Shot with an Olympus E-500 camera using a 40mm lens, this aerial photograph of the downstream slope of the San Vicente Dam near San Diego shows construction crews in the process of raising the dam by 117 ft above its original 220 ft height. Photographer: San Diego County Water Authority San Vicente Dam near San Diego, Calif. Related Links: Upload Your Own Project Photos to ENR California's Project Photo Gallery! ENR California The seven-year project features the highest raise of a concrete dam using roller-compacted concrete in the world, according to design firm MWH Global.When completed in August, the reservoir
Design firms in California are feeling a renewed—though cautious—sense of optimism. The top firms posted $3.49 billion in billings during 2012, an increase of just 1% over the previous year, but many company executives expect the pace of growth to pick up in the rest of 2013 and beyond. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record "We started 2013 with the largest backlog in our firm's history, and while the market remains somewhat unsettled, we're seeing much more enthusiasm in our clients and they are embarking on new developments," says Rick Emsiek, partner at architectural firm MVE & Partners Inc.,
Southern California Edison (SCE) is closing down the troubled San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in California. The plant’s two reactor units have been shut down since 2012 after a small leak was detected in a steam generator manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Related Links: Nuclear Resurgence Dims Due to Rising Costs, Low Demand The California utility originally submitted plans to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to restart the reactors, but uncertainty about whether the plan would be accepted and the length of time involved during which SCE would need to maintain the plant in a state of readiness led to the
Serving up to 80 students, this 6,000-sq-ft early childhood development center and teacher training facility in Johannesburg, South Africa, was the culmination of two years of planning, design and construction led by student volunteers from Cornell University.
With some of the Southwest's larger design firms experiencing flat or slight growth in 2012, several mid-size firms found an opening to expand dramatically. But both groups, in responding to this year's top design firms survey, are hopeful that economic conditions will continue to improve in 2013 and beyond. Related Links: View All of ENR Southwest's Annual Top Lists Design Firm of the Year: Dekker/Perich/Sabatini "The commercial lending market seems more willing to put their liquidity to work, which in turn has spurred construction projects which would not have been considered a couple of years ago," says Jason Bush, principal
Crews are rapidly placing track sections in advance of the spring 2014 opening of the Oakland Airport Connector. Conceived in the early 1970s and started in 2010, the $484-million project will connect the Bay Area Rapid Transit system to the airport. The project is about two-thirds complete, with system testing commencing later this year, a BART spokesperson says. Related Links: Video: Oakland Airport Connector Nighttime Crane Lift Flatiron/Parsons JV Awarded Contract for Oakland Airport Connector Bigge Crane and Rigging, San Leandro, Calif., is providing and operating the cranes on the 3.1-mile project. Several of the lifts have occurred during overnight
Photo courtesy of Bigge Crane and Rigging The Demag AC-500 crane needed 198 tons of counterweight for the BART track lift. Related Links: Video: Oakland Airport Connector Nighttime Crane Lift Flatiron/Parsons JV Awarded Contract for Oakland Airport Connector Crews are rapidly placing track sections in advance of the spring 2014 opening of the Oakland Airport Connector. Conceived in the early 1970s and started in 2010, the $484-million project will connect the Bay Area Rapid Transit system to the airport.Bigge Crane and Rigging, San Leandro, Calif., is providing and operating the cranes on the 3.2-mile project. Several of the lifts have
Cosanti Foundation A Scottsdale, Ariz., bridge exemplifies Soleri's unique design approach. Related Links: Legendary Arizona Architect Paolo Soleri Dies at 93 Obituaries of other industry leaders and innovators On April 9, the day architect Paolo Soleri died, high winds in Arizona caused his bronze-and-ceramic "wind bells," which were prevalent across the state, to ring loudly.To many Arizonans, it was a fitting tribute to a locally-based designer who spent a long career blending architecture and ecology.Soleri, an Italian immigrant who incorporated environmentalism and sustainability into designs long before it was trendy, was 93 years old. SOLERIWhile many of his urban environments reside
Image Courtesy of California High Speed Rail Authority Design and construction of the approximately 28-mi section of high-speed rail between Madera and Fresno is expected to begin this summer. Related Links: California Selects PCM for First High-Speed Rail Section Calif. High-Speed Rail Backers Push 'System Blend' The California High-Speed Rail Authority released bid results from five teams seeking to design and build the first section of the state’s high-speed rail line between Madera and Fresno. Proposals submitted in January for the approximately 28-mile segment were scored 70% on price and 30% on technical merit, with the team of Sylmar, Calif.-based
