Direct Relief Headquarters
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Award of Merit

Owner: DR Property 1 LLC
Contractor: ARCO Design/Build Inc.
Lead Design Firm: ATI Architects + Engineers
Structural Engineer: Bushra Tsai Inc.
Civil Engineer: Stantec
MEP Engineer: National Design Build Services LLC
Landscape: CJM::LA
Subcontractors: Tiger Electric Inc.; S&S Engineers

This warehouse and distribution center is the headquarters of Direct Relief, a humanitarian-aid organization that provides resources to people around the world affected  by poverty and disasters.

The project team faced numerous environmental challenges to complete the facility on time and on budget, including the 2018 California wildfires, mudslides and more than 35 days of rain. Field crews wore special air-filtration masks to protect them from smoke and ash.

With the public roadways impeded, the team diverted supply routes, resulting in eight additional hours of travel time for racking and steel deliveries. Crews adopted best communication practices and meticulous, daily coordination to work around the obstacles. For the vertical building portion, crane bays on the interior of the site were used to lift the larger concrete panels.

Back to "ENR California's Best Projects 2019: Diverse Mix of Public, Private Work Garners Award"