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Best of California 2008
A panel of 11 judges, representing
architects, builders, associations,
and other construction industries,
chose nearly 50 winners out of
more than 140 projects completed
in California between September
2007 and September 2008.
We also recognize two project
managers of the year and the top
private and public owners who
have all greatly contributed to the
California construction industry.
This year’s lineup includes some
impressive efforts, including a
brilliant church, a restored and
www.california.construction.com
stunning theater, a water treatment
Judges plant that aims to teach and a
• J. Guadalupe Flores, • Simin Naaseh, renovated youth center named after
Flewelling & Moody Architects Forell/Elsesser Engineers a baseball legend. These and all
• Reginald Jackson, Morley Builders • Lori Reed, the other winners are the result of
American Institute of Architects
• Joseph Lutz, C.W. Driver outstanding teams of professionals.
• Kirsten Ritchie, Gensler
• Steve Pellegren, Bernards
• Laura Rodormer,
• Greg Stedman, KHS&S Contractors
Green Consulting Services
• Steve Gallagher,
• Randy Ruby, Engineering and
Tishman Speyer
Utility Contractors Association
9 California Construction 12/2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland
Overall Top Project
Outstanding Architectural Design
Winner
The soaring and luminous Cathedral
of Christ the Light consists of a one-of-a-
kind sanctuary for 1,500 worshipers, a
mausoleum, conference and residential
facilities, office and retail spaces, and a sub-
terranean parking garage.
Built to last for centuries, the cathedral’s
oval-shaped structure has been engineered
to withstand a 1,000-year earthquake and is
covered by 1,028 panes of fritted, transpar-
ent glass.
The new, $93 million cathedral replaces
the Oakland Catholic Diocese’s former
cathedral, which was severely damaged in
the Loma Prieta earthquake nearly 20 years
ago.
Webcor Builders, the general contractor,
says it worked closely with project stake-
holders to help push the design to the limit
while providing critical on-going con-
structability analysis.
Webcor adds that it worked with the
structural engineer, Skidmore Owings &
Merrill, to develop a “top-down” erection
sequence for the unique tension supported
structure. This approach called for the erec-
tion of the roof prior to the supporting
structure, which allowed both the roof and
ceiling schedule to be accelerated.
The project’s significant usage of glue-
laminated beams required exacting engi-
neering and fabrication. Webcor says it
identified appropriate vendors from its
existing subcontractor pool and was able to
obtain competitive pricing.
Webcor says it also took on the responsi-
PHOTO CREDIT: FRANK DOMIN
10 California Construction 12/ 2008
Northern California—Best of 2008
bility to design an aesthetically unique and
cost-efficient curtain-wall system. In con- Project Team
junction with the design team and subcon-
tractors, the construction firm achieved the Owner: Catholic Cathedral Corp. of the
desired look and aesthetic with a combina- East Bay, Oakland
tion of three off-the-shelf products, saving
General Contractor: Webcor Builders,
the considerable expense of a custom cur-
San Mateo
tain-wall system.
Craig Hartman, a principal at SOM, says Project Manager:
his team saw this project as an once-in-a- Conversion Management Associates,
lifetime opportunity.
Inc., San Francisco
“It took an enormous amount of passion
to accomplish this effort, which is certainly Design Architect: Skidmore Owings &
very easy when you have this kind of oppor- Merrill, San Francisco
tunity in front of you,” Hartman says.
Structural Engineer: Skidmore Owings &
Merrill, San Francisco
Judge’s Comment: Mechanical Engineer:
“This innovative project Taylor Engineering, Alameda
was a structural challenge Electrical Engineer:
from the roof down. The The Engineering Enterprise, Alameda
builders and designers met
that challenge brilliantly”
“With works like this, people will often
point to the architect. But this complex
was the work of many, many hands:
Engineers, the people of the parish who
supported it financially, and certainly the
workers, from the carpenters to the peo-
ple pouring concrete understood that
they were part of a very significant under-
taking and have done their absolute best
to make this worthy of their submission.
Everyone put their heart and soul into it.”
The Cathedral of Christ the Light will
provide educational programs and out-
reach services to all within the diocese,
both Catholic and non-Catholic, particu-
larly the often overlooked and under-rep-
resented. The Cathedral Center is also a
part of a continuing civic and economic
turnaround for downtown Oakland. <<
11 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
UC Berkeley East Asian Library
Outstanding Architectural Design
Award of Merit
Project Team
Owner: University of California, Berkeley
General Contractor
McCarthy Building Cos., San Francisco
Architect: Tod Williams Billie Tsien
Architects, New York
Associate Architect :Tom Eliot Fisch
Engineers: Rutherford and Chekene
Structural Engineers, San Francisco
Flack and Kurtz, San Francisco
The C.V. Starr East Asian Library is ures that are housed there – among them 1
/2-in thick and located in an architectural
the first freestanding library in the U.S. more than 900,000 volumes of Chinese, sandblasted wall.
constructed exclusively to house East Asian Japanese and Korean books and materials Huge bronze grills were mounted
book collections and is one of few such and a rare book room with temperature together on the south, east and west exteri-
facilities in the world. Funded entirely by and humidity controls and modern securi- or walls to create striking pieces of art.
private donors, the 68,000-sq-ft, four-story ty measures, which is essential for the long- Constructed in Shanghai and imported by
facility is considered one of U.C. Berkeley’s term care of the precious collections. To boat in 60 pieces, the grills are a product of
marquee buildings. The project was com- ensure preservation, McCarthy’s building a 1,000-year-old sand cast method to
pleted on schedule and within budget. techniques for this room included an eight roughen the texture. They capture the tra-
The concept behind the library’s design step application of a multi-layered mois- ditions of Asian etchings and woodcarv-
is an abstract blend of the campus’ neoclas- ture proof system that prohibits the trans- ings.
sical architectural theme, modern materials fer of moisture and humidity to the floors, The interior of the building features an
and East Asian influences and details. For walls and ceilings. open floor plan that showcases a variety of
example, as a requirement of the university, The meticulous design requirements and materials and textures. Most of the interior
a colonial-style clay roof was incorporated. complex construction methods made the floor is architecturally ground concrete,
This was harmonized into the modern and project both innovative and challenging. whereby the concrete is ground down 1/8-
Asian elements of the building. Many of the materials used for the facility in to expose the interior texture, and then
From a distance, the building fits into the were imported from around the globe. polished to a matte finish.
campus’ neo-classical theme; however, up The exterior is framed in concrete and is Other features include magenta fabric-
close the roof disappears due to the cornice partially clad in granite panels, which covered calls with custom-made cherry
and the building becomes more abstract. weigh 1,000 lbs each and were imported wood features and a 60-sq. ft. circulation
In addition to the overall theme, the from China. McCarthy had to carefully desktop made out of a single 2-in piece of
details and complexity in the library’s pour and craft the exterior doors in con- claro walnut, a rare wood typically used to
design honors the significance of the treas- crete. Each of the three, 3-ft x 8-ft doors is 2 make violins. <<
13 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
City College of San Francisco Mission Campus
Higher Education
Winner
Project Team
Owner: City College of San Francisco
General Contractor: McCarthy Building
Cos., San Francisco
Architects: Cervantes Design Associates,
San Francisco
Kendall Young Associates,
San Francisco
ED-2 International, San Francisco
Structural Engineers: Structus Inc.,
San Francisco
SOHA Engineers, San Francisco
Mechanical Engineers: MHC Engineers,
San Francisco
Electrical Engineers: FW Associates,
San Francisco
Located in the heart of the Mission team worked to preserve the major features
District, the 198,000-sq-ft City College of of the original building. As a result of
San Francisco Mission Campus project con- detailed planning and a carefully thought
sisted of the complete renovation of an out design, the construction of the campus
existing four-story 1935 “art nouveau” paid homage to its history.
building and the construction of a new Additionally, the two buildings are
four-story adjacent building. adjoined by a central, secured outdoor
This new facility, which replaced the courtyard that overlooks and captures the
existing campus, houses a state-of-the-art numerous design elements. The glittering
library, auditorium, communications cen- blue tile on the west face of the building and
ter, science and computer laboratories, a red tile in the courtyard between the two
media and broadcasting center, a career buildings are made from 100% recycled
guidance center, a testing and assessment glass. The cornerstone of the campus is the
center, as well as traditional classrooms and General contractor McCarthy Building main entry of the building, which features a
meeting facilities, a bookstore, cafe, confer- Cos.’s team created a new, modernized stunning 20-ft replica of the Mayan Aztec
ence rooms, multipurpose rooms, adminis- community college campus with an archi- calendar.
trative and student services offices and a tectural façade that fit in with the aesthetics The buildings also include energy effi-
child development center. of the surrounding community. Due to its cient systems for heating, cooling and
designation as a historical landmark, the lighting. <<
14 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
CSU Chico Student Services Center
Higher Education
Award of Merit
Project Team
Owner: California State University, Chico
General Contractor: Turner Construction,
Sacramento
Architect: BAR Architects,
San Francisco
Project Engineers: Flack & Kurtz
Engineering, San Francisco
KPFF Consulting, Sacramento
BKF Engineers, Sacramento
SWA Group, San Francisco
Krazan & Associates, Clovis
approach throughout the project. Turner
worked with BAR Architects and the uni-
versity throughout the design process,
assisting with constructability reviews, esti-
mating and value engineering. Turner says
this approach resulted in more than
$400,000 work of value engineering ideas
accepted.
Working in an active campus setting,
Turner says it worked with the city of Chico
and the university on the coordination of
In a system that has traditionally selected The four-story, 122,000-sq-ft building construction schedules. This, Turner says,
contractors based on a lump sum bid, the has created a single meeting point for 26 ensured the safety of students, faculty and
California State University, Chico has taken administrative departments. The building’s staff.
part in the pilot program for alternative “U” shape design plays a role in sustainabil- CSU Chico has been classified as the first
delivery methods. CSU Chico chose to uti- ity as well as comfort for those within the Tier 1 School in Northern California for
lize a Construction Management at Risk building. The project is also seeking LEED- Turner, beginning in the 2008-2009 recruit-
contract with Turner Construction for its NC gold certification, which, when award- ing season. In September 2007, Turner and
Student Services Center project, which was ed, will be the first in the CSU system. the university announced the opening and
completed on time and within the universi- With CM at Risk being new to the uni- dedication of the Turner Building
ty’s strict budget. versity, Turner says it promoted a team Information Modeling Lab on campus. <<
17 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
Ohlone College Newark Center for
Health Sciences & Technology, Newark
Green Building
Winner
Ohlone College’s exterior mate-
Newark Center for rials, while Project Team
Health Sciences and roofs combine
Owner: Ohlone Community College
Technology will ini- metal and
tially serve 3,500 stu- District, Fremont
membrane as
dents in the academic “folded planes” Architecture, Interior Design,
areas of health sciences and technology, that extend to Programming, Planning, Sustainable
with career programs in healthcare, the sci- provide shade Design: Perkins+Will, San Francisco
ences and emerging technologies. Allied on sunny days
health programs include nursing, respirato- Construction Manager at Risk:
and drape over
ry therapy, medical & physical therapy and the building edge to form rain screens dur- Turner Construction Co., Morgan Hill
health & wellness, with technology pro- ing inclement weather.
Civil Engineer: Sandis, Mountain View
grams in biotechnology, computers, net- The building has two wings, one for
works, emerging technologies and environ- health sciences and the other for technolo- Landscape Architect: Conger Moss
mental studies. Guillard Landscape Architecture, San
Because of the college’s strong environ- Judge’s Comment: Francisco
mental commitment, the center was
required to earn LEED certification from the “Nice use of light from the Structural Engineer: SOHA,
San Francisco
beginning. The center’s environmental per- outside to the inside and
formance recently earned it platinum certifi- great use of sustainable Mechanical Electrical Plumbing:
cation – the highest that USGBC awards. Alfa Tech Consulting Engineers,
The center’s mass and aesthetics are con-
and energy conservation
San Francisco
sistent with the campus master plan. materials”
Building orientation and shape, as well as
the design of roof overhangs, respond to gy. The two wings come together around a Energy required for cooling and heating
operational and climatic conditions, with campus green, joined by community areas is substantially reduced by a geothermal sys-
massing that buffers high winds and over- including a Learning Resource Center, gener- tem that uses underground pipes filled with
lapping roof forms that animate the struc- al education area, clinic and the campus com- water to reject heat or to extract heat from
ture. The building’s form is tailored to meet mons with access to the bookstore, café and the earth. Additional energy savings are
the center’s instructional and service needs, scholarly activity and training areas. The delivered by twin enthalpy energy recovery
with circulation routes in and around the total area is 130,000 sq ft. wheels, located behind glass viewing walls
building arranged to promote interaction. Many familiar environmental practices are in the main lobby. The enthalpy wheel is
Exterior materials, selected for durability, used at the center, such as solar power: 1,585 made of a hygroscopic material that is able
maintainability and aesthetics, follow the photovoltaic panels covering 38,000 sq ft of to transfer both sensible and latent heat.
Master Plan’s palette and support the rela- roof make this Silicon Valley’s largest solar The wheel rotates between the exhaust air,
tionship between the center and its environ- panel installation, providing up to 30% of the and the intake air streams, capturing up to
ment. Glass, cement, plaster, fiber-rein- center’s energy needs (equivalent to taking 95% of this usually lost energy. <<
forced concrete and metal are the primary 1,000 cars off Bay Area freeways daily).
19 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
Stanford Y2E2 Building, Palo Alto
Green Building
Award of Merit
Project Team
Owner: Stanford University, Palo Alto
General Contractor:
Hathaway Dinwiddie, Santa Clara
Architect: BOORA Architects, Portland
Engineers & Consultants:
ARUP, San Francisco
BKF Engineers, Redwood City
CAS Architects, Mountain View
Greene Engineers, San Jose
Middlebrook & Louie, San Francisco
TRC Lowney, San Ramon
Hathaway Dinwiddie broke ground on Hathaway Dinwiddie worked closely tion waste by 80%. The building’s design
Stanford University’s 166,500-sq-ft, three- with BOORA Architects in a collaborative reduces energy consumption by 57% and
story Jerry Yang and Akiko Yamazaki design and construction effort to provide potable water consumption by 30%.
Environment and Energy (Y2E2) Building in Stanford with the most innovative yet Water usage for irrigation is reduced by
June 2006. The building is the first of four 100%.
that will make up the new Science and Judge’s Comment: As the building acts as a teaching tool,
Engineering Quad 2 (SEQ2) at Stanford and occupants and visitors are able to monitor
is part of the campus-wide strategy of group-
“Very Green! The building energy and water use throughout the
ing facilities and people to maximize interac- acts as a teaching center structure by logging onto the Building
tion. for sustainable Management System. The Y2E2 Building
Upon its completion in October 2007, teaches students how to best deal with
techniques” sustainable resources. For example, stu-
Y2E2 became a research facility and living
laboratory for a community of approximately dents will be able to compare the per-
500 ecologists, biologists, earth scientists, cost-effective sustainable construction formances of the four different types of
engineers, legal scholars, economists, policy approach. The project was designed and photovoltaic panels on the roof. The hope
analysts and students. built to LEED platinum standards. The is that this research will in turn be used
The building also showcases sustainable sustainable construction practices imple- for developing cutting edge technologies
building practices and acts as a teaching tool. mented during the job reduced construc- in that area of study. <<
21 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
China Basin Addition
Mixed Use
Winner
Project Team
Owner
McCarthy Cook & Co., San Francisco
General Contractor
Hathaway Dinwiddie, San Francisco
Architect
Hellmuth Obata & Kassabaum,
San Francisco
Engineer/Consultant
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger,
San Francisco
However, traditional building techniques
only allowed for a 50,000-sq-ft addition.
The structural engineer, Simpson
Gumpertz & Heger, found that by using iso-
lators on the roof of the existing building
they could add more leasable space, making
the project more profitable for the owner.
This would be the first time in the U.S. that
isolators, typically used under structures,
would be used this way.
Hathaway Dinwiddie was brought on as
the general contractor to build the China
Basin Addition, a 770-ft by 100-ft, two-
story structure totaling 150,000 sq ft on top
of the 185 Berry building.
Although using the base isolators was a
more expensive option, it was less disrup-
The existing 185 Berry building was Co., was to add leasable space to the tive to tenants and allowed the addition to
a three-story structure built in 1988 to the Mission Bay region of the city, an area that be constructed without a seismic upgrade
requirements of the 1984 San Francisco is saturated by the life science industry, but to the existing building and also improved
Building Code. It was 825 ft long by 100 ft also an area where available land for poten- the seismic performance capability of the
wide and separated by two expansion joints tial development is scarce. By building on existing building by reducing earthquake
at approximately third points. top of 185 Berry, McCarthy Cook could forces and displacement demand on the
The goal of the owner, McCarthy Cook & avoid land costs and meet their goal. existing structure. >>
23 California Construction 12/ 2008
Two types of isolators were used: 33
Laminated Rubber Bearings (LRBs) and
54 Elastomeric Slider Bearings (ESBs).
Each isolator was subjected to an exten-
sive series of unique prototype tests sig-
nificantly beyond code requirements
equivalent to 10 Maximum Credible
Earthquakes.
Working on a roof with in-use
mechanical equipment was technically
and logistically challenging – three mi of
existing piping and conduit had to be
raised 38 in above the as-built top of the
roof to allow the 27-in steel beams, each
weighing 75 tons, to be threaded under
and around the equipment.
Building Information Modeling was
used in the project communications
effort as a visual aid.
The China Basin Addition project was
completed within budget and on time
on Dec. 24, 2007. <<
Best of 2008 Northern California
Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center,
San Francisco
Mixed Use
Award of Merit
Project Team
Owner
The Salvation Army, San Francisco
General Contractor
Cahill Contractors, San Francisco
Architect
Herman & Coliver, San Francisco
Structural Engineer
Tuan & Robinson, San Francisco
2008. The building is reinforced concrete
with structural steel supporting the gym
roof and third-floor courtyard. The exteri-
or of the project is architectural concrete,
plaster and metal panels. Project high-
lights include a below-grade parking
garage, full-court basketball gym, swim-
ming pool, climbing wall, fitness center,
dance studio, computer lab, chapel,
library and commercial kitchen.
The Tenderloin is an eight sq-block area
in the heart of the city and is home to
approximately 29,000 low-income immi-
The Salvation Army’s Ray and housing for chronic substance abusers grant families. There are also 3,500 chil-
Joan Kroc Corps Community Center and transitional housing for youth aging dren who live in the neighborhood that
and Railton Place Housing is a new out of foster care. are lacking safe places to grow, learn and
135,773-sq-ft, eight-story facility, located The Community Center serves both play. This project, according to its submit-
at 230-242 Turk Street in the Tenderloin Railton Place Housing and provides a safe ter and general contractor, Cahill
neighborhood of San Francisco. place for activities for the Tenderloin Contractors, is a testament to Ray and
The 113-unit housing component pro- community. Joan Kroc’s and the Salvation Army’s com-
vides permanent housing to chronic sub- Project construction was started in May mitment to improving opportunities to
stance abusers in recovery, transitional 2006 and completed on schedule in June the disadvantaged. <<
25 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
eBay Building 17, San Jose
Office
Winner
Project Team
Owner: eBay, San Jose
General Contractor: Webcor Builders,
San Mateo
Architect: Valerio Dewalt
Train Associates, Palo Alto
flow showerheads and low-flow faucets; and
extensive use of daylighting throughout.
The project was delivered on time and
under budget, and totaled 32,976 man
hours with a zero incident rate
The project features precast concrete
warped to resemble wet paper at the build-
ing ends. The interior conference room
PHOTO CREDIT: STEVE HALL, HEDRICH BLESSING PHOTOGRAPHY
design included all-glass fronts to allow
sunlight to reach deep into the core area.
The project proves it is possible to design
eBay’s Building 17 is a five-story, Shades on the building’s south side will also a steel-framed office building to a LEED
196,000-sq-ft structural steel and concrete automatically lower if heat from sunlight gold standard without using raised access
office building located on the eBay North increases the temperature to uncomfortable flooring.
campus in San Jose. The state-of-the-art levels. The mechanical design included address-
facility is the first new building the online ing the need for cooling in the eBay data
auction company has ever built and will Judge’s Comment: center within the building’s chilled water
house approximately 800 employees of plant. By utilizing chilled water to cool the
PayPal, eBay’s online payment service.
“Strong safety record and data center (the load of the data center
The building features many sustainable innovative MEP design alone exceeds the office building load in its
elements and is expected to achieve a LEED ideas” entirety), Webcor Builders, the general con-
gold certification. The sustainable features tractor, was able to eliminate stand alone
include solar energy panes on the roof, car- Other key sustainable building features condenser units at each of the 10 CRAH
pets and cubicle fabrics containing post- include carpeting with 25% recycled content (Computer Room Air Handler) units and
recycled materials, walls covered with and low VOC rating; recycled building mate- decrease lifecycle costs significantly.
water-based paints and lots of glass for nat- rials, including concrete, steel, and the eBay decided to add photovoltaic power
ural light. Sensors will monitor the interior metal of the curtain wall; workstations and generation to the roof of this building and
light levels and only turn on the building’s chairs furnishing the building are the other buildings on this campus, gener-
fluorescent lights when they are needed. Greenguard certified; waterless urinals, low- ating about 650kw of power. <<
27 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
Foundry Square Building 1, San Francisco
Office
Award of Merit
structural steel. The project also includes a
double glass curtain wall and raised access Project Team
flooring for greater temperature control
Owner: Equity Office Properties,
efficiency. The structure’s thick concrete
San Francisco
frame also serves as a passive heating and
cooling mass. General Contractor: Webcor Builders,
To meet the tenant’s requirement for San Mateo
large, contiguous spaces to support its Architect: Studios Architecture,
financial trading operations, the design was San Francisco
adjusted to create an open office environ-
ment using 30-ft by 30-ft structural
columns. Floor-to-floor heights of 14 ft with
access flooring make it a flexible office
building for current and future changes.
Judge’s Comment:
“The mix of different skins
on the exterior provides
texture and character to
the building”
Foundry Square Building 1 is one of Although LEED certification was not
four architecturally-linked 10-story, mid- sought, the project has many sustainable
rise buildings located on each corner of elements that would likely qualify it for a
Howard and First streets. A community- silver or gold rating. Key sustainable fea-
friendly feature of the site is that the four tures include an high-performance façade
open corners form a public square filled that controls temperature changes by more on the building, which makes the building
with public art that encourages pedestrian than 17.5% over baseline; raised access aesthetically pleasing from a design stand-
use. flooring that reduces energy consumption point, says the general contractor, Webcor
The building consists of a concrete struc- by up to 15%; natural light and views to the Builders. But the various skin systems made
ture with 10 floors of office space totaling exterior from more than 90% of interior it a challenge to build and to ensure a
327,462 sq ft and two levels of below grade spaces; non-ozone depleting refrigerant sys- watertight building. The point supported
parking. The structure’s 11th floor consists tem; and 75% of construction waste divert- glass tech wall and undulating standing
of 11,637 sq ft of mechanical space and its ed from disposal. seam metal roof are highlights from a
undulating metal roof is supported by There were eight different skin systems design perspective. <<
29 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
One South Park, San Francisco
Restoration
Winner
Project Team
Developer: Santa Fe Partners,
San Francisco
General Contractor: Webcor Builders,
San Francisco office
Architect: Levy Design Partners,
San Francisco
Structural Engineer: Murphy Burr Curry,
San Francisco
Civil Engineer: KCA Engineers,
PHOTO CREDIT: BOB HUGHES, BRILLIANCE PHOTOGRAPHY
Burlingame
One of the main challenges of the One The architectural intentions were to Mechanical Engineer: Critchfield
South Park project was to preserve the accommodate the program while preserv- Mechanical, Menlo Park
integrity of the historical structure while cre- ing the architectural integrity of the struc-
Electrical Engineer: Rosendin Electric,
ating modern livable space. The former ture and highlighting the building’s char-
San Francisco office
tobacco warehouse and sewing sweatshop acter throughout the design. In the central
was converted into 35 residential units and a courtyard, where the floors were cut out,
first floor commercial space within its exteri- the structure was left exposed, using glass
or walls, with the addition of a partial pent- handrails and smooth stucco wall to differ- house level above was subdivided into
house level. To accommodate residential use entiate the new from the old. Inside the townhouse or two-story units.
in the thick-walled, square-shaped building, units, the concrete walls and ceilings Additionally there was a total seismic,
light was needed in the center of the struc- where left exposed, revealing the original mechanical, electrical, and plumbing
ture. The solution was to cut out two court- construction. Lateral bracing was provid- upgrade through the structure.
yards, one in the center and the other on an ed by inserting steel braced frames Environmental sustainability was con-
interior property line. inboard of the concrete walls, which were sidered throughout this project. The proj-
The design enclosed an existing railroad also left exposed, allowing the original ect is essentially a redevelopment of an
spur with modern fenestration, in keeping space to read through. In the units that existing warehouse building located in an
with the Secretary of Interiors Standards for enveloped the former exterior walls of the urban neighborhood with public trans-
historic rehabilitation. An outside terrace railroad spur, the arched openings portation within a short walking distance.
preserved historic railroad tracks, creating an remained as design elements within the The entire superstructure, including the
urban patio directly accessible from the side- units. exterior walls, columns and floors, were
walk. As part of the adaptive reuse, the exist- During construction, it was discovered retained and reused leading to consider-
ing first floor was lowered and a new floor that the structure could have been built able savings in material use and energy
inserted between this level and the existing with better concrete which resulted in the requirements. The thick concrete exterior
second floor. The first floor contains the reinforcement of the entire superstructure. walls act as a thermal mass that provides
street level commercial space and parking. The upper story with the new partial pent- indoor comfort for the occupants. <<
31 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
Willie Mays Boys & Girls Club,
San Francisco
Restoration
Award of Merit
Project Team
Owner Boys & Girls Club of
San Francisco
Construction Manager: Swinerton
Management & Consulting, San
Francisco
Architect: Michael Willis Architects,
San Francisco
Structural Engineer: John Yadegar and
Associates, San Francisco
Civil Engineer: G.T. Kuntz & Co.,
In response to escalating violence in the such as ensuring the existing clubhouse San Leandro
neighborhood, the city and county of San was kept operational to serve more than Mechanical Engineer: MHC Engineers,
Francisco and the Boys & Girls Clubs of 60 children a day. San Francisco
San Francisco teamed up for the renova- Other challenges included the need to
Electrical Engineer: The Engineering
tion of the Milton Meyer Recreation provide a single entrance within the con-
Enterprise, Alameda
Center to create a new Boys & Girls fines of two single story buildings on mul-
Clubhouse in San Francisco’s tiple tiers of the existing hill. Additionally, Landscape Architect: Smith & Smith,
Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhood. several skylights were installed in the teen San Francisco
The $4 million renovation created a center and café to brighten up the space.
full-service recreation and resource facili- Natural light was also introduced into the
ty on Hunters Point hill for young people. hallway by glazing the old window open-
The 23,000-sq-ft facility includes an art ings and installing new security screens.
studio, technology center, learning center, Furthermore, the building has consid- Mayor's Office of Community
teen center, organic garden and teaching erable grade differential from the Development, was managed with a CM-
kitchen, game room, community entrance to the rear. The design maxi- Multiple Prime delivery method. SMC
room/dance room with athletic floor, full mizes the length of ramp within the exist- packaged the project into small trade con-
gymnasium, a two-level courtyard, admin- ing building walls and includes a wheel- tracts with the intent of attracting the
istrative office and a San Francisco Police chair lift to make up the difference, which smaller local minority contractors indica-
Department Community Policing office. involved raising the floor in a section of tive of the local community. Through pub-
The Boys & Girls Club’s primary goal is the building. This allowed the Boys & lic bidding, outreach, advertisement and
to provide a safe, fun and healthy environ- Girls Clubs to maintain the site lines community meetings, 40% of the con-
ment for kids. In order to uphold this desired for supervision, meet ADA codes struction was installed by local contrac-
goal, several challenges were overcome and to serve children with disabilities. tors, including 17% by local Bayview dis-
throughout the course of construction, This project, funded in part by the trict contractors. <<
33 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
The Infinity Phase I, San Francisco
Residential
Winner
Project Team
Owner/Developer: 300 Spear Realty
Venture, LLC/Tishman Speyer, San
Francisco
General Contractor: Webcor Builders,
San Mateo
Architects: Arquitectonica, Miami
Heller Manus Architects, San Francisco
Interior Designer: Arquitectonica, Miami
Landscape Designer: Hargreaves
Associates, San Francisco
Located one block from the Embarcadero
in the heart of San Francisco’s SOMA neigh-
borhood, The Infinity was designed by
Bernardo Fort-Brescia of Miami-based
Arquitectonica and Clark Manus of San
Francisco-based Heller Manus Architects.
PHOTO CREDIT: DUSK SHOTS BY CHRIS BROESAMIE, WEBCOR BUILDERS
The Infinity features well-designed floor
plans, including two-level town homes, 1-,
The Infinity Phase I is a luxury residen- mat slab in 356 calendar days and within 2- and 3-bedroom homes, and studios.
tial complex with a 36-story, post-tensioned one week of the original schedule. Sizes range from 536 to 1,462 sq ft in the
concrete tower containing 365 condomini- During the excavation of 190,000 cu yds of mid-rises and from 800 to 3,300 sq ft in the
um units, a five-level subterranean parking towers.
garage, and two mid-rise buildings that
Judge’s Comment: Amenities include a state-of-the-art
house a fitness spa, swimming pool, court- “Well done. 5,000-sq-ft health club; 75-ft lap pool; pri-
yard, lounge and retail space. vate treatment room and sauna; spacious
Spatially pleasing”
Phase II will include another tower of 46 club lounge; business center; and a distinc-
stories. soil, workers uncovered a 19th century whal- tive private screening room. The Infinity
Using an innovative combination of con- ing ship. Webcor says it overcame the delays also features a 9,500-sq-ft fine dining restau-
crete forming systems, Webcor Builders, the associated with the ship’s removal and an rant, 3,500 sq ft of additional retail, an on-
general contractor, poured the 36-story unusually wet winter by achieving a four- site concierge, a 24-hour attended lobby
tower, five levels of parking and 7,000-cu-yd day, floor-to-floor concrete pouring cycle. and gated parking. <<
35 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
One Rincon Hill, San Francisco
Residential
Award of Merit
Project Team
Owner: Urban West Associates, La Jolla
General Contractor: Bovis Lend Lease,
San Francisco
Construction Manager: Project
Management Advisors, San Francisco
Architect: Solomon Cordwell Buenz &
Associates, San Francisco
Structural/Civil Engineer: Magnusson
Klemencic Associates, Seattle
Mechanicl/Electrical Engineer:
C&B Consulting Engineers,
San Francisco
The completion of the first phase of the mi from the San Andreas Fault required damper tanks, located at the top of the
One Rincon Hill project is one of the most the creation of a first-of-its-kind structural building, use the motion of the sloshing
significant additions to the San Francisco system. Developed using a performance- water to counteract building sway and
skyline in more than 30 years, and the based seismic design approach, the struc- increase occupant comfort in heavy winds.
tallest all-residential tower west of the Another challenge was to provide occu-
Mississippi River. Judge’s Comment: pancy as early as possible. Flying forms
One Rincon Hill was a complex project, “It reshaped the San kept floors free of shoring and helped
both structurally and geographically, says achieve a three-day pour cycle (versus a
general contractor Bovis Lend Lease. The
Francisco skyline and
norm of five days), a West Coast speed
1.3 acre site is immediately adjacent to the is a nice addition to record for high-rise concrete work. The key
San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge and the community” to the shorter cycle was keeping informa-
surrounding buildings. The project includ- tion flowing, especially to the design-build
ed demolishing the site’s existing office tural system features a concrete core and teams for the mechanical-electrical-plumb-
building, the famed Bank of America clock outriggers comprised of buckling ing and curtain-wall systems, and separa-
tower and parking garage. restrained braces. One Rincon Hill is also tion of vertical and horizontal construction
In addition, the constraints of a 650-ft- one of the first U.S. applications of tuned by keeping the core three levels ahead of
tall tower on a narrow site approximately 8 liquid mass dampers. The two 54,000 gal the deck. <<
37 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
America’s Choice High School, Sacramento
K-12
Winner
Project Team
Owner: Sacramento City Unified School
District
Developer: Regent Development,
Sacramento
General Contractor: McCarthy Building
Cos., Roseville
Architect: HMR Architects, Sacramento
Engineers: Chase Electrical Engineering,
Sacramento
America’s Choice High School was plicated experiments and a specialty com- Laugenour & Meikle Civil Enginners,
the sixth of seven planned high schools as puter lab to foster a curriculum that teach- Woodland
part of the Sacramento City Unified School es students how to build technology. Peters Engineering, Sacramento
District’s reform plan, which was launched The cornerstone of the campus is an
Wallace-Kuhl & Associates,
in 2001 to provide more options for local exterior amphitheater located in the court-
West Sacramento
families, reduce crowding at existing high yard that serves as a gathering area for stu-
schools and to provide productive learning dents and faculty. Other features include
environments to minimize the dropout administrative and multipurpose build-
rate. ings, fully functional cafeteria, library, and
The effort was fueled in large part by a athletic fields. implemented a lease/leaseback project
grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates The school’s aesthetics include exterior delivery system allowing a collaborative
Foundation, which provided funding for brick work, barrel roofs, intricate wood approach between Regent, HMR and
new small high schools across the country, framing and decorative facades and McCarthy. This delivery model enabled the
as well as dollars generated from Measure I. canopies – with minimal straight lines. client to use private sector procurement
Passed by voters in 2002, the measure ear- One of the unusual design features practices on a publicly funded project while
marked $225 million in bonds to upgrade included “V” columns, which were mount- permitting the project team to open com-
existing campuses and build new high ed leaning outward to add character and munication and jointly solve budget and
schools. complexity to the curvature of the build- schedule challenges early in the project
The 45,808-sq-ft high school situated on ings’ roofs. delivery timeline. This allowed McCarthy’s
13 acres of land consists of eight buildings SCUSD’s request for a unique high “hands-on builder” expertise to be leveraged
and serves up to 500 students. school project under a tight budget result- and offer solutions to offset cost impacts
America’s Choice was built with the high- ed in McCarthy and HMR teaming with while maintaining design and quality stan-
est of academic amenities, emphasizing a Regent Development, Inc. to approach the dards. For example, costs were reduced by
hands-on curriculum in science and tech- project in a way that was cost effective, but making the football field 1.5 ft higher than
nology. The facility features prominent lab- high in design and construction standards. planned rather than hauling off 1,000 cu yds
oratory facilities equipped to handle com- To address this challenge, the team of soil prior to development. <<
39 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
Folsom Public Library
Civic
Winner
Project Team
Owner: City of Folsom
General Contractor: Flintco Inc.,
Sacramento
Architect: BSA Architects,
San Francisco
Construction Manager: URS Corp.,
Sacramento
Landscape Architect: The HLA Group,
Sacramento
Structural Engineer: KPFF Consulting
Engineers, Sacramento
Mechanical Engineer: Capital
Engineering Consultants, Rancho
Cordova
Electrical Engineer: O’Mahony & Myer,
San Rafael
The city of Folsom wanted its new Folsom nity room and café when the library is closed.
Library to embrace the civic park where it is The visual strength and rough texture of
located, with its stepped massing and dual the rotunda’s masonry walls create a dra-
wings off a central core that forms a rear matic contrast against the smooth tex- wing offer dramatic views outward while
patio/outdoor reading room and informal tures of the librar y’s skin and glass serving as beacons identifying the library
amphitheater adjacent to the existing and expanses. The masonry material, visible and allowing views inward from the park,
renovated gazebo. on the exterior of and on the interior of civic center and roadway. Clerestory win-
The rear of the library also includes a sec- the entry gallery, as well as the concrete dows throughout the library and shade
ond entry to the building from the park, fur- floor finish reinforces the design objec- “fins” on the larger windows allow for
ther reinforcing the strong visual and physi- tives to bring the outside in. The qualities extensive use of natural daylighting with
cal connections to the park. of the materials are both an honest effective control.
The library’s inverted entry rotunda is the expression of the building’s structural ele- Surrounding the grounds of the library
compositional centerpiece of the facility. The ments and are durable, versatile finishes. is a new memorial flag-lined walk with
rotunda’s arms welcome the community into The theme of establishing a strong con- several large bronze sculptures, including
the library and its strong circular form creates nection to the park is also reinforced with a soldier, scout dog, eagle and 8-ft-tall
the core or “hearth” of the facility. The design expansive glazing at reading and social books with patriotic inscriptions and a
of the inverted rotunda creates an interior day areas as well as occasional windows with- large granite monument containing the
lit entry gallery for local art displays, pre-func- in the stacks and other program areas. original plaques inscribed with the names
tion space and allows for access to the commu- The reading lounges at the end of each of Folsom’s fallen soldiers. <<
40 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
Woodland Medical Office Building, Woodland
Healthcare
Winner
Project Team
Owner: Catholic Healthcare West,
Rancho Cordova
General Contractor: Panattoni
Construction, Sacramento
Architect: Boulder Associates,
Boulder, Colo.
Structural Engineer: Miyamoto
International, West Sacramento
Civil Engineer: Laugenour & Meikle,
Woodland
Mechanical Engineer: Turley &
Associates, Sacramento
The Woodland Medical Office Ample natural light is introduced into Electrical Engineer: Ken Rubitsky &
Building is a group practice facility the gallery through the clerestory windows Associates, Auburn
designed to accommodate pediatrics, along both sides, creating an inviting
OB/GYN, allergy, cardiology, dermatology, architectural space for patients and their
internal medicine, family practice, urgent families.
care, pharmacy, imaging, orthopedics, The community benefited from the new Additionally, the construction site for
occupational medicine, clinical laboratory, facility because older buildings on the cam- the project was the employee parking lot
café/coffee shop and group gathering areas. pus that housed the various separate depart- for the hospital. A vast majority of a new
This 58,050-sq-ft facility was designed as ments were not under one roof. parking lot had to be constructed in order
a one-story building to maximize the value One challenge of this project was not only to house 250 vehicles prior to demolishing
of the client’s capital investment. A central to provide design assist services to the client, the existing parking lot resulting in a
gallery, used for reception, registration and but to ensure an on-time and on-budget phased construction sequence. The new
waiting, was incorporated to make most project. This at times was difficult due to building footprint took over half of the for-
effective use of the large floor plate. As a many different user groups that had input mer employee parking lot.
healthcare facility, short walking distances into the design and layout; many times there Early on in the design phase the client
are essential. By arranging clinical spaces were in excess of 90 tradesmen working in placed scheduling constraints on the proj-
on either side of the gallery and physician every zone of the project. The design and lay- ect team of one year based on their financ-
offices distributed away from the examina- out was continually changing through the ing arrangements. The project was brought
tion rooms, patient walking distances are entire course of construction. Even during in well under budget as well as beating the
reduced while reinforcing the health sys- the final construction phases there were sig- one year schedule by 1-1/2 months, which
tem’s intent to have physicians share nificant changes that needed to be addressed was imperative based on the GMAX cost
exam/treatment spaces. without affecting the project schedule. plus contract. <<
41 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
InterContinental The Clement Hotel, Monterey
Hospitality
Winner
Project Team
Owner: Cannery Row Hotel
Development Venture L.P., San Mateo
General Contractor: Devcon
Construction, Milpitas
Architect: Devcon Architecture, Milpitas
Architect (Building C, parking structure):
Watry Design, Inc., Redwood City
Civil Engineer: Creegan + D’Angelo,
The Clement Monterey Hotel is the vernacular of the waterfront area with its Monterey
first new hotel to be built in Monterey since flat building masses, punched window
the late 1980s. The project is located on a openings and industrial materials and Structural Engineer: Nishkian
waterfront site along Cannery Row. detailing. Menninger, San Francisco
The hotel’s original undeveloped, weed- The hotel site, located within an ocean Mechanical Engineer: Critchfield
infested, debris-strewn site on the former high tide zone, also spans both sides of a Mechanical, Menlo Park
location of a long-demolished sardine facto- busy commercial street and fronts a public
ry had been vacant for more than 20 years recreation trail that bisects part of the prop- Electrical Engineer: Cupertino Electric,
and it became a longstanding source of erty. These parameters called for the high- San Jose
frustration for local civic and community
leaders. Judge’s Comment:
Located next to the Monterey Bay Pre-existing footings on the site were
Aquarium, the hotel consists of three four- “Two big challenges – reused to minimize impact on the marine
story buildings, including a 126,000-sq-ft environmental bay issues environment. New footings, where required
waterside building with 111 hotel guest in tidal areas, were hoe-rammed below
and using the existing
rooms, restaurant, meeting space, new mean sea level – typically during off hour
boardwalk and pier; a second 79,902-sq-ft foundation – were construction scheduled late at night or in
structure with an additional 98 guest rooms accomplished” the early morning hours during negative
connected by a pedestrian bridge to the low tide. Special concrete additives were
waterside building; and a parking garage est level of innovation, planning and sched- used to pour footings in order for them to
with 347 spaces. uling in the construction of the project. The set up within two-hour windows before
The project was brought in on time and team developed a project work plan to com- they became submerged by tidal action. A
on budget. ply with the stringent regulations for con- marine biologist and support staff were
As an infill project, the design of the struction activity within the Monterey Bay added to the construction team and were
hotel ties into the cultural and historical National Marine Sanctuary while maintain- available at all times to monitor marine life
past of Cannery Row. Architecturally, the ing an aggressive construction schedule tar- and mitigate any potential construction
hotel fits the “rough and tumble” historical get of 21 months. impacts to the local ecosystem. <<
43 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
InterContinental Hotel, San Francisco
Hospitality
Award of Merit
Project Team
Owner: CDC San Francisco LLC
General Contractor: Webcor Builders,
San Mateo
Project Architect: Hornberger +
Worstell, San Francisco
Design Architect: Patri Merker
Architects, San Francisco
Interior Design: Brayton+Hughes Design
Studio, San Francisco
site from the ground up, including thick
marsh deposits during excavation and high
winds as the building grew towards its full
height. The site was located at the corner of
two high traffic streets in a busy downtown
area next to the Moscone Convention Center
and the Wells Fargo data center. This
required a close working relationship with
PHOTO CREDIT: BOB HUGHES, BRILLIANCE PHOTOGRAPHY
the neighboring businesses as well as the
Department of Public Transportation.
At 555 rooms, the InterContinental is According to the general contractor, The project was required by the city of San
the largest hotel to open in San Francisco in Webcor Builders, many of the interior fin- Francisco to implement a First Source Hiring
20 years. ish components were Guaranteed Program, whose purpose is to foster con-
Located at 888 Howard Street, the dis- Maximum Price allowances and the firm struction and permanent employment
tinctive blue, glass tower features an indoor worked closely with the owner and design opportunities for qualified, economically dis-
lap pool, 2,200-sq-ft fitness center and spa. team to examine different products and advantaged individuals. The city also
The 32-story, concrete poured-in-place installation methods in order to provide the required the owner to provide 12,600 sq ft of
tower, with two levels of below grade park- design intent at the lowest possible cost. publicly accessible open space. The project
ing and a six-floor podium, also includes After Total Cost of Ownership was extend- included pedestrian streetscape improve-
extensive conference and meeting space. ed for reasons beyond Webcor’s control, ments, such as the planting of numerous
Typical room rates range from $250 to the project team still managed to finish four mature trees, and the building design includ-
$400 per night, while suites range from days earlier than scheduled. ed several wind awnings to mitigate high
$1,500 to $5,000 per night. Webcor says the project was a challenging winds and the wind tunnel effect. <<
44 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
Tower Bridge Pedestrian/Bicycle Improvements, Sacramento
Transportation/Bridges
Winner
existing historical bridge elements result-
ed in providing an improved vital link for
Project Team
pedestrians and bicyclists between
Sacramento and West Sacramento. Owner: City of Sacramento
The project overcame numerous design
and construction challenges, including: Architect/Engineer: Parsons
• First contracted use of fiber reinforce- Brinckerhoff, Sacramento office
ment polymer (FRP) deck in California,
allowing the lift span sidewalk to be Builder: Golden State Bridge, Inc.,
widened from 3 ft to 10 ft. Martinez
• Innovations in construction -- much of
the construction activities on the truss
were executed from under the existing
sidewalks, with no false-work over the
water. Construction methods used tempo- (curb ramps and pedestrian crossing sig-
rary suspended platforms over the river, nals) provides a safer, more convenient
thereby avoiding any impact to environ- crossing of the high volume intersection at
mentally sensitive and navigable waters of the east end of the bridge for all pedestri-
Sacramento River. ans and bicyclists, including sight
• Tower Bridge is listed in the National impaired and other special users.
Register of Historic Places and to maintain • An important requirement of the proj-
its integrity, many elements including ect was to ensure navigational clearances
and construction requirements were
developed allowing work on the lift span,
Judge’s Comment: only within specific periods of time, when
“A great asset to the com- the bridge had to be locked in the up posi-
tion, maintaining clearing navigational
munity and a project that
requirements at all times.
maintained environmental • To protect the bridge operation
standards” machinery during construction, the con-
tractor provided independent bridge lock-
bridge railings, light fixtures, existing con- ing system in the up position, resulting in
The Tower Bridge Pedestrian/Bicycle crete sidewalks, concrete barriers and limited closure of the bridge to traffic (two
Improvements Project is an outstanding pedestrian gates were preserved in place months) as work on the lift span was fin-
example of a context-sensitive design or relocated where feasible. ished.
approach to a very difficult set of technical • Americans with Disabilities Act • All construction of the bridge
problems. It demonstrates how the inno- (ADA) compliant features attained on improvements were performed from the
vative use of a fiber reinforced polymer both the bridge (cane detection barrier for bridge. No work was performed in the
deck, redundant mechanisms for balanc- minimum headroom requirements at diag- water, thus avoiding impacts to the natural
ing the lift span, preservation and reuse of onal truss members) and the roadway environment. <<
45 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
Congregation Beth Sholom, San Francisco
Religious Facilities
Winner
Project Team
Owner: Congregation Beth Sholom,
San Francisco
General Contractor: C. Overaa & Co.,
Richmond
Architect: Stanley Saitowitz/Natoma
Architects, San Francisco
Structural Engineer: Forell/Elsesser
Engineers, Inc., San Francisco
Acoustical Engineer: Charles M. Salter
Associates, Inc., San Francisco
The Congregation Beth Sholom project exposed, colored concrete.
Mechanical Engineer: Rumsey
consists of three seismically separated struc- To acoustically soften the hard interior
Engineers, Oakland
tures. The one-story plaza provides meeting surfaces, the inside face of the vertical walls
and library space on the ground floor and are angled in a checkerboard fashion.
space for public gatherings on the roof. It also Light-gage framing was used to frame the
provides a link between the social hall and the stadium-style seating inside. The bowl and structure due to the unusual shape and ele-
sanctuary, which are the other two main its end walls are partially post-tensioned in vated center of mass. The structural design
structures. The social hall is a two-story light- was independently peer reviewed as a
gage framed structure with long span roof requirement by the city of San Francisco.
Judge’s Comment: Project Manager Kevin Smith of general
trusses that is supported on a concrete podi-
um. “Beautiful, inside and out. contractor C. Overaa & Co. states: “The cast-
The 704-seat sanctuary is the most dramat- Great attention to detail in-place concrete was very challenging. For
ic element of the project. The inspiration for instance, all poured-in-place walls have cast
this structure derives from the traditional syn-
with the acoustics” features, both inside and out, so doubling
agogue temples in Israel, with their bowl- up the forms was very difficult. Formwork
shaped congregation areas. It is a large curved two-directions to control deflections and needed to be carefully engineered to main-
concrete shell structure that is supported on a cracking, and to provide the strength tain a crisp radius with clean chamfer-less
narrow pedestal, giving it the appearance of required to resist gravity and seismic corners. The use of post-tension cables
almost defying gravity. The pedestal structure forces. The variable radius of the bowl pro- enabled C. Overaa and the design team to
rests on a massive concrete mat foundation vided several analysis and detailing chal- build a structure, which has little or no visi-
that provides seismic stability for the sanctu- lenges not typical in residential or com- ble cracking. Looking back, it was compli-
ary. The roof is framed with structural steel mercial post-tensioned concrete. Although cated, but our expert team was able to
and is separated from the sanctuary walls by a not required by code, non-linear time his- resolve these issues efficiently, resulting in a
continuous perimeter skylight. The bowl and tory analyses were performed to verify the beautiful building, as pleasing to the eye as
pedestal structures are architecturally seismic performance and stability of the it is structurally sound.” <<
46 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Northern California
Ritz-Carlton Club & Residences, San Francisco
Redevelopment
Winner
Project Team
Owner: R.C. Chronicle Building LP,
San Francisco
General Contractor: Plant Construction
Co., San Francisco
Architect: Charles Bloszies Architect,
San Francisco
Judge’s Comment:
“Reverting the building
from a bad 1960s exterior
restoration to its original
brick was a great idea”
The new 24-story building contains 101
residential units (57 condos and 44 time-
share units) and retail space, totaling
approximately 225,000 sq ft.
The project redeveloped the Burnham &
Root-designed Chronicle Building, which
when it rose up in 1890 was the nation’s
first skyscraper west of the Mississippi.
Featuring a valet-attended parking
garage, fitness center and boardroom, the
property features one- to three-bedroom
floor plans.
The 12th floor residents’ lounge features
The $90 million Ritz-Carlton Club & removal of 1960s-era steel cladding and a fireplace and terrace, in addition to the
Residences project involved the conversion restoration of the original brick exterior, main lobby with a concierge team.
of the historic Chronicle Building on the demolition of portions of the existing build- The one-, two- and three-bedroom Club
corner of Market and Kearny streets in San ing, extensive excavation, structural residences use custom furnishings, hard-
Francisco into new condominiums and upgrades and the construction of eight wood floors, gourmet kitchens and marble
time-share units. Work included the additional above-grade floors. bathroom floors. <<
47 California Construction 12/ 2008
Best of 2008 Project Manager of the Year (Northern California)
Reggie Hanna - Opus West
By Greg Aragon ums, ranging from in the country,” says Don Little, senior vice
approximately 700 to president of Opus West, Northern California.
Big projects require big leadership. So last 2,050 sq ft. Units offer “Its close proximity to public transportation
year when things got tricky on the $53 mil- spacious terraces with lines, shopping, restaurants, AT&T Park and
lion Park Terrace at Mission Bay project in views of the estuary, the Financial District were key selling points,
San Francisco, Opus West Corp. project man- the city skyline and and it has quickly become known as one of
ager Reggie Hanna stepped up and took con- the San Francisco Bay. the most desirable new residential communi-
trol. Top-quality finishes ties in San Francisco.”
