In this Spring edition, articles include:

Time to Build: Today, owners are getting the best value in a generation.
by Mike Bolen, Chairman & CEO, McCarthy
Many owners are beginning to take advantage of a welcome side-effect of the current recession: an unprecedented drop in the cost of building materials and labor.

Why Building the Community is Just as Important as Building the Project.
by Angeles Garcia, McCarthy Project Manager, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
When a construction project is in full swing in a neighborhood, next door to a business, or along a heavily traveled highway, it can be a nuisance. Find out how to turn this project challenge into a win-win for everyone.

See the National 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.

How True Builders Make a Difference
by Derek Glanvill, President and COO
A true builder has an end-to-end view of the entire construction process, from preconstruction through delivery and beyond. That adds value for owners, but there’s one central issue at the heart of the construction industry itself: forgetting how to build.

Is There a Perfect World in Project Delivery?
by Sue Stewart, Senior Vice President
The answer may be that creating the perfect project delivery method starts by implementing no defined project delivery method at all. Find out why.

See the National 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.

“McCarthy has impressed us with the delivery of the Health and Wellness Building.  Through the use of design-build and a successful partnership between the design and construction teams, College of San Mateo was able to open its doors ahead of schedule and present our students, faculty, staff and greater community with a state-of-the-art health and wellness facility,” said Jose Nuñez, vice chancellor, facilities planning, maintenance and operations, San Mateo County Community College District.

The Health and Wellness Building is part of an overall $162 million initiative that utilizes funding from San Mateo County voter-approved Measure A general obligation bonds.  Also under Measure A, McCarthy is completing extensive site work improvements at CSM, including various infrastructure, landscaping and hardscaping upgrades.  Still under construction is the 140,000-square-foot College Center slated for completion in early 2011.  Seeking LEED Silver-Certification, this facility will contain administrative offices, a dining area, kitchen, campus bookstore, and a number of student services programs.

“Our projects at CSM have been unique and rewarding.  On the heels of constructing the college’s cornerstone building a few years back – the Science Building and Planetarium – we are able to continue utilizing innovative, cutting-edge building designs and techniques that pave the way for a new wave of high performing, environmentally conscious buildings,” said Bill Niemann, project executive for McCarthy.  “We are extraordinarily proud to present the students, faculty and the greater community with an extraordinary health and wellness facility that reflects our shared commitment to building healthier, stronger and more sustainable communities.”

The three-story Health and Wellness Building, located prominently at the main entrance of the College of San Mateo campus, will house the San Mateo Athletic Club and Aquatic Center, as well as the cosmetology, nursing and dental assisting programs.  The San Mateo Athletic Club, set to open in late Spring 2010, will include 14,000 square feet dedicated to cardiovascular and strength training areas, as well as open workout areas, with an additional 5,500 square feet of space dedicated to group fitness, including spinning, group exercise classes, yoga and Pilates.  In addition to student usage, the facility will be available to the community through membership options.

The college’s adaptive physical education program will be based out of the adjacent gymnasium and will benefit from the new San Mateo Aquatic Center, which is comprised of an Olympic-sized competition pool and a therapy pool.  The competition pool, which will be among the best and largest in the area, will host major swimming competitions and be used by various clubs and groups throughout the San Mateo County area.

The Health and Wellness Building is on track to meet technically rigorous performance and sustainability standards to achieve LEED Silver-Certification.  Environmentally conscious measures implemented by McCarthy include the utilization of reused concrete, use of structural steel framing, installation of linoleum flooring with a high recyclable content, integration of sun shading devices to defuse direct sunlight, the use of 100 percent outside air in the air handling units, and the conservation of water by 35 percent.

About Kwan Henmi Architecture/Planning, Inc.
Kwan Henmi (www.kwanhenmi.com) is an architecture and planning firm with a vision for high quality design that serves clients and the community.  With a focus on education, residential, commercial, transportation and civic work, the firm has a talented group of professionals that are passionate about design, community and service.  The firm was founded in 1980 by Sylvia Kwan, FAIA, and Denis Henmi, AIA, and has experience ranging from complex, large-scale projects to small renovation projects.  Kwan Henmi understands and is familiar with the design and construction process on all levels, and strongly believes that working closely with clients is imperative to completing the project successfully.  Kwan Henmi is located in San Francisco. 

