Some preliminary construction work has begun on the controversial $1.9-billion, 120-mi Sunrise Powerlink transmission line project in the San Diego region. Though more permitting and reports still need to be approved before the transmission lines can built, San Diego Gas & Electric says it will go ahead and start building a construction yard and office in Alpine and upgrade substations in the North County and Chula Vista. The Sunrise Powerlink will tap into the various wind, solar and geothermal resources in the Imperial Valley, says SDG&E spokeswoman Jennifer Ramp. �We already have several contracts with developers who plan to build
The number of people working in construction is approaching a 14-year low now that the industry lost 21,000 jobs in September, while construction unemployment is at a September high of 17.2%, according to an analysis of federal employment figures released by the Associated General Contractors of America. The construction industry continues to suffer from declining investments in construction and broad uncertainty about the future of many federal infrastructure programs and tax rates, association officials noted. �It has taken less than four years to erase a decade�s worth of job gains as the industry suffers from declining private, state and local
When the $80-million, 125,000-sq-ft Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects-designed expansion of the historic 1872 Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento opens this month, it will not be the first time that contractors see the building in all its three-dimensional glory. With the opening of the $80-million, 125,000-sq-ft expansion of the historic 1872 Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, it will not be the first time that contractors see the building in all its three-dimensional glory. Building Information Modeling was essential to saving both time and money on the iconic project, according to John Home, project manager for Redwood City-based Rudolph and Sletten,
The San Fernando Valley is getting more than a new performing arts center: The region is getting an iconic, world-class entertainment attraction. Photo: Greg Aragon Photo: Greg Aragon �This is going to change things in the valley because there is nothing like it around,� says Colin Donahue, facility manager for California State University, Northridge, the project owner. Set on the CSUN campus, the $125-million Valley Performing Art Center was designed by Minneapolis-based HGA Architects & Engineers and built by Pasadena-based C.W. Driver. When completed in mid-October, project officials anticipate the 166,000-sq.-ft. venue to become one of the top three centers
Drivers in California�s major urban areas spend $600 to $756 more per year to operate their vehicles because of the potholes, deficient roadways and poor pavement in the state�s urban communities, according to a new report from TRIP, a national transportation research group. TRIP found freeways and arterial streets in California urban areas give motorists some of the roughest rides in the nation. San Jose tops the list with 64% of its major roadways rated in poor condition, and Los Angeles ranks second, with 63% of major roadways rated poor. Other California cities on the national Top 10 list are
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has advertised the $70-million San Joaquin Pipeline System � Western Segment project, which is part of the SFPUC�s $4.6-billion Water System Improvement Program (WSIP) to repair, replace, and seismically upgrade the aging Hetch Hetchy Water System. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has advertised the $70-million San Joaquin Pipeline System – Western Segment project, which is part of the SFPUC’s $4.6-billion Water System Improvement Program (WSIP) to repair, replace, and seismically upgrade the aging Hetch Hetchy Water System. WSIP includes more than 80 projects spanning six counties from the Central Valley to downtown San
Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa began construction of a new, seismically-safe 82-bed hospital and 80,000-sq-ft medical office building on Mark West Springs Road. Completion of the $284-million project is expected in fall 2014. Unger Construction and HGA Architects out of Sacramento are leading the project. “We are building this hospital as a communitywide effort utilizing local businesses and professionals to create and retain local jobs,” says Mike Purvis, CAO of SMCSR. In addition to the $284 million for construction of the hospital, Sutter says it has spent over $3 million as part of the design, environmental review and entitlement
Turner Construction Co. recently broke ground on the long-planned $185-million new Central Library for the city of San Diego. The library is scheduled for completion in March 2013 and is being designed and constructed to achieve a LEED silver certification. The project – 35 years in planning – was designed by Rob Wellington Quigley, FAIA, and Tucker Sadler & Associates. The library project is located downtown in East Village, Park Boulevard at 11th Avenue, near Petco Park. The 295,000 sq. ft., nine-story Central Library features a 10,244-sq-ft children’s library, a technology center, outdoor plaza and café, 350-seat auditorium, three-story domed
Associated Builders and Contractors reports that its latest Construction Backlog Indicator remained virtually unchanged in mid-summer. Based on a national survey of ABC members, construction backlog stood at 7 months in June and 7.3 months in July – up 20.4% from July 2009, but down 1.2% from CBI’s historic high of 7.4 months in April 2010. CBI is a forward-looking indicator that measures the amount of construction work under contract to be completed in the future. “Construction backlog is no longer expanding despite the fact that backlog related to infrastructure continues to increase. This suggests that the recovery of privately
A new, 118,000-sq-ft Student Recreation Center is under construction at California State University, Northridge. C.W. Driver is the construction manager at-risk for the $53 million center, which will have an emphasis on student activity and fitness. Slated to open in January 2012, the project was designed to LEED gold standards by Irvine-based LPA Inc. “The construction of the new CSUN Student Recreation Center will be highlighted by the structure’s unique steel frame and vast use of glass exteriors,” says C.W. Driver Project Manager John Kately. “The center will have a very off-camber look to it. It is a tilted-type of
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