Reno Contracting reports that it will begin a $1.3-million renovation at the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina in San Diego. The project as designed by Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates Inc. encompasses the remodel of ballrooms, meeting rooms and pre-function space within the lobby and foyer level of the North Tower, as well as updated LED lighting to increase energy efficiency. Initial work involves renovation of the hotel�s elevator lobbies, which is taking place through Dec. 31. The second phase of the project is planned for April through June 2011. Enhanced functionality and ambience, energy efficiency and upgrades of
A design that repurposes downtown Los Angeles� long-neglected civic center into an urban destination and pedestrian artery has netted two major design awards from architecture and landscape architecture associations. As conceived by Los Angeles-based Rios Clementi Hale Studios, the new Los Angeles Civic Park connects a 12-acre keystone site across four blocks in downtown Los Angeles. Long a patchwork that failed to unify downtown, the new Civic Park promises to be both a successful urban place and a concourse lacing together civic and cultural icons, such as City Hall and the Music Center. The project broke ground on July 15,
The agreement that will lead to replacement of the dilapidated Long Beach Courthouse has been signed between the private company selected for the project, Long Beach Judicial Partners (LBJP), and the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The AOC says that LBJP will finance, design, build, operate and maintain the new courthouse. The project company has reached financial close and expects to begin construction in early 2011, and the new building is scheduled to be completed and ready for occupancy by fall 2013. The Long Beach project is the first for which the AOC is using the innovative delivery method
California�s Department of Transportation is scrambling to blunt two recent negative reactions to its plan to use a public-private partnership in the second phase of the $1-billion Doyle Drive replacement project, known as Presidio Parkway, in San Francisco. Caltrans Tries to Head Off Opposition to the Presidio Parkway P3 Phase Earlier this month, in a report issued by the Legislative Analyst�s Office, analyst Mac Taylor concluded that the project is not a �good fit� for a P3, while last week the Professional Engineers in California Government (PECG) was granted a temporary restraining order from an Alameda County superior court judge
The California Air Resources Board made it official last week during its two-day monthly meeting in Sacramento: It approved a four-year reprieve for its off-road diesel emissions rule, admitting that the down economy and flawed science contributed to unrealistic data. �The Board�s decision to approve the revised off-road diesel emissions rules gives hope to thousands of construction workers fearful for their job security while safeguarding California's air quality,� says Michael Kennedy, general counsel of the Associated General Contractors of America and a lead advocate for the negotiated emissions rule change. �Board members have demonstrated real wisdom and courage in acknowledging
The Contracting Plastering Associations of Central Valley and Northern California (East Bay, Fresno, Sacramento, San Francisco and South Bay), along with the Capitol Drywall/Lathing Contractors Association (CDLCA) and the Northern California Drywall Contractors Association (NCDCA) recently formed, and will operate under, the Wall And Ceiling Alliance (WACA). Board of Directors Chosen for New Wall And Ceiling Alliance The Wall And Ceiling Alliance�s strategic partnership was created to give its member associations a stronger presence in the plaster and drywall industry in Northern California. The boards of directors from each association recently came together to elect an executive board for the
The Emeryville Center for the Arts announced the selection of Jensen Architects to design its new art center. Founded in November 2009, the ECA is conceived of as a new model of visual and performing arts center, a gathering place for aesthetic, intellectual and educational experiences through participation in and appreciation of contemporary visual and performing arts. Jensen Architects was one of six architecture firms vying for the coveted job of renovating the ECA building on 4060 Hollis Street. After an eight-week design process, the architectural firms presented to a five-person jury that included Allison Williams, design principal at Perkins+Will;
Jamboree Housing Corp. recently broke ground in Claremont for Courier Place Apartment Homes, an affordably priced, transit-oriented development that will also be a LEED platinum-certified community. Lauded by Sean Rogan, executive director of the Community Development Commission of Los Angeles County as an example of the type of innovative affordable housing the Commission is promoting throughout Los Angeles County, Courier Place received $2.75 million in funding from LACDC as well as $4.91 million from the city of Claremont, which is located 30 mi east of downtown Los Angeles. Courier Place is being developed within Claremont�s Village Expansion on a 3.4-acre
Doing its part to get the Southern California economy moving, the Orange County Transportation Authority reports that it has advanced more than $525 million worth of projects into construction this year. Construction crews from Brutoco Engineering & Construction work to add a new 6-mi eastbound lane addition on the SR-91, one of the busiest stretches of highway in the nation. For every $1 billion spent on infrastructure improvements, it is estimated that 18,000 jobs are created. In Orange County, the investment translates into nearly 9,500 jobs for a region hit hard by the economic recession, OCTA says. �Our goal is
The holidays will come early for the Bay Bridge as the third set of tower sections for the iconic Self-Anchored Suspension Span (SAS) are placed during a round-the-clock lift that began this week. These sections will bring the tower up to nearly three-quarters of its final 525-ft-tall height. The latest set of four tower sections arrived in the Bay Area on Dec. 13. The tower is made up of four independent legs, each of which is composed of five vertical sections. The third set of tower sections will bring the tower up to 374 ft tall, just shy of the
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