Renovated 1970s Building Becomes a Living Lab for Sustainability Best Practices

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DPR Construction (DPR), a national technical builder specializing in highly complex and sustainable projects, announced today the achievement of net-zero energy consumption in its Phoenix Regional Office. The building has been officially certified as a Net-Zero Energy Building (NZEB) by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) through its Living Building Challenge (SM) program. Producing as much or more energy than it consumes, DPR’s Phoenix office is the largest building in the world and only the second in the United States to achieve NZEB certification to date. In addition, the building achieved LEED®-NC Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). By being both the owner and contractor for the renovation project, DPR was able to push the limits on its sustainability goals for the circa-1972 building and turned the remains of an abandoned retail boutique into a “living lab” for the Arizona community.

“Net-zero is possible, even in one of the most extreme climates in the country,” said Dave Elrod, Regional Manager, DPR Construction. “We purposely chose a building that was nearing the end of its intended lifecycle in a redeveloping area to show our commitment to Phoenix and to demonstrate the impact revitalization can have on an urban environment. This building is another proof point of our ability to walk the walk of sustainability. Our Phoenix office will be a ‘living lab’ where anyone can see firsthand how our sustainable technologies work together in real life.”

The renovated 16,533-square-foot office building is located in Phoenix’s Discovery Triangle at the corner of 44th Street and Van Buren. In less than 10 months, the team, which included national design firm SmithGroupJJR and global consulting firm DNV KEMA Energy and Sustainability, researched, designed, permitted, and built a highly-efficient, modern workplace with a number of innovative sustainability features including:

• 87 operable windows working in tandem with the energy monitoring system to open and close based on the relative indoor and outdoor temperatures
• 87-foot zinc clad solar chimney which creates a convection current to release hot air out of the building while drawing cooler air in
• Shower towers that act as evaporative coolers by working together with the operable windows and solar chimney to regulate building temperatures
• Twelve eight-foot Isis® Big Ass® Fans that enable free air flow within the office
• 82 strategically positioned Solatubes® that nearly eliminate the need for artificial daytime lighting
• Online building dashboard to track the energy production of its 78.96 kW DC photovoltaic system and energy consumption of the building
• A “vampire” shut-off switch to thwart any electrical devices – microwaves, cellphone chargers, radios – that draw energy from power plugs when there are no occupants in the building.
• In addition, the large, open interior encourages creativity and collaboration using only glass walls, plyboo-slat walls and plantings to mark conference and meeting areas. DPR employees are encouraged to take breaks at their onsite gym, two green-screened courtyards, café, or wine bar.

“As we continue to push the sustainability envelope, the design decisions we make are so connected to how our buildings perform,” says Mark Roddy, design principal for SmithGroupJJR. “We were able to take a 40-year old building and transform it as a living example for the community and DPR's employees. This project demonstrates that it is possible to live and work sustainably, even in a desert environment.”

To mark the announcement DPR has published a series of videos that give a behind the scenes look at building and working in a net-zero office. The video series examines how this type of building affects employee satisfaction, the mix of high and low-tech features used to achieve energy savings, and how the office functions as a living lab for what a truly energy efficient office looks like. Find the video series here.

About DPR Construction
DPR Construction is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology/mission critical, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and corporate office markets. Founded in 1990, DPR is a privately held, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with 18 offices around the country, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation and a great story of entrepreneurial success. It is currently ranked No. 15 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list and was recently identified as Largest Private Company in Silicon Valley Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal's list of the 51 largest private companies in Silicon Valley. For more information, visit www.dpr.com.

Combined Organization Accelerates Growth across the Southeast and Texas

DPR Construction (DPR), a national builder specializing in complex and sustainable projects, announced today its purchase of Atlanta-based Hardin Construction Company, LLC. The two companies are combining operations in the Southeast and Texas markets, including Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Raleigh, Tampa, Orlando and West Palm Beach. The combined company will operate nationally as DPR Construction, with the exception of Atlanta where it will operate as DPR Hardin Construction.

“We’re excited to add such a great company of builders to our organization. We’ve always had tremendous respect for Hardin and share a common approach to business, particularly our commitment to customers, our people and core company values,” said Doug Woods, co-founder and president of DPR. “Together, we are even stronger, particularly in the Southeast, a geography that offers significant growth potential.

“Hardin is a good fit for DPR. We share ideals and beliefs, we are both active in the communities in which we operate, and, most of all, we both care a great deal about our people and moving the industry forward,” said Brantley Barrow, who has been with Hardin since 1979 and served as Chairman since 2007 and, along with retiring President, Bill Pinto, will assume supporting roles throughout the Southeast.

Russ Brockelbank, an Atlanta-native and a 15-plus-year Hardin veteran, will continue to be responsible for day-to-day Atlanta operations for DPR Hardin Construction. “We’re excited about what this deal means for our customers and employees. Now, our presence is stronger, our roots run even deeper, and our experience is unmatched in the marketplace.”

The newly-combined company will have seven offices and more than 500 professional staff and craft employees throughout the Southeast and Texas, with a projected 2013 revenue exceeding $800 million. Operating as a “local builder with national capabilities,” DPR will have 18 offices nationally, with nearly 3,000 professional staff and craft employees and a projected 2013 revenue of $2.8 billion. The company will continue to focus on its core markets and building complex and sustainable projects.

Both companies are privately held and terms of the agreement will not be disclosed. Hardin projects currently under construction will be completed as Hardin Construction, including joint venture projects.

