The U.S. Navy's new $455-million Replacement Hospital project in Oceanside, Calif., is not only $100 million under budget and six months ahead of schedule but also one of the first major U.S. design-build projects of its kind to use a unique 100% turnkey equipment procurement process, according to the project team. Related Links: Clark/McCarthy JV Breaks Ground on $394-Million Naval Hospital Clark/McCarthy Joint Venture is performing the design-build contract with full medical planning, including all equipment procurement, coordination, installation and training. "We are not aware of another major health-care facility where the same entity was responsible for design, construction and
The opening date for the San Francisco-Oakland East Bay Bridge has been moved back to the original date of Tuesday, Sept. 3. The bridge opening had been postponed until December to allow time for contractor American Bridge/Fluor Joint Venture to install permanent saddle braces to replace the clamping force lost when corroded steel bolts broke during tensioning in March. Photos courtesy Caltrans As the temporary shims are put in place to allow the bridge to open on time (above), work continues on the permanent saddle fix (below). Related Links: View a Brief Video of a Worker Installing a Temporary Shim
In 1997, a 13-year-old girl and her family stopped to watch an explosive demolition of an abandoned hospital in Australia. She was killed by flying debris. "Almost overnight, implosions worldwide ceased being actively promoted as spectator events," wrote Brent L. Blanchard, operations manager for consultant Protec Documentation Services, Rancocas Woods, N.J., in his history of the demolition technique. Photo courtesy of David Seibold Injury to onlooker may trigger new efforts to discourage live viewing at demo site. Related Links: A History of Explosive Demolition Bakersfield Power Plant Implosion Gone Wrong Results in Serious Injuries Now there is a sad new
The world's largest solar thermal powerplant is nearing completion in the Ivanpah Dry Lake, 50 miles northwest of Needles, Calif. Comprising three units that will begin staged operation in the fourth quarter, the 377-MW Ivanpah complex will generate enough electricity for 140,000 homes and displace more than 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, says the owner-developer. Related Links: Solar Sees Growth But Clouds Loom Ivanpah Solar Project Renews Power Market BrightSource Energy Inc., Oakland, has power-purchase agreements in place with PG&E and Southern California Edison. By generating more than 1-million-MWh annually, the $2.2-billion plant will nearly double U.S. commercial
While demolishing the five-story former Chinese Hospital in San Francisco, senior project superintendent Jerry McKinley snapped this photo when he noticed that the cruncher on his crew's excavator—which chews through concrete—mimicked the shape of the iconic Transamerica Pyramid in the background. "I've been working in downtown San Francisco for 30 years, so I love all the landmarks and I tried to get that in the back of the picture," McKinley says. Photographer: Jerry McKinley Submitted By: DPR Construction, Redwood City Related Links: Upload Your Own Project Photos to ENR California's Project Photo Gallery ENR California Photos Page At ENR California
Phase 2 of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority Expo Light Rail project is closing in on its quest to reach the Pacific by 2015. About 45% complete as of late July, the $1.5-billion, 6.6-mile-long line from Culver City to Santa Monica faces obstacles above and below ground. Related Links: Opponents Seek to Stop L.A. Light Rail Project Condo, Transit Projects Dominate California's 2012 Top Project Starts The project continues the Expo Line's $930-million, 8.6-mile-long Phase 1, which opened last year and links downtown Los Angeles with Culver City. Phase 2 broke ground last summer and will extend the line
Tamara Clarke has joined HOK's San Francisco office as senior project manager. Clarke has 25 years of experience in justice-sector projects, most recently as DLR Group justice and civic principal in Phoenix. Related Links: Upload New Hires & Promotions to ENR California's People Gallery Read Other Recent Updates About Construction Professionals Beverly Prior PRIORwas appointed president of Los Angeles-based HMC Architects, where she will lead the expansion, strategy and development of the 330-person firm. Prior has more than 30 years of industry experience. She was president of Beverly Prior Architects for 25 years until 2011, when the firm merged with
California's top contractors experienced a robust 2012 and anticipate an even stronger 2013, according to an annual survey conducted by McGraw Hill Research & Analytics and ENR California.
Aimed at preventing rail disasters like the one that killed 79 people in Spain last month, Los Angeles commuter-rail operator Metrolink is installing a sophisticated control system along its 512 miles of track. Image Courtesy of Parsons Installation of positive train control technology on Metrolink trains will help prevent collisions and over-speed accidents. Related Links: American Companies Adopt Swiss Hardware for Railroad Surveying FRA Issues High-Speed Rail Guidelines The $210.9-million project involves a network of software, signal network updates and communications towers—known as positive train control (PTC)—that will interoperate with similar systems overlayed onto freight-railroad networks operated by United Pacific,
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