Midwest Has Three-Month Slide in Design Billings

It's a mixed picture in architecture billings for Midwestern designers.

The Midwest had the lowest regional score in architecture billings in August, but billings surged nationwide, according to the American Institute of Architects' Architecture Billings Index.

The Midwest is developing a no-growth trend with the third straight month of a score below 50, the dividing line between an increase and decrease in billings. In August, the Midwest scored, 49.1. The region scored 48.2 in July and 46.8 in June.

Looking nationwide, the ABI jumped to its highest mark since July 2005.

The ABI rating was 59.5 nationwide-a score above 50 indicates an increase in billings-a rise from the 51.8 mark in July.

Demand for commercial/industrial projects is leading the way for increased billings. Based on the approximate six- to nine-month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending, the latest figures are encouraging for the overall economy because they suggest a strong outlook in the commercial construction market well into 2007.

The regional averages broke down as follows, West (61.2), Northeast (57.3) and South (56.7), in addition to the Midwest's 49.1.

The sector index had the following breakdown: commercial/industrial (61.4), institutional (55.7), mixed (53.9) and residential (48.0).

Redo, New Building Involved In St. Louis' Park Pacific

The $135 million Park Pacific condominium project in St. Louis is in planning and expected to start in early 2007.

The redevelopment at 210 N. 13th St. will have two components: the renovation of the existing, 22-story Missouri Pacific Building into the Parkside and the construction of a contemporary building known as the Cityside.

The existing, vacant building was constructed in 1928, and the 470,000-sq.-ft. building was home to the Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. and later the Union Pacific Railroad Co., until the latter began the relocation of its offices to Omaha, Neb., in 2004.

The building will feature a mix of uses. The basement, first floors and annex will be used as a mix of retail and restaurant space, while it is expected that floors 2-4 will be used as office space. The upper floors of Parkside will be converted to premier residential spaces, offering 30 apartments and 140
condominiums.

Cityside consists of the construction of a 14-story, 75,000-sq.-ft. structure with a mix of residential and commercial space and a parking garage with approximately 730 spaces. The ground floor is projected to be 13,700 sq. ft. of retail or restaurant space, and the construction of 42 condominium units on the upper floors.

The units range from the $190,000s to $1.5 million and will be open for residents to move in by fall 2008 (Parkside) and winter 2009 (Cityside).

First LEED Building Opens in Indiana

The Isaac Ray Treatment Center in Logansport recently became the first new-construction building in Indiana to receive LEED certification. A renovation project in Jasper was the first to receive LEED overall.

The treatment center is also the first government sector health care facility in the country to receive the LEED honor, which is awarded by the United States Green Building Council. Isaac Ray earned Silver certification.

Construction on the 113,000-sq.-ft. structure began in winter 2003 and was completed in summer 2005 for $21.3 million.

Hagerman Construction Co. in Indianapolis was the general contractor, and Scholer Corp. of Lafayette was the architect.