Groundbreaking held for Valencia College West Campus Building 10 in Orlando

A groundbreaking ceremony was recently held for Valencia College West Campus Building 10, a new $13.3 million, 59, 511-sf facility now under way in Orlando by the design-build team of SchenkelShultz Architecture and McCree General Contractors, both of Orlando.

The three-story facility will house Valencia’s Continuing and International Education, as well as the Office of Information Technology. One unique feature will be the high-tech “Collaboratory” which includes approximately 12,000-sf of dedicated space specifically designed to enhance and promote creative discourse for groups ranging in size from 3 to 80 participants.

The collaboratory concept is intended to support multiple sizes and types of meetings simultaneously. The intent of this collection of spaces is to provide a place for idea generation, strategic planning, and execution of ideas among students, faculty and even visiting members of the business community. Slated for completion in January 2013, Building 10 will also offer classrooms, a testing center, administrative offices and additional meeting rooms. The facility is slated to achieve a Level 2 Green Globes Certification.

SchenkelShultz also designed Valencia College at Lake Nona’s new $21,750,000 Classroom Building now under construction, and provided the initial master plan study for the new 23-acre Lake Nona campus located southeast of Orlando International Airport. Scheduled for completion in July 2012, the three-story, 82,280-sf facility will be the first of four planned buildings at Valencia’s Lake Nona campus. BD+C

Peter W. Rutti, AIA, Associate Principal and Project Director of Westlake Reed Leskosky, has been appointed Director of Design of the Phoenix, Arizona studio of the nationally recognized architects, engineers, and technology designers. The announcement recognizes the design excellence, leadership, and continued growth of the national and international practice of the integrated design firm in the western region.

| Feb 14, 2013

Peter Bardwell named 2013 president of the American College of Healthcare Architects

The Board of Regents of the American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA) has named Peter L. Bardwell, FAIA, FACHA of Columbus, Ohio as 2013 national President.

| Feb 13, 2013

Department store concept by OMA's Koolhaas, Alsaka draws inspiration from open-air Arab marketplaces

The Exhibition Hall, a retail concept planned in Kuwait City's 360° Mall, will meld cultural and commerce spaces in a series of galleries reminiscent of the long passages of the souq—traditional, open-air marketplaces found in Arab cities.