San Diego Architecture Firm Moves to New Corporate Office

San Diego-based Tucker Sadler, one of the city's oldest and largest architecture firms, has moved its corporate office to 9,000 sq. ft. of space on the 17th floor of the NBC Building at 225 Broadway in downtown San Diego.

Tucker Sadler was based for 37 years at 2411 Second Ave. in the Banker's Hill area of San Diego. Formerly known as Tucker Sadler Noble Castro Architects, the firm changed its name on Jan. 1.

Its current projects include the remodel and expansion of The Salvation Army complex downtown and the San Diego Public Library project being designed in conjunction with Rob Quigley. Other major design projects include the Helen Woodward Animal Center, Bishop's School in La Jolla, San Diego Convention Center expansion and Olympic Training Center.

Tucker Sadler has doubled its size in the past year and now employs 40 design professionals and support personnel staff in San Diego and at a recently opened branch office in Rogers, Ark.

Robert L. Noble

Robert L. Noble, partner and CEO of Tucker Sadler since 2000, maintains the same role. Noble, who has garnered nearly 25 years of experience in the architectural design field, continues to spearhead the implementation of sustainable design and high- performance concepts into Tucker Sadler's numerous projects throughout San Diego.

Gregory A. Mueller, who joined Tucker Sadler last year, serves as partner and principal of planning and design. He also serves as principal-in-charge of the new Arkansas office.

Art Castro, a partner since 1987, also maintains the same role. Since 1977, he has served as project architect, project manager and principal-in-charge of many of the firm's large-scale projects, including expansion of the San Diego Convention Center and San Diego's new Main Library.

John Collier

Tucker Sadler's new space accommodates its recently formed interiors division, headed by John Collier. With more than 26 years of interior design and architectural experience, Collier is charged with the management and design direction of the department, which specializes in providing full-service interior design services for the company's growing portfolio of commercial, retail and large-scale residential projects.

The firm's founders, Hal Sadler and Tom Tucker, will continue at the firm. Sadler proceeds to serve as chairman of the board.

Sadler and Tucker became business partners in 1957, when they landed a contract with Safeway to design one of its San Diego grocery stores.

Executive Plumbing Opens 2 New Branches

Cecil Hallinan

Corona-based Executive Plumbing Inc., one of Southern California's largest providers of plumbing, heating and air conditioning services to builders and contractors, has opened new facilities in Oceanside and Palm Springs.

Executive Plumbing's San Diego division has moved from a 4,000-sq.-ft. leased facility to its own 19,000-sq.-ft. facility in Oceanside. There are approximately 120 employees working at the Oceanside location.

"This new location is large enough to accommodate the fabrication operation, which in the past was performed at our headquarters in Corona," said Tony Manriquez, Executive's regional vice president.

Executive's Palm Springs location is approximately 5,000 sq. ft. It has 80 employees.

"The motivation behind opening this new location is two-fold: Executive wanted to take advantage of the booming housing developments in the Coachella Valley and we want to maintain close business relationships with and provide outstanding service to our current clients who are opening new subdivisions in the area," said Executive president Cecil Hallinan.

In addition to California, the 25-year-old firm has a branch in Las Vegas. Executive is staffed with technicians, engineers and installers.

HDR Acquires 2 West Coast Community Planning Firms

HDR, an Omaha, Neb.-based architectural, engineering, planning and consulting firm, has acquired the operations of Portland, Ore.-based LCA Town Planning & Architecture and Ventura-based Sargent Town Planning.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The acquired firms will conduct business as HDR/LCA+Sargent, Town Planning.

Steve Coyle, LCA's founding partner and principal, will manage community planning and urban design services in the downtown Oakland and the Portland offices.

David Sargent, Sargent's managing principal, will direct community planning and urban design services in the Ventura office.

Under the new corporate structure, Coyle and Sargent will operate as principals with HDR/LCA+Sargent, Town Planning.

"Both LCA and Sargent have proven talents creating places where people want to be," said Elwin Larson, HDR executive vice president and national director of environmental and resource management. "And both are client driven, making them a great fit with HDR's culture. We are honored that they decided to join us."

Said Sargent: "The move will allow us to more effectively deliver services to clients throughout the United States, although our focus will remain primarily west of the Mississippi."

HDR has about 3,700 employee-owners, including architects, engineers, consultants, scientists, planners and construction managers, in about 100 locations worldwide.

Rosendin Electric Moves to New Office in San Francisco

San Jose-based Rosendin Electric has relocated its San Francisco office to 65 Oak Grove St. It has maintained an office in San Francisco since 1973.

Rosendin is a full-service electrical contractor with average yearly revenue of about $250 million. The 85-year-old firm has additional branches in Albuquerque, N.M.; Los Angeles; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Portland, Ore.