McCarthy, LPA start design-build work on Sacramento educational complex

McCarthy Building Cos. and LPA Inc. recently broke ground on the long-anticipated East Natomas Education Complex in Sacramento.

The complex is the largest design-build public school project being constructed under a new state law. McCarthy and LPA Inc. is the contractor/architect partnership in this design-build effort.

The flagship 293,450-sq-ft 7-12 grade campus is being built under Assembly Bill 1402, which authorizes school districts to utilize a design-build procurement process to deliver school projects greater than $10 million.

The $150 million educational complex will include a 1,900-student high school, a 1,100-student junior high school, sports facilities and a performing arts facility that is expected to set standards for energy efficiency in California.

The school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010.

The schools’ buildings will be constructed primarily from concrete and steel rather than wood products to expand the facilities’ life expectancy from 50 years to 100 years.

The school will also incorporate a number of important green initiatives, including east-west building orientation to maximize energy efficiency; solar tubes, skylights and high-efficiency HVAC units to reduce daytime energy demand; and waterless urinals and occupant sensors will reduce potable water use.

Part of the Grant Joint Union High School District, the project will be the largest design/build project completed in the California public school system under the assembly bill. The complex will be built in two phases, with the junior high scheduled to open in August 2009 and the high school a year later.

Snyder Langston completes final phase of Good Shepherd Women’s Village

Irvine-based Snyder Langston has completed the Catholic Charities/Good Shepherd Center Women’s Village Phase III project, a 35,892-sq-ft mixed-use building in Los Angeles that will provide services to all residents of Good Shepherd Center’s facilities.

Construction on the project began in November 2006 and a dedication ceremony will be held this month.

Phase III is situated on a half-acre parcel of land and includes underground and surface parking for 42 vehicles and a retail bakery/cafe that will provide employment assistance and concrete work experience to some of the women at Good Shepherd. The second floor consists of an employment and client service center, computer training area and classroom and conference rooms.

The two remaining floors are dedicated to transitional housing for homeless women in the program and include 21, one-bedroom apartments and one, two-bedroom manager’s apartment.

Onyx Architects from Pasadena completed design on the project.

The first two phases of the village included a transitional housing residence and a subsidized supportive housing residence that provides long-term housing to mothers with disabilities and their minor children.

Two Noll and Tam-designed libraries begin construction in Castro Valley, Sacramento

Berkeley’s Noll and Tam Architects saw two of its library design projects break ground recently in Castro Valley and Sacramento.

W.A. Thomas Co. of Martinez is the general contractor for the $22 million Castro Valley facility and Swinerton is serving as construction manager. The Novato office of Sundt Construction is the general contractor on the $14.8 million Sacramento branch library, named Valley Hi-North Laguna.

The Castro Valley Library is situated in a redevelopment zone and the library will be the heart of a mixed-use collection of housing, commercial, and civic buildings. The 34,000-sq-ft facility has a flexible design that accommodates a variety of community needs.

Abundant natural light and an efficient heating and ventilation system contribute to the building’s pursuit of a LEED silver rating while bioswales will be used to capture rainwater and runoff in the parking lot.

Meanwhile, the Valley Hi-North Laguna branch library is seeking a LEED gold certification, according to the city and library officials.

The 20,000-sq-ft facility features a browsing area with newly-released books, CDs, and DVDs; separate children’s and teen reading areas; a community meeting room that can accommodate as many as 100 people; self check-out machines for library books and other materials; and a teen room, food court, three study rooms, learning center, computer lab and classroom.

Both projects will open next summer.

HOK, gkkworks begin healthcare project in Los Angeles

A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles for a $43 million Life Sciences Research and Nursing Education Building.

The architectural firm for the new building is HOK, while the general contractor is gkkworks of Irvine and the construction manager is Camarillo-based S.L. Leonard and Associates.

The building is funded through a $43 million bond offering issued by the California Educational Facilities Authority.

The two-story, 63,000-sq-ft building will be located adjacent to the university’s main administration building in Los Angeles, and is expected to be completed by fall 2009. The scientific research facility will encompass state-of-the-art space for laboratory, clinical research and support functions for the College of Medicine and the College of Science and Health, while the Mervyn M. Dymally School of Nursing will help address the state’s nursing shortage.

The new research and nursing facility is a key component of a major growth initiative by the university, which is also developing a four-year medical school program, expanding partnerships with other medical schools and increasing its already powerful research capabilities in new and existing areas through additional grants.

Pacific Cornerstone-designed, Lusardi-built business park is completed

The Pacific Cornerstone Architects-designed renovation of the Sorrento Glen Business Park in San Diego was completed.

San Diego-based Pacific Cornerstone Architects provided full architectural design services for the $2-million project, which encompassed the exterior renovation of approximately 14 office and light lab condos within two single-story buildings, totaling an estimated 44,900 sq ft.

The original leased space was converted into for-sale office condos and an approximately 3,150-sq-ft spec office condo. The primary design goal was to open up views to provide maximum visibility while creating private areas for individual building owners. Metal canopies, aluminum accent trim, new vision glass, tall stone entry towers, native landscaping and improved hardscape were used to create a modern sense of place.

San Marcos-based Lusardi Construction was the general contractor.

Lyons Warren was the structural engineer; MPE Consulting served as electrical engineer; DSE Engineering served as mechanical engineer; and Architectural Landscaping served as landscape architect.