The $12.4 million K-6 school will have room for 950 students. The 80,000-square-foot building will include a gym/multipurpose room, media center, classrooms and office space. The new elementary school is being built between Chandler Heights and Riggs roads and Gilbert and Lindsay roads in the T.W. Lewis master-planned community, Valencia.  

The school will contain energy-saving features including:  an air-cooled central plant; an Energy Management System that allows HVAC and lighting to be controlled remotely via the Internet; sky lighting in hallways to eliminate use of lights; and ground and polished concrete floors in hallways and bathrooms, which is easier and less expensive to maintain.

The school is being named after longtime educators John and Carol Carlson, who have held various roles within the district since 1974. Carol has taught K-2^nd grade and in the early childhood education program, and John is currently the athletic director for the district and plans to retire at the end of the year.

The school will offer both the Chandler Traditional Academies (CTA) education model as well as “classic” education, so parents will have a choice on the type of instruction their child will receive.

“We are working hard to establish a neighborhood school that delivers strong instruction aligned to the Arizona standards and offers a wide variety of extra-curricular opportunities for our students,” said Leo Schleuter, who will serve as principal of the new school next year. “Carlson Elementary will provide options for parents with respect to students’ instructional needs and foster parent and community involvement through partnerships with all school stakeholders.”

The Chandler Unified School District used Qualified School Construction Bonds to fund the construction of Carlson Elementary School. These bonds, which include a federal interest cost subsidy, were issued as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This federal program, which was designed to aid school districts and provide economic stimulus during the recession, enabled the District to save an estimated $7.25 million in interest cost over traditional bond financing. These interest cost savings accrue to District taxpayers over the life of the program.

The school will be completed in May 2012 in time for the new school year to start in July.

HDA Architects Inc. is the architect on the project and major subcontractors include Midstate Mechanical, Suntec Concrete Inc. and Hawkeye Electric.

About McCarthy
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. has been building in the education market for more than 50 years. Committed to the construction of high-performance buildings, the company has managed construction or built hundreds of schools in virtually every K–12 school district in Arizona as well as 200 higher-education projects on more than 50 college campuses. The McCarthy Southwest Division is based in Tempe, Ariz. McCarthy also has offices in Newport Beach, San Diego, Sacramento and San Francisco, Calif.; Las Vegas; Albuquerque; Dallas and Houston; St. Louis and Atlanta. McCarthy is 100 percent employee-owned. More information about the company is available at http://www.mccarthy.com/.

When completed, the $9 million Gonzales Community School, which serves more than 600 K-8^th grade students, will include a two-story school building with 50,000 square feet of classrooms, labs, a new cafeteria and kitchen, a new gymnasium, an enclosed walkway to the library and a new parent drop-off area. The Gonzales project also includes parking lot lights powered by solar panels, and the district is planning to use this as a teaching tool about solar systems.

The $12 million El Dorado Community School, which serves more than 500 K-8^th grade students, will include a two-story school with 80,000 square feet of classrooms, labs, a new cafeteria and kitchen, a new gymnasium, a new library addition and a new administrative office/school entry.

Both projects are being built using a Construction Manager at Risk (CM at Risk) method of delivery. With this model, builders are more hands-on throughout the entire project and share in the responsibility (or “risk”) for the success of a project.

“The private sector has been using CM at Risk since the 1970s with great success,” said Rob Langhoff, senior vice president of McCarthy Building Companies. “Only within the past decade has the public sector, including school districts, begun to embrace the method. The outcome has been a better model for delivery of not only the desired level of quality, but also the best final price.”

Both projects are under construction while students remain on the existing campuses. The schools are utilizing portables this year and will be moved into their new permanent classrooms after testing is complete in late spring.

“Returning optimal value to the community while maintaining a quality learning environment and, above all, keeping our students safe in the midst of a construction project is our team priority,” said David Crosby, construction project manager for Santa Fe Public Schools. “McCarthy’s comprehensive experience with ambitious and realistic construction schedules on occupied school campuses has made a big difference to us and ensured that our students remain safe in a positive learning environment while we build their new school.”

McCarthy began construction on both Gonzales Community School and El Dorado Community School in April 2011. The projects are scheduled for completion in time for the start of school in August 2012. Wood Metal Concrete is the architect on the projects.

