McCarthy breaks ground on San Diego elementary school

McCarthy Building Cos., Inc is managing construction for a new $22.6 million, 56,800-sq.-ft elementary school in San Diego.

McCarthy was retained by San Diego City Schools earlier this year to provide full construction management services for the new K-5 school, which is being funded by a $1.51 billion bond measure, Proposition MM.
Situated on a 6.5-acre site, the Laura Rodriguez Elementary School will encompass nine structural-steel-framed buildings, with plaster exteriors, that will house 32 new classrooms, a multi-purpose room, administrative space, library/media center, and cafeteria. Play areas and sports fields also will be incorporated. Completion of the project is scheduled for August 2007.
Platt/Whitelaw Architects, Inc. of San Diego is serving as the project architect. Flores Lund Consultants is the structural engineer; Psomas, civil engineer; Turpin & Rattan Engineering, Inc., electrical engineer; and E/C Engineering, the mechanical engineer. Kawasaki Theilacker Ueno & Associates is the landscape architect. Katz, Okitsu & Associates is the traffic engineer; Schirmer Engineering Corp., fire protection engineer; and Gordon Bricken & Associates, acoustical engineer. The multi-prime project is utilizing 25 different contractors.

Fairmont, local developer gets green light on Seaside resort hotel project

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Seaside Resort Development, LLC are teaming up on a new luxury mixed-use development in Seaside on Monterey Bay. Fairmont will manage the resort, which is scheduled for completion during 2009.

The hotel will feature 330 rooms and suites, of which 160 will be situated in bungalows secluded among the trees, 24,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, a 14,000-sq.-ft. Willow Stream spa, dining outlets, an outdoor pool and the existing 36-hole championship Bayonet and Black Horse golf course facility that Fairmont will manage.

In addition, a residential component is planned with 170 condominiums and 125 single-family lots. The resort is a possible site for Fairmont Heritage Place and Fairmont Residences, the company's branded residential offerings, the hospitality company said.

The resort and golf courses are situated on a 440-acre site, formerly part of Fort Ord prior to its transfer to Seaside under the Base Closure Act.

The city approved the project in July 2005 after SRD's submission of an EIR.

Construction of the first phase of homes is expected to begin early next year, with hotel construction starting at the end of next year.

Civic Towers project planned for Victorville

Civic Towers, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of real estate holding company Modaro, LLC, is developing Civic Towers in Victorville.

These class A, eight-story office towers will be located in the heart of the central business district of Victorville.

The twin towers will be placed on a nine-acre office park setting and will be delivered in two phases. Phase I -- the South Tower -- will deliver an eight-story building of approximately 160,000 sq. ft. of office and retail space. Phase II -- the North Tower -- will include the second eight-story, 160,000 sq. ft. building and a parking structure, totaling approximately 320,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. Phase I is anticipated for delivery in early 2008.

Irvine-based Ware Malcomb is providing architectural and design services for Civic Towers, LLC.

The first phase is expected to be completed in early 2008.

R.D. Olson completes Dana Point condominiums

Irvine-based R.D. Olson has completed Sea Villas at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa, a $14 million project, which adds 18 private residences to the grounds of this Dana Point resort. Located on the north side of the main hotel, the villas are designed for those who want to relax in the comfort of their own homes while enjoying the amenities of a luxury coastal hotel.

The architects on the project were Irvine-based KTGY Group and the interiors were created by the resort's in-house designers.

From the outside, the Sea Villas appear as six two-story custom homes with
blended tile roofs and outdoor fireplaces. Each home is divided into three condominiums of 3,000 sq.-ft. with granite countertops and wood and marble floors throughout. In addition to the $3 million purchase price, owners have the option of using the hotel's maid service, room service and other amenities for a fee.

Mesa Development moves into San Jose market with condo tower project

Mesa Development LLC, known for its high-profile Chicago condominium towers, has opened a West Coast office in San Jose to supervise its first development -- ThreeSixty Residences, a 22-story luxury condominium property in the heart of San Jose's South of Market district downtown.

Mesa's new office will be headed by prominent Bay Area real estate executive Rick Friedman, who has been named senior development manager.

Another industry veteran, Bill Lyons, has joined Mesa as senior construction director, heading construction activities for all Mesa developments.

Kimball Hill Homes, one of the nation's largest privately owned homebuilders, joins Mesa on this project.

General contractor on ThreeSixty is Bovis Lend Lease. The architect is a long-time Mesa partner on highrise projects, Chicago-based Solomon, Cordwell, Buenz and Associates.

ThreeSixty Residences will offer 203 one-, two- and three-bedroom residences, topped by five penthouses. Amenities will range from private terraces to a heated outdoor pool, landscaped courtyard, concierge and state-of-the art fitness center.

Clark Construction finishes first phase of military housing, begins another

Clark Construction Group's California office has completed the first phase of military housing improvements at Fort Irwin. The development, known as Crackerjack Flats, features 241 new single-family and duplex houses, ranging in size from 1,696 sq. ft. to 1,965 sq. ft.

The three- and four-bedroom homes are energy-efficient and feature granite counter tops, fiber optic wiring, interior storage space and two-car garages.

This phase also included construction of a maintenance facility for one of the project's partners, Pinnacle Properties, which is managing the leasing and maintenance of base housing over a 50-year period. Pinnacle is in partnership with Clark Realty Capital and the U.S. Army in this privatized-housing project.

Torti-Gallas and Partners, of Silver Spring, Md., was the architect for the project; Fard Engineering Company, Inc., of Walnut Creek, Calif., provided MEP engineering services; L.S. Mason and Associates, of Lafayette, Calif., served as the structural engineer; and Delorenzo Inc., of San Diego, Calif., was the landscape architect.

California Military Communities, LLC recently awarded Clark the contract to build Sandy Basin, the second phase of housing at Fort Irwin. This phase is underway and will include 197 new living units, a new community center and pool. Crackerjack Flats and Sandy Basin are part of the U.S. Army's plan to develop four distinct military communities at Fort Irwin including 715 new homes and 200 senior unaccompanied housing units.