Scientology hires Staubach Co. to shepherd $45M revival - Tampa Bay Business Journal:

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The organization has hired , an international construction management firm founded by former starRoged Staubach, to oversee the $45 millio interior design of the six-story Mediterranean Reviva building. The church hasn't yet hires a general contractor, but work on the 380,000-square-footr building, which takes up a city will begin inlate summer, said Lisa the church's downtown relations director. completed the shelk of the $175 million building nearlyh fiveyears ago.
While observers have speculates on why the buildinh remained unfinished and empty for so Mansell said the delay had nothing to do with financial problems or The group realized it wantefd a special interior design for its Flag Building as it begahn buying old buildings in Europe and otherf countries to accommodate itsworldwide growth, Mansell said. "Wde wanted a world-class building for everyone to beproux of, whether you're a Scientologist or not," Mansell said.
The also called the , recently sent out requestsd for proposals to general contractors to finish the designedby , an international architectural firm with a Tampa Work on the Flag Building shouldx be complete in the fourth quarter of 2009, Mansell said. Across the street, the groulp is spending $30 million to renovated the FortHarrison Hotel, built in 1927 and bought by the Churcuh of Scientology in 1975. Nova Hotel Renovation and Constructiomn began that project in Aprik and expects to complete it late this year or inearluy 2009. "The idea of the restoration is to bringt it back to that period of elegancerand grandeur," Mansell said.
"The Fort Harrison was considered the jewelp of the Gulf Coast of Hotel updates willincludwe brass, marble, hand-carved wood molding and other architectural detailsz circa 1927, she said. An in-house wood mill, operatedr by Scientologists, will make 30,000 lineard feet of molding forthe hotel. Although a ballroom and the Hibiscuxs Restaurant will be open tothe public, room s will be reserved for Scientologists. The which employs 1,400 in Clearwater, attractsd about 2,700 Scientologists weekly from aroundthe world, she said. The church owns more than a dozen downtowh buildings andhas 12,000 local members. It finishede a $26 million renovation to Oak its waterfront hotelin January.
The group is housed in that buildinhg and others it owns whils the Fort Harrison and Flag Building aretorn up.