About McCarthy NM
McCarthy NM, a division of McCarthy Building Companies Inc., is the nation’s 10th largest domestic general contractor (Engineering News-Record, May 2011). The firm has been building in the education market for more than 50 years. Committed to the construction of high-performance buildings, the company has managed construction or built hundreds of schools in the Southwest as well as 200 higher-education projects on more than 50 college campuses. McCarthy NM is based in Albuquerque. McCarthy also has offices in Tempe, Ariz.; Newport Beach, San Diego, Sacramento and San Francisco, Calif.; Las Vegas; Dallas and Houston; St. Louis and Atlanta. McCarthy is 100 percent employee-owned. More information about the company is available at http://www.mccarthynm.com/.

The education-building complex represents the third phase of an overall $87 million renovation and modernization of Carlsbad High School, home of the Lancers, that McCarthy began in June 2008. The project is being funded by Proposition P, a $198 million bond measure passed by voters in 2006. Carlsbad High School, which was originally built in 1957 and now boasts an enrollment of 3,000 students, is one of eight schools within the Carlsbad Unified School District being constructed or modernized with funding from Prop P.

The one- and two-story education facilities comprise a total of 99,000 square feet of space and provide new classroom, performing arts, vocational education lab and food service space. The buildings surround the newly created Lancer Plaza, which resembles a college campus quad and serves as a central gathering and event area for students.

A grand opening celebration and official ribbon-cutting ceremony was held last week to commemorate the completion of the education-building phase. More than 200 government officials, school district dignitaries, and other stakeholders attended the event and expressed praise for those involved in the planning, construction and oversight.

“There are so many individuals who have helped guide this project on the right path, and helped realize our dream of being one of the most modern and desirable school campuses in the country,” said Maggie Stanchi, director of instruction for the Carlsbad Unified School District and former principal of Carlsbad High School.“We’re especially grateful to the members of McCarthy’s project team for their diligence and high degree of professionalism throughout the course of this project.”

Built on the site of the school’s former parking lot on the east side of Carlsbad High School, the 11 new steel-framed stucco buildings were designed to harmonize with the surrounding structures, while giving the campus a more contemporary appeal. The buildings feature curtain walls on one side, and cantilevered walls with metal sunscreens on the opposite sides to help reduce energy use. Masonry was incorporated in some areas, including the plaza ticket booth.

In all, the education building phase encompasses 54 new instruction spaces, including 34 regular classrooms, six computer/digital labs, and 14 other instructional rooms to accommodate the school’s highly specialized and widely acclaimed curriculum and programs.  It also encompasses 18 new restrooms, four faculty rooms, and a full-size commercial kitchen.

A professionally equipped, top-notch broadcast studio accommodates Carlsbad High School’s live, daily scholastic broadcasting for which the school has received 19 Emmy Awards and been ranked No. 1 in the nation.  A new backdrop set is currently being fabricated to complement the built-in news desk and guest couch area.

A 2,071-square-foot woodshop features a sophisticated dust collection system and air blast system that lend to the open-ceiling, industrial look of the interior.  A large dance studio, featuring Maplewood hardwood flooring and full-wall shatterproof mirrors, provides practice space for Carlsbad High School’s dance team, which has been the national champion for seven consecutive years.  Other instructional rooms are custom-built for students enrolled in arts, ceramics, fashion, choral, drama, music, construction tech, and functional skills classes. Computer and digital lab rooms accommodate CADD, business, graphic design, digital photo, computer and video classes.

A 2,500-square-foot commercial kitchen provides the facilities and equipment needed for cafeteria staff to prepare between 500 and 600 meals for students each day, including basic breakfast items and full lunch entrees. The space includes restrooms and locker rooms for those staff members.  A nearby concession room provides an area where students can purchase lighter snack items throughout the day.

Also included in this phase of construction was a 5,000-square-foot, stand-alone wrestling building that features one-inch rubberized flooring and a carefully controlled HVAC system designed to maintain a consistent, moderate temperature.  McCarthy subcontracted construction of this pre-fabricated building to MC Industrial, which specializes in this particular construction method. This portion of work required review and approval by the Division of State Architects.

A primary challenge for McCarthy project team members during this phase of construction was coordinating the logistics of building on an existing, occupied campus and controlling vehicle, bicycle, skateboard and pedestrian traffic.  This task was further complicated by the adjoining, city-owned cultural arts campus, which offered a full spectrum of productions during summer months — a time when construction crews had counted on accomplishing a large portion of the construction work.

“We were in close communication with the District the entire duration in an effort to reduce potential traffic flow issues and minimize disruptions to campus operations while school was in session,” said McCarthy Project Director Craig Swenson. “At many points, it required our having to reassess the schedule, then rearrange subcontractor schedules to accommodate activity on and around the campus.” 

With the education-building phase complete, McCarthy crews will now have a few months to demolish some of the existing classroom buildings on the south side of the campus, and convert the site into a new, larger parking lot.

In March 2010, McCarthy completed the second phase of construction, which involved demolition of the existing stadium, installation of underground utility infrastructure, and construction of a new 3,900-seat athletic stadium with aluminum bleachers and a synthetic track and field area. The stadium houses a new 10,000-square-foot building with locker rooms, restrooms and concession areas. The new stadium also features a Pop Warner-sponsored scoreboard with state-of-the-art LED technology for animated messaging.

The initial phase, performed in the later half of 2008, required McCarthy to set up temporary classroom facilities for students, along with the utilities to support these facilities.

Design consultants involved in the Carlsbad High School renovation project include Perkins+Will, architect; John A. Martin & Associates, structural engineer; Leighton Engineering, geotechnical engineer; Cornerstone Engineering, Inc., civil engineer; Johnson Consulting Engineers, Inc., electrical engineer; Donn C. Gilmore & Associates, mechanical engineer; and Lightfoot Planning Group as the landscape architect. The Planning Center provided the Environmental Impact Report.

Gafcon is the program manager. Erik Reuter has been serving as director of school construction on behalf of the CUSD.

About McCarthy
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading builder of educational facilities.   In addition to San Diego, McCarthy has offices in Newport Beach, Sacramento and San Francisco, Calif.; Phoenix; Las Vegas; St. Louis; Dallas; Houston; and Atlanta. McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned.  More information about the company is available online at http://www.mccarthy.com/.

 FEATURE ARTICLES in this edition include:

Preconstruction in Today’s Collaborative Environment
by Paul Kinsley, McCarthy Vice President, Estimating

Today, a new era of collaboration among owners, designers and builders is creating higher quality structures within budget and schedule constraints. Learn about how new advancements in technology have evolved preconstruction planning and are making a real impact on today’s projects.

Safety First: Are you overlooking the most important part of the builder selection process?
by Gary Amsinger, McCarthy Vice President, Safety

When you begin looking for a construction company for your next project, there’s a crucial qualification that can be overlooked: the company’s safety record. Here’s how it affects nearly every other aspect of a construction job and why you can’t afford to take safety for granted.

Does Your Facility Have a Boiler? Then the EPA’s New Industrial Boiler MACT Rule May Impact You
by Ryan G. Miner, Director of Business Development, MC Industrial and Don Wolf, PE, Principal, Burns & McDonnell

Owners of institutional or industrial boilers will soon be required to comply with new, stricter U.S. Environmental Protection Agency air emissions requirements. To determine if these requirements apply to your facility and what steps you need to take to ensure compliance, read on.

See the Summer 2011 Edition  now.

Readers can also view region-specific content by selecting from the drop down menu titled View Other Editions. These include Central, Nevada/Utah, Southern California, Northern Pacific, Southwest, Southeast, Texas and MC Industrial.

Built to relieve overcrowding at nearby John C. Fremont Senior High School, the new South Region High School No. 2 is a part of LAUSD’s $19.5 billion new school construction and modernization program to provide a safe and healthy neighborhood school on a traditional, two-semester calendar for every student. 

“McCarthy’s ability to successfully address all changes and unforeseen challenges while adhering to the schedule was key to the project’s success,” said Moty Eisenberg, senior project manager, contract professional for LAUSD.  “As a result of a collaborative effort by the entire project team, our new high school opened on schedule and is now providing the community with a state-of-the-art educational facility while relieving overcrowded conditions at other nearby schools.”

