McCarthy Completes $17-million UCSD Biomedical Library Renovation

Constructed of concrete and a steel-braced frame, the three-level library addition features a distinctive cast-in-place pitched roof with steel core, designed to complement the roof structure of the existing facility.

McCarthy Building Cos. Inc. completed construction for a $17 million expansion and renovation of the Biomedical Library at the University of California, San Diego, located at UCSD's La Jolla campus.
A grand re-opening ceremony will be held this fall. The library collections were temporarily relocated to the UCSD Geisel Library during the construction project.

McCarthy served as construction manager and general contractor for the project, which entailed the addition of 43,454 sq. ft. of space to the existing 32,950-sq.-ft. library, as well as renovation of the existing structure. Los Angeles-based Pfeiffer Partners, Inc., was the architect.

The renovated and expanded library now features a 24-hour graduate study lounge, high-density movable shelving, specialized research collaborative areas for semi-private study, research and group study/consultation rooms, networked computer stations and training facilities, as well as wireless Internet access throughout the building.

Ware Malcomb Completes Two Projects, Awarded Another

Irvine-based Ware Malcomb will design the Summit Oaks project, located at Westinghouse Place in Santa Clarita. The project is being developed by Parker Properties of Aliso Viejo.

Ware Malcomb will provide architectural design services for the project, which includes a five-story, steel-framed, Class A, speculative 145,000-sq.-ft. office building with a three-level parking structure. This project is situated in a campus environment adjacent to two hotels. Upon completion, this project will be the tallest Class A office building in Santa Clarita.

Ware Malcomb has also reported that two of its projects have been completed in Patterson in Northern California.

Ware Malcomb was hired by Keystone Corp. to design the new Patterson Joint Unified School District headquarters building, along with two additional buildings in Keystone Business Park.

The architecture firm provided architecture and interior design services for this single story 15,165-sq.-ft. office/light industrial building. The interior includes a lobby, boardroom, private offices, break room, storage and cubicles.

The general contractor for the project was Sisler and Sisler Construction, based in Rancho Cordova.

Ware Malcomb also provided architectural design services for two light industrial speculative buildings at the Keystone Pacific Business Park, totaling approximately 56,000 sq. ft.

The two buildings are divided into three units each, ranging from 8,220 to 11,420 sq. ft., and are built with full height concrete walls dividing the sections.

The general contractor for the project was, once again, Sisler and Sisler.

JCM/Heery Awarded Construction Management Contract for Fontana Community Center

The JCM Group, a Heery International company, was awarded the construction management contract for a new $5.5-million, 10,200-sq.-ft. community center located in Fontana. Called the Village of Heritage, the new facility -- JCM's third major project in this city in the last year -- will serve as a satellite center for residents who live in the north end of the city.

"This will be a much welcomed addition to the city's parks and recreation facilities," said Curtis Aaron, public works director.

Designed as a gathering place for the community, the center will offer a wide range of recreational classes and programs as well as banquet space for meetings and weddings. A banquet facility, which will overlook the existing pool area, will include a catering kitchen capable of accommodating a 150-person wedding; and a 3,000-sq.-ft. multi-purpose room will include space for karate and tumbling. In addition, an arts and crafts room, a tiny tots room, a conference room large enough for 20 people and a technical resource center equipped with computers is also planned.

John Bates Associates Inc. of Laguna Hills is serving as the architectural firm for the project. Construction is expected to begin in the fall with completion slated for winter 2007.

The JCM Group team includes Jones as senior project manager, and Anet Willingham as the project director.

Yeager Skanska Starts $51-Million Freeway Project in Riverside Co.

The Riverside-based arm of Yeager Skanska has begun work on a $51-million project for CalTrans to widen State Route 60 in Glen Avon in Riverside Co.

The scope of work for this project includes widening the existing six-lane highway to 10 lanes, which will include excavation of 50,000 cubic meters of excess earth.

The project includes extensive use of concrete as each new lane will be constructed with the material on a lean concrete base in each direction.

Yeager Skanska will also build 10 new sound walls along the perimeter of the work site. The firm will reconstruct existing shoulders and widen six bridges, which will require extensive demolition of bridge walls.

This project will provide a more efficient link with newly constructed improvements to nearby roadways and expedite truck traffic through the area as well as provide improved access to Riverside. The project duration is expected to be 18 months.

Bomel Construction Completes Fullerton University Parking Structure

Anaheim Hills-based Bomel Construction Co. has completed a $17.7 million design/build parking structure at California State University, Fullerton.

The architect of record for the six-level, 1,500-space garage was Sherman Oaks-based International Parking Design.

"Bomel delivered the parking structure at a really sharp price and they delivered it to us almost a month and half early," said Michael Smith, the university's director of design and construction.

Parking Structure No. 2 is on the west side of the campus. The largest venues closest to the new garage include the gymnasium, bookstore and Titan Student Union. The parking structure will allow for more events at the Student Union and more spaces for athletic events, Smith said.

Hearn Awarded Vallejo's Empress Theater Renovation Project

Vacaville- and Napa-based Hearn Construction has been awarded the contract to complete the renovation of Vallejo's landmark Empress Theater.

Originally constructed in 1911, the Empress, located at 330 Virginia Street, is one of the few remaining grand theaters from that era, resplendent with painted clouds suspended from the ceiling and other attributes not seen in modern theaters.

In recent years Triad Communities has been leading the movement to return the theater to glory, receiving critical support from the city of Vallejo and the Vallejo Community Arts Foundation. Since receiving this support, Triad Communities purchased the property in 2004, under the name Empress Theatre Associates LLC.

The theater renovation is scheduled to be complete by the end of this year, after which the completed building will be sold to the city of Vallejo for $1. Theater operations, thereafter, will be managed by the VCAF.

As the general contractor, Hearn Construction will be responsible for completing extensive seismic and general structural upgrades of the 95-year-old brick and redwood-framed building. Visible exterior improvements will include decorative paving, ticket booths and a new marquee. Interior improvements will include repair, updating, and re-installation of the neon lighting, new refreshment and concession stands, restrooms, stage, flooring and auditorium seating.

John Howland, principal of ARC, Inc., of Vallejo, is the project architect.

Cahill To Break Ground on Third Phase of Oakland Redevelopment Project

San Francisco-based Cahill Contractors will break ground this month on phase 3 of the Lion Creek Crossings affordable housing project in Oakland.

The redevelopment project was formerly known as Coliseum Gardens, which was the name of the original housing development that was demolished prior to the start of phase 1 in February 2004.

According to Cahill, Lion Creek Crossings will include four phases of three-story wood-framed townhouse-style units as well as two larger wood-framed structures over concrete podium parking. Upon completion in February 2008, the 22-acre project will have added 434 apartments, 28 first-time homeowner units, a five-acre park, a restored Lion Creek, new city streets and infrastructure, and 15,000 sq. ft. of social services space.

The completed phase 1 featured 116 apartments, including 16 designated disabled and disabled accessible. Cahill was the general contractor and Pyatok Architects of Oakland did the design. Phase 2 is currently under construction. Cahill is again the general contractor and the designer is Kodama Diseno Architects of Oakland.

Phase 3 will include a 106-unit complex on a 2.49-acre site. The complex is designed to provide affordable rental housing to those with household incomes at or below 60 percent of the area median income. The project site will feature seven buildings with units ranging in size from one to four bedrooms and styled as flats or townhomes. The residents will also enjoy the use of the master community's shared common recreational facilities and community rooms currently available to phase 1 residents.

The architect on this phase is Pyatok Architects.