Trying to balance the needs of the environment with active pedestrians resulted in the David Kreitzer Lake Hodges Bicycle Pedestrian Bridge. Related Links: Best of California 2009 The stress ribbon bridge provides a link to the north side of Lake Hodges from the south side and serves pedestrians and bicyclists. One of the keys that shaped the project was the need to limit the bridge’s impact on the lake. The project team used the stress ribbon design method to limit the number of supports in the lake to two. The use of precast panels eliminated the need for falsework within
The goals of this $56-million project in the heart of San Rafael were to elevate and widen the northbound and southbound Highway 101 lanes for the addition of HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes and to construct a new southbound 101/eastbound Interstate 580 connector. Related Links: Best of California 2009 One of the more innovative aspects of the project’s design was the use of both lightweight aggregates and EPS block (expanded polystyrene). The project is located immediately adjacent to the San Francisco Bay, so much of the native material underneath the site is what is referred to as “bay mud.” This
This $9.2 million seismic retrofit and complete interior renovation of a historic building on Pacific Ave. became the four-story headquarters of the San Francisco law firm Keesal, Young & Logan. It includes office space, a private bar and dining room, fitness room, shower, kitchen and several conference/meeting spaces. Related Links: Best of California 2009 The project team says that meeting the client’s specific move-in date was one of the most critical goals for the project. The team implemented weekly meetings with the owner and architect, as well as weekly schedule updates. The thoughtful restoration and renovation of a historic building
Needing a new home for its headquarters, the Aerospace Corp. sought a project team to transform an existing office building into a high-tech headquarters for the 21st century. Related Links: Best of California 2009 The Aerospace Corp.’s A9 corporate headquarters is a four-story, 177,000-sq-ft office building. One of the significant aspects of the project is the amount of advanced technology incorporated throughout the building. The lower level basement houses the Stars Lab, the data control center for satellite launches and features a raised floor, a server room and conference room. The main entry level features a viewing platform with stadium
Arterra is a luxury condominium building in the Mission Bay area which became San Francisco’s first LEED-NC silver-certified highrise residential project earlier this year. Related Links: Best of California 2009 Arterra consists of three interconnected buildings: a 16-level high-rise tower, a nine-level building with a landscaped terrace area and barbecue deck, and a six-level grass-roofed building featuring three tiers of two-level town homes. The $89-million project features 269 one- to three-bedroom units, concierge service, a fitness/wellness center, community lounge, rooftop sundeck, furnished suite for guests and an enclosed garage on and around a four-level podium structure. On Arterra, Bovis, the
The value of new construction starts climbed 12% in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $447.6 billion, it was reported by McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Cos. The upward push came from double-digit gains for nonresidential building and nonbuilding construction (public works and electric utilities). At the same time, residential building in October was unchanged from its September pace. Through the first ten months of 2009, total construction on an unadjusted basis came in at $350.1 billion, down 29% from the same period a year ago. The October statistics lifted the Dodge Index to 95 (2000=100), up
Every one of California�s 28 largest metropolitan areas saw a decrease in construction employment between October 2008 and October 2009, according to a new analysis of metropolitan area employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The association says that state regulators need to rethink plans to force contractors to replace existing equipment as shrinking demand for construction wiped out 136,000 construction jobs statewide. “Collapsing demand for construction services throughout the state is devastating workers and forcing contractors to idle billions of dollars worth of equipment,” says the association’s chief economist Ken Simonson. “Requiring contractors to spend
The Richmond Civic Center Revitalization project recently opened with a media tour and speeches by local officials. Y.K. Cheung Photography The Richmond Civic Center Revitalization project recently opened with a media tour and speeches by local officials. The project also recently won the Best of California’s Top Overall Project for 2009 in the Northern California region. It also took home the Best of California award in the Government/Public category. The awards program is hosted by McGraw-Hill Construction and California Construction Magazine. After almost six years of design and construction, approximately 300 city of Richmond employees recently returned to work at
Gregs G. Thomopulos, P.E., Chairman & CEO of Stanley Consultants of Houston, was elected president of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers for a two-year term. FIDIC represents globally the consulting engineering industry. Thomopulos has been on the organization’s executive committee for six years. His election marks the first time in 20 years that a U.S. citizen holds the position, which only three other Americans have held in FIDIC’s nearly 100-year history. Dynamic Lighting Solutions in Pearland announced Robert C. Horswood joined the company as utility sales representative, Eastern Division. He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s
Texas Construction presents its thirteenth annual Best Of awards issue, which honors projects completed in our region between Sept. 1, 2008, and Sept. 1, 2009.
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