McCarthy served as general contractor for the project which entailed construction of a 220,000-square-foot high school on a 16.1 acre site with capacity for up to 2,000 students. The new school consists of eight two-and three-level buildings with 75 classrooms, an administrative office, performing arts/multi-purpose/practice gym, cafeteria and food services area, media center/library, a gym and locker rooms. McCarthy also built an outdoor lunch shelter as well as athletic facilities including football and softball fields and a track and field venue with a new rubberized synthetic track surface.

Designed by Leo A Daly ofLos Angeles, the nine buildings are strategically positioned to provide a rectangular perimeter barrier around a centrally located courtyard/student gathering area. The high school is sectioned into four small learning communities.

Paul Buckely, principle for Leo A Daly said that each learning community is self-contained with classrooms and laboratory facilities in each building. The athletic, library and performing arts facilities are shared among the four communities. Each classroom has state-of-the-art A/V equipment and theADAcompliant science labs feature built-in casework, fume hoods, chemical resistant countertops, sinks, gas, power and high speed data connections. All buildings are type II steel construction with the exterior skin comprised of plaster, CMU veneer and metal panels.

Certified by the Collaborative for High Performing Schools (CHPS), the newSouthRegionalHigh School boasts numerous environmentally friendly elements. Some of the project’s sustainable features include: energy efficient direct/indirect lighting with automatic lighting controls; low flow lavatories; low VOC paint; high energy efficient air conditioning; operable windows; a white roof to reflect unwanted energy and reduce the amount of energy consumed and drought tolerant landscaping. Construction waste was also recycled.

BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology was used to assist in the building process for the new high school. Xcel Mechanical Systems, the project’s mechanical contractor, used AutoDesk NavisWorks project review software to create 3D models of the high school’s mechanical systems before construction began. The use of 3D modeling proved highly successful in helping visualize and resolve systems clashes in the areas that required extensive detailing such as the central plant, the underground utilities, small mechanical closets and restrooms.

 “LAUSD, Leo A Daly and McCarthy worked extremely well together,” said Senior Project Manager Andrew Raufi. “This close team collaboration allowed the project to stay ahead of schedule and complete nearly two months early despite several weeks of rain delays as well as scope additions for underground utilities, off-site street improvements and a new synthetic track and field toward the end of the project.”

Consultants for the new high school include civil engineer KPFF Consulting Engineers; electrical and mechanical engineer Donald F. Dickerson Associates; landscape architect Mia Lehrer & Associates and kitchen consultant Commercial Kitchen Design, Inc.

 About McCarthy
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading commercial contractors and the largest educational facilities builder in California (California Construction, April 2010). In addition to Newport Beach, McCarthy has offices in San Diego, Sacramento and San Francisco, Calif.; Phoenix; Las Vegas; St. Louis; Dallas; Houston and Atlanta. McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. More information about the company is available online at http://www.mccarthy.com/.

Painted Hills Middle School is located on a 22-acre site at 9250 Sonora Drive in Desert Hot Springs. The school is the fifth middle school in the district and is the first middle school to be constructed since James Workman Middle School opened in 1995. A part of the Measure T bond, the middle school was built to relieve overcrowding at Desert Springs Middle School.

McCarthy provided general contracting services for the $39.5 million project which included construction of a 138,000-square-foot school as well as extensive infrastructure work for electrical, drainage and water.  The firm also built the remaining road access to the site.

Designed by Ruhnau Ruhnau Clarke Associates of Riverside, Painted Hills Middle School is situated on a sloped site that offers picturesque mountain and valley views. The two-level school is composed of classroom wings joined by the central administration and library/media center.

“The vertical design of the two-level middle school provides a cost and environmentally efficient facility that promotes the physical, mental and social development of the students,” said Roger Clarke, principal with Ruhnau Ruhnau Clarke Associates.

An earth tone color-scheme highlights the exterior of Painted Hills Middle School, while vivid base tones of blues and browns adorn the interior. Yellow, gold and orange tones at the entrances of the interior give a sense of orientation to those in the space. Bright graphics denote inspiration, discovery, appreciation and innovation helping to make the high traffic areas of the school not only energetic and pleasing, but also educational. 

“The new school is beautiful,” said Julie Arthur, PSUSD executive director of facilities planning. “The deep colors used on the walls, carpet and furniture provide such a warm and inviting atmosphere. In my 20 years of experience in facilities, I have never seen so many parents who have wanted to stay and tour the campus on the first day of school.”

The Painted Hills Middle School design is also environmentally efficient. Its sustainable features meet CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools) certification requirements. All of the colors, materials and finishes are environmentally friendly, thereby contributing to the health, efficiency, and overall comfort of its inhabitants. Other “green” features include: energy efficient plumbing and water systems; a cool roof with a single layer of thermoplastic membrane that provides a high level of solar reflectance; occupancy lighting sensors in all classrooms and offices; as well as energy efficient HVAC and lighting systems controlled by an energy management system (EMS) to minimize use during non-school hours.

McCarthy implemented environmentally friendly construction practices throughout the project including recycling construction waste and minimizing airborn dust by using water trucks, irrigation sprinklers and soil stabilizers.

A courtyard featuring an outdoor amphitheater and the covered lunch shelter is located in the center of the school. The classrooms and labs are organized into interdisciplinary grade-level learning groups. Each classroom area is adjoined by shared small group instruction spaces and prep rooms for collaborative teaching opportunities. Anchoring the courtyard, the multi-purpose room with attached food service and locker rooms, was designed for flexible use and function. To be utilized by both the student and community for assemblies, performances, dances, and indoor sports, the multi-purpose room includes a basketball court, telescopic seating area for 660 people and platform stage that opens outdoors into the attached covered lunch shelter.  Drama, band, and choir rooms are located nearby for direct access for performances.  Food service functions can also be utilized for after hour’s events.

To successfully address the school’s digital media arts and drama elective programs, the facility was designed with infrastructure to support a large computer lab housing 50 iMac computers used for digital media and other data intensive programs. Additionally, the drama department is housed in a section of the facility that includes a stage with theatrical lighting and audio visual system, make-up and dressing rooms as well as storage for wardrobe and props.

According to McCarthy Project Manager Michael Viveros, the project’s most significant challenge occurred in the gymnasium building. “The gym was constructed with 40-foot tall wood-framed walls surrounding the indoor basketball court,” said Viveros. “Because of the extreme weather conditions in the desert and the tendency for wood framing to bow or warp at longer lengths, we used Glu-Lam studs in lieu of 3x and 4x dimensional lumber and laminated strand lumber. The walls were fabricated and assembled in composite units laid down on the slab and then raised into place.  This solution reduced construction time and alleviated any rework to correct warping in the wood framing that would have likely occurred over time,” explained Viveros.

“Although the project provided some challenges, especially in this difficult economic environment, McCarthy’s expertise was helpful in keeping the project moving seamlessly and our beautiful new school was completed on-time,” said Arthur.

The Palm Springs Unified School District held a dedication ceremony to celebrate the new school on October 14, 2011.

About McCarthy
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is the leading educational facilities builder in California. The firm has been building in the education market for the last 50 years. In addition to Newport Beach, McCarthy has offices in San Diego, Sacramento and San Francisco, Calif.; Phoenix; Las Vegas; St. Louis; Dallas; Houston and Atlanta.  More information about the company is available online at http://www.mccarthy.com/.

Builder’s Innovative Approach Garners National Recognition from Associated General Contractors of America

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. one of the nation’s oldest and largest privately-held construction companies and a 100 percent employee-owned business, was honored last week with a 2011 Education Excellence Award from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

Presented during the AGC Training, Education & Development Conference in Kansas City, the Education Excellence Awards recognize the most innovative and collaborative training and development programs in the construction industry. McCarthy was honored in the category of Supervisor-Executive Management for the firm’s Foundations of Leadership Training Program. This AGC award comes on the heels of McCarthy’s placement on the prestigious 2011 Training Magazine Top 125 list and recognition by Corporate University Xchange for training excellence and innovation earlier this year.

“The key to building great projects is building great professionals,” said AGC President Kristine Young. “McCarthy’s leadership training program is an example of how to turn tremendous talent into outstanding professionals.”

Founded as a family-owned business almost 150 years ago, McCarthy is one of the largest 100% employee-owned companies with an Employee Stock Ownership Plan in America today. The firm has long fostered a culture dedicated to continuous improvement, and “Learning” represents one of McCarthy’s six company Core Values. 
 
