The King County Regional Justice Center in Kent topped the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce list of major public construction projects of 1995. General contractor Hensel Phelps placed the last beam atop the facility late last year and is working toward a February 1997 completion date.

Projects from Spokane to Vancouver made the list, but most were from King and Pierce counties. The list was restricted to public construction projects in Washington that were awarded in 1995. Four road projects -- under the supervision of the Washington State Department of Transportation -- were in the Top 20, as were three university structures and two projects at Fort Lewis. But the real story of 1995 was public school construction.

Seven high schools, two junior highs and a pair of elementary schools bid as one contract highlighted the list. M.A. Mortenson lead all contractors with three projects: the new Issaquah High School and two barracks projects at Fort Lewis.

Burr Lawrence Rising + Bates designed three of the top jobs: Kent High School, the new Issaquah High School and Kent Junior High. Jerry Lawrence, FAIA, president and CEO of the Tacoma-based architectural firm said that while many school projects got underway in 1995, the future of school construction is less certain. "The need is out there, but we need some bond issues to pass. . . . somehow as a community we have to find a way to build schools for our children," he said.

The 20 projects represent a public expenditure of over $520 million.

	KING COUNTY REGIONAL JUSTICE CENTER -- PHASE I Owner: King County; Contract value: $108.4 million
	SR 405 TUKWILA TO FACTORIA SC & DI, STAGE I Owner: Washington State Department of Transportation; Contract value: $34.4 milllion
	KENT HIGH SCHOOL NO. 4 Owner: Kent School District No. 415; Contract value: $33.8 million
	HIGH SCHOOL NO. 4, ISSAQUAH SCHOOL DISTRICT Owner: Issaquah School District No. 411; Contract value: $31.6 million
	WHOLE BARRACKS RENEWAL -- NORTH FORT LEWIS Owner: U.S. Army; Contract value: $30 million
	NEW SKYVIEW HIGH SCHOOL Owner: Vancouver School District No. 37; Contract value: $28.2 million
	BATTALION BARRACKS -- NORTH FORT LEWIS Owner: U.S. Army; Contract value: $26.5 million
	INTERSTATE 5, TUKWILA TO SOUTH LUCILE STREET -- HOV, SC & DI Owner: Washington State Department of Transportation; Contract value: $25.5 million
	KENNEWICK HIGH SCHOOL NO. 3 (SOUTHRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL) Owner: Kennewick School District No. 17; Contract value: $24.7 million
	SR 167, 15TH NORTHWEST TO 84TH AVENUE SOUTH HOV AND SC & DI Owner: Washington State Department of Transportation; Contract value: $23.3 million
	MEAD HIGH SCHOOL Owner: Mead School District No. 354; Contract value: $22.6 million
	TUMWATER HIGH SCHOOL NO. 2 -- PHASE II Owner: Tumwater School District No. 33; Contract value: $21.2 million
	MOSES LAKE HIGH SCHOOL MODERNIZATION AND IMPROVEMENTS Owner: Moses Lake School District No. 161; Contract value: $18.6 million
	SR 18 ISSAQUAH-HOBART ROAD & RAGING RIVER BRIDGE Owner: Washington State Department of Transportation; Contract value: $17.5 million
	MCKNIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL Owner: Renton School District No. 403; Contract value: $15.7 million
	KENT JUNIOR HIGH NO. 7 (NORTHWOOD JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL) Owner: Kent School District No. 415; Contract value: $15.5 million
	JFK LIBRARY ADDITION/REMODEL EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY Owner: Eastern Washington University; Contract value: $13.4 million
	LINCOLN, HARNEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Owner: Vancouver School District No. 37; Contract value: $13.1 million
	HENRY ART GALLERY EXPANSION/RENOVATION Owner: University of Washington; Contract value: $12.3 million
	UW SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION ADDITION Owner: University of Washington; Contract value: $10.9 million

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Copyright © 1996 Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce.