Submitted by Sundt Construction

The $34-million University of California, Davis Graduate School of Management, Offices and Conference Center is the first project ever built on the campus using the alternate design-build delivery method. The project also features an innovative mechanical system that required inventive construction techniques. It is the UC Davis campus’ first project to utilize building information modeling.

The project consisted of two buildings. Gallagher Hall, a three-story, 40,000-sq-ft facility, houses the university’s Graduate School of Management and forms part of an attractive new main entrance to the campus. The building features open spaces to foster collaboration and a warm sense of community, with classrooms that are equipped with advanced technology and designed for interactive learning. The facility also includes a state-of-the-art student affairs and career services center to give students a place to develop career-building skills, as well as an outdoor garden and courtyard with space for special events and networking.

The second building is a 43,000-sq-ft conference center that houses the University Relations Department on the second floor, with a ballroom, conference rooms and space for a future restaurant on the ground floor.

The project team’s innovative thinking was paramount throughout the construction process, as there were numerous challenges along the way. Early in the project, the university required a redesign of the building layout and courtyard; the buildings were required to be moved in order to avoid harming a Chilean Soapbark Tree that was located in the path of the building foundations. The tree, which was a gift to the University and quite rare in Northern California, could not be relocated without risk of damaging the root system and losing the tree. Instead, the team quickly redesigned the building’s layout by several feet, which required a complete redesign of the entire courtyard. While it was a scramble for the team to get the design done and approved so construction could begin without losing too much time, they were able to keep working.

One important feature that utilizes innovative techniques and helps with the project’s LEED certification is the extensive use of daylighting. Daylight is transmitted deep into the building via clerestory windows and a skylight monitor with a multi-story light well. While the heating and cooling system’s contribution to both the energy and atmosphere and indoor environmental quality categories of the LEED certification, these other elements are critical as well.

Project Team

Developer/Owner: University of California, Davis
General Contractor: Sundt Construction Inc., Sacramento
Construction Management: Sundt Construction Inc., Sacramento
Architect: Sasaki Associates, San Francisco
Civil Engineer: Sandis Engineering, Oakland
Structural Engineer: Rutherford Chekene, San Francisco