Museum marks five years in new home Five years ago, the new Fort Worth Museum of Science and History building opened, designed by the father and son team of Ricardo and Victor Legorreta of Mexico City. When it opened, the 166,000-square-foot contemporary building, complete with state-of-the-art technological exhibit innovations, became the latest example of Legorreta + Legorreta’s blend of space, light, color and water with the use of strong, basic geometric forms. The building is anchored by an iconic signature attraction: a 76-foot-tall glass and stone tower – the Urban Lantern – that functions as the museum’s main entrance. The lantern now holds an artifact from the World Trade Center’s North Tower.
The Fort Worth firm Bennett Benner Partners was the project’s architect of record. Other members of the design, construction and exhibit design team included Chick Russell Communications, Design Island Associates, Emerald Palms Design Group, Linbeck Group LLC, The Projects Group, Robert Reid Studios and ROTO Studios. PLANO GROUP BUYS SHERATON ARLINGTON Plano-based Urbana Varro has acquired the 311-room Sheraton Arlington, which is adjacent to the Arlington Convention Center and the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Park. Urbana Varro, a national commercial real estate investment, development and management firm, closed on the property on Oct. 21. Its affiliate, Urbana Varro Hospitality Management Company, assumed all operations for the property at that time. Urbana Varro plans to renovate the property, which was owned by Wynn Hotels LP in Irving. “We are excited to acquire this significant full-service hotel in Arlington, which has evolved within the past few years as a prime tourist attraction and sports hub for the D-FW Metroplex,” said Feliz Jarvis, chief hotel operations officer for Urbana Varro. “This transaction wouldn’t be possible without our investors, and we look forward to working with Sheraton and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, one of the premier, global hotel companies.” No purchase price for the transaction was released. The Tarrant Appraisal District values the property at $17.8 million. LUNA GRILL COMING TO COLLEYVILLE Luna Grill of San Diego, Calif., has signed a 10-year lease and will occupy 2,443 square feet on the south side of Town Center Colleyville at 5505 Colleyville Blvd., Suite 100. Luna Grill serves quick-serve Mediterranean cuisine. Menu items include kabobs, salads, gourmet wraps, desserts, beer and wine. Luna Grill was recognized as one of San Diego’s best restaurants in 2014. Town Center Colleyville owners Velocis Partners report that Luna Grill will open its Colleyville restaurant in mid-2015. Meanwhile, Randy Truesdell, a franchisee of Tea2Go, has signed a 10-year lease and will locate in 2,000 square feet at 5611 Colleyville Blvd., Suite 340, on the far east side of Town Center. Contractors with Lubbock-based David Wood Construction will soon begin work on the Tea2Go tenant improvements. Easley Waggoner of Venture Commercial Real Estate LLC represented Velocis Partners in the lease negotiations.
ARLINGTON TO GET DISCOUNT GROCER WinCo Foods of Boise, Idaho, the discount grocer known for bringing organic, specialty and regular products together under one roof, will open in south Arlington in late 2015 or early 2016. The 84,000-square-foot store will be located at 4620 S. Cooper St. next door to Hobby Lobby. It is expected to bring about 200 full-time and part- time jobs. WinCo plans to tear down the vacant 66,000-square-foot Sports Authority as soon as possible to build the new grocery store. Some residents had concerns about truck traffic and the delivery of equipment and goods during early morning hours. The Arlington City Council addressed those concerns by asking WinCo Foods not to schedule deliveries during early mornings. The city is also requiring the company to add landscaping to help beautify the parking lot.
NEW BUSINESS IN BOOMING I-30 CORRIDOR Fort Worth-based Integrity Services has inked a five-year lease for a shuttered commercial property in the fast-growing area on the Tarrant-Parker county line for its new headquarters and retail showroom. The property is located at the Linkcrest Drive exit off Interstate 30, near the planned 7,275-acre Walsh Ranch development. Formerly Samz Corner, the 2,000-square-foot building and three service bays are situated on a half-acre tract at 12039 Camp Bowie Blvd. West. Integrity Services builds pad sites for residential and commercial structures. Tenant improvements will create a small showroom in the interior and a fenced storage space outside. Monika Guzman-Perez of Coldwell Banker Commercial Alliance DFW began marketing the property in August for Mohammad Khalaf of Arlington, a private investor who bought it earlier this year. “The interest in the property has been very strong because of the location,” says Guzman-Perez, who brokered the deal. The property is situated in an area that has changed substantially since the service station opened in 1967.
BUILDERS GROUPS ANNOUNCE HONORS The Greater Fort Worth Builders Association honored local officials, municipal employees, policy makers, communities and legislators at its Annual Municipal Awards Night Oct. 30 at Colonial Country Club. U.S. Rep. Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth) was the guest speaker and received a Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recipients were: Spirit of Cooperation – Randle Harwood, director of planning and development, city of Fort Worth; Partnership – Councilman Dennis Shingleton, city of Fort Worth; Spotlight Individual – Clayton Chandler, city manager, city of Mansfield; Spotlight Individual – Tom Galbreath, Dunaway Associates; Community Spotlight – city of Arlington; Builder Advocate – Don and Debbie Dykstra, Bloomfield Homes; Builder Advocate – Joey Goss, Cheldan Homes. Meanwhile, the Texas Association of Builders held its Hall of Honor ceremony and 2014 “Of the Year” Awards at the Excellence in Leadership dinner at the Driskill Hotel in Austin on Nov. 14. During the 2014 Board of Directors fall meeting, the association also recognized its 2014 Presidential Distinguished Service Award winners. Several Dallas-Fort Worth area builders received awards, including the late Ron F. Formby of Antares Homes, based in Fort Worth. Other local “Of the Year” award winners were: Ted Schlossman Lifetime Achievement Award – Patsy Smith, Herman Smith & Co., Bedford; and Remodeler of the Year – Carol Longacre, Longacre Construction, Lewisville.
LEASES Skyline DFW has leased 40,576 square feet of industrial space at 417 113th St., Arlington, from IndCor Properties Inc. Jim Ferris, vice president of Bradford Commercial Real Estate Services, represented the tenant. Mark Graybill and Scott Giordano of Lee & Associates represented the landlord. Prestosim Inc. has renewed 30,000 square feet of distribution space in Heritage Business Park Building 2, 1000 S. Nolan Dr., Grapevine. Michael W. Spain, senior vice president and managing partner of Bradford Commercial Real Estate Services, represented the landlord, KTR DFW LLC. Art Leichner and Andrew Crites of Jackson & Cooksey represented the tenant. Isenberg Bath Corp. has leased 5,621 square feet of industrial flex space in Springwood I, 8150 Springwood Dr., Irving, from PS Business Parks LP. Kyle Espie, associate of Bradford Commercial Real Estate Services, represented the tenant. Travis Gallivan of Peloton Commercial Real Estate represented the landlord.
