• GVA goes international! Preliminary designs have been produced for a new 18-story office building in Puyang, China for Puyang Bank and CENTRIA. GVA is currently evaluating other business opportunities in China with the assistance of CENTRIA, a Pittsburgh, PA based manufacturer of wall, roof and flooring systems.

• GVA has completed the construction documents for the last of three five story, 165,000 s.f. office buildings at the Cedar Knolls section of National Business Park. The first structure is currently under construction and is expected to be occupied by Summer 2005. GVA is also completing drawings for a new two level, 230-car parking deck at the same site. The projects are all being designed for Columbia, MD based Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) who has consistently been one of the top-performing REITS in the nation.

• In addition, construction was recently completed on the addition and renovation to the four-story Airport Square One office building in Linthicum, MD. The renovation also included the design of a new 130-car parking deck and tenant fit-out work for the building’s new sole tenant, Northrop Grumman.

• Other interior design work for COPT includes recently completed space planning for CMSI and Essex Corp., both in Columbia, MD, as well as a series of interior renovations in Linthicum, MD.

 

• Also on the developer front, construction is commencing on a new two-story 45,000 s.f. office building in Hanover. MD for Manekin, LLC.  GVA was contracted for both the shell building and interior space planning for that project.

• Highlandtown Elementary School is ready to proceed into the Bid Phase of the project. This $11 million project for Baltimore City Public Schools will gut and renovate the interior of the existing (c. 1926) structure and add a new 52,000 s.f., three-story addition to bring the total square footage to 75,600 s.f. Construction is to begin early next year with occupancy in the fall of 2006.

• Bank projects continue to be a significant staple in the GVA portfolio. We are designing new office space for Chesapeake Bank in Baltimore, a branch renovation for Susquehanna Bank in Edgewater, Maryland, renovations to Patapsco Bank’s headquarters in Baltimore and renovations to Northwest Bank (formerly Leeds Federal). Also, construction was recently completed on renovations to Rosedale Federal’s Churchville branch.

• Construction is ongoing at the renovations to the Harbor Bank Building at Charles Center in Baltimore. GVA is providing interior design and furniture specifications for the entire $1.2 million project. Harbor Bank has also contracted GVA to provide design and construction services for its new 2,500 s.f. branch at the UMMS Bio-Research Park in Baltimore.

• Work continues in Leonardtown, MD on the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center for St. Mary’s County Public Schools. The $19 million, 130,000 s.f. facility is currently in Phase 4 (of 5) and is due to be completed in the Fall of 2005. The facility contains a new NASA Lab, Aviation Suite and Hospitality/Conference Center along with the complete array of more traditional programs. The nearly Patuxent River Naval Air Station is expected to benefit greatly from its presence.