The renovation was made to accommodate the expanded curriculum that the IBEW offers to apprentices.

Work included the expansion of the capabilities of the laboratory, which now include instrumentation, fire alarms, PLCs, conveyors systems, structured wires, fiber optics, electronic keys, PBX and advanced computers.

In addition, a new glass-enclosed structure was built to showcase today's highly advanced systems that are installed by electricians. These include LON Works, Power Distribution to Voice, Data, Video and Talk-Back Paging.

will be put in place. Construction of River Plaza is expected to be completed in the spring 2004.

Construction began in March on the 150-acre site in the Rockefeller Group Foreign Trade Zone, which is located near Exit 8A on the New Jersey Turnpike.

The complex will consist of two buildings, a 300,000-sq.-ft. facility for furniture distribution and a 375,000-sq.-ft building for housewares. The latter may include a 10,000-sq.-ft. factory outlet store.

Both structures are design-build projects consisting of precast concrete perimeter walls, structural steel columns and a bar joist and truss roofing system with EPDM fully-adhered roofs.

Jeffery M. Brown Associates is the general contractor with construction expected to be completed by June 2004.

Manhattan Auto Group Embarks on Renovation

The Manhattan Auto Group has begun a $15 million renovation and redesign of its 360,000-sq.-ft. facility.

Work will include the construction of a 30-ft.-high atrium and circular balustrade, brand-exclusive "lifestyle theme salons" and a designer cafe.

In addition to the cafe, the showroom will incorporate a rock-climbing wall in the Ford Outfitters Center. Each brand will feature its own identity in the new facility.

Originally constructed in 1928, the Manhattan Auto Group plans to integrate the original architecture of the building with new design elements.

New Queens Courthouse Opens in Jamaica

The Queens Family Court & City Agency Facility was unveiled at a ceremony attended by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York Governor George Pataki.

Located at 151-20 Jamaica Ave., the complex will be the new home for the Family Court together with 12 city agencies. Included in the courthouse are 16 courtrooms, seven hearing rooms, chambers for 16 judges, 14 large waiting rooms, a children's center and Office of the Clerk of the Court.

Exterior finishes include buff brick and clear glass bay windows. The building is five stories with the fifth story being setback from the rest of the building.

Development team members include Pei Cobb Freed & Partners/Gruzen Samton Associated Architects, architect; Bovis Lend Lease, construction manager; Dormitory Authority State of New York, project manager and financing; and the City of New York, owner.

Three N.Y.C. Residential Projects Receive Funds

The Community Preservation Corp. (CPC) is providing a total of $11.2 million in construction financing for projects in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.

CPC will provide $3.5 million to construct two six-story, elevator buildings containing 60 apartments on two vacant parcels on East 3rd Street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The property is being developed by a nonprofit for low-income families. The property will include 4,350 sq. ft. of community space.

A vacant lot in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn will be transformed into a six-story residential building containing 12 four-bedroom apartments. CPC will provide $2.2 million loan to fund the project.

Also in Williamsburg, CPC will provide a $5.5 million construction loan to build a 32-unit condominium that will rise four stories and include an elevator and parking lot in the rear of the building. The condos will either be one, two or three bedrooms and the building will include medical offices on the ground floor.