DFW Development Goes Ahead With Varying or No COVID Alterations
While many of projects are moving forward in the COVID era, some construction alterations will be required on others, says Brian Nold, Adolfson & Peterson’s director of mechanical, electric and plumbing.
MIDLOTHIAN, TX—Adolfson & Peterson Construction, a construction management firm and general contractor, has developed Texas projects including the PGA of America headquarters in Frisco, Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas and several independent school district projects for Arlington ISD, Fort Worth ISD, Birdville ISD and Northwest ISD in the DFW area.
One of the most recent school district projects is Midlothian Heritage High School, where AP started renovations and construction of an addition last month. The $53 million project includes a 185,000-square-foot addition to Heritage High School, adding a second-level classroom wing, two gymnasiums, a fine arts complex, cafeteria expansion and four new athletics facilities.
AP will also construct a new entrance pavilion along with parking lot expansions and a new football field. In addition, the project will include renovations to the existing high school and gymnasium spaces.
Its estimated completion date is summer 2022. VLK Architects will serve as planning architect for the project.
While many of these projects are moving forward in the COVID era, some construction alterations will be required on others, says Brian Nold AP’s director of mechanical, electric and plumbing. These projects include a number of North Texas county government buildings with a variety of departments that are widely visited by the public, he says.
“Architectural and systems changes are going to become table stakes to protect from COVID and future pandemics. This means glass partitions being installed in courtrooms and added staircases to direct traffic flow,” Nold tells GlobeSt.com. “As for systems, UV lighting, while common in healthcare, is now being used in office buildings.”
Nold says this UV lighting includes bipolar ionization which charges particles that can be picked up or captured in an air handler. Other systems updates will include increased ventilation throughout a building, and touchless faucets and bottle fill stations.
The construction market in Dallas declined 7.5% overall in 2020, driven by decreases in the commercial and manufacturing sectors of 17.7% and 16.9%, respectively, according to Cumming Insights. Despite this decline, employment in the construction industry has kept to its pre-recession pattern of steady growth.