FORT LAUDERDALE, FL-The Broward County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to begin negotiations with HKS Architects of Dallas to draw up a new convention center master plan.

DURHAM, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. reports it will break ground later this year on the Aloft Durham Downtown with an opening scheduled for May 2015 in the revitalized American Tobacco Historic District, which celebrates its 10th anniversary next year.

MILWAUKEE-Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. will be unveiling the design of what will be one of Milwaukee's tallest office buildings later this week.

NEWARK, NJ-Business and political leaders, including Gov. Chris Christie and Newark Mayor and US Senate hopeful Cory Booker, turned out for opening ceremonies at the first two buildings of the $150-million Teachers Village development.

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI-Mortgage banking firm Fantini & Gorga reports it has arranged nearly $3 million in long-term financing for the ownership of a drug store-anchored shopping center here.

WASHINGTON, DC-Republic Properties Corp. has retained Cassidy Turley to market the planned second phase of its Republic Square office development in NoMa.

WASHINGTON, DC-Events DC, the manager of the district's convention and sports business, announced a plan on Monday that would have the International Spy Museum relocate to the former Carnegie Library in Mount Vernon Square.

MEDIA, PA-BET Investments has acquired the Granite Run Mall here for $24 million. The real estate investment group owned by Toll Brothers co-founder Bruce E. Toll plans a major mixed-use project at the site.