Because of his work on this job Hanna was Reggie Hanna accent each unit, as But before the development could cele-
named California Construction Project well as numerous brate its grand opening in September of last
Manager of the Year. common area amenities, including a land- year, the project team had to overcome a few
“Reggie was instrumental in the success of scaped and furnished courtyard, fitness cen- hurdles. This is where Hanna stepped up, say
Park Terrace through his ability to manage ter, secured parking lot and lobby. colleagues such as Jonas Vass, Opus
the design, construction, city process and The seven-story, cast-in-place concrete Construction senior project manager.
unit turnovers,” says Jeff Smith, vice presi- building sits on a waterfront acre near the “Reggie utilized his past experience and
dent of construction for Opus West Mission Bay Estuary. It was designed by immediately made his mark through leader-
Construction Corp. Irvine-based McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & ship during project procurement and sched-
The 110-unit Park Terrace features two- Partners. The lead architect was Opus West uling phase,” says Vass. “His emphasis on
and three-bedroom townhomes, ranging Architects and Engineers. communication and creating clear direction
from approximately 1,200 to 2,400 sq ft, as “Park Terrace is touted as one of the most and goals for the project led construction
well as one- and two-bedroom condomini- unique master-planned urban communities team members to quickly take notice.” <<
Best of 2008 Project Manager of the Year (Southern California)
William Rapp - LAUSD
By David Silva with the nonprofit ules, he monitors construction, trou-
Wonder of Reading bleshoots, makes sure safety protocols are
William Rapp, California Construction program; a $57 mil- being followed, facilitates the bidding and
Magazine’s 2008 Project Manager of the lion early childhood contracting process and is in charge of fil-
Year, never gets a weekend off. education facilities ing regular cost and progress reports. He
Senior project and program manager for program; and a $173 also volunteers with various philanthropic
Los Angeles Unified School District’s million, 117-project organizations, including Big Brothers of
Existing Facilities Division, Rapp oversees Core Facility pro- Greater Los Angeles.
major building upgrade programs under William Rapp gram to upgrade var- Rapp says that during his off hours, he
California's Proposition 1D -- a 2006 bond ious school facilities such as multipurpose works from home.
initiative that targeted $7.7 billion toward rooms and food services facilities. “I typically work really long days as a
K-12 schools. He also manages a sweeping Along with putting together the program result of all this,” he adds. “Sometimes
library renovation effort in partnership budgets, design proposals and work sched- there’s some intense schedule pressure. I’m
48 California Construction 12/ 2008
a program manager in design and intent
and project manager just because we have
limited staff. There are project manager
functions involving day-to-day interface
with construction management at the local
level and program manager functions that
are more strategic in nature. I have to do a
little of both.”
By “a little,” Rapp means a lot. A signifi-
cant part of his duties involves overseeing
the Prop. 1D-funded Career Technology
Education facilities upgrades, a $91 million
effort in which unused or underused shop
buildings are converted into modern class-
rooms equipped with state-of-the-art com-
munications technology.
He also oversees development of the dis-
trict's 33 Qualified Zone Academy Bond
upgrade projects, using $55 million of Prop.
1D money to set up high school “career acad-
emies.”
“There are groups of these shops that have
been recognized by the state as being educa-
tion academies,” he says. “The academies
may be focused on high-tech computer train-
ing, finance, human services, medical tech-
nology or the construction trade industry.”
The largest project Rapp managed was the
district’s “High Tech High” in Van Nuys’
Lake Balboa area. The $10 million facility at
Birmingham High School trains students for
careers in the technology fields.
Through the district’s partnership with
Wonder of Reading, Rapp drives a $6 mil-
lion program to renovate and expand 95 ele-
mentary school libraries.
Victoria Yan, LAUSD’s deputy director of
program management and Rapp’s boss,
points out the projects he manages well: All
of them.
“It amounts to hundreds and hundreds of
programs,” Yan says. "When I know Will is
in charge of a program, I feel confident he
will manage them well. He’s extremely pas-
sionate about the programs we do. They’re
not just something he does as he traverses
his career. He exemplifies the ability to feel
passionate about the projects as being more
than just bricks and mortar.” <<
49 California Construction 12/2008
Best of 2008 Public Owner of the Year
Los Angeles Unified School District
By David Silva In response, track calendar system, with thousands of
California students having to bus to facilities out of
Los Angeles Unified School District’s Construction their neighborhoods.
massive construction program may go has chosen “One of the fundamental tenets of the
down as a textbook example of how to LAUSD as its program is we’re putting all of our students
spend bond money right. 2008 Public back into two-semester, neighborhood
The $20.3 billion program, the largest in Owner of the schools so parents can participate in their
the nation’s history, could have easily fol- Year. education,” Mehula says. “We’ve also set
lowed a different path if district officials “One of the aside money in the program to encourage
would have brought in out-of-state contrac- Guy Mehula
things we incor- joint-use opportunities for community
tors to build a handful of high-school cam- porated into our partners to come in. We can match their
puses whose capacities would be maxed out standard design process was that we didn’t funding and therefore put resources into
in a decade. want to do any ‘cookie-cutter’ designs,” says these schools to promote after-school pro-
But with overcrowding a major problem Guy Mehula, chief facilities executive for gramming, weekend use, evening use -- all
in schools across Los Angeles, and with par- the district. “Each design is individual, and the things that really make a school the cen-
ents and community leaders calling for a meant to fit into the community. We hold ter of the community.”
different approach, the district instead multiple meetings with community mem- To attract firms nervous over LAUSD’s
chose to focus on attracting area contrac- bers, where the architect comes out and once-notoriously bureaucratic contract sys-
tors, which has given the area economy a meets with them and makes sure that we’re tem, the district streamlined the process by
hefty boost. answering the community’s needs.” putting accounts on a 30-day pay cycle and
The result thus far: Seventy-two new The program was financed through the providing training to contractors on its
LAUSD schools have been built, with 60 passage of several bond initiatives, begin- policies and procedures.
more scheduled over the next four years. ning with a $2.4 billion bond in 1997. “We’re also absolutely committed to
Thirty of 38 planned early-education cen- When built out in 2012, the program will investing bond money into the communi-
ters have also been completed, along more have added approximately 145,000 new ty,” Mehula says. He says 68% of the money
than 17,100 modernization projects that classroom seats and allow students to goes back into laborers in the LA area,
upgraded most of the district's 1,155 facili- return to a traditional 180-day school calen- while 58% goes to small businesses.
ties. In the works are an additional 3,300 dar. For more on LAUSD’s school construc-
modernization efforts. Overcrowding presently forces many dis- tion and modernization bond program,
trict schools to use a year-round, multi- visit www.laschools.org. <<
Best of 2008 Owner of the Year (Private)
Kilroy Realty Corp.
By Greg Aragon “To be acknowledged as Owner of the “We strive to design, develop and oper-
Year is an outstanding tribute to the KRC ate our assets in a ‘best-of-class’ manner,
With 12.2 million sq ft of stabilized prop- team of professionals and the outstanding and that is reflected in the repeat business
erties in its possession, and 1.8 million sq ft of relationships we have with our vendors, solutions KRC has delivered to our ten-
new leasing thus far in 2008, Los Angeles- and most importantly, with our cus- ants.”
based Kilroy Realty Corp. has been selected tomers,” says John B. Kilroy, Jr., the firm’s Tyler Rose, Kilroy senior vice president
California Construction’s Owner of the Year. president and chief executive officer. and treasurer, says a “good blend of entre-
50 California Construction 12/ 2008
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