“McCarthy transitioned from family to employee ownership in 2002,” explained McCarthy Chairman and CEO Mike Bolen. “This significant shift, together with a combination of company growth and retirements of a number of long-time leaders, resulted in our need to more aggressively prepare our high-potential employees for growth. The opportunities at McCarthy are vast and varied, and training these future leaders is an exciting part of our continuing success.”

The McCarthy Foundations of Leadership Program was designed to accelerate the advancement of high performers by challenging them early in their career to take charge of their own development through an orchestrated “peek behind the curtain” at the unique issues faced by the leaders of a multi-billion dollar general contractor. This fast-track approach was also designed to challenge these employees, keep them fully engaged in the company and heighten the overall level of professionalism in the industry.

“Our senior leadership is 100% behind the development of future leaders at McCarthy and actively participate in our Foundations program as instructors,” noted McCarthy Vice President of Human Resources Al Berardi. “We have invested an incredible amount of time to create an active learning experience that is both challenging and meaningful. To be honored by our national association for our efforts is especially meaningful.”

About the Associated General Contractors of America
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is the leading association for the construction industry. Operating in partnership with its nationwide network of Chapters, the AGC provides a full range of services satisfying the needs and concerns of its members, thereby improving the quality of construction and protecting the public interest. The AGC represents more than 33,000 leading firms in the industry,  including general contractors, specialty contractors, and service providers and suppliers.

About McCarthy
McCarthy is one of the nation’s oldest and largest domestic general contractors. While a formal McCarthy Training Program had been in place for decades, McCarthy formally launched an entirely revamped training program in 2008 under McCarthy Build U. Unusual in the construction industry and among best-in-class training programs outside of the construction industry, the McCarthy Build U framework provides the company with the structure, alignment, centralization and flexibility needed to personalize training to meet both individual and business needs. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work, McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned.

McCarthy Building Companies Completes State-of-the-Art Culinary Classrooms  at Mountain Pointe, McClintock High Schools

With cooking shows like “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Top Chef” and “The Naked Chef” receiving top TV ratings, today’s high school students are eager to learn more about the culinary arts. In response to this heightened interest, the Tempe Union High School District offers its students specialized education in the culinary arts. Two high schools within the district – McClintock and Mountain Pointe – recently received upgraded kitchen facilities that rival the environments seen on these top TV shows.

“Our culinary arts programs are extremely popular with students and provide them with career readiness skills in an environment that mimics a commercial kitchen similar to what you would find in a restaurant,” said Nori Cannell, Director of Guidance and Career and Technical Education for the Tempe Union High School District. “After completing these classes at their high school, many students continue their secondary culinary education at East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT), enroll in a cooperative education class their senior year and work a paid internship in a culinary setting, or receive scholarships to attend college or specialty schools after they graduate.”

The high school renovations were completed by Tempe-based McCarthy Building Companies in a compressed 60-day timeframe over summer break. McCarthy took two former home economics classrooms and revamped them into state-of-the-art culinary academies, including stainless steel countertops, industrial hoods, gas ranges and convection ovens, industrial dishwashers, reach-in freezers and coolers; and prep sinks.

“From a construction perspective, these classroom remodels were challenging due to the extremely tight schedule,” said Rob Langhoff, Senior Vice President of Education Services at McCarthy. “The students were never impacted by the construction. This is the third culinary remodel we’ve done for the district and the new classrooms truly reflect a state-of-the-art, industrial kitchen space.”

Each 2,200-square-foot classroom was completed with a kitchen for teaching that includes student tables and seating. There is also a flat screen, camera and microphone used by the instructor to ensure all students can see and hear the presentation (cooking lessons are recorded and can be accessed by the students outside of class). There are also six student cooking areas in each classroom with versatile stainless steel carts for preparation and electricity cords hanging from the ceiling for easy access to equipment.

The district utilized EVIT satellite funding to complete the renovations, which cost approximately $500,000 at each school. Similar renovations at two additional schools – Desert Vista and Marcos de Niza – have been put on hold for at least a year due to budget cuts. Corona del Sol and Tempe High School underwent similar renovations more than a year ago.

