The California High-Speed Rail Authority Board voted to begin construction of the system connecting Los Angeles to the Bay Area in the heart of the state�s Central Valley, choosing an option that makes the best use of available funding and lays the foundation for expanding the track both north and south. HSR Authority Board Votes for Central Valley Start �We are building a statewide system,� says authority vice chair Tom Umberg. �We�re in the business of connecting major metropolitan centers across our state, and we won�t have a true high-speed rail system until we tie every part of this state
Construction employment either increased or remained steady in one-third � 113 of 337 metropolitan areas � between October 2009 and October 2010, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials say construction job gains are becoming more widespread thanks in large part to an increase in power, stimulus and other publicly-funded construction projects. �It looks like the stimulus, military base realignment and power projects have put a halt to some of the dramatic construction job losses many metro areas have been experiencing,� says Ken Simonson, the association�s chief economist,
The American Institute of Architects, California Council, recently installed Anne Laird-Blanton, AIA, as the incoming 2011 president. Laird-Blanton is principal of ALB Designs, an architecture and interior design firm in San Rafael. She received her education at the University of Tennessee, and holds architectural licenses in both California and New York. LAIRD-BLANTON The AIACC says her strong interest in social causes, development of personal relationships and effective communications has helped guide her in creating a business that serves both residential and nonprofit clients. As a Certified Green Building Professional, Laird-Blanton�s primary focus is on implementing energy efficient technologies and green
Jacobs Engineering Group of Pasadena reports that MLK Partners, a joint venture managed by Jacobs along with Jenkins/Gales & Martinez (JGM) and Jensen+Partners, received an award from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works to provide construction management services for the revitalization of the Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Medical Center in Los Angeles. The award is for two separate projects: the Inpatient Tower renovation and the construction of a new Multi-Service Ambulatory Care Center Building. The overall program is budgeted at $355 million. The scope of work for the Inpatient Tower renovation includes the demolition and remodeling of
Grading and sitework has begun on Sudberry Properties� 230-acre Civita project in Mission Valley. photo credit: Image of Circa 37 by MVE Architects Located on a former sand and gravel quarry, the $2-billion, 15-year project will eventually include 4,780 condominiums and apartments, nearly a million sq ft of commercial/retail space, 32 acres of parks, a civic center and heritage museum, and hiking, biking and walking trails. The grading phase is being handled by Perry & Shaw of El Cajon. Carrier Johnson + CULTURE did the original master planning designs and current architects involved include Elkus Manfredi of Boston and Woodley
The joint venture design-build team of Clark Construction Group, LLC, and McCarthy Building Cos., in association with architect HKS Inc., broke ground on the new $394-million Naval Hospital at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The Clark/McCarthy joint venture was awarded a design-build contract for the Naval Hospital Replacement Project at Camp Pendleton by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest on Sept. 1. The new hospital replaces an existing hospital at Camp Pendleton, the largest military training facility on the West Coast. An official groundbreaking ceremony, hosted by the Commanding Officers of the Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton and Marine Corps
Southern California Edison (SCE) plans to install 250 MW of solar generating capacity in California�s southern and central valley in the next four years. Another 250 MW could be secured through contracts with independent energy providers as part of the utility�s $875 million initiative. The first round of long-term power purchase contracts was let to independent power producers in July of this year. The second round of contracts could hit the streets during the first quarter of 2011. photo credit: Photo Courtesy of Southern California Edison Fast-Tracked Solar Installations Multiply Southern California Power Alternatives Power could come from some 100
McCarthy Building Cos. recently completed construction of Soka University of America�s new Performing Arts Center and Academic Building project in Aliso Viejo, located on 1.9 acres of the Soka University campus. Scheduled to open in October 2011, the new Performing Arts Center is designated to become a venue in South Orange County for concerts, theater productions, lectures and assemblies, enhancing Soka University�s role as a cultural center and community gathering place. McCarthy served as general contractor for the $73 million project that began in December 2008. The project included construction of a three-level, 47,836-sq-ft Performing Arts Center housing a reception
In response to the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform�s recommendation to fully fund the transportation trust fund instead of relying on deficit spending, the Engineering & Utility Contractors Association announced its support, with CEO Mark Breslin saying that the �commission�s transportation plan is fiscally responsible and builds on the long-established principle of ensuring only those that benefit from this system contribute to its upkeep through a user fee. �EUCA supports this proposal because it delivers critical resources that will create jobs and facilitate economic growth in our communities.� Additionally, the commission announced their support for a dedicated 15-cent
The U.S. Green Building Council announced the launch of LEED for Retail, its newest green building rating system, and the LEED Volume Program, a program designed to meet the certification needs of high-volume property developers. The programs were unveiled at last week�s Greenbuild International Conference & Expo in Chicago. The LEED for Retail rating system recognizes the unique design and construction needs of this market sector, enabling forward-thinking retailers to integrate green building design, construction and operation into ground-up construction, retail interior and build-out projects. Nearly 100 national and independent retailers and franchisees, including Bank of America, Best Buy, Chipotle,