The 68-acre, $1 billion Creative Village project in downtown Orlando, the largest transit-oriented project in central Florida, is expected to break ground on May 14.
This mixed-use project, which had been delayed for a number of years, is already being touted as mecca for business, colleges, and residents. The Orlando Business Journal reports that the University of Central Florida has committed to anchor the Village with a $207 million downtown campus that would create 4,000 jobs. UCF has stated its intention to bring 6,000 students downtown.
Creative Village is a public/private partnership between the City of Orlando and the Master Developer, Creative Village Development; a joint venture between Banc of America Community Development Corporation, and a local developer-investment team lead by Ustler Development. Baker Barrios Architects, the project’s design architect; and Emerge Real Estate Ventures, are part of that group.
The city’s Amway Arena was demolished in 2012 to make way for Creative Village. That demolition’s debris—including 94 million pounds of concrete and 13 million pounds of steel—was recycled and/or sorted for future reuse to build Creative Village’s infrastructure.
The development expected to take 15 to 20 years to complete, and include when finished 1.2 million sf of office and creative space, 500,000 sf of education space, 1,500 housing units, and 225 hotel rooms. A PS-8 school is planned nearby. Construction will create 6,500 jobs, and the Village would offer 5,000 permanent jobs. The Building Team estimates that Creative Village would also generate between $800 million and $1 billion in new development.
Road and utility work in Phase 1 would accommodate the expansion of the Lynz Lymmo bus circulator system to Orlando’s west side, near the Parramore District. Craig Ustler, MAI, CCIM, president of Ustler Development, said that about $13 million in infrastructure work on the bus route and the building paths is already taking shape.
Vertical construction is scheduled to begin in later 2015 or early 2016.
Related Stories
Sustainability | Aug 15, 2023
Carbon management platform offers free carbon emissions assessment for NYC buildings
nZero, developer of a real-time carbon accounting and management platform, is offering free carbon emissions assessments for buildings in New York City. The offer is intended to help building owners prepare for the city’s upcoming Local Law 97 reporting requirements and compliance. This law will soon assess monetary fines for buildings with emissions that are in non-compliance.
Office Buildings | Aug 10, 2023
Bjarke Ingels Group and Skanska to deliver 1550 on the Green, one of the most sustainable buildings in Texas
In downtown Houston, Skanska USA’s 1550 on the Green, a 28-story, 375,000-sf office tower, aims to be one of Texas’ most sustainable buildings. The $225 million project has deployed various sustainable building materials, such as less carbon-intensive cement, to target 60% reduced embodied carbon.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 31, 2023
6 multifamily housing projects win 2023 LEED Homes Awards
The 2023 LEED Homes Awards winners in the multifamily space represent green, LEED-certified buildings designed to provide clean indoor air and reduced energy consumption.
High-rise Construction | Jul 26, 2023
A 33-story Singapore tower aims to reimagine work with restorative, outdoor spaces
Architecture firm NBBJ has unveiled design details for Keppel South Central, a commercial tower in Singapore. The project, which is slated for completion in late 2024, will transform the original Keppel Towers into a 33-story, energy-efficient building that aims to reimagine work by providing restorative spaces and connections to the outdoors.
Designers | Jul 20, 2023
Mary Cook Associates brews up coffeehouse-inspired apartment community
The MCA design team worked closely with the developer and design architect to create an interior concept inspired by Decatur, Ga.’s, tree-lined streets, boutique retail, and vibrant restaurant and coffee shop scene.
Mass Timber | Jul 11, 2023
5 solutions to acoustic issues in mass timber buildings
For all its advantages, mass timber also has a less-heralded quality: its acoustic challenges. Exposed wood ceilings and floors have led to issues with excessive noise. Mass timber experts offer practical solutions to the top five acoustic issues in mass timber buildings.
Mixed-Use | Jun 29, 2023
Massive work-live-play development opens in LA's new Cumulus District
VOX at Cumulus, a 14-acre work-live-play development in Los Angeles, offers 910 housing units and 100,000 sf of retail space anchored by a Whole Foods outlet. VOX, one of the largest mixed-use communities to open in the Los Angeles area, features apartments and townhomes with more than one dozen floorplans.
Standards | Jun 26, 2023
New Wi-Fi standard boosts indoor navigation, tracking accuracy in buildings
The recently released Wi-Fi standard, IEEE 802.11az enables more refined and accurate indoor location capabilities. As technology manufacturers incorporate the new standard in various devices, it will enable buildings, including malls, arenas, and stadiums, to provide new wayfinding and tracking features.
Mixed-Use | Jun 12, 2023
Goettsch Partners completes its largest China project to date: a mixed-used, five-tower complex
Chicago-based global architecture firm Goettsch Partners (GP) recently announced the completion of its largest project in China to date: the China Resources Qianhai Center, a mixed-use complex in the Qianhai district of Shenzhen. Developed by CR Land, the project includes five towers totaling almost 472,000 square meters (4.6 million sf).
Architects | Jun 6, 2023
Taking storytelling to a new level in building design, with Gensler's Bob Weis and Andy Cohen
Bob Weis, formerly the head of Disney Imagineering, was recently hired by Gensler as its Global Immersive Experience Design Leader. He joins the firm's co-CEO Andy Cohen to discuss how Gensler will focus on storytelling to connect people to its projects.