About DPR Construction
DPR Construction is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology/mission critical, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and corporate office markets. Founded in 1990, DPR is a privately held, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with 18 offices around the country, including Atlanta, Austin, Texas, Denver, Houston, Newport Beach, Calif., Orlando, Fla., Pasadena, Calif., Phoenix, Raleigh, N.C., Redwood City, Calif., Richmond, Va., Sacramento, Calif., San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Calif., Tampa, Fla., Washington D.C. and West Palm Beach, Fla. It is currently ranked No. 15 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list (2013). For more information, visit http://www.dpr.com

Real-Time 3-D Immersive Visualization Saves Cost Through More Effective Early Project Design

DPR Construction, a leading national technical builder, today announced the completion of a virtual reality working exhibition at its Redwood City headquarters. The showroom, a partnership with WorldViz, brings advanced 3-D immersive visualization to building owners and the architecture, engineering and construction industry. A leader in turnkey interactive visualization and simulation solutions, WorldViz provides technologies that allow anyone to walk through a full-scale digital model to better understand layout and design features pre-construction. This holistic view of a project enables construction and architecture companies and their clients to make changes in the early stages of design, thus reducing time and resources spent on changes in the field or potential rework.

“Giving our customers a way to have the most realistic experience they can get outside of walking through a finished building enables valuable feedback and ensures that the end users are getting exactly what they want,” said Atul Khanzode, director of construction technology at DPR Construction. “DPR has invested heavily in Integrated Building Information Modeling and Virtual Design and Construction processes to help deliver more predictable outcomes for our customers. The partnership with WorldViz and the new virtual showroom offers teams and our customers a great way to visualize and contextualize projects, and address issues much sooner through rapid virtual prototyping.”

Peter Schlueer, President of WorldViz, comments: “Immersive 3-D is a whole new way of experiencing and understanding designs. It lets people reach consensus earlier and bring projects to completion in less time. Industry leaders like DPR Construction use our immersive visualization systems because they provide tangible returns through more efficient planning and construction. We are thrilled to work with DPR to help lead the way into the future of virtual construction.”

The WorldViz Architecture Interactive showroom features a variety of 3-D immersive and semi-immersive display technologies using head-mounted display and motion tracking systems. The center piece is the WorldViz wide-area walking system. Once users put on the head-mounted display they can walk around and make adjustments to a construction project in real-time.

For a less expansive walk-through, the virtual reality center also has a multi-projector setup option that includes a two-sided corner shaped CAVE environment. Instead of a full head-mount users wear light-weight 3-D glasses to interact with the display.

DPR will begin using these technologies with projects that currently have virtual 3-D mockups.

About DPR Construction
DPR Construction is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology/mission critical, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and corporate office markets. Founded in 1990, DPR is a privately held, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with 17 offices around the country, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation and a great story of entrepreneurial success. It is currently ranked No. 15 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list and was recently identified as the Largest Private Company in Silicon Valley on Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal's list of the 51 largest private companies in Silicon Valley. For more information, visit http://www.dpr.com

About WorldViz
WorldViz is the industry leader in turnkey interactive virtual reality solutions for Fortune 500 industry and government clients, including NASA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Siemens, Toyota, Nissan, Disney, National Institutes of Health, Stanford University, and MIT. Our turnkey Architecture Visualization Solutions let AEC professionals literally walk through their BIM models and experience a stunning sense of their space in 3-D (http://www.architecture-interactive.com). Other typical applications include Product Visualization, Design Visualization, Safety & Industrial Training, Defense Training, Consumer Research & Insight, Interactive Education, Social Interaction Research, and Vision Science. VIZARD, our virtual reality software toolkit, is an easy to learn 3-D development platform complete with everything you need to build interactive and immersive 3-D content. For more information about WorldViz go to http://www.worldviz.com

DPR Construction (DPR), a national technical builder specializing in highly complex and sustainable projects, recently signed a Letter of Intent to acquire Atlanta-based Hardin Construction Company, LLC. The two companies intend to combine operations in the Southeast and Texas markets, where both have a strong local presence. The goal is to finalize the transaction in March at which time more information will be announced.

“Expanding our national footprint, especially our presence throughout the Southeast, has been a key strategic objective for DPR. In Hardin, we have a shared philosophy on building, business and customer service–making this alignment not only valuable for our companies–but for our customers,” said Doug Woods, co-founder and president, DPR.  “This announcement marks an inflection point in our company history. We’ve grown organically for more than 20 years by placing a priority on integrity and taking care of people, including doing what is right for our customers and making sure we understand their business and values. We view this as an opportunity to scale operations in the Southeast and provide even better service to customers.”

“DPR represents a strong strategic partner for Hardin Construction Company,” said Hardin Chairman Brantley Barrow. “The agreement will allow Hardin to continue focusing on its strongest core markets while enhancing our capability to grow in markets and products where DPR is strong, as well as expanding opportunities for our associates.”

Hardin’s portfolio includes more than 1,400 projects, including a number of landmark buildings: Arthur M. Blank Family Office, the first LEED Gold certified office building in the southeast, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Mall of Georgia, Terminus and 3344/SOVEREIGN—all in metro Atlanta; PNC Plaza building in Raleigh, N.C.; Tampa International Airport main terminal renovation and Marriott Waterside in Tampa, Fla.; St. Augustine University Academic Building in Austin, Texas; and Darden Restaurant Support Center and four large resort projects for Disney in Orlando, Fla.

Ranked the 24th largest general contractor in the nation by ENR magazine, DPR will continue to focus on providing services to its five core markets, including Advanced Technology/Mission Critical, Healthcare, Higher Education, Life Sciences and Corporate Office development across the country. Notable projects include Facebook data centers in Forest City, N.C., Prineville, Ore. and Lulea, Sweden; Scripps Research Center and Max Planck Florida Institute in Jupiter, Fla.; Clemson University Bio-Science buildings in Clemson, S.C.; Novelis R&D Laboratory in Kennesaw, Ga.; North Austin Medical Center and University of Texas at Austin High Performance Computing Facility in Austin, Texas; and the Library of Congress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, Va.