About McCarthy
Founded in 1864, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest commercial construction companies.  The company provides general contracting, construction management, program management and design/build services for resort and entertainment, education, healthcare, parking, entertainment, retail, laboratory, biotechnical, microelectronic, and industrial facilities; green buildings; office buildings; tenant interiors; mixed-use; and bridges and highways.  McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned.  More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com.

CCIP vs. OCIP: Which Comprehensive Insurance Program is Right for You?
by Bill Sharp, Vice President, Risk Management
With the size and scope of projects becoming larger every day, program sponsors (owners and contractors) are seeking alternative ways to address insurance needs, both from a coverage standpoint and a cost standpoint.

When the Hospital Board Says, “Build it Green!”
by John Kreidich AIA, LEED AP, Manager, Healthcare Services
Building green in the healthcare environment is here to stay. Well-chosen green building investments will yield benefits with either no additional cost or with a return on investment well within a hospital’s internal rate of return over the life of the improvements.

5 Questions to Ask Your Contractor About SAFETY
An Interview with Gary Amsinger, CSP, Corporate Vice President, Safety
In addition to simply keeping workers healthy and productive, strong safety execution reduces exposure for owners. Amsinger suggests that owners should ask, at the very least, these basic five questions of their prospective contractor.

See the National 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 editions.

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. has introduced its new ‘green’ client newsletter, Insights That Build^SM.  It’s all part of the company’s goal of Leaving Green Footprints^®, a 10-year old program aimed at reducing McCarthy’s carbon footprint.  The first electronic edition includes valuable thought-leading content including:

How to get the best final cost on your next project
by Mike Bolen, Chairman and CEO
‘Conventional wisdom’ says that owners can’t have it all. In fact-by taking the right approach-you can turn an old saying into a smarter strategy: ‘Good, fast and cheap: pick all three.’

Design management – why owners get a better result
by Jim Mynott, Director of Design Management
In this economic climate, execution time from proposal to start of construction can be a deciding factor for project funding. A design management approach can help—and it maximizes other owner advantages.

Five things you should ask your contractor about quality
by Chad Dorgan, Vice President, Quality
There are few words in construction that are more used – or more misused – than the word “quality.”  To understand what it means to YOUR construction project, you and your contractor need to talk.

See the National Edition now.

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

LIBRARY

“Throughout the construction of this finely detailed project, I was impressed by McCarthy’s dedication to the craft of building.”
—Alyosha Verzhbinsky, AIA, associate principal,Tom Eliot Fisch Architecture and Interior Design

The C.V. Starr East Asian Library, one of UC Berkeley’s most celebrated new facilities, recently opened its doors.

This cornerstone facility houses one of the most comprehensive and rare collections of East Asian books in the world. The library was built utilizing unique construction methods and many of the materials used for the facility were imported from around the globe. Due to the 90-degree angles of the interior concrete walls, McCarthy developed a special concrete pouring process, which took more than a year to perfect. To ensure the preservation of the rare book collection, a stainless steel duct work system was installed to control air and humidity levels. The 60-square-foot reception desk is made of claro walnut, a rare and luxurious wood typically used to make violins. The exterior bronze grills were meticulously crafted and imported by boat in 60 pieces. The combination of techniques and exquisite materials utilized by McCarthy are reflected throughout this state-of-the-art facility. Design Architect: Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, New York. Associate Architect: Tom Eliot Fisch, San Francisco. Landscape Architect: CMG Landscape Architecture, San Francisco.

The McCarthy team worked to repair and paint fences, repair cabinets, remove old plants, repair some of the building’s siding, remove old appliances and repair bathrooms.

The Tel-Hi Neighborhood Center, founded in 1890, provides opportunities for individuals and families in the Telegraph Hill neighborhood.  Focusing on low- to moderate-income, children, youth, families and seniors, the center creates and strengthens community bonds, provides health and wellness programs and broadens education and cultural experience.  Tel-Hi’s programs serve more than 600 children, youth, seniors and community members daily.

A huge thank you to all of the McCarthy employee owners who came out and help make a very successful afternoon. It was a fun day that left a lasting impression not only on the Center but also on all of the volunteers involved.

About Heart Hats
The McCarthy Heart Hats community involvement program is dedicated to encouraging, supporting and recognizing McCarthy employees’ volunteer efforts in a variety of causes to ensure real needs are being met in communities where employees work, live and play.  The company-wide volunteer program allows McCarthy employees across the country to take at least one (paid) full-day off from work annually to utilize their building skills and other talents to aid local organizations in need.

That passion was on display on Saturday at Ocean Beach. McCarthy joined with WRNS Studio to be a Sponsorship Team for the 2008 LEAP Sandcastle Classic. Teams took over San Francisco’s Ocean Beach to help bring Art & Architecture to Bay Area Schools.

For those of you new to the Sandcastle Classic, this annual sandcastle-building contest benefts LEAP…imagination in learning. Leap was established in response to severe budget cuts in arts programs in California schools. These cuts began in 1978.

Leap serves over 5,000 children in 25 Bay Area schools, providing educational programs focused on architecture, arts, music, dance and the art of story telling. These programs augment and enhance our children’s standard K-6 curriculum, improving their connection to the learning experience, the community, and themselves.

This year’s theme was “Freestyle!” McCarthy and WRNS teamed up with Lawton Alternative School for a day of sand, water and flailing shovels to build a sandcastle that ignites a love of our craft in the hearts of these kids.  In addition to the students, the McCarthy team included architects, engineers, contractors, suppliers, friends and family.

About Heart Hats
The McCarthy Heart Hats community involvement program is dedicated to encouraging, supporting and recognizing McCarthy employees’ volunteer efforts in a variety of causes to ensure real needs are being met in communities where employees work, live and play.  The company-wide volunteer program allows McCarthy employees across the country to take at least one (paid) full-day off from work annually to utilize their building skills and other talents to aid local organizations in need.

HIGHER EDUCATION

“We have had a great working relationship with McCarthy throughout the construction of the New Mission Campus.”
—Dr. Philip R. Day, Jr., former chancellor, City College of San Francisco

McCarthy recently completed the highly anticipated City College of San Francisco’s new Mission Campus project located in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District.

Construction of the 198,000-square-foot campus began in July 2005 and included the modernization of an existing 1935 “art nouveau” building and the construction of a new four-story facility with a basement. The buildings are connected by an outdoor courtyard which links to a spectacular entry plaza. The campus houses a graphic communication center, science and computer laboratories and traditional classrooms. The campus also includes facilities such as an underground parking lot, café, bookstore, conference rooms, multipurpose rooms, administrative offices, student services offices, child development center and many more. A stunning 20-foot Aztec calendar mural is featured at the main entrance to the campus along Valencia Street. Energy efficient design elements include overhangs, light fixtures and ballasts, natural ventilation, dual switching in classrooms and an energy management system. Architects: Cervantes Design Associates, San Francisco; Kendall Young Associates, San Francisco; ED-2 International, San Francisco.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

“Stanley Hall represents the new frontier of bioscience. Working side by side with McCarthy from the onset of design helped us achieve efficiencies on this incredibly complex building.”
—Renee Kajimoto, associate partner, Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, LLP 

McCarthy recently completed the cornerstone facility for the University of California, Berkeley’s Health Sciences Initiative.

Stanley Hall brings to the university one of the largest and most prestigious educational and research facilities on campus. The $130 million structure is home to the California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), and totals 11 stories and 285,000 square feet. Stanley Hall incorporates seven research themes such as structural biology, bioengineering, chemical biology, computation and theoretical biology, and magnetic imaging. The facility houses the West Coast’s only 900-megahertz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, a high-powered device allowing scientists to create images that show the structures of proteins. It also includes a Bio-Nano Technology Center and 40 research and teaching laboratories, classrooms and seminar facilities. Architect: Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, LLP, Portland, Ore.