The modern and visually engaging building features 35 research and teaching laboratories, 9,000 square feet of faculty research space, a 273-seat auditorium and a three-story green roof. Los Angeles-based CO Architects served as the architect on the project, while Pasadena, Calif.-headquartered C.W. Driver served as general contractor and locally based Anthony Mason & Associates was the project’s construction manager.

The project team was primarily charged with upgrading the university’s science facilities in a way that would keep the university competitive in the sciences, accommodate growing interest in the field and ultimately meet the needs of students seeking a high-caliber science education, according to Tina Choe, dean of the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering at LMU.

“The new building has come to embody the university’s commitment to the sciences and the community,” Choe added. “The building promotes best practices in science education in a setting that incorporates some of the latest technologies. The building’s design facilitates active, hands-on experimental work.”

Programmatically, the university moved the science departments from an existing building that didn’t allow for easy or fluid interaction between the various disciplines, according to Arnold Swanborn, LEED AP BD+C, associate principal at CO Architects. “The primary goal was to create a building with an understanding that science is changing and is more interdisciplinary — or rather transdisciplinary,” he said. “The second thing is to really have the building be a tool for teaching, so it’s a building for science but also for natural science and botany.”

A Transparent Design
The facility was designed with new technologies to promote collaboration. Laboratory and research space take the place of traditional classrooms so that students will learn science by putting it into practice and integrating concepts with hands-on work to prepare future scientists.
The project’s objective to put science on display was achieved through openness and transparency in the design. This was carried out not only on the interior of the building via research and teaching labs configured with floor-to-ceiling glass storefronts allowing students to observe what their peers are working on, according to Matthew Wilt, project manager at C.W. Driver, but also on the exterior with an auditorium that features an overhead green roof terrace that functions as an outdoor living laboratory.

“We used a lot of glass, so there’s a lot of transparency from the corridor into the classroom,” Swanborn added. “Science used to be behind doors and walls, but now it’s on display and becomes an interactive layer. That was a pretty important thing for us and involved a lot of relocation and rethinking of the laboratories. Lab planners and professors worked with us to make it a very open building.”

“In a reinterpretation of the classic Spanish Revival vernacular of the campus, we wrapped the program around an active central courtyard, while incorporating a three-story green roof connecting to outdoor terraces,” added Paul Zajfen, FAIA, design principal at CO Architects.

The C.W. Driver team had to account for the hundreds of thousands of pounds of weight created by the green roof, which rests on top of the steel-structured auditorium. To ensure the building would not droop or deflect once the green roof was added, the team used cables to ground and preload the steel structure to account for the future weight prior to installation, Wilt said.

Sustainable design and construction were also key elements of the project. Initially, the university’s goal was to achieve LEED Silver certification, but the project ultimately achieved LEED Gold through a number of measures taken to minimize its environmental impact. For example, the project features more than 8,200 square feet of solar panels that produce approximately 10 percent of the facility’s energy needs. Swanborn added that a significant amount of natural daylight was also introduced into the lab spaces.

Safety & Security
As the building houses sensitive scientific tools, materials and activities, the CO Architects team took specific safety concerns into account during the design process. For instance, Swanborn said that the design team carefully considered how the students would work with explosive and flammable chemicals — not what you would typically consider in a classroom building. In response, the team included things like gas and electrical shutoffs as well as safety showers in every lab. Standard laboratory fume hoods, which Swanborn considers a first line of defense against inhaling toxic chemicals, were included throughout. Other key security elements include security cameras and secure entrances.

Read more about this project in the upcoming June Safety & Security issue of School Construction News, available soon.
 

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The building features 35 research and teaching laboratories, 9,000 square feet of faculty research space, a 273-seat auditorium and a three-story green roof. Los Angeles-based CO Architects served as the architect on the project, while Pasadena, Calif.-headquartered C.W. Driver completed construction.

The main goal of the project was to provide a necessary upgrade to the university’s science facilities in a way that would keep the university competitive in the sciences, accommodate growing interest in the field and ultimately meet the needs of students seeking a high-caliber science education, according to Tina Choe, dean of the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering.

“The new building has come to embody the university’s commitment to the sciences and the community. The building promotes best practices in science education in a setting that incorporates some of the latest technologies,” Choe added. “The building’s design facilitates active, hands-on experimental work.”

The $110 million facility was designed with new technologies to promote collaboration. Laboratory and research space take the place of traditional classrooms so that students will learn science by putting science into practice, integrating concepts with hands-on work to prepare future scientists. “By design, the building also fosters an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach to addressing key research questions,” Choe said.

One of the design team’s main objectives was to put science on display, which was achieved through openness and transparency in the design. This was carried out not only on the interior of the building via research and teaching labs configured with floor-to-ceiling glass storefront to allow students to observe what their peers are working on, but also on the exterior with an auditorium that features a green roof terrace that functions as an outdoor living laboratory, according to Matthew Wilt, project manager at C.W. Driver.

“In a reinterpretation of the classic Spanish Revival vernacular of the campus, we wrapped the program around an active central courtyard, while incorporating a three-story green roof connecting to outdoor terraces,” added Paul Zajfen, FAIA, design principal at CO Architects. “Technologically enhanced research facilities with large glazed surfaces increase visibility, allowing teaching and research activities to be easily observed without disturbance.”

In building the auditorium, the C.W. Driver team had to account for the hundreds of thousands of pounds of weight created by the green roof, which would rest on top of the steel structure. To ensure the building would not droop or deflect once the green roof was added, the team used cables to ground and preload the steel structure to account for the future weight, Wilt said.

Environmental sustainability in the building’s design and construction was also important to the university. Designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, a number of measures were taken to minimize the building’s impact on the environment. For example, the project features more than 8,200 square feet of solar panels that produce about 10 percent of the facility’s energy needs.

During construction, the project team used a variety of new technologies such as REVit, BIM360 and Box.com to help with coordination, communication and verification. These programs helped the team complete the job on time and reduce any problems early on in the process, according to Wilt.

“Because we were able to essentially build the project within those programs prior to the start of actual construction, we could electronically coordinate with all subcontractors — from the framing and plaster contractors to electrical and plumbing — and map out how the variety of different systems would live in the walls together,” Wilt said. “As a result, we were able to avoid typical project stalls, such as materials not fitting properly, calling for the engineer to come out, assess and revise the plans on paper, and even coordinate the prefabrication of systems like the plumbing racks offsite, to further increase productivity and remain on schedule.”

The biggest challenge on the project was figuring out how to minimize disruption to the school’s normal class schedule and on-campus events, Wilt said. A 12-foot wood sound wall was set around the construction site along with various containment rooms made for cutting steel and other construction materials to help reduce any noise. C.W. Driver also opted to use an electronic-powered tower crane to assist with construction, which cut down additional noise and fumes, according to Wilt.

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To achieve LEED Gold certification, C.W. Driver implemented construction site recycling and waste management, utilization of recycled materials, enhanced commissioning, and water-efficient plumbing and landscaping. New lighting and ceiling systems were constructed with energy-efficient glazing systems to improve the building’s energy efficiency. The sustainable upgrades to the complex will save the university millions of dollars in deferred and ongoing maintenance.

“BIM coordination was utilized for the entire project, but proved especially beneficial on the remodel portion of the project, for the coordination of new systems within limited above ceiling spaces,” Biglione said. “Additional challenges included performing all of the work within an occupied campus and maintaining egress paths of travel.”
Both Storm and Nasatir Halls were named for renowned SDSU professors in 1986. The west wing of the social sciences building on campus was renamed Storm Hall after Alvena Storm, a geography instructor who joined the faculty in 1926 and taught on campus for 40 years. Storm was known as an expert on the geography of California and the American West. Nasatir Hall was named for Abraham P. Nasatir, a professor emeritus of history, who taught at SDSU for 46 years from 1928 to 1974. Nasatir was internationally known for his research on California history and received four Fulbright fellowships.

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The overall goal of the project, according to Sam Huleis, senior project manager with C.W. Driver, is to “expand and update the library with the latest advances in information technologies and to strengthen its position as one of the best research libraries in the country.” The team working on the project includes Pfeiffer Partners Architects, structural engineer John A. Martin & Associates and Karl Burrelsmann as UCSB’s representative.

Construction on the $53 million project began on Aug. 15 and is expected to end in December 2015. The 340,000-square-foot library is located in the center of UCSB’s campus and stands as a defining centerpiece for the school. The new additional wing on the north side will add an extra 62,000 square feet to the facility once the project is complete. A three-story glass walkway will connect the new wing to the preexisting building.

The library’s 24-hour study room will include more study spaces and design elements to increase workspace and allow for more natural light to enter the area. New study areas featuring glass walls will be located along the western side of the two-story section of the library.

Numerous other design elements will characterize the project as well. The project team will incorporate sun shading integrated into the building’s architecture, broad roof overhangs that will shade the building’s façade and a metal sunshade on the western side. Additional design elements include constructing the building as an exposed concrete structure to minimize unnecessary external finishes, a raised floor system that will increase efficiency throughout the facility, low-E glazing, dual-flush restroom facilities and waterless urinals and an efficient chilled beam cooling system.

Another major aspect of the construction process will be upgrading the building’s seismic stability to comply with current codes. “The seismic upgrades are being done on the two-story and eight-story portions of the library, which were built in the early 50s and 60s, respectively,” said Huleis. “The seismic upgrades consist of a combination of supplementing the existing building foundation system with additional foundation structures, adding concrete shear walls at various bays of the building and reinforcing certain existing concrete walls and roof structures with structural fiber reinforced overlays.”

The project team anticipates facing numerous challenges while working on the project as well. The library will remain open during construction, which means that much of the work will be completed during night shifts and school breaks. “This renovation project has a targeted focus on seismic upgrades and as such, our primary concern is for the safety and well-being of the students for the duration of the project. We want to maintain a safe environment conducive for students to continue learning,” Brett Curry, vice president of operations with C.W. Driver, said in a recent statement.

Construction involving spaces not used by students or faculty will be conducted during daytime hours. Because of the constant flow of work the building will be undergoing, there will be double the construction crews and supervisors working on the project so that work on the interior and exterior of the building can occur during the same timeframe.

Protecting the library’s books is another challenge, Huleis said. “Although book stacks will be completely protected with shrink wrap in the areas of work, the books still need to be retrieved upon request. C.W. Driver will work with the library staff to train individuals who will be designated to retrieve books in the areas of work,” he said.

The third challenge Huleis anticipates facing is the issue of dust generated from construction tools while drilling about 15,000 dowel holes into the existing concrete of the eight-story building. “C.W. Driver will contain these areas of work with temporary enclosures that are completely sealed from the rest of the floor area and implement negative air pressure to keep the dust from migrating into the occupied spaces,” Huleis said.

Despite the challenges the team will face during construction, the project shows promise to help facilitate UCSB’s academic reputation upon its completion. The project team is aiming for LEED Silver certification for the new library.

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Los Angeles-based general contractor C.W. Driver has recently started construction on the new student recreation center, which involves 9,000 square feet of renovations to the existing recreation center and more than 80,000 square feet of new construction in order to expand its offerings to the university community.

The project is targeted to receive LEED Silver certification and construction is slated for completion in January 2015. The Los Angeles office of Cannon Design served as the architect for the project. The design expands the university’s existing recreation center, giving students access to new and improved fitness and well-being equipment and activities.

“This new structure will offer a comprehensive facility for the campus that involves creating new spaces while revitalizing the existing areas,” said Brett Curry, vice president of operations for C.W. Driver. “Blending the new space into the existing structure presents a unique construction challenge for this project, which when complete will be presented as an integrated, yet expanded and revitalized recreation center that UCR can be very proud of.”

The existing 9,000-square-foot structure on the lower level will be upgraded to include new offices, administration areas and training and multipurpose rooms. The expansive two-story addition will connect to the existing facility with a new bridge between the upper floors, while the existing facility will receive expansive upgrades.

