All Aboard Florida has selected Fort Lauderdale-based D. Stephenson Construction Inc. to construct the Argentelle Catering & Special Events facility near a planned Fort Lauderdale passenger-train station. The selection was announced March 11 at a meeting in Coral Gables.

The facility will be located on land just west of the Florida East Coast Railway in Fort Lauderdale. The development is part of a greater master-planning initiative to spur opportunities in the city’s downtown area. Construction activities likely will begin by the end of this month.

“D. Stephenson Construction’s reputation for integrity and delivering quality projects on time and within budget made the company an easy choice for this project,” said Scott Sanders, executive vice president of development and construction at All Aboard Florida. “We are committed to the inclusion of minority contractors in our procurement process, and the addition of Dwight Stephenson’s firm to our team is a testament to our commitment.

“We are excited to work with Stephenson as we begin the first phase of a greater vision for a vibrant transit-oriented landscape in downtown Fort Lauderdale.”

D. Stephenson Construction Inc. is one of the largest, most successful minority-owned construction companies in South Florida. The firm maintains an impressive portfolio of clients, including Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, Broward County Public Schools, Memorial Health Systems, Florida Memorial University, Broward County Judicial Center and Mount Hermon AME Church.

“We are excited to have been selected to build this facility, and hope to use this as an opportunity to do even more work with All Aboard Florida in the future,” said Dwight Stephenson, chief executive officer. “I’m glad to see that All Aboard Florida recognizes the contributions that local minority-owned firms like ours can make to the success of a major undertaking such as this.”

Officials say All Aboard Florida will create nearly 800 jobs during construction of the rail line in Broward County and the Fort Lauderdale station, and an additional 50 jobs when the catering facility is built. Construction is scheduled to be completed this fall.