New California Projects Debut

California Buildings • Q2 2022

Through innovative adaptive reuse, the former Orange County newsroom and printing facility of the Los Angeles Times is now an expansive creative campus that maintains a majority of the existing, 450,000-square-foot plant structure while offering contemporary office space — thanks to the work of Del Amo Construction and Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects. Along with SteelWave and 5 Ronin, Phase 1 of The Press in Costa Mesa was recently completed. Del Amo Construction served as the general contractor leading the transformation of The Press and bringing the vision of EYRC, SteelWave and 5 Ronin to life. A strategy of “selective subtraction” was utilized throughout the project to introduce daylight, fresh air, and views. This included the removal of roof panels and covering walls to expose the underlying skeletal structure. Elements such as canopies and monolithic concrete walls gesture to the origins of the former Photo credit: Matthew Milllman. production space—an active newsroom and printing plant that operated from 1968 to 2010 and since decommissioned in 2014. “The conversion of the former printing press facility into a modern, creative office campus was well-suited for our team’s depth of experience in the area of adaptive reuse,” said Mitch Hudson, Chief Operating Officer at Del Amo Construction. “It was a pleasure to collaborate with both EYRC and SteelWave. Our teams worked well together, along with our subcontractors, to come to creative solutions that ensured all of our goals were met within the established project budget.” The Del Amo Construction team, led by Hudson, closely coordinated with the development and design teams as well as the city and other government agencies to preserve the integrity of the original site while bringing it up to today’s health, safety and building code standards. This included significant remediation from ink and fuel tanks that were found on the site as well as ensuring the entire property was compliant with all current ADA requirements. “The Press is a human-scaled, creative campus with a rich history, positioned at the heart of Orange County’s newly energized business corridor,” said EYRC Partner Patricia Rhee, FAIA. “It’s so exciting to see the transformation of The Press and how it’s signaling a new life for this massive industrial complex — its emergence from years of disrepair.” Overlooking the Pacific coastline in the community of La Jolla, California, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego—best known as MCASD—has been expanded, renovated and reinvented as a major cultural center and celebration of internationally renowned artists. With its official reopening in this month, the world will witness the $105 million redesign led by Annabelle Selldorf, FAIA, of Selldorf Architects—and the less conspicuous yet equally elegant building systems engineered by Buro Happold. Coming at a time of increased commissions in the cultural sphere globally for the multidisciplinary consultants at Buro Happold, the MCASD project debuts a number of innovations behind the new galleries, installations and public events. Key contributions to quadrupled exhibition spaces include a pioneering alternative to conventional heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems that significantly reduces ductwork and dropped ceilings. Using radiant and forced-air equipment, the displacement system handles both heating and cooling with rapid response to changing needs,

California Buildings • Q2 2022

Photos: Nicholas Venezia, courtesy of Selldorf Architects. yet it uses conventional mechanical equipment. The visually subtle solution, applied by Buro Happold based on systems made by manufacturer AirFloor™, is a perfect complement to the work by Selldorf Architects, which the LaJolla Light says, “celebrates and makes sense” of MCASD’s architectural history, “connecting the styles of original architect Irving Gill with those of architects who renovated the museum in later decades.” Within all the galleries, the unique air systems supply spaces through understated wall reveals, allowing for needed airflow without impacting the design. In fact, it creates a unifying and seamless solution for a building that has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years. It also delivers the carefully tuned climate that is essential in modern galleries. (See photo at left.)

