Despite a challenging construction market, ENR California's 2012 Best Projects demonstrate that design and construction teams continued to push forward with exemplary and innovative work. Jurors selected 40 projects for awards in 15 categories. One was chosen as our Best Overall Project of 2012.
Photo by David Wakely
A natural wood screen, crafted from FSC-certified wood, helps to define space at Orchard Library in San Jose. The project won an Award of Merit in the K-12 category.
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Best Civil Works/Infrastructure Project: Sunrise Powerlink
Civil Works/Infrastructure, Award of Merit: Bitter Point Pumping Station Replacement
Civil Works/Infrastructure, Award of Merit: Delta Water Supply Project
Best Cultural/Worship Project: LACMA Transformation Phase II
Cultural/Worship, Award of Merit: Fullerton Public Library
Cultural/Worship, Award of Merit: Merced Theatre Renovation
Best Government/Public Building Project: Mammoth Lakes Courthouse
Government/Public Building, Award of Merit: Fairbanks Ranch Fire Station
Government/Public Building, Award of Merit: U.S. Federal Courthouse, Bakersfield
Best Green Project: David & Lucile Packard Foundation Headquarters
Green Project, Award of Merit: 525 Golden Gate/SFPUC Headquarters
Green Project, Award of Merit: Redding School of the Arts
Best Health Care Project: Palomar Medical Center
Health Care, Award of Merit: Douglas & Nancy Barnhart Cancer Center
Health Care, Award of Merit: Sutter Health Eden Medical Center
Health Care, Award of Merit:Veterans Administration Mental Health Center
Best Higher Education/Research Project: UCSF Smith Cardiovascular Research Building
Higher Education/Research, Award of Merit: UC Berkeley, Li Ka-Shing Center for Biomedical & Health Sciences
Higher Education/Research, Award of Merit: UC Berkeley School of Law South Addition
Best Industrial/Manufacturing Project: Mt. Poso Cogeneration Conversion
Best Interior Design/Tenant Improvement Project: SDSU's KPBS Broadcasting Facility Renovation
Interior Design/Tenant Improvement, Award of Merit: NAVFACs Building 26 Renovation
Best K-12 Project: Center for the Arts & Sciences & New Aquatic Facility, Junipero Serra High School
K-12, Award of Merit: Orchard Library
Best Renovation/Restoration Project: Presidio Buildings 101 & 103
Renovation/Restoration, Award of Merit: Cabrillo Way Marina
Renovation/Restoration, Award of Merit: UC Berkeleys Hearst Greek Theatre
Best Residential/Hospitality Project: Shore Hotel
Residential/Hospitality, Award of Merit: Lorena Heights Apartments
Best Safety Project: Marian Medical Center
Safety, Award of Merit: City College of San Franciscos New Chinatown/North Beach Campus
Best Small Project: Point Bonita Lighthouse Pedestrian Bridge
Small Project, Award of Merit: Golden Gate Bridge Visitor Enhancement Project
Small Project, Award of Merit: Happy Hollow Pedestrian Bridge
Small Project, Award of Merit: Lands End Lookout
Best Specialty Contracting Project: Solar PV Power Generation at Santa Clara County
Specialty Contracting, Award of Merit: Gibraltar Road Tire Anchor Wall
Best Transportation Project: Doyle Drive Contract 3
Transportation, Award of Merit: John Wayne Airport Terminal C and Parking Garage Demolition
Transportation, Award of Merit: Sacramento International Airport Big Build
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This year's Best Overall Project, the $956-million Palomar Medical Center in Escondido (p. CA14), is the largest building of its kind to use an integrated project delivery (IPD) method and one of only two hospitals in the United States with natural daylight in its operating rooms. It is one of two winning health care projects to use IPD: An Award of Merit goes to the Sutter Health Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley (p. CA31). It was the largest project under construction in California when it broke ground in 2007.
Most of this year's winning projects emphasize sustainability, with more than half designed to meet LEED standards. For example, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation headquarters in Los Altos, which won Best Green Project (p. CA27), is designed for net-zero energy consumption. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's 525 Golden Gate office building in San Francisco and the Redding School of the Arts in Redding were honored with Awards of Merit in the Green Projects category (p. CA28). All three winners were designed to LEED-Platinum standards.
As part of its awards competition, ENR California inaugurated a safety awards category this year. "Safety has always been an important area of ENR's coverage because it is so important to our readers," said Janice L. Tuchman, ENR editor-in-chief, in a September announcement. "It has been one of the Best Projects competition's criteria from the beginning, but we think it deserves this special recognition."
Our first-ever Best Safety Project is Dignity Health's Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria (p. CA16). Kitchell, Del Mar, led construction of the $218-million 235,000-sq-ft hospital project, which was completed with no lost-time accidents over more than 1,000 work days, totalling 1.1 million man-hours.
Read on to learn more about the projects that set the standard for excellence in California.
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