks in Las Vegas.

Construction began in July, and the bank is scheduled to open in December. Houston-based RS&H Architects-Engineers-Planners Inc. is the architect of record. Crisci Builders Vice President Rick Ramberg is serving as project manager and Frank Barrera as superintendent for the $1.5 million project.

Crisci also has been contracted to complete tenant improvement services for Fertitta Enterprises, a 9,024-sq-ft office space at 10801 W. Charleston Rd. Construction began in July and is scheduled for completion this month. Parker Scaggiari is the architect of record. Crisci Builders’ Courtney Fong is serving as project manager and Brandon Parkinson as superintendent for the $1 million project.

Forest City Plans Development in Las Vegas

Forest City Enterprises Inc. has acquired a 60% interest in a 12.7-acre site in downtown Las Vegas.

Forest City acquired its 60% interest in the site from entrepreneurial real estate developer Livework LLC, which will hold the remaining 40% interest in the property. The total cost of the site is approximately $136 million. KeyBank National Association was the lead lender on the transaction.

Forest City and Livework intend to work with city officials to develop a major regional transportation terminal, city office buildings and other commercial buildings on the five-city-block site, strategically located in the downtown business and city government district, which includes City Hall.

Meadow Valley Awarded New Construction Contracts

Meadow Valley Corp. was awarded two new construction contracts valued at a total of $15.6 million.

The first, a $12.4 million contract by Clark County, Nev. to construct on and off ramps and a new bridge at the Bruce Woodbury Beltway/Lake Mead Interchange in Las Vegas. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2008.

The company also won a $3.3 million contract from the Arizona Department of Transportation for milling, re-paving and other improvements on SR 347 in Maricopa County, approximately 15 miles south of Phoenix. This project is scheduled to be completed in December.

Developers Acquire Downtown Vegas Travel Inn

The Siegel Group Inc. and Tippins Holdings have completed the acquisition of the former Travel Inn, a 58-unit hotel located on Las Vegas Boulevard in downtown’s new entertainment district, Fremont East. The property, which is currently vacated, is comprised of two parcels situated on one-half acre and is contiguous to the Gold Spike Casino and in close proximity to The Lady Luck Casino which is being acquired by Hollywood-based developers the CIM Group. The purchase price was $5 million with financing provided by First Regional Bank of California. Principals Stephen Siegel and John U. Tippins IV are strategizing future plans and say they have been contacted by several large developers interested in helping to develop the site.

Located in the heart of downtown, the Fremont East District sits adjacent to the Fremont Street Experience. The city of Las Vegas in conjunction with local businesses is aggressively revitalizing the downtown area and recently completed a $5.5 million streetscaping effort. 

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