Building Nevada Briefs - November 2002

Building Nevada Briefs

Parsons Completes 10 Million Square Feet

Parsons Bros. Rockeries recently completed its 10 millionth square foot of rock retaining wall. According to President Kevin Parsons, this is the equivalent of a four-foot-high rock retaining wall stretching from Las Vegas to Reno. The company, which celebrated its 30-year anniversary in March, used 1.5 million tons of rocks and over 153,000 truckloads of materials to reach the 10 million square feet milestone. Kevin Parsons, his brother Bill and their father established the company in 1973, and it now employs a work force of more than 50 between its offices in Las Vegas, Reno and Sacramento. It can utilize on-site rock, even caliche, to construct retaining walls, which can be stained with an environmentally-safe colorant to complement the surrounding environment. Parsons Bros. has completed projects for Del Webb Communities, Howard Hughes Corp., Beazer Homes, Martin-Harris Construction and Perini, Inc.

Zunino Honored by National Association

Jack Zunino, an award-winning landscape architect considered by many to be the "father of xeriscaping" in Southern Nevada, becomes only the second Nevadan inducted into the prestigious fellow program of the American Society of Landscape Architecture (ASLA) at the organization’s annual investiture ceremony in New Orleans this month. Zunino, president of J.W. Zunino & Associates since 1989, was an early and vocal advocate for desert-sensitive landscape design, working with hundreds of public and private entities to design and redesign their landscapes to better conform to the desert environment. Zunino started UNLV’s landscape architecture program, and his involvement there has included teaching, supporting student activities and employing interns and program graduates. He has designed landscaping for numerous schools in the Clark County School District, as well as parks, highways and major businesses in Las Vegas. He also prepared the master plan for the Las Vegas Valley Water District’s Desert Demonstration Garden. Among Zunino’s many awards is the ASLA National Merit Award for his work on the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, and 18 commercial and civic project awards for water conservation. Zunino will become one of just 600 fellows in the ASLA, which includes 30,000 members.

Shea Commercial Breaks Ground on Second Project

Shea Commercial, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based real estate development company focusing on the office condominium market, broke ground in October for its second project in Las Vegas. The company’s first Nevada venture, Shea Professional Plaza, was recently completed. It contains eight 5,061-square-foot buildings available for sale or lease, in units from 1,250 square feet to 10,000 square feet. The new project, Tara Professional Plaza, will be similar in size and format. Both complexes are located on Jones Blvd. south of Sahara Ave. Completion for Tara Professional Plaza is scheduled for the second quarter of 2004. Financing for the new project was provided by First National Bank of Nevada and Coldwell Banker Commercial is handling sales for the buildings.

Cheyenne Technology Corridor Wins International Award

The Cheyenne Technology Corridor recently received the Partnership Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), presented as part of the organization’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards. The Partnership Award recognizes outstanding and innovative public/private development projects that have: significantly enhanced economic revitalization; represented efforts in which larger private contributions have leveraged smaller, yet vital public commitments; and demonstrated the importance of public/private partnership in economic development. The IEDC is the world’s largest economic development membership organization. Its mission is to provide leadership and excellence in economic development for communities, members and partners to build economically strong, sustainable communities. A unique public/private alliance, the Cheyenne Technology Corridor was established to bring more technology businesses to Southern Nevada. The partnership includes the city of North Las Vegas, the Brennan Brothers, Jackson Shaw, RDS/Insight, LLC, Stoltz Management and Harsch Investment Properties.

Hawthorne RV Park Under Construction

Work has begun on a new recreational vehicle park adjacent to US 95 in Hawthorne. The new 4.5-acre facility will feature a convenience store, laundry room, maintenance building and community park, in addition to 61 RV spaces equipped with water, electricity and cable television. Woody and Carolyn Isom are the owners of the project, to be called Isom RV Park. The general contractor is Dave Womack Construction of Hawthorne. Completion is scheduled for the first quarter of 2004.

Welles-Pugsley Receives Architecture Award

The Las Vegas Chapter of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has chosen Welles-Pugsley Architects as this year’s recipient of the AIA Nevada Architecture Firm Award, given to a firm that has consistently produced distinguished architecture for a period of 10 years or more. The award is the highest honor the AIA Las Vegas Chapter can bestow. Welles-Pugsley Architects, LLP has been providing professional services throughout the Southwest for over 31 years and has completed many of the region’s most significant public and private building projects, including the Lied Library on the UNLV campus, Clark County Inspectors Building & Master Plan, renovations at McCarran International Airport and the new two-story middle-school design for the Clark County School District. Sean Coulter, AIA of Welles-Pugsley received the AIA Nevada Young Architect Citation, given to individuals who, at an early stage of their career, have shown exceptional leadership in design, education, and/or service to the profession