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

The project team members include owner Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York; design architect and interior designer of the restaurant, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, New York; executive architect, FXFOWLE, New York; and architect and interior designer of the film center, Rockwell Group, New York; structural engineer Arup (AISC Member), New York; and general contractor Turner Construction Company (AISC Member), New York.

| Nov 9, 2011

Sika Sarnafil Roof Recycling Program recognized by Society of Plastics Engineers

Program leads the industry in recovering and recycling roofing membrane into new roofing products.

| Nov 9, 2011

American Standard Brands joins the Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium

American Standard will collaborate with other organizations to build an industry-wide sustainability performance index.

| Nov 8, 2011

Transforming a landmark coastal resort

Originally built in 1973, the building had received several alterations over the years but the progressive deterioration caused by the harsh salt water environment had never been addressed.

| Nov 8, 2011

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Moisture-related failures in agglomerated floor tiles

Agglomerated tiles offer an appealing appearance similar to natural stone at a lower cost. To achieve successful installations, manufacturers should provide design data for moisture-related dimensional changes, specifiers should require in-situ moisture testing similar to those used for other flooring materials, and the industry should develop standards for fabrication and installation of agglomerated tiles.