Most of the existing fitness equipment will be moved to the new two-story addition, which will feature an indoor track, indoor climbing and bouldering wall, additional indoor courts, a new MAC gym, a fitness lab and massage therapy room, new weight and cardio equipment, a demonstration kitchen and multi-purpose rooms. UCR’s traditional blend brick will be used in the construction of a new circular locker room structure. The second floor will have views of the new 5,000-square-foot outdoor pool and deck, new sand volleyball courts, tennis courts and field space, as well as views of the Box Springs Mountains to the east.

“Because of the location, we need to incorporate the best use of natural light, as well as natural heating and cooling which will support the building’s sustainability efforts,” Curry said. “UCR’s blend brick is a traditional component that we will incorporate so that the new building is reflective of the campus traditions, but feels new and exciting with modern materials as well.”

Materials for construction will revolve around UCR’s blend brick, a campus requirement, which will be featured prominently on the opaque volumes at the ground level. The upper level will use a combination of curtainwall glazing and metal panels, and will feature vertical screening devices and overhangs to provide sun protection for the multiple solar orientations of the undulating façade. By utilizing different screen shapes and patterns along the curvature of the second floor, the facility will maximize the use of natural light while keeping cooling and heating costs to a minimum during peak hours, helping the facility achieve its targeted LEED Silver certification.

“The project’s location puts the site adjacent to not just existing sports facilities and thoroughfares, but also right against the existing Recreation Center building which will remain in use until the completion of construction,” said Brian DeMartino, senior project manager for C.W. Driver. “This poses a great challenge for construction because we will be installing utilities around the existing building, working in and around the existing facility, and building a new structure only a few feet from the existing occupied spaces.”

The new recreation center is expected to be a highlight of the campus and is currently running on time and on schedule for its 2015 opening.

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The construction company from Pasadena, Calif. joins Sacramento Calif.-based architectural firm Lionakis on the project, which will create a new home for Foothill College. Foothill president Judy Miner explained she hoped the college could retain its current space in Palo Alto, Calf. to serve the most students possible. Approximately 4,000 students attend the community college each year.

“We are excited to be working with Foothill-De Anza on this project,” said Mike Castillo, senior vice president for C.W. Driver in the Northern California region. “Our strong background in community college work and our proven track record with higher educational facilities gives us the expertise to deliver this project successfully. We are proud to be an integral part of creating this new center.”

The $25 million structure will be funded by general obligation bonds approved by district voters in 2006. The district plans to acquire 9.2 acres of land formerly owned by the Onizuka Air Force Station. The land will be provided to the district at no cost, through the Military Base Reuse and Preservation Act. The act, passed in spring 2012, helps communities make a transition when military bases close in their area, which can be a large economic hurdle.

The city of Sunnyvale was named the redevelopment authority directing reuse of the former Air Force property and will be working with the Veterans Administration to develop the rest of the 23-acre site. In its requests for available land, the community college district requested 50,000 square feet of building space, with the opportunity for possible future expansion to 100,000 square feet.

The property is located in the Moffett Business Park, which includes corporate headquarters and research/development operations for several major companies including Juniper Networks, Yahoo and Network Appliance. The Veterans Administration will also use three buildings on 4.1 acres of the property for their own research and development efforts.

Sunnyvale vice mayor Jim Griffith explained he envisioned the new structure becoming the supplier of interns for high-tech companies in the area and a resource for armed forces personnel to get ongoing education.

“This is an exciting time,” Pearl Cheng, president of the Foothill-De Anza district board, said when the board selected the site. “This direction comes after an exhaustive search and review of opportunities that would best meet the district’s objectives in finding a permanent home for the education center.”

The timeline for the education center project indicates construction will be complete in approximately three years and the structure will be aiming for LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The multi-story structure will house classrooms, conference rooms, administrative offices and food services.

C.W. Driver has worked extensively in the community college market, partnering with a large variety of districts, including San Diego and Los Angeles community college districts, among others.

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