Project

Development firm Ryan Companies has announced its plans to commence the construction of a 24-storey office tower in Texas, US, in early 2022.

The construction work of the tower, which has already been 50% pre-leased and designed by architecture firm Gensler, is scheduled for completion in Q1 2024.

The Class AA multi-tenant tower is already pre-leased to Ryan, LLC, a global tax services and software provider.

The firm, which is not affiliated with Ryan Companies, will relocate its corporate headquarters from the nearby Galleria Office Towers as an anchor tenant.

Ryan, LLC senior vice-president and chief real estate officer Robert Wertz said: “The office space and immediate surrounding area offer unparalleled amenities that will provide a superb experience for our employees.

“In addition, the location is desirable due to its close proximity to many of our clients and employee residences in the dynamic Plano and Frisco areas.”

JLL plans to lease the remaining 200,000ft² area of the tower, which is located at the intersection of State Highway 121 and Windrose Drive.

Image: Artist rendering of a building in the Masaar project. Credit: Arada Developments

Project

Construction of University of Arizona’s new research building begins

The University of Arizona in the US has started the construction of the new $99m Grand Challenges Research Building.

Located on Cherry Avenue between East University Boulevard and East Fourth Street, the new seven-storey building will feature laboratories and flexible research space.

The ground floor of the new University of Arizona building will consist of public spaces, study areas and meeting rooms to support student engagement and instruction.

In addition, the building will include three floors, which will be dedicated to research laboratories and offices for centres, as well as cross-campus interdisciplinary programmes.

Design

SmartCentres reveals plans for Canada’s new mixed-use art district

SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust has unveiled plans for ArtWalk, the new mixed-use art district in the SmartVMC development of the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC), Canada.

The 100-acre, 20-million-square-feet SmartVMC city centre is located close to major thoroughfares, including Highways 7, 400 and 407.

Planned to be developed by SmartCentres’ wholly-owned in-house residential development brand SmartLiving, the ArtWalk district will be built in four separate phases.

It will also include urban amenities and a nine-acre central park.

Aventon begins construction on new Florida apartment community

US-based real estate developer Aventon Companies has broken ground on Aventon Clearwater, an apartment community within the Tampa area submarket in Clearwater, Florida, US. The 396-unit apartment community, situated near major employers, beaches and shopping destinations, will comprise ten garden-style buildings with one, two and three-bedroom spacious floor plans.

Construction begins on 18,000-seat complex in California

AECOM has started construction on the new arena and event venue, Intuit Dome, in Inglewood, California, US. The new arena, home to the American professional basketball team LA Clippers, will feature a multi-purpose plaza, community basketball courts and space for the community to gather.

Dialog’s Glenbow Museum renovation work begins in Canada

Design firm Dialog has announced the start of $120m renovation work on the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Dialog-designed renovation on the art and history regional museum is planned for completion in three years. Significant upgrades to the mechanical systems of the existing building are also planned to be renovated to reduce its impact on the environment.

Virginia Tech breaks ground on Innovation Campus

Virginia Tech in the US has commenced construction of its Innovation Campus located in North Potomac Yard, Alexandria. Planned to open for students in 2024, the 11-storey building will be built on an approximately 3.5-acre campus in the 19-acre first phase of a new mixed-use development and innovation district.