555 Mission Rock Project Begins

Urban Housing Group, a privately held real estate development company specializing in the development of multifamily and mixed-use apartment communities, in partnership with affiliates of AIG Global Real Estate, recently broke ground on a 1.5-acre-land parcel to build "555 Mission Rock," a $95 million mixed-use, 192-unit apartment and retail project.

"Mission Bay is experiencing a great deal of redevelopment and Urban Housing Group is pleased to have the opportunity to work with the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency to bring quality, rental housing to the city," says Dan Deibel, director of development for Urban Housing Group.

Designed by San Francisco-based architecture firm SB Architects with general contractor Nibbi Bros. Construction, 555 Mission Rock is an eight-story project consisting of one- and two-bedroom units, a limited number of townhouse units and approximately 10,000-sq-ft of ground floor retail space.

With the extensive use of high-end materials, such as granite countertops, maple cabinets, broadband wiring, in-unit laundry facilities and nine-foot ceilings, Urban Housing Group hopes to establish 555 Mission Rock as one of San Francisco's pre-eminent rental living locations.

Bay Area City of Hercules Gets Its First Public Library

The Hercules Public Library officially opened its doors recently.

The $10.4 million library was designed by the San Francisco office of HGA Architects and Engineers in association with Will Bruder Architects of Phoenix.

Turner Construction served as construction manager.

Hercules was one of the few cities in California without a public library.

The building's program and design were developed with input from a selected group of Hercules citizens that represented the community's diversity. As a result, the 21,500-sq-ft facility will serve not only as a library, but also as a cultural center for area residents.

The library's design integrates an enclosed courtyard or "skygarden" to provide patrons with a sheltered, outdoor space, as well as to provide an excellent source of natural light for the entire building.

In addition to significant use of natural light, the design incorporates several sustainable components, including sophisticated solar glazing, a "cool" roof, 100 percent recyclable carpet tile and bioswales for site drainage.

Furthermore, HGA says the design and construction team chose durable, long-lasting materials that will meet the city's longevity standards for public buildings.

The Hercules Public Library's HGA design team also included Jane Dedering, interior designer and library planner; and Lawrence Smith, project architect. Will Bruder of Will Bruder Architects served as lead project designer.

Steel Erection Finished at CSULA Building

Barnhart Inc., HMC Group and McMahon Steel completed steel erection on California State University, Los Angeles' $33 million University-Student Union building. McMahon Steel construction workers hoisted and welded the final piece of steel on the structure during the April ceremony, which celebrated the completion of the erection of 650 tons of steel.

The new facility, which is being constructed by Barnhart's Design-Build Division, will replace the recently demolished student union, originally constructed in 1975. The new three-story University-Student Union will include conference rooms, food/dining, computer center, fitness center, CSULA Alumni Association offices, Associated Students, Inc. offices, Cross Cultural Centers, Center for Student Development and Programs and student lounge areas.

Design features include a foot-bridge to connect the University-Student Union to the Golden Eagle building, shaded outdoor terraces on the second and third floors, covered drop-off area, a two-story lobby atrium, as well as a lighted "free-speech" area.

The exterior features brick along the front loggia with sandstone accents. The main building will be stucco and store-front glazing, to complement the nearby Golden Eagle building. Freestanding brick columns include a glass lighting element. The shade canopies are painted steel with perforated metal shading at the top.

The center was designed by executive architects Tate, Snyder and Kimsey. HMC Architects is Barnhart's design partner.

Swinerton, Willis Start Work on Glide Development in San Francisco

McSwinerton Builders and Michael Willis Architects broke ground on the first of two Tenderloin community housing projects in San Francisco.

Glide Economic Development Corp. is the developer on the two projects, located at 125 and 149 Mason Street. The first project will be on the 125 Mason site.

At a total combined cost of more than $70 million, the new buildings will provide 137 units of affordable rental housing for chronically homeless individuals and working families, along with supportive services such as counseling, rehabilitation referral services, job training and referral, after school programs and resources to assist the tenants. Ground-level community-serving retail and nonprofit office space will be available, as well as community gathering spaces.


"Step by step, we're realizing our vision of creating a healthy and vibrant neighborhood in the Tenderloin," said Reverend Cecil Williams, chair of GEDC's Board of Directors and CEO and Minister of Glide's National and International Ministries of Glide Memorial Church. "More than just affordable homes, these new buildings will provide a safe community for our working families and our homeless neighbors."

The groundbreaking ceremony culminates seven years of collaboration and planning, according to Glide. To develop the two projects, the GEDC is partnering with a nonprofit developer, the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp. and for-profit developer, Millennium Partners/MP Mason Street LLC. The San Francisco Planning Department and the Mayor's Office of Housing approved the projects and the latter provided
a bridge loan to GEDC to acquire one of the lots.

The new buildings will replace two parking lots currently on the sites. The 14-story building at 125 Mason, solely funded by Millennium Partners LLC and jointly developed with GEDC, will offer 81 affordable 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom apartments for working families along with parking and supportive services. Designed to foster a sense of community, the building will feature beautifully landscaped courtyards, a secure sun-filled outdoor play area for children, community lounge areas with outdoor decks, and multi-purpose rooms for community events. 125 Mason is slated for completion fall 2008, and is a contribution towards Millennium Partner's commitment to affordable housing as part of their Millennium Tower project, currently under construction at 301 Mission Street.

CH2M Hill Oversees Design of Water Purification Facility

CH2M Hill has been chosen to manage the design of an advanced water purification facility for the city of Oxnard. The facility will provide the city with reclaimed water that can be used for landscape and agricultural irrigation, industrial process water and groundwater recharge.

The AWPF project is a part of Oxnard's Groundwater Recovery Enhancement and Treatment program, whose focus is to use existing water resources more efficiently. A major component of the GREAT program is the use of recycled water for multiple beneficial uses including irrigation of edible food crops, landscape irrigation, injection into the groundwater basin that forms a barrier to seawater intrusion and other possible industrial uses.

The recycled water for reuse will be generated by the new AWPF. The source of the recycled water will be the existing city water pollution control facility which has a capacity of 32.5 million gallons per day. The AWPF will treat the secondary water from the city water pollution control facility using a multiple-barrier treatment train consisting of microfiltration/ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet -light based advanced oxidation processes.

The project will be constructed in two phases, with capacity of the initial phase at 6.25 million gallons per day. The capacity during the build-out phase is expected to reach 25 million gallons per day.

Groundwater recharge will be conducted by injecting the water into the ground using injection wells along Hueneme Road, east of the AWPF.
The initial phase is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2009.