About McCarthy Building Companies Inc.
McCarthy Building Companies Inc. is the nation’s 10th largest domestic general contractor (Engineering News-Record, May 2010). The firm has been building in the education market for more than 50 years. Committed to the construction of high-performance buildings, the company has managed construction or built more than 300  K-12 school projects nationwide, totaling more than $2 billion in construction value, and 200 higher education projects on more than 50 college campuses. The McCarthy Southwest Division is based in Tempe, Ariz. McCarthy also has offices in Newport Beach, San Diego, Sacramento and San Francisco, Calif.; Las Vegas; Albuquerque; Dallas and Houston; St. Louis and Atlanta.  McCarthy is 100 percent employee-owned. More information about the company is available online at http://www.mccarthy.com/.

Under its signature “Tools for Schools” service program, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. held a volunteer day on August 13 at Oakland Unified School District’s (OUSD) Skyline High School.  As a result, students will return to the 2011/12 year with a beautified – and safer – school campus. 

Due to scarce public resources, funding for landscaping at OUSD schools has decreased in recent years, leaving grounds unmaintained.  This lack of funding is strongly felt at Skyline High School in the Oakland Hills, an area predisposed to fire danger, where overgrown brush is both a safety and a landscaping issue.

The Tools for Schools effort at Skyline focused on overhauling the landscaping on the 36 acre campus, which included weed abatement, brush clearing, bark spreading and other landscaping maintenance.  McCarthy partnered with GKK Works and, collectively, the more than 30 volunteers worked to ensure that a safe and attractive learning environment would be ready for Skyline students on the first day of school.

McCarthy is a premier builder of educational facilities.  Its Northern California Tools for Schools service program was instituted in 2005 to ensure real needs are being met in school districts where McCarthy employees work, live and play.  To date, six campuses at Oakland Unified have received makeovers from the Tools for Schools service program.

“This is a transformational project for the Fairfax community.  The stadium and courtyard are another step toward bringing our facilities quality up to our academic quality at Fairfax,” said LAUSD Board Member Steve Zimmer, who represents the school.

McCarthy was hired by LAUSD to serve as the developer and builder for the stadium project under the California Education Code (CED) Section 17406, which consists of using the lease – leaseback procurement process. Approved by the State Legislature in 2006, this innovative approach to project delivery provides distinct advantages over the traditional design-bid-build method by enabling school districts to select their contractor on a “best value” basis. It has also been recognized by the state Legislature as a proven system to deliver school facilities on-time and within budget.

“It is with much pride and excitement that we begin construction on this highly anticipated joint use project to benefit the health and fitness of our students and community,” said Fairfax High Principal Ed Zubiate. “We are extremely thankful to the many individual, community and business supporters who have made the construction of our new stadium and campus improvements a reality.”

Construction of the stadium and courtyard project will be conducted in two phases. The Small Learning Community Courtyards improvement project will be built during Phase I. This phase of work entails various site improvements throughout the campus including ADA code and other upgrades to the restrooms, hardscape, landscape, utilities, monument, kiosk and banner poles. In order to mitigate construction inconvenience, Phase I will be performed on a fast-track schedule during summer break and is scheduled to complete before start of the 2011 fall semester. Phase II of construction entails improvements of the school stadium including construction of a new concession and restroom building with storage and electrical enclosure, grandstand bleachers with 2,700 new seats, a press box and an elevator. A new synthetic turf playfield will be installed for football and soccer games, and the track and field venue will include a new rubberized synthetic track surface and shot put, long jump / triple jump, high jump, and pole vault facilities. The synthetic track and field will provide more durable and comfortable fitness areas with less maintenance than grass or dirt and will also aid with water conservation.  The new stadium is scheduled to open in 2012.

Phase I of the project was designed by Architects MSP of Long Beach and Phase II by Taylor Fierce Orne Architects in Los Angeles.

About McCarthy
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. has been building in the education market for the last 50 years and today is one of the nation’s leading education builders. Committed to the construction of high performance buildings, the company has managed construction or built more than 300 K-12 school projects nationwide, totaling more than $2 billion in construction value, and nearly 100 higher education projects on more than 50 campuses. In addition to Newport Beach, McCarthy has offices in San Diego, Sacramento and San Francisco, Calif.; Phoenix; Las Vegas; St. Louis; Dallas; Houston and Atlanta. McCarthy is a 100 percent employee owned commercial construction company. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com.