The $38 million reconstruction of the 71,277-squarefoot Menifee Valley Middle School was just completed by C.W. Driver Companies. The project transitioned the campus to a magnet school focused on visual and performing arts. The renovation incorporates critical aspects of an art-focused middle school, the addition of two new classroom buildings, restorations to the Visual and Performing Arts Center, construction of an open-concept library and repairs to existing locker rooms. Roughly 15 miles north of Temecula, the project consisted of the reconstruction of temporary portables into new, permanent classrooms and lab spaces that create a centralized academic courtyard and cohesive community. To support Menifee Valley Middle School’s transition to becoming a visual and performing arts magnet school, a new music and choir space, as well as a renovated stage in the Visual and Performing Arts Center, were added. The campus introduces outdoor learning areas as well as active learning spaces optimized for use in the arts, music and sciences known as Flex Labs. “By leveraging decades of K-12 construction experience, we were proud to deliver a cutting-edge campus that will serve the growing Menifee community both now and well into the future,” said Eric Metzger, project manager at C.W. Driver Companies. “The tactful modernization of Menifee Valley Middle School allows for the space to adapt as educational and enrollment needs evolve over time.” In order to increase student academic performance, research-based lighting design was carefully considered. Large windows adorn the classrooms, allowing for abundant natural light. The school’s new library includes a flexible plan configuration, collaboration spaces to facilitate group work and soft seating areas for students seeking a quiet, comfortable place to study. On the athletic front, renovations to existing locker rooms include ADA upgrades, AV improvements and a washer/dryer addition. The campus features a clean and contemporary façade that is energy efficient and comfortable for students and staff. “We carefully considered and incorporated input from our school community during the planning and construction phases of the reconstruction,” said Dr. Jennifer Root, superintendent at Menifee Union School District. “The result is a beautiful, collective effort from which we will teach and encourage students to live out the district’s vision of 'Engaging Young Minds for Limitless Futures' for years to come.”

California Buildings • Q2 2022

Creating Spaces That Attract & Inspire Employees (Continued from page 7)

residential-inspired workplaces of the past decade, and shift to a hospitality mindset, viewing employees as valued guests. Many companies are shifting their operational policies to respond to this new perspective.

One example is to evolve the traditional receptionist role to a dedicated team that proactively supports employees and visitors’ needs from their arrival to their departure. Spatially, this means we no longer need an isolated, highwalled reception desk and waiting area. Thereby allowing us to reimagine the entire entry experience, for ways to create dynamic and activated spaces that can host internal and external community events.

And this new mentality extends beyond the office walls. For the first time California’s outdoors are being embraced as an integral part of our workplace ecosystem. After constructing make-shift outdoor meeting spaces during the pandemic, which proved to not only be successful but heavily sought after, companies are now investing in outdoor spaces to support a variety of functions. Office buildings are being designed with unprecedented amounts of green space, while shade structures with automated rain sensing louvers, integrated lighting, and collaboration technology are popping up on company campuses everywhere. Inside, the trend continues, with clients welcoming plants and looking to integrate them into the workplace on a grand scale.

Overall, companies and employees are embracing this new flex-work lifestyle, but we must also take note of the undeniable impact it has had on our local businesses and communities. Restaurants, coffee shops, and business districts were previously supported by a five-day-a-week customer base. Now, as employees have the freedom to work from anywhere, we must reimagine how to engage with our local communities. Going forward we hope to see more companies making a proactive effort to incorporate the local economy into the workplace, hiring local artists for murals, hosting pop-ups featuring local makers or incorporating local vendors into their food program.

By integrating the surrounding community into the fabric of the workplace, we create a layer of authenticity which in turn creates a sense of hometown pride. Our world has changed, and so has the office. Companies embracing these new ways of thinking are leading the way to a future where the workplace has purpose. n

Flexible workspace at Zendesk office in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of Gensler | Jason O'Rear Photography. "Now, as employees have the freedom to work from anywhere, we must reimagine how to engage with our local communities."

Brengarth is Gensler Design Director in San Francisco and Corbett is Gensler Studio Director in San Jose.

Winner: Evolv Technology – Evolv Express 4.0

Winner: Medeco – Medeco CLIQ Local Manager

Winner: LiftMaster – myQ Community Web Platform + Mobile App 2.0

Winner: Deep Innovations – PoolScout

Winner: RightCrowd – RightCrowd Access Analytics

Winner: Turing AI – Turing AI Mobilized Video Security Platform

Winner: Calipsa – Calipsa Pro Analytics Honorable Mention: Vintra – Vintra IQ

Winner: Axis Communications, Inc. – ARTPEC-8

Winner: Bosch Security and Safety Systems – FLEXIDOME IP 8000i – X Series Honorable Mention: Vicon Industries – Roughneck Pro 32MP Multi-Sensor

