Smith, Bycor Complete Construction of Grubb & Ellis/BRE Commercial Project

Upholstery, carpets, paint and decor infused with yellow-based colors, taupes and other neutral tones create a warm, open work environment in the new corporate offices of Grubb & Ellis/BRE Commercial in San Diego (photo courtesy of Smith Consulting Architects).

Smith Consulting Architects and Bycor General Contractors, both based in San Diego, have completed the 22,300-sq.-ft. project in the University Town Center area of San Diego.

Rick's Electric of San Diego was the electrical engineer and Glendale-based ACCO was the mechanical engineer.

Smith Consulting Architects served as interior designer for the project. Its scope of work included improvements to the entire fifth floor and a portion of the fourth floor. John Frager, president and CEO of Grubb & Ellis|BRE Commercial provided project oversight. EOP La Jolla 2 is the owner of the 10-story building.

Interior details include upholstery, carpets, paint and decor infused with yellow-based colors, taupes and other neutral tones to create a warm, open-work environment, which encompasses private perimeter offices and systems furniture. Carpet with structural and movement patterns create interest in the open spaces.

The reception desk and break room kitchen showcase granite countertops. Many of the preexisting improvements were incorporated into the new design, including rich mahogany woodwork and an extension of the natural Torreon travertine stone floor at the reception area.

The main boardroom, employee break room and reception area feature new flat-screen plasma TV monitors. The main boardroom also contains light fixtures that mimic the Grubb & Ellis|BRE Commercial logo. A custom-made surfboard tabletop adds a whimsical touch to the staff break room.

Karen Tom served as the project manager for Smith Consulting Architects, with Brooke Levin as drafter.

Construction Begins on Offices for Bergelectric

San Diego-based Johnson & Jennings General Contracting has tenant improvement construction underway in Escondido for the expansion of offices for Bergelectric, one of the largest specialty contractors in California.

Augustine Design Group is the project space planner. Construction, estimated at a cost of $875,000, is slated for completion at the end of December.

The 10,170-sq.-ft. of office space, which currently is housed in two adjacent buildings, will be expanded to include a third building. The front half of the expanded offices will be renovated to accommodate estimating managers' offices and support stations. The project also entails a small remodel of the parking lot and a sidewalk renovation for ADA access.

Dean Petersen is serving as project manager for Johnson & Jennings, with Justin Urata as onsite supervisor. Subcontractors include A-1 Plastics, Advanced Systems, Zephyr Painting and Comfort Systems.

Gensler, Webcor Complete One Powell Building

An 80-year-old historic building at the foot of Powell Street at Market in San Francisco, reopened last month after a $20 million restoration. "One Powell" is the new home of Forever 21, a rapidly growing clothing and accessory retailer, and loft-style apartments.

The One Powell Building project involved the restoration and conversion of the single-tenant, 100,000-sq.-ft. structure into a mixed-use, eight-story building (photo courtesy of Webcor Builders).

San Francisco-based Gensler Architecture, Design & Planning Worldwide designed the restoration project and San Mateo-based Webcor Builders' Interior Construction Group handled the general contracting duties.

The project involved the restoration and conversion of the single-tenant, 100,000-sq.-ft. structure into a mixed-use, eight-story building that includes the three-story Forever 21 flagship store, a basement-level retail and merchant banking center for Bank of America, and five stories of loft apartment housing.

Wilson Meany Sullivan was the developer of the project. San Francisco-based Nishkian Menninger was responsible for structural design; San Francisco-based Page & Turnbull was the preservation architect; and Alameda-based MBH Architects provided interior design for the 44 apartments.

One Powell, which was originally constructed as the headquarters for the Bank of Italy, now known as the Bank of America, is designated as a Category I historic building by the city of San Francisco, the highest level of recognition for historic structures given by the city. Close collaboration among Page & Turnbull, the San Francisco Planning Department, State Historic Preservation Office, and National Park Service was required to ensure that the building's original American Renaissance facade was maintained.

The Bank of America retail and merchant banking center, which still uses the buildings original bank vault, occupies the 11,000-sq.-ft. basement level, with a new entrance lobby on Hallidie Plaza. Forever 21 comprises 30,000 sq. ft. on the ground level, mezzanine level and third floor, with an entrance at the building's historic main entrance at the foot of Powell Street. Forty-four loft apartment units occupy the top five floors.

Ware Malcomb Awarded Auto Mall Project

The 567,000-sq.-ft. Riverside Auto Mall will include a 36,000-sq.-ft. Nissan dealership, 48,000-sq.-ft. Honda dealership and 26,000-sq.-ft. dealership for Mazda and Hyundai (rendering courtesy of Ware Malcomb).

Riverside Metro Auto Group has awarded Irvine-based Ware Malcomb, an architecture, planning and interior design firm, the design contract for an auto mall on Indian Avenue in Riverside. The owner will operate a Honda, Nissan, Hyundai and Mazda dealership on the 13-acre site.

The general contractor, San Marcos-based Kunzik & Sara Construction Inc., will complete the project in the fourth quarter of this year.

The 567,000-sq.-ft. retail center consists of a new 36,000-sq.-ft. Nissan dealership, 48,000-sq.-ft. Honda dealership and 26,000-sq.-ft. dealership for Mazda and Hyundai. Each facility will include a showroom, sales offices, finance and insurance offices, parts cashiers, service bays, carwash, customer lounge and service reception space. The project also includes an 114,000-sq.-ft., two-level parking structure for all dealerships.

Swinerton Wraps Up 2 Performing Arts Buildings

San Francisco-based Swinerton Builders recently completed construction of performing arts buildings for the Mission City Center for Performing Arts at Wilcox High School in Santa Clara and the Performing Arts Theater at Santa Clara High School.

Construction on both projects began in January 2003. The architect for both facilities was BFGC Architects of San Jose. Both projects also were built with structural steel.

The 22,900-sq.-ft. Wilcox project is a joint project between the Santa Clara Unified School District and the city of Santa Clara. The $11 million, 400-seat theater includes a full-fly stagehouse, orchestra pit, set-design shop, performance room, and lighting and sound systems.

The $7 million Performing Arts Theater at Santa Clara High School is a 14,300-sq.-ft. facility with a capacity of 425. It includes flexible performance spaces, lighting and stage systems, orchestra pits, catwalks and scene shops.

Major subcontractors for both projects included Musson Theatrical Supply, Avidex, Rosendin Electric, Cupertino Electric, Romak Steel, John Jackson Masonry, Raymond Interiors, European Floors, Ciari Plumbing & Heating, WKW Mechanical Contractors and RLH Fire Protection.

Kitchell Awarded Contract for Fifth Appellate District Courthouse

The Sacramento office of Kitchell has been awarded a contract by the Department of General Services for construction project management services for the Fifth Appellate District Courthouse in Fresno.

Los Angeles-based A.C. Martin Partners is the architect. The project is scheduled for completion in early 2007.

The 61,000-sq.-ft., three-story courthouse includes a courtroom, law library, teleconference center, offices, security rooms, computer rooms and other support areas.

The project also includes site improvements, landscaping and security fencing around the adjacent parking area.