The San Diego Chapter of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) presented awards for outstanding construction projects at AGC’s Build San Diego Awards banquet held on Thursday, October 20. Over 350 guests, including a number of elected officials, government and educational leaders, owners, developers, architects, and engineers enjoyed the afternoon’s festivities at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.
Eight “best of the
best” projects in San Diego were presented with a Build San Diego Award. A
panel of four judges evaluated the nominees in terms of excellence in
project management, innovation in construction techniques or materials,
excellence in client service, contractor’s contribution to the community as
it relates to the project, and meeting the challenges of a difficult job.
Building Construction – Public Work
For the National City Library. This 49,000 sq. ft., $17.1 million public library is located in National City and is part of a renaissance that is taking place in National City. The library is a two-story building with most of the collection and reading spaces on the ground floor. The remainder of the facility includes a large meeting room, computer labs with 157 computers, video conferencing, learning centers, administrative offices, and a planned outdoor terrace. Over 140,000 volumes are included, as well as 11,000 Spanish language volumes.
Building Construction – Private Work
For Park Laurel on the Prado Condominium Project. This 306,000 sq. ft. project is a classic. The architecture is conceived as a statement of elegance, sophistication, and urbanity – a contemporary interpretation of the classic design motifs of Balboa Park. The project includes 99 luxury condominiums, ranging in size from 2,600 - 4,700 sq. ft., as well as two levels of secured subterranean parking, and a number of communal amenities for the residents.
Heavy/Highway Construction
Clark Construction Group California for the San Diego State University Tunnel and Underground Station. This 4,000 foot tunnel and station is part of the new $496 million Mission Valley East extension project. This $103 million transit project has four main components: the 900-foot west section of open cut and cover box culvert construction; the tunnel, 1,070 feet sequentially mined (constructed by the New Austrian Tunnel Method); the station, 670 feet of cut and cover support of excavation to provide for the construction of the main station; and the 1,000-foot east section of open cut and cover box culvert construction.
Heavy/Highway Construction
FCI Constructors for the North Torrey Pines Bridge Replacement Project. This project involved demolishing and replacing the existing bridge over the Los Penasquitos Marsh Natural Preserve and Lagoon, along the stretch of Highway 101 between La Jolla and Del Mar. The project required constructing a new bridge in an environmentally sensitive state park heavy with pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The construction involved demolishing 12 feet of the eastern portion of the old structure, and building the permanent north bound bridge and approaches. Traffic was diverted to the northbound portion upon completion, the southbound portion was demolished, and the new structure was built. The final phase involved placing an 18-foot wide decorative concrete median.
Underground/Utility Construction
For the Earl Thomas Reservoir Replacement Project. This $25 million project involved demolition of an existing reservoir, followed by new construction of a replacement reservoir in the same location, completely buried except for the roof, with its diameter in excess of 400 feet. The new reservoir holds 35 million gallons of treated water - almost doubling the plant’s capacity. The reservoir construction required 20,600 yards of concrete, 2,280 concrete truck deliveries, 242 miles of prestressing strand, and 1,486 gallons of epoxy. In addition, the project required a number of aesthetic and landscaping features.
Unique Small Project – Public Work
For the La Jolla Cove Wall Replacement and Bluff Improvements. This $1 million project was identified as a priority site due to the existing conditions of the La Jolla Cove bluffs. As a result of erosion and decaying infrastructure, public safety and natural habitat were at risk. The project’s success depended on structurally sound, creative, and environmentally sensitive solutions, while gaining consensus of the local residents. The solution features vegetated bluffs in front of an invisible structural wall. In addition, the new underground retaining wall stabilizes the roadway and supports a sidewalk along the steep bluff pocketed with sea caves.
douglas e. barnhart, inc.
Unique Small Project – Private Work
For Copley
Symphony Hall Administrative Offices. This remodel of the historic Copley
Symphony Hall building that houses the San Diego Symphony involved
completing three floors of high end tenant improvement for the
administrative offices. A new entry was created through the old box office
window, and an elevator was added, which connects the three floors of the
offices to a new lobby and also connects the lower and upper levels of the
Hall. A new interior staircase was also added between the third and fourth
floor. The new lobby doubles as a gift shop when the Hall is in use.
Unique Special Project
For Tecate Border Renovation and Expansion Project. The Tecate Border Port of Entry is a 19,262 sq. ft. expansion and historic renovation project. The work included the construction of new facilities, and the repair and renovation of an existing historic structure located in Tecate, California. The project included a facility that provides inspection stations, processing facilities, cargo inspection facilities, and offices for government employees and staff. The project also included an addition and alteration to an existing historical structure. Both facilities featured bullet resistant construction.
(Clark Construction, douglas e. barnhart, inc., and Roel Construction)
Special Recognition
A joint venture of Clark Construction, douglas e. barnhart, inc., and Roel Construction for San Diego Padres Petco Park. This $294 million project seats 42,000 fans in a unique bowl design that creates distinctive seating “neighborhoods.” The playing field is natural grass. The Park’s natural stone and stucco exterior and lovely landscaping features the “Park at the Park”, a green space beyond the outfield fence. The Ballpark incorporates the historic Western Metal Supply Company Building. The remodeled building includes suites, restaurants, retail space, and seating. The Ballpark is connected to perimeter buildings by skywalks, which house concessions, restrooms, and other program elements to the upper decks. The concourse is open to the sky. An extended cantilever, on the club level and upper deck levels, brings fans seated on the top decks closer to the field.
Merit Awards
A series of
Merit Awards also were presented within some of the above categories as a
result of the tremendous number of excellent construction projects nominated
for awards this year:
Soltek Pacific and douglas. e. barnhart, inc. received Merit Awards for Building Construction Public Work. I.E. Pacific, Inc. received a Merit Award for Unique Small Project for Public Work. Lusardi Construction received a Merit Award for Unique Small Project for Private Work. Sundt Construction received a Merit Award for Building Construction Private Work. A Merit Award for Unique Special Project went to Stronghold Engineering.