Winner: Seagate Technology – Exos CORVAULT

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California Buildings • Q2 2022

LEGIC Connect Go enables access control solution providers to easily and quickly deploy smartphonebased services without their own 24/7 service backend. It provides mobile credentials without the need to know users in advance. This allows end-users to serve themselves by requesting or purchasing credentials anytime, anywhere and on-demand. It enables makers of contactless locks to sell NFC/Bluetooth enabled locks not only with smartcard keys, but also ready-to-use QR codes giving users instant mobile residential access. Learn more at www.legic.com/

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California Buildings • Q2 2022

Supply Chain Challenges (Continued from page 14)

As a residential builder, I wondered why light fixtures and door hardware weren’t delivered on the same truck as they are frequently scheduled for install on the same day. It sounds simple, but another way to positively impact supply chain is to optimize truck deliveries through consolidation, such as having light fixtures and hardware delivered the same day. Builders reduce tire tracks into a job site, limit expense, and can also have a positive impact on the environment.

Taming the supply chain does not require complex algorithms or major overhauls. It instead can be affected by supplying advance notice of SKUs and Date Needed data, collaboration with materials suppliers and subcontractors, and optimization of deliveries to the job site, all of which can return jobs to promised timelines and keep them on schedule. n Pinto is the author of “How Much Is the Milk?”, a practical roadmap for business leaders interested solving supply chain issues and founder of KENZAI USA, an international supply chain solutions company.

Data & Safer Indoor Air (Continued from page 8)

According to a Utility Dive report, the California Energy Commission estimates that the 2022 Energy Code new rules will result in $1.5 billion in consumer benefits over the next three decades, as well as reducing 10 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Understanding the different KPIs around what makes a building healthy—the level of particulates and CO2, air change rates, effectiveness of abatement technologies— can be difficult if data must be laboriously compiled from systems that don’t communicate with each other. Integrating an energy management solution is integral to identifying and allocating energy resources in the context of maintaining comfortable, high-performing environments.

As tenants become more sophisticated about what kind of buildings they want to be in, the question becomes how is sustainability and safety information disclosed in a transparent manner? Operators need standardized metrics to move forward, with reporting on energy allocation tied to occupant comfort and sustainability goals.

Conveying real-time air quality transparency in a visual format can create trust and assurances of safety. Air quality monitoring systems that provide a complete picture of building conditions in one place through a cloud-based, easy-to-view format helps building operators make better decisions. An intelligent analytics platform that collects, organizes, visualizes and analyzes building performance data streams optimizes air quality and occupant comfort while balancing energy allocation.

Six years ago we (DLR Group) installed air monitors in our offices as part of a research and development initiative for our air quality analytics technology. This investment provided voluminous data, later donated to the Harvard School of Public Health’s CogFx study which centered on productivity, health and wellbeing for high-performing workspaces and to indoor environments in general.

The most recent discovery related to the study is that building occupants want to see that data, and they want to see it now. While always available to our employees, it was essentially buried on our intranet. Now it’s highlighted and easily accessible in front-of-house kiosks, so employees and guests can understand exactly what kind of air quality they are walking into, in real-time. People appreciate having air quality information at their fingertips.

This R&D initiative evolved and grew into an intelligent air quality analytics platform with the world’s largest database of third-party verified real-time air quality data. Integrated with a powerful energy management information software that pulls in vast analytics about building occupancy and energy use, the platform uses predictive modeling and automation to create efficiency and nimble, real-time adjustments.

While we are still seeing turmoil in commercial real estate with the global pandemic, there is also a sense of confidence in how safety has shifted innovation and accelerated trends. People will expect healthier spaces.

This reality is going to become a competitive issue for attracting and retaining talent, become an appealing tenant amenity, and will create stakeholder collaboration. How building operators publicly disclose real-time data and a new focus driving accountability and outcomes will ultimately result in carbon emissions reductions. We need to evolve, and buildings that balance smart with healthy are a great start. n

Barnwell is DLR group principal and smart buildings leader, and Blauvelt is VP of sales for Atrius at Acuity Brands.