Both companies are privately held and terms of the agreement will not be disclosed. Hardin projects currently under construction will be completed as Hardin Construction, including joint venture projects, once the acquisition is complete.

About DPR Construction
DPR Construction is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology/mission critical, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and corporate office markets. Founded in 1990, DPR is a privately held, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with 17 offices around the country, including Atlanta, Austin, Texas, Houston, Newport Beach, Calif., Pasadena Calif., Phoenix, Raleigh, N.C., Redwood City, Calif., Richmond, Va., Sacramento, Calif., San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Calif., Washington and West Palm Beach, Fla. It is currently ranked No. 15 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list (2013). For more information, visit http://www.dpr.com.

About Hardin Construction
Celebrating 66 years of excellence, Hardin Construction Company, LLC is one of the nation’s leading construction services firms, providing unequalled expertise for projects of broad scope and complexity through its culture of integrity, innovation and opportunity. With capabilities in general construction, construction management, design-build and renovation, Hardin is a leader in green building and sustainable practices and is recognized nationally for its safety practices. Privately-held, Hardin’s headquarters is in Atlanta, with branch offices in Atlanta, Tampa, Fla., Orlando, Fla., Raleigh, N.C. and Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.hardinconstruction.com.

Fourth Consecutive Year National Builder Makes List; Ranking a Testament to DPR’s Culture of Shared Value

DPR Construction, one of the nation’s leading technical builders focused on highly complex and sustainable projects, has earned #15 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America rankings this year. DPR has continued to bring employees together through shared responsibility and leadership, trust in the individual, and a drive to change the world. As one of the nation’s top 25 commercial builders, DPR has grown from a Silicon Valley startup in 1990 to more than 1,300 professional staff in an open-office, non-hierarchical structure that catalyzes an entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and dedication to setting new industry standards.

“Inspiring employees and cultivating respect are pivotal to DPR’s business. As a company, it’s our job to take care of our customers, which means consistently delivering the highest quality facilities in the shortest amount of time and at the lowest possible cost,” said Doug Woods, co-founder and president of DPR Construction. “To do so, we know we must continue to hire, inspire, develop and grow the best people in the industry and to measure our performance against some of the best companies in the world.”

The annual FORTUNE survey conducted with the Great Place to Work© Institute is the most extensive employee survey in corporate America, polling employees from companies nationwide about their company culture, credibility of management, individual respect, fairness, job satisfaction and camaraderie. The employee survey results accounted for two-thirds of DPR’s score. The other third was based on responses to the Institute’s Culture Audit, which included detailed questions regarding pay and benefit programs, as well as open-ended questions about hiring, communication, training and diversity.

“The work environment is not restrictive or burdened with hierarchy. It naturally evokes a culture of ‘just do it’ and you can clearly feel no one is holding you back in reaching your potential,” said one employee during DPR’s annual Employee Satisfaction Survey (ESS), which maintains employee anonymity and is conducted by a third party. In 2012, more than 83 percent of all employees participated and DPR received a 92 percent favorable performance rate.

Central to this achievement is DPR’s company purpose: “To Build Great Things,” and its core values of Integrity, Enjoyment, Uniqueness, and Ever Forward. Additionally, DPR has long been recognized for its progressive employee practices. From customized wellness programs, a Phantom Stock program, extended time off and a refreshed companywide innovation program, DPR has made the wellbeing of employees a priority. Founded in 1990 by Doug Woods, Peter Nosler and Ron Davidowski (the D, P and R), DPR has grown to a multi-billion-dollar, national general contractor and construction manager that has built long-standing relationships with some of the world’s most admired companies. DPR ranked on the FORTUNE 100 Best list in 2010 at #57, in 2011 at #22 and in 2012 at #13.

About DPR Construction
DPR Construction is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology/mission critical, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and corporate office markets. Founded in 1990, DPR is a privately held, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with 17 offices around the country, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation and a great story of entrepreneurial success. It is currently ranked No. 15 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list and was recently identified as Largest Private Company in Silicon Valley Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal's list of the 51 largest private companies in Silicon Valley. For more information, visit http://www.dpr.com

Selected Organizations Focus on Aiding Underprivileged Children in Local Communities

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., December 12, 2012 — The DPR Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping disadvantaged children reach their full potential through regional organization support, today announced the expansion of its 2012-2013 grant awards program to 15 organizations, with three new grantees joining the 12 returning from last year. The Foundation distributed $750,000 in grants to support these organization’s efforts in local youth development programs with an additional $95,000 in discretionary funds that will be disbursed regionally for the coming year.

The DPR Foundation was established in 2008 by DPR Construction, one of the nation’s top technical builders focused on highly complex and sustainable projects. Over the past five years, the Foundation has awarded more than $2.4 million to 21 different organizations focused on providing community support to grade school and high school-aged children. The impact of this support has been realized through a variety of programs, from after school support organizations to summer camps to caring for homeless children.

“DPR’s commitment to ‘Build Great Things’ extends far beyond our offices or customers – we strive to go into the communities where we work and live,” said Peter Nosler, co-founder of DPR Construction and president of the DPR Foundation board. ”Through the Foundation, we focus on building long-lasting relationships with local organizations that help kids gain an enriched community experience. Once we select an organization, our commitment is solid and we expect to continue our financial and volunteer support year after year.”

The new DPR Foundation grantees 2012-2013 are:

• LifeWorks (Austin)
• Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito (San Diego)
• Girls, Inc. of Orange County (Costa Mesa, Calif.)

