Berkeley-based ELS Architecture and Urban Design and Richmond-based Overaa Construction have completed reconstruction of the historic First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley. The construction cost was $25.5 million.

ELS project manager David Hruska said church officials initially contemplated demolishing an existing historic structure on the site, but a compromise was worked out to save the building and incorporate it into a new plan for the site that includes an interior courtyard.

ELS designed Geneva Hall, a new 40,000-sq.-ft. building and renovated/relocated the existing historic McKinley Hall above two levels of underground parking. Originally an annex building for the McKinley School, the three-story, shingled 1906 structure was raised and placed in a corner of the site during construction while an underground parking garage was built. The 10,000-sq.-ft. wood-frame building then was lifted up again, rotated 180 degrees and set on top of the parking to form part of an interior central plaza. The building will be used for counseling services and youth rooms.

The two-level underground parking structure extends 22 ft. below grade and provides approximately 150 parking spaces. Elevators and stairwells connect the parking with the new Geneva Hall and central plaza area.

Within the buildings are large exterior and interior operable windows to provide natural light and ventilation, and south-facing and west-facing windows are recessed for natural shading during summer months. Southern exposures allow sunlight to heat tile floors which radiate heat. Narrow wings allow for abundant natural lighting.

Other features include double glazing, which maximizes insulation and noise reduction, and automatic dimmers and occupancy sensors that turn off lighting. A centrally located landscaped lightwell in the garage provides natural light to both parking levels.

The FPC complex, located on the corner of Dana and Channing streets a block down from Telegraph Avenue, takes up a half-block square and includes four main buildings: the 56,500-sq.-ft. Westminster Hall, the Christian education building; McKinley Hall; Geneva Hall, a new L-shaped, three-story education building; and the Sanctuary, the main church building.

Geneva Hall has a cement plaster exterior, metal and wood window frames and detailing that is sympathetic to the existing church buildings and neighboring buildings. Upper-story balconies step the façade back on all sides.

The Sanctuary, first built in 1975, features 16,914 sq. ft. of floor space, and includes seating for 750, a choir rehearsal room and mechanical and support spaces. It's built of concrete, glass and steel, with a standing-seam metal roof. The renovation will improve accessibility for wheelchairs, improve the lighting and audio-visual systems, redesign the choir room and add a small chapel for smaller groups.

The new Central Plaza includes shaded seating areas, a fountain and a new Prayer Garden. The landscape architect is Richard Larson & Associates.

Westminster Hall is the Christian Education building, which houses administrative offices, meeting rooms, classrooms, a multi-purpose gym and outdoor play space for a weekday preschool. The building is constructed of reinforced concrete with exterior shear walls.

TSA Completes Sports Bar in Gaslamp District

San Diego-based TSA Contracting has completed construction of a new Trophy's Sports Grill situated in the historic Gaslamp Quarter, just one block west of PETCO Park. The 6,300-sq.-ft. restaurant is at the corner of Sixth and K Streets on the ground floor of the new 149-unit Trellis condominium project.

A new mezzanine was added to the existing shell. Amenities include 21 TV locations, two sports ticker boards, a 10-ft.-high trophy and memorabilia case and outdoor patio seating along K Street.

The Gaslamp site is the sixth location for Trophy's.

The owner of the facility is Trophy's Ballpark LLC. Design and architecture was provided by James Schmidt Architecture. TSA representatives include David Cervantes as superintendent, John Very as senior project manager and Delores Dorman as project coordinator.

Subcontractors included Structural Steel Inc., Precision Interiors, McKinley Elevator, Green Mechanical, Paschall Mechanical, Alpha Mechanical, Bergelectric, and Citywide Electronic.

Eureka Welcomes Bear River Casino

Finishing touches were made recently to the new 31,500-sq.-ft. Bear River Casino in Eureka, followed by an exuberant local grand opening.

The $17.5 million project is owned by the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria tribe of Northern California.

The casino features 320 slot machines, 10 gaming tables and three poker tables. Eateries include the River's Edge Restaurant and the Thirsty Bear Sports Bar & Grille. The facility has a staff of 205.

Building principals included Portland-based J.E. Dunn, general contractor; Seattle-based Group West Architecture; R.F. Stearns of West Linn, Ore., structural steel; and Garco Building Systems of Airway Heights, Wash.

J.E. Dunn and R.F. Stearns previously worked together on the Angel of the Winds Casino in Arlington, Wash.

R.F. Stearns said it joined the project team for the design/build of the metal building, including the framework, secondary framing, roof and exterior walls. Once on board, Stearns said it determined that the use of pre-engineered steel components would allow for quick installation of the building and roof.

