News briefs

CNA settles Chicago fatality suit for $18 million. A lawsuit by the family of a woman killed by glass falling from a Chicago office building in 1999 has been settled for $18 million. The incident occurred when glass fell from a cracked window on the 29th floor of the 45-story CNA Insurance headquarters tower, striking a 37-year-old woman walking on the sidewalk with her young daughter. Investigation disclosed that in the five years preceding the incident, more than 40 of the building's windows had cracked. Replacement of its 4,900 windows, which is expected to cost about $5 million, is now more than half completed. CNA paid $487,000 to the City of Chicago in fines and for reimbursement for the cost of erecting safety barriers. Northbrook, Ill., engineer Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates determined that the building's original glazing was subject to thermal stress resulting from a temperature difference between glass areas that receive sunlight and those at the edges that were shaded by the building's deeply recessed windows. The settlement resolves a suit scheduled for trial this fall.

Another key boost for NYC market. Ground has been broken in New York City for the first major commercial real estate project to begin there since Sept. 11. The 300,000-sq.-ft. NYCyberCenter is billed as the first telecom/data center to incorporate an on-site, privately-owned cogeneration facility. Heat from the power operations will produce chilled water to cool the building. The Durst Organization is the developer. Other team members include architect Fox & Fowle, New York, and construction manager Tishman Construction Co., New York.