San Francisco voters approved Proposition B, a $412-million �Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response� bond that will cover the first phase expense of seismically upgrading a number of neighborhood fire stations and emergency water systems and construct a new public safety building in Mission Bay. The Emergency Firefighting Water Supply System, officially called the Auxiliary Water Supply System (AWSS), is an independent high-pressure water supply system dedicated to fire protection. It was built in 1913 in response to the 1906 Great Earthquake. It consists of a 135-mi pipeline network, a high elevation reservoir and two large capacity tanks, two pumping stations,
McKIM Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently appointed Cindy McKim as director of the California Department of Transportation, replacing Randy Iwasaki, who resigned in April to become the executive director of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. “Cindy McKim is committed to improving our roads and infrastructure to meet the needs of future generations,” says Governor Schwarzenegger. “With many years of experience with Caltrans, she understands the impact that our transportation system has on businesses and job creation. Cindy shares my desire to see California grow and change to meet the needs of an ever growing population.” McKim has served at Caltrans since
Construction spending rebounded strongly in April, with an increase of 2.7% or $23 billion from March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $869 billion according to the latest analysis of federal spending figures released by the Associated General Contractors of America. The association notes that the gains were primarily driven by private residential construction (up 4.4%) and public construction (up 2.4%), but that private nonresidential also increased significantly (up 1.7%). “The stimulus is clearly driving one of the biggest increases in construction spending the industry has experienced in a long time,” says Ken Simonson, chief economist for the construction
Plans to finance a new professional football stadium in downtown San Diego may hinge on a June 22 vote by the city council, according to Chargers Special Counsel to the President Mark Fabiani. Fabiani spoke at a recent town hall forum at the Ironworkers Union Hall to discuss the latest developments in the Chargers’ attempt to secure a Super Bowl-quality facility. The town hall was sponsored by the San Diego Stadium Coalition community group. The stadium is being designed by architect Dennis Wellner, and this is not Wellner’s first foray into NFL stadiums. The Kansas City-based architect has designed several stadiums,
Teichert, the Sacramento-based construction, materials, equipment and development company, has been named California Construction�s 2010 Contractor of the Year for its commitment to safety and giving back while working to improve California�s vital infrastructure. Teichert worked on the Yocha Dehe Golf Club at Cache Creek Resort in Brooks. Construction on the Big Fix along Interstate-5 in Sacramento. “I am honored,” says Teichert President, chairman and CEO Jud Riggs. “McGraw-Hill Construction’s Regional Publications’ Contractor of the Year recognition is our way of honoring companies who go above and beyond,” says Robert Carlsen, managing editor of California Construction. “Teichert stood out because
For Southern California drivers wondering what’s up with the worse-than-usual congestion on the San Bernardino (Interstate 10) Freeway, here’s a bit of good news: It could be a lot worse. Work on the I-10 , one of the several high-profile freeway projects under way in Southern California, began early last year and will be complete in spring 2011. The project includes the complete resurfacing of the I-10, in both directions, between the I-5 and I-605. Yes, the California Department of Transportation’s $165 million I-10/San Bernardino Freeway Restoration project involves dozens of lane and ramp closures on the stretch of road
The construction market is a tricky thing, especially in the current economy. But a look inside California Construction Magazine’s annual list of the Top Project Starts for 2010 can reveal some exciting and interesting insights into work going on across the state. McCarthy Building Cos. and HMC Architects are working on the Kaiser Permanente Fontana replacement hospital project. The new Temecula Civic Center is being built by Edge Construction. Related Links: California Construction 2010 Top Project Starts “The market right now is generally very mixed,” says David Hobstetter, principal with San Francisco-based KMD Architects. “The housing and commercial office markets
When motorists take to San Francisco�s new $1-billion Presidio Parkway in late 2013, they won�t see some of the massive foundation piles placed deep into ground below. But they will feel the support of some of the largest cast-in-drilled-hole piles currently in use. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" �The biggest challenge on this job from the beginning was a requirement to use 12-ft-diameter piles and [insert them with] very limited vibration because of historic buildings in the Presidio,� says Peter Faust, project manager for San Francisco-based Malcolm Drilling Co. �This meant we couldn�t use a pile driver with an
When motorists take to San Francisco’s new $1-billion Presidio Parkway in late 2013, they won’t see some of the massive foundation piles placed deep into ground below. But they will feel the support of some of the largest cast-in-drilled-hole piles currently in use. Ghilotti Bros. is currently working on phase two sitework at Doyle Drive. Malcolm Drilling readies the piles. “The biggest challenge on this job from the beginning was a requirement to use 12-ft-diameter piles and [insert them with] very limited vibration because of historic buildings in the Presidio,” says Peter Faust, project manager for San Francisco-based Malcolm Drilling
Building a mixed-use development in the heart of Encino – generally considered “inland” by Southern California’s coastal residents – wouldn’t ordinarily seem like an undertaking for which you’d need a wet suit. Albert Group Architects of Santa Monica is the designer of the Encino Legado project, while Fassberg Contracting Group of Encino is serving as general contractor. Project engineers solved the water problem by installing a mat foundation system involving concrete walls about 2 ft thicker than in standard foundations, sandwiching a thick waterproof membrane. But nature does have its little surprises. The ongoing Encino Legado development --a $45 million
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