The 12 returning grantees include:

• Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta - Brookhaven Club (Atlanta)
• Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers (Riverdale, Md.)
• New Hope for Kids (Orlando)
• Future for KIDS (Phoenix)
• Improving Chandler Area Neighborhoods (ICAN) (Phoenix)
• Peninsula Bridge (Palo Alto, Calif.)
• Roberts Family Development Center (Sacramento, Calif.)
• StandUp for Kids (San Diego)
• TurningWheels for Kids (San Jose, Calif.)
• Seven Tepees Youth Program (San Francisco)
• The Milagro Center (West Palm Beach, Fla.)
• John Avery Boys & Girls Club (Durham, N.C.)

Grant winners are selected annually by the DPR Foundation board and local DPR teams. In addition to financial assistance, DPR volunteers make the annual commitment to donate their time to their local organizations. The Foundation measures the success and progress of these programs on an annual basis to ensure each grantee stays on mission and is achieving results.

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About DPR Construction
DPR Construction is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology/mission critical, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and corporate office markets. Founded in 1990, DPR is a privately held, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with 17 offices around the country, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation and a great story of entrepreneurial success. It is currently ranked No. 13 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. For more information, visit http://www.dpr.com

The DPR Foundation (http://www.dprfoundation.org) is a 501 (c)(3) organization focused on helping socio-economically disadvantaged children, grades K-12, within the communities in which DPR has established operations. In five years, the DPR Foundation has awarded a total of more than $2.4 million to 21 different organizations across the country.

Study Also Finds Accountable Care Organizations, Pay-for-Performance And Aging Population Will Have Greatest Impact Over Next Five Years

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., August 22, 2012 — The state of healthcare in our nation today is at the brink of significant change, as the passing of healthcare reform impacts everything from how health systems operate to the use of technology in managing and providing care. To help healthcare leaders navigate the increasingly complex environment, DPR Construction (“DPR”), a national technical builder specializing in highly complex and sustainable projects, conducted a year-long study to gather the perspectives of more than 40 CEOs, owners, designers and management consultants. The study found that health economics, healthcare delivery and buildings of the future are three key areas that will become increasingly important to the health industry over the next 10 years.

Using a mix of in-person interviews and online surveys with DPR customers and other leading organizations, DPR’s “Future of Healthcare” study also identified 10 areas of change that will be integral to shaping the industry’s future. These include: 

• Accountable Care Organizations
• Pay-for-Performance
• Aging Population
• Electronic Medical Records
• Healthcare Worker Shortage
• Sophisticated Diagnostic and Treatment Equipment
• Handheld Computers and Portable Diagnostic Equipment
• Medical Homes
• Holistic, Patient-Centered Environment
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Health Economics
Among study participants, many noted that systems are not fully prepared for the increasing population of aging individuals. When healthcare reform does get fully implemented, 32 million more insured U.S. citizens will skyrocket demand. Both will contribute to an already stressed system, making health economics one of the most critical elements of the industry’s future. While new and upgraded technologies entering the market will put strain on health providers’ and systems’ budgets, being able to deliver health that is patient-centric, centralized and vertically integrated will become increasingly important and help deliver better care while reducing costs.

“We have worked with leading healthcare providers for many years, and we clearly see that 2012 is heading into an unprecedented era in managing health economics. Cash flow is more strained than ever due to continued economic uncertainty and a slow recessionary recovery, making cost cutting a priority for health system executives,” said Hamilton Espinosa, DPR’s National Healthcare Group Leader. “The perspectives of these executives reinforced what we’ve been hearing: Providers are seeking to deliver the best care while striving to be cost effective.”

Health Delivery
According to the study’s findings, hospitals of the future will only serve acute-care patients. Outpatient facilities will deliver less critical care for less cost, while serving broader regional sites. Detroit-based Beaumont Health System, an 18-year recipient of the “Best Hospitals” ranking by U.S. News & World Report, was one of the study’s participants and discussed the evolution. “The hospital will become just for the highest acuity care. The focus needs to shift to home health, primary care and outpatient care,” said Gene Michalski, CEO of Beaumont Health System.

Additionally, health information technology will remain the backbone of delivery, helping to ensure care is delivered more efficiently to lower overall cost. “We are 20 years behind on IT infrastructure, and IT improvements are taking capital that might otherwise have gone to facilities at this time,” noted study participant John Kemper, CEO of KLMK Group, a leading provider of innovative facility solutions to healthcare owners for more than 25 years.

Buildings of the Future
With limited access to capital, many noted that fewer new projects will take place and more renovations will rise, largely driven by the need to meet patient satisfaction standards over the long-term. At the same time, better technology will drive overall innovation in technical construction – meaning buildings of the future will be adaptable, both in terms of patient needs and technology. “As health technologies become more sophisticated and simultaneously require less physical space, server and data center support needs will increase,” said DPR’s Espinosa. “Future building will need to accommodate these trends, with increased emphasis around design and system integration to save on costs.”

Additional Operational Insights
DPR’s Future of Healthcare study also found that 17 percent of respondents agreed the formation of Accountable Care Organizations – organizations of healthcare providers who agree to be accountable for the quality, cost and overall care of those enrolled in their program – would have the greatest impact over the next five years, followed by pay-for-performance and the growth of the nation’s aging population (tied at 14 percent). Additionally, growth in implementation of universal platforms of care that offer customizable experiences will also be important, while new kinds of outpatient services will provide many of the medical functions previously confined to the hospital.

As one of the nation’s leading healthcare builders, DPR has completed more than $2.5 billion in healthcare projects, ranging from section specific renovations to new medical centers, medical research and educational facilities and assisted living facilities. Recent projects include Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, Calif., Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley in Castro Valley, Calif., UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay in San Francisco, Banner M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert, Ariz., Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and a design-build data center for HCA in Nashville, Tenn.

For additional study results and findings visit: www.dpr.com/futureofhc

Survey Methodology
DPR’s Future of Healthcare Study was a year-long intensive project. Directed by an independent firm, it included more than 40 health leaders and featured a combination of in-person interviews and online surveys.

About DPR Construction
DPR Construction is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology/mission critical, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and corporate office markets. Founded in 1990, DPR is a privately held, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with 17 offices around the country, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation and a great story of entrepreneurial success. It is currently ranked No. 13 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list and was recently identified as Largest Private Company in Silicon Valley Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal's list of the 51 largest private companies in Silicon Valley. For more information, visit http://www.dpr.com

DPR Construction (DPR) has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract to manage the construction of a regenerative medicine campus on behalf of Advanced BioHealing and Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, with real estate partner BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. and designers Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects.

The new campus in Sorrento Mesa will expand the operational footprint of Shire's regenerative medicine business, Advanced BioHealing, Inc., and create the increased capacity it needs to meet future demand for its lead product, DERMAGRAFT(R), while offering additional space and infrastructure to manufacture new regenerative medicine products.

"This project will generate hundreds of jobs, including much needed construction jobs, during the build out over the new two years, and we are honored to be a part of it," said Jay Leopold, Regional Manager of DPR's San Diego office. "We look forward to working with the project partners to implement our High Performance Team strategies and create a model facility for attracting more biomedical business here in San Diego."

Phase I of the site development will be in excess of 150,000 square feet and will house the company's manufacturing and associated support operations, commercial operations, corporate, and administrative functions. Preconstruction and design is underway with construction scheduled to begin in 2013. Initial occupancy is targeted for 2014.

About DPR Construction

DPR Construction, named by FORTUNE as #13 of the "100 Best Companies To Work For," is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in life science, healthcare, corporate office, advanced technology and higher education projects. A privately held, employee-owned company, DPR has grown to more than $1 billion in annual revenue, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation. Locally, DPR is a perennial Top 5 general contractor with annual revenue averaging well over $200 million in projects ranging from $5k to $600M. DPR's San Diego office is located at 5010 Shoreham Place, San Diego, CA 92122.

Contact
Audrey Doherty
Chemistry Public Relations
619-236-8397

Building Combines Complex Network of Energy-efficient Building Systems, Designed to Produce as Much or More Energy Than Consumed Annually

DPR Construction, one of the nation’s leading technical builders focused on highly complex and sustainable projects, today celebrates the ribbon-cutting of The David and Lucile Packard Foundation’s new Bay Area office building, which joins a growing trend of net-zero energy facilities in the United States. Designed to use less energy as well as generate its own power on-site, the new building, which is also targeting LEED® Platinum certification, offers a replicable model for attaining the highest level of sustainable development in a commercial office building setting and is one of the first of its size and type in the nation.

“Today marks the celebration of a traditional milestone for what has been anything but a traditional project,” said Mike Humphrey, project executive for DPR Construction. “A lot of people think and act green, but we commend the Packard Foundation for its leadership in taking sustainability to the next level. The project is not only targeting 95 LEED points—well above the minimum 80 required for Platinum level certification—but also includes some of the most advanced and efficient systems and materials available today.” 

The 50,000-square-foot, two-story wood and steel structure, designed by architect EHDD, seamlessly blends into the surrounding natural environment, presenting an understated yet elegant aesthetic that belies the complexity of the design components and construction processes that went into the project. From the diverse array of exterior building materials, including aluminum, glazing, copper panels, stone, stone veneer and wood siding—all carefully overlaid to form a highly thermal rated exterior skin—to the highly energy efficient mechanical and electrical systems, to the rooftop photovoltaic panels that generate on-site energy, every building component contributes to the net-zero energy goal.

DPR began the project in early 2010 with the deconstruction of six existing structures and diverting 98 percent of the waste from landfill. According to DPR Project Manager Mike Messick, the team also worked closely with major trade contractors to correctly sequence the construction of the exterior skin.

“The waterproofing system as well as the thermal insulation of the exterior skin were really crucial and extremely complicated, because there were so many different materials and intersections coming together,” he said. To accomplish that, DPR first constructed a full-sized mock-up section. “We were able to ferret out a lot of the sequencing issues of putting together such a complex skin system designed specifically to help achieve the zero-energy goal,” Messick noted.

In addition to the Packard Foundation project, DPR has completed construction of two other net-zero energy buildings: DPR’s San Diego office and DPR’s Phoenix office. “By building and operating our own net-zero buildings, we can better understand what goes into achieving net zero on projects for our clients,” said Humphrey.

DPR’s 33,600-square-foot San Diego office, completed in 2010, is the first and only commercial office in San Diego to achieve both LEED-NC Platinum certification and net-zero energy status. DPR’s 16,000-square-foot Phoenix facility, completed in fall of last year, is targeting Platinum certification and is on track to be the first net-zero energy private office building in Arizona.

About DPR Construction
DPR Construction, currently ranked No. 13 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology/mission critical, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and corporate office markets. Founded in 1990, DPR is a privately held, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with 17 offices around the country, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation and a great story of entrepreneurial success.

New Ground-up Facility Scheduled to Open in 2014

DPR Construction, one of the nation's leading technical builders focused on highly complex and sustainable projects, today celebrates the topping out of the $300 million Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Patient Care Pavilion, signifying completion of structural erection of the 250,000-square-foot ground-up project. DPR is the general contractor for the new facility that broke ground in 2010 and is scheduled to open in 2014.

"Today marks the celebration of a traditional construction milestone for what has been anything but a traditional project," said Jay Widdifield, project manager for DPR Construction. "The patient care pavilion is being built on a 1.5-acre site in the middle of the current Oakland urban hospital campus, which has remained fully operational during construction, and the new facility will be attached to existing hospital buildings on three sides and seven different floors."

The Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Patient Care Pavilion, which is targeting LEED silver certification, will consist of two major components: a patient care tower and a basement and rooftop central utility plant. The tower will stand 11 stories tall, with two additional floors underground. The patient care pavilion will also feature:      

• 238 acute-care beds
• Private rooms with panoramic views of the Bay Area
• A new 1,067-space parking garage built by Overaa Construction (opening in May, 2012)
• Family-friendly accommodations
• State-of-the-art technology and design
• Additional green space

The 12-party integrated project delivery (IPD) team used Lean Construction methodologies extensively in constructing the facility including:      

• Target Value Design (TVD), a practice in which cost and constructability inform the overall design process.
• Last Planner(R), a system that includes pull-planning and scheduling, and creating a network of commitments.

The IPD team also engaged in a high level of pre-construction services including Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to help identify and solve building challenges in advance of actual construction. For example, DPR's use of laser-scanning uncovered an eight-inch dimensional difference between the team's original model and the actual size of the site, saving an estimated $500,000 in future change orders, as the discrepancy was caught early in the design process.

DPR is also building the $320 million Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley in nearby Castro Valley, Calif., which is scheduled for completion in December 2012.

About DPR Construction DPR Construction, currently ranked No. 13 on FORTUNE's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list, is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and corporate office markets. Founded in 1990, DPR is a privately held, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with 17 offices around the country, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation and a great story of entrepreneurial success.

Forward-Thinking National General Contractor Moves Up 44 Slots from 2010 Ranking, Increases Status for Third Consecutive Year

DPR Construction, one of the nation’s leading technical builders focused on highly complex and sustainable projects, jumps nine slots to rank #13 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. Last year was DPR’s first time in the top 50, ranking #22, and this year represents DPR’s third consecutive year moving up the list. (DPR ranked #57 in 2010.) Of the 100 companies listed, DPR ranks third among those headquartered in California.

“DPR is home to some of the smartest, most talented and fun people in the industry,” said Doug Woods, co-founder and president of DPR Construction. “By building and nurturing a culture of trust that encourages empowerment and innovation, we continue to provide people with the freedom, flexibility and opportunity to do great things for our employees and customers.”

According to FORTUNE, the annual survey, conducted with the Great Place to Work© Institute, is the most extensive employee survey in corporate America, polling employees from companies nationwide about their company culture, credibility of management, individual respect, fairness, job satisfaction and camaraderie. Those survey results accounted for two-thirds of DPR’s score. The other third of the scoring was based on responses to the Institute’s Culture Audit, which included detailed questions regarding pay and benefit programs, as well as a series of open-ended questions about hiring, communication, training and diversity.

DPR maintains a strong company purpose (DPR Exists to Build Great Things) and core values (Integrity, Enjoyment, Uniqueness, Ever Forward). Over the last year, DPR also launched a new DPR Innovation Group to accelerate the adoption of innovative ideas on a national level and further open lines of communication to ensure that the best ideas in the company come forward. In addition, DPR has developed a customized wellness program for all employees that includes biometric screenings and a fitness reimbursement, and offers a Phantom Stock program that allows employees to share in the financial performance of the privately held, employee-owned organization.

Founded in 1990 by Doug Woods, Peter Nosler and Ron Davidowski (the D, P and R), DPR has grown to a multi-billion-dollar, national general contractor and construction manager that has built long-standing relationships with some of the world’s most admired companies.

About DPR Construction
DPR Construction, currently ranked No. 13 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and corporate office markets. Founded in 1990, DPR is a privately held, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with 17 offices around the country, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation and a great story of entrepreneurial success.

Grants Will Fund Programs for Disadvantaged Kids Across Six States

The DPR Foundation, the charitable arm of DPR Construction, one of the nation’s top technical builders focused on highly complex and sustainable projects, today announced its continued commitment to supporting youth organizations in need by awarding $590,000 in grants to 12 organizations in cities across the United States. The 2011-2012 grant money will be distributed across nine returning grantees and three new organizations featuring youth programs targeting disadvantaged kids from grade school to high school.

New DPR Foundation grantee organizations for 2011-2012 include: ICAN – Improving Chandler Area Neighborhoods (Chandler, Ariz.), The Milagro Center (Delray Beach, Fla.) and John Avery Boys & Girls Club of Durham (Durham, N.C.). All nine remaining organizations are returning grantees including: The Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.), Maryland Multi-cultural Youth Center (Riverdale, Md.), New Hope For Kids (Orlando, Fla.), Future for Kids (Phoenix, Ariz.), Peninsula Bridge (Palo Alto, Calif.), Roberts Family Development Center (Sacramento, Calif.), StandUp for Kids (San Diego), Turning Wheels for Kids (San Jose, Calif.) and Seven Tepees Youth Center (San Francisco).

The DPR Foundation, established by DPR Construction in 2008, has awarded nearly $1.5 million to 17 different organizations over the past four years and is committed to helping disadvantaged children within each of the company’s local communities by building lasting relationships with youth-focused organizations. The DPR Foundation is a company-wide outreach to help children who fall short of their potential due to socio-economic challenges.

“One of the founding objectives of DPR Construction was to become an integral part of the communities in which we work and to become indispensable in furthering various community needs,” said Peter Nosler, co-founder of DPR Construction and president of the DPR Foundation board. “By supporting youth organizations we’re enriching the lives of some of our most vulnerable citizens which will help build stronger communities for the future.”

Each DPR region has a DPR Foundation representative who works with a small group to identify local candidate organizations. Every year, each region submits one or more organizations they would like the foundation to support and the board works with local teams to make the final selection for Foundation grant awards.

In addition to financial assistance in the form of grants, the DPR Foundation selects organizations that also have a great need for volunteer help. The Foundation seeks organizations with after-school programs, tutoring, field trips and summer camps so DPR employees can get involved in the community effort. The Foundation also measures success of these program and volunteer efforts to ensure the program remains on mission and continues to achieve results.

About DPR Construction
DPR Construction, currently ranked No. 22 on FORTUNE’S “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and corporate office markets. Founded in 1990, DPR is a privately held, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar national organization, making it one of the largest general contractors in the country and a great story of entrepreneurial success.

The DPR Foundation (http://www.dprfoundation.org) is a 501 (c)(3) organization focused on helping socio-economically disadvantaged children, grades K-12, within the communities in which DPR has established operations. In four years, the DPR Foundation has awarded a total of nearly $1.5 million to 17 different organizations across the country.

The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) is pleased to announce the selection of a design-build team for the build-out of its new headquarters offices located at 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. DPR Construction will partner with the full-service architecture and interior design firm Envision, the design-build MEP firm Shapiro & Duncan and the electrical design-build firm M.C. Dean in the complete design and construction of the 9,598 square foot office space. The new headquarters allows for 40% more space for DBIA, a direct response to the growth of the organization which mirrors the growth in design-build as a tested and proven project delivery method. The work will be carried out under a DBIA Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Design-Build Contract. As the only organization that defines, teaches and promotes best practices in design-build, DBIA is committed to applying those best practices throughout the process including in the development of the RFQ, selection of the project team and the owner/team interface. The Institute relied on a one-step, two-phase Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) and used performance based requirements to describe its needs in the RFQ, noting in the scope of work the need for full design and construction services including architectural, structural, technological, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and interior design. The RFQ outlined the number of current and anticipated future employees, the need for a highly professional and contemporary design that both embodies the values of the organization, but provides optimal functionality and flexibility for the high volume of output produced by the DBIA staff. While the requirement for USGBC LEED-CI certification was stipulated, DBIA provided very general aesthetic and operational guidelines to allow the successful respondents to use creativity and innovation in the design and construction of the space. “This space not only provides DBIA with room to expand and grow as an organization, it also represents an opportunity to practice what we teach at DBIA,” said Executive Director Lisa Washington, CAE. After reviewing the responses, DBIA shortlisted three firms who were interviewed and scored based on their responsiveness to the requirements contained in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ). The criteria DBIA considered included how well the teams conveyed their understanding of the experiential aspects of the project and how well they defined their expectations of DBIA in its role as the owner of this project. Each of the shortlisted firms was extremely well-qualified, making the decision a difficult one. At the visioning session held yesterday, DBIA employee stakeholders toured the new space and met the entire design-build team including project executives and managers, the architectural and interior designers and the practitioners who will design and install the systems. Together, the team explored possibilities for the new space. DBIA staff members explained how they work now and how they would like to work in the future. The designers and engineers listened and responded with potential solutions. One of the agenda items was an assessment of the potential LEED certification level. With LEED Accredited Professionals from every discipline at the table to engage in discussions and calculate the trade-offs required, the team decided to aim for a minimum of LEED Gold Certification. “It was invaluable for me and my key staff to experience first-hand the value that an integrated design-build team brings to a project and this experience further strengthens my personal commitment to helping all owners – novice and experienced, big or small – be responsive to their design-build project teams,” said Washington. The DBIA Headquarters project demands a high level of commitment from everyone: The organization is scheduled move to its new space in March of 2012.

Former Intern Approaches 20 Years with Company

A chance to grow. That’s what struck Mike Humphrey as an intern at DPR Construction, a technical builder focused on highly complex projects for some of the world’s most admired companies, back in 1992. Now, nearly 20 years later, Humphrey is the new San Francisco regional manager for DPR Construction and part of the leadership team that leads DPR’s Bay Area operations.

Humphrey represents a prime example of the company’s entrepreneurial spirit and how DPR is committed to empowering all employees to take an active role in its success. Founded in 1990, DPR is a privately held, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with 17 offices around the country.

In his new role, Humphrey leads new business development efforts and oversees a staff of approximately 40. He is also actively involved in all the region’s projects, working regularly with owners and architects.

“Mike has shown tremendous commitment to his work and the company since the beginning,” said Doug Woods, the D in DPR. “He is forward-thinking and strives to push the envelope. I look forward to seeing the same from him in his role as San Francisco regional manager.”

Humphrey began his DPR career in 1992 as an intern on the Terraces, the company’s first ground-up project. After graduating from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science in construction management later that year, he joined DPR as a project engineer – the company’s 48th employee at the time – and was serving as a project manager soon after. Later roles included pre-construction manager and member of the Bay Area regional management team. DPR has also sponsored Humphrey on three disaster-relief trips, the latest in Haiti after the country’s devastating earthquake in 2010. The company maintains a strong philanthropic focus supporting many local and national organizations.

“I got a call from The Wall Street Journal when I was a young manager asking me why I had stayed with the company for so long,” recalls Humphrey. “I told them it’s because DPR has never stopped me from making decisions, from the time I started, and that holds true to this day. The company trusts all of its employees. I plan to carry on that philosophy in my new role.”

DPR, currently ranked no. 22 on FORTUNE’S  “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, has always been a forward-thinking technical builder. Empowering employees motivates them to succeed, and success translates to many happy customers. Leaders like Humphrey are instrumental in transforming the way DPR’s projects are delivered through innovative in-house expertise and a passion for measurable results. DPR, which specializes in the advanced technology, corporate office, healthcare, higher education and life sciences markets, works on multiple large projects and services smaller projects through its Special Services Group (SSG).

DPR is currently constructing a new office building for The David & Lucile Packard Foundation, one of the top foundations in the U.S. The Foundation’s new 40,000-square-foot, two-story office in Los Altos, Calif. is scheduled to open next summer and is aiming to achieve net-zero energy consumption and LEED-NC Platinum Certification. Other high-profile Bay Area projects from DPR in San Francisco include the One Kearny Street building, Barney’s New York retail store and the award-winning University of California San Francisco Regeneration Medicine Building, among many others.

Construction to commence this month on social networking giant's first data center outside the U.S.

DPR Construction, one of the nation’s top technical builders and a leading builder of data centers, has been awarded a $121 million contract from Facebook to construct a data center in Lulea, Sweden. The project will be constructed in a joint venture between NCC Construction Sweden and Fortis Construction in Portland. This is the first of three data centers planned for the area.

With construction commencing this month, the 300,000-square-foot project is scheduled for completion in December 2012. Facebook has imposed stringent energy-classification requirements, and the data center will be certified in accordance with LEED Gold-level certification.

“As one of the nation’s leading data center builders, we’re excited to be a part of the team to deliver Facebook’s first data center outside of the U.S.,” said Eric Lamb, executive vice president for DPR Construction. DPR, along with joint venture partner Fortis Construction, is currently building data centers for Facebook in Prineville, Ore., and Forest City, N.C. (part of the Open Compute Project). DPR also has completed and fully commissioned more than $1.8 billion worth of data center projects since 2006.

Adaptive reuse project showcases sustainable building design

Rising from the remains of the former Castle Boutique on 44th Street and Van Buren, DPR Construction’s new Phoenix headquarters – the DPR Boutique – opened today as a living laboratory for how to live and work sustainably in our desert environment.

Located in the heart of the Discovery Triangle development zone, the DPR Boutique is on track to be the first Net Zero building in Arizona, where on-site renewable energy generation is equal to or greater than consumption. It is a short walk from the 44th Street light rail stop and incorporates numerous green building features and systems to inspire, educate and encourage clients and the community on green building design.

“We’re proud of our new office and how it physically, environmentally and visibly represents our core values and culture,” said Dave Elrod, regional manager of DPR Phoenix. “While many building owners may think it’s impossible to turn a 30-year-plus old building at the end of its intended life cycle into something forward-thinking and sustainable, that is precisely what we’ve achieved for our new home.”

To help celebrate the building’s opening, Councilman Michael Johnson and the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center's (SARRC) GardenWorks program will participate in a ceremonial planting and ribbon cutting.

DPR Construction has built its reputation in green construction through excellence in client projects. The company wanted its Phoenix headquarters to reflect its commitment to innovative construction practices and sustainable design. DPR took on the challenge to turn an existing structure into a completely net-zero building that is also a comfortable and efficient workspace for its employees. Using prior experiences, the team was able to reduce design time and sustainability consulting fees by 75 percent.

“SmithGroup is excited to be a part of part this visionary project undertaken by DPR,” said Mike Medici, AIA, managing director SmithGroup. “Their innovative approach will be a leading example of sustainable urban development for the Greater Phoenix area.”

Examples of the building’s sustainable design:

• Clad in zinc, the roof's solar chimney is an integral part of the building’s passive heating and cooling design. The zinc used for this solar chimney is extra material from a previous project, making good use of existing resources.
• Other features of the natural ventilation system include automatically adjusting windows, shower towers and tubular daylighting.
• Four shower towers provide up to four tons of cooling at peak operating conditions.
• The towers feature inexpensive plastic tubing and dual shower heads to create air flow pulling water up and dispersing it back through the shower heads and misting heads to provide evaporative cooling effect.
• 79-kilowatt solar array offsets 100 percent of power demand while providing shaded parking.
• The xeriscape landscaping is designed to provide shade and provide additional passive cooling.

"We are excited to open our new office to the public and share the numerous green building features and systems,” said Elrod. “People will be able to see for themselves that it is possible to live and work sustainably in this desert environment. We hope our visitors will be informed, educated, and most of all inspired to think about changes they can make in their own projects, at work and at home.”

Integrated Hospital Complex Scheduled for Completion in 2014

DPR Construction, one of the nation’s top technical builders focused on highly complex and sustainable projects, today celebrated the topping out of the $1.5 billion UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay, signifying completion of structural steel erection for the 878,000-gross-square-foot project. DPR is the general contractor for the new medical center, which is the first in San Francisco to be built from the ground up in decades and is scheduled to open in 2015. A live stream of the topping out ceremony will be available online at http://www.missionbayhospitals.ucsf.edu at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).

The 289-bed UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay, which is targeting LEED gold certification, will include three hospitals:

• The 183-bed UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital featuring urgent care/emergency department and pediatric primary and specialty outpatient care.
• The 36-bed UCSF women’s specialty hospital featuring cancer care, specialty surgery, a birth center and select women’s ambulatory services.
• The 70-bed UCSF cancer hospital.

The UCSF Medical Center will also feature a 200,000-square-foot medical office building and 36,000-square-foot energy center, helipad, parking and support services.

“While we are celebrating a very traditional construction milestone, UCSF Medical Center is far from a traditional project,” said George Pfeffer, project executive for DPR Construction. “From the start, UCSF Medical Center wanted to combine an integrated team process with the latest building information modeling tools to produce a much higher level of predictability around the budget, schedule and quality for this project.”

For example, UCSF Medical Center co-located more than 100 members from 19 different companies on-site at the Integrated Center for Design and Construction (ICDC) in May 2009, 20 