The Stearns/Garco Building team worked closely with the tribe, the architect, general contractor and subcontractors to meet each challenge along the way.

Stearn's Project Manager James Sarka said his company was able to draw on its pool of proven, reliable resources to ensure that once on track, the project would move to a predictably swift conclusion. "The use of the pre-engineered structure and components proved to be a cost effective choice for the owner and general contractor, and helped achieve the project's scheduled milestones," he said.

The grand opening of the Bear River Casino took place earlier this month and the casino's marketing manager, Art Collins, told the local press that they had to turn away a portion of the crowds, which had caused traffic jams along Singley Road and onto U.S. Highway 101.

Barnhart Completes Construction of 2 Schools

San Diego-based Douglas E. Barnhart Inc. completed lease-build services for Oak Valley Middle School in the Poway Unified School District and design-build services for Herbert Ibarra Elementary School in San Diego City Schools.

The Oak Valley project is a 106,000-sq.-ft. $26-million middle school that features five structures surrounding a courtyard. The buildings house classrooms, gymnasium with fitness center, computer labs, library, theater/multi-purpose room and administrative offices. The campus also includes large sports fields, tennis and other multipurpose courts.

San Diego-based NTDStichler Architects designed the school.

Ibarra Elementary School, designed by Riverside-based Ruhnau Ruhnau Clarke, educates 630 K-5 students on a 8.3-acre site in City Heights. The $16-million school was constructed to relieve overcrowding at Euclid Elementary.

The campus, which features 32 classrooms in 56,000 sq. ft. of facilities, has four two-story classroom buildings, a multi-purpose building and an administration/library building connected by two-story walkways. Accessibility features and energy efficient lighting are available throughout the campus. A joint-use field for soccer and baseball is also included.

This is the second new school to be completed as part of San Diego City School's $1.51-billion Proposition MM bond measure, passed in 1998 by San Diego voters.

First Community Housing Starts Mixed-Use Development in Redwood City

A literal "kickoff" of construction recently took place at the site of the new Villa Montgomery affordable housing development in Redwood City.

Instead of the shovels-at-the-ready photo op, Redwood City officials kicked field goals into the property to celebrate the start of construction.

The project is a partnership between the city, First Community Housing of San Jose and the Peninsula Habitat for Humanity. Branagh General Contractors of Oakland is the GC and Fisher Friedman of Emeryville is the architect.

Villa Montgomery is located at the corner of El Camino Real and Vera Street and will consist of 58 energy-efficient apartments (efficiencies, one-, two- and three-bedrooms) on this infill, urban site. Peninsula Habitat for Humanity will build eight for-sale townhomes affordable to low-income families who will help build their homes along with community volunteers.

Fisher Friedman said the project will seek a U.S. Green Building Council LEED rating. Elements will include energy-efficient windows, photovoltaic electricity and 20 percent energy reduction.

The main building will be five stories tall, including a first floor of retail, which totals 1,250 sq. ft.

Villa Montgomery will also include underground parking, a laundry facility, community room/lounge, a computer lab, vending room, play structure and picnic tables and barbecues.

Rents will range from $350 per month for studios to $1,400 per month for three-bedroom apartments.

The property was acquired by the city and the Redevelopment Agency using Redevelopment, CDBG and HOME Investment Partnership funds.

Clark & Sullivan Finishes School Facility

Clark & Sullivan said it has completed construction on a $7.4 million project to build a community multi-purpose facility for the Lakeport Unified School District.

The 23,000-sq.-ft. facility, located at 100 Lange Street in Lakeport, will serve as a sports and theater arts venue for the community. The building features exposed bowstring truss members supporting the main multi-purpose room and a state-of-the-art recording studio.

The architect on the project is Aspen Street Architects and the developer is Regent Lakeport LLC.

Taisei Starts Cal Tech Job

Taisei Construction Corp. recently began rehabilitating 86,000 sq. ft. of historically significant undergraduate housing at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

The 14-month, single-phase project is scheduled for completion in August.

Originally built in 1931 and consisting of four buildings, the Mediterranean style housing complex is constructed of reinforced concrete with clay tile roofing and an exterior stucco finish. Located in the south section of the Caltech Campus adjacent to the Athenaeum faculty club, the structures will receive interior architectural improvements, and areas such as kitchens and bathrooms will be extensively reworked to accommodate the rehabilitation.

Taisei is working with architect Pfeiffer Partners Inc. to create electrical and plumbing system upgrades, in addition to installing new HVAC and a fire sprinkler system on the first and second floors to connect with the sprinkler system currently located in the basement. Exterior doors and windows will be restored, and irrigation and landscaping will be added to the perimeter of the building and interior courtyards.