Under Construction

Under Construction: Top Facility Projects of December 2022

Welcome to the inaugural installment of Facilities Management Advisor‘s “Under Construction,” a new series that will highlight some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. From major renovations to completely new builds, the series will cover construction projects at schools, factories, hospitals, stadiums, and more.

$9.5B JFK New Terminal One Project

The John F. Kennedy International Airport, one of the busiest passenger airports in the world, is getting a massive facelift. The New Terminal One project will be built in phases on the sites of the current Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, as well as the former Terminal 3.

Courtesy: Gov. Hochul’s office

  • Companies/organizations: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; NTO finance consortium including Ferrovial, Carlyle, JLC Infrastructure, and Ullico
  • Location: New York City
  • Type of project: Renovation/new build
  • Size: 2.4 million square feet
  • Estimated cost: $9.5 billion
  • Design-build team: AECOM Tishman and Gensler
  • Status: Ground broken Sept. 8, 2022
  • Expected completion: Phase 1 – 2026, Phase 2 – 2030

Interesting tidbit: In keeping with the port authority’s commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the New Terminal One project will include on-site renewable energy generation, electric ground support equipment, and optimized lighting and building controls.

Quote: “Our state-of-the-art renovations of New York State’s airports are critical and long overdue—especially at JFK, the nation’s front door to the world,” said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. “The investments we are making today will ensure all New Yorkers, and the tens of millions of people who come here every year, have a first-class travel experience tomorrow—all while creating more than 10,000 jobs. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who has put in the years of hard work to make this transformative project possible.”

More details available here.

AU Little Rock Campus Improvements

During a Dec. 2. ceremony, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock broke ground on a series of campus improvement and renovation projects. Partly funded by a $5.5 million grant from the Donaghey Foundation, key projects include a new north-to-south promenade called Trojan Way and a new Library Plaza.

Courtesy: AU Little Rock/Ben Krain

  • Organization: AU Little Rock
  • Location: Little Rock, Ark.
  • Type of project: Renovation/new build
  • Size: N/A
  • Estimated cost: $9.7 million
  • Design-build team: WER Architects and Nabholz Construction
  • Status: Construction started in October
  • Expected completion: Late 2023

Interesting tidbit: The university has demolished a former education building that went unused “for some time” in order to allow for the creation of additional campus green spaces.

Quote: “The upcoming campus improvements will transform the UA Little Rock campus for many years to come,” said Chancellor Christina Drale. “By providing shaded spaces, gathering areas, and additional seating, we are creating an atmosphere that will help foster connections and provide enhanced living-learning experiences for the campus community.”

More details available here.

Hyundai Electric Vehicle and Battery Factory

Showcasing the country’s ongoing shift toward clean energy and green transportation, Hyundai Motor Group has broken ground on its first fully dedicated electric vehicle (EV) and battery manufacturing facility at the Bryant County Megasite in Georgia. The automaker plans to build a “diverse range” of Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia EVs and batteries for the U.S. market.

Courtesy: Hyundai

  • Company: Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) LLC
  • Location: Bryant County, Ga.
  • Type of project: New build
  • Size: Being built on 2,967-acre Megasite
  • Estimated cost: $5.54 billion
  • Design-build team: N/A
  • Status: Construction expected January 2023
  • Expected completion: Commercial production in the first half of 2025

Interesting tidbit: Dubbed a “smart” factory, the plant will boast a highly connected, automated, and flexible manufacturing system. All processes of production—order collection, procurement, logistics, and production—will be optimized utilizing AI and data. The factory will also primarily rely on renewable energy sources to power operations and use emission-reduction technologies.

Quote: Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung said, “[W]e are determined to be the global leader in electrification, safety, quality, and sustainability.”

More details available here.

Tennessee Titans Stadium

The Tennessee Titans have proposed a new, enclosed stadium in Nashville that would serve as the NFL team’s home, as well as host sporting, entertainment, and civic events. A city-commissioned study found that renovating and maintaining the current Nissan Stadium could cost more public dollars than allowing the Titans to build and lease a new facility. The project has already scored several key approvals.

Courtesy: MANICA

  • Company: Tennessee Titans
  • Location: East side of current stadium in Nashville
  • Type of project: New build
  • Size: 1.7 million square feet; capacity of ~60,000
  • Estimated cost: $2.1 billion
  • Design-build team: Initial design concepts by MANICA and Hastings
  • Status: Under review
  • Expected completion: As early as 2026

Interesting tidbit: Plans call for a circular-shaped, high-tech ETFE translucent roof so the stadium can host events year-long and further the building’s structural longevity by shielding itself from the elements. However, the team isn’t interested in a retractable roof. According to a FAQs sheet, “After researching venues with retractable roofs, we found that most are very lightly used and that they often have costly mechanical issues, so the enclosure on the new stadium will likely not be retractable.”

Quote: “We’re focused on designing a stadium capable of hosting a prestigious international event on a Sunday and a steady flow of impactful community programming later that same week,” said Titans President and CEO Burke Nihill. “This is a building that would serve Nashville and Tennessee for generations.”

More details available here.

Massachusetts General Hospital

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and a founding member of Mass General Brigham, broke ground on a new “state-of-the-art” clinical care facility. The Cambridge Street Project will include two impatient towers home to the Mass General Cancer Center and the Corrigan Minehan Heart Center. Six levels of underground parking will replace the outdated Parkman Garage.

Courtesy: MGH

  • Company: MGH
  • Location: Boston
  • Type of project: New build
  • Size: More than 1.5 million square feet
  • Estimated cost: N/A
  • Design-build team: NBBJ and Turner/Walsh
  • Status: Ground broken Oct. 28
  • Expected completion: Opening in multi-year phases between 2027 and 2030

Interesting tidbit: The sustainable structure will be powered almost entirely using renewable electricity. Built to withstand major flooding and high winds, the building will be MGH’s most resilient, serving the most vulnerable patients by providing its own energy and systems for up to 96 hours during natural or manmade disasters.

Quote: “This building will be the most important Mass General constructs in our history—perhaps only second to our original Bulfinch building dating back to 1811,” said David F. M. Brown, MD, president of MGH.

More details available here.

Do you have a major project announcement you’d like considered for the “Under Construction” series? Please contact Editor Joe Bebon at JBebon@BLR.com.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *