Construction started on veterinary training center
Breslin Builders has begun work on the $16 million Oquendo Center for Clinical Education, the first training center for the Western Veterinary Conference.
The 70,000-square-foot multipurpose facility at Eastern Avenue and Oquendo Road will house conference administrative offices, a 200-seat teaching auditorium, meeting rooms and flexible learning areas with hands-on laboratories appropriate for all species.
Larger animals such as cows, horses and sheep will be kept in a barn; smaller animals will be kept in dedicated surgical suites.
"It's quite unique," contractor Jack Breslin said. "It's going to bring in veterinary doctors from all over."
He said the building is all masonry and about 40 percent complete. Roof trusses are going up in 30 days. The center is scheduled to open in late 2008.
The new building will allow the Western Veterinary Conference to expand its education programs from one week a year to 52 weeks, conference Executive Director Guy Pidgeon said. About 10,000 to 15,000 veterinarians, technicians and other veterinary professionals attend the conference each year.
The conference, one of the largest assemblies of veterinary practitioners in the world, provides continuing education and comprehensive, practical content for the veterinary industry. The College of Southern Nevada has a two-year veterinary technician training program there.
Breslin is also building the $17 million, 75,000-square-foot headquarters for Las Vegas-based Allegiant Airlines at Durango Drive and Windmill Lane in the southwest valley. The airline expanded service to 43 U.S. cities from Las Vegas before recently announcing six route cuts.
CENTENNIAL WEST: A father-son team is developing the 40-acre Centennial West industrial project in the speedway corridor of North Las Vegas.
Gene Monkarsh, co-owner of Los Angeles-based EJM Development, and his son, Larry Monkarsh, owner of Las Vegas-based LM Construction, are starting with two distribution buildings totaling 158,000 square feet on 10 acres at Centennial Parkway and Mt. Hood Street.
Off-site work including streets, curbs, gutters and utilities is estimated at $3.1 million. Construction of the two buildings, scheduled for completion in fall 2008, is estimated at $8.7 million.
Southwest Gas has bought 10 acres at the project. The Monkarshes are holding the remaining 20 acres.
"The dwindling supply of available land and volatile industrial construction costs are limiting new construction," Larry Monkarsh said. "Businesswise we're able to keep costs down by being the land owner, developer and contractor."
OFFICES SOLD: California-based investment firm CIP Real Estate and its joint venture partner, Buchanan Street Partners, recently sold two single-story office buildings at Hughes Airport Center for $30.2 million.
The properties were part of a $145 million, 20-building portfolio acquired by CIP Real Estate and Buchanan Street Partners two years ago. The transaction follows the $115.5 million acquisition of nine buildings totaling more than 600,000 square feet of industrial and office space in Las Vegas that closed earlier this year.
CIP principal Eric Smyth said the strategy in selling the two properties was to dispose of buildings that don't coincide with the company's current portfolio requirements, capitalize on the favorable local market conditions and provide additional equity for future prospects.
"We are extremely bullish about Las Vegas' office and industrial markets," he said.
SCHOOL WORK: Martin-Harris Construction is building Rainbow Dreams Academy at Lake Mead Boulevard and LaSalle Street. The 17,000-square-foot nonprofit school is being funded by the Anthony J. Pollard Foundation at a cost of $4 million.
Martin-Harris is also building the 217,000-square-foot East Career Technical Campus for Clark County School District at Hollywood and Vegas Valley. Estimated construction cost is $73.4 million and completion is scheduled for August.
A third school project for Martin-Harris is the $37.9 million, 112,000-square-foot Educational Technology Campus, a joint effort by Vegas PBS and CCSD at Flamingo Road and MacLeod Road. The school, designed by JMA Architecture, will be a candidate for gold certification by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design upon completion in October 2008.
Contact reporter Hubble Smith at hsmith@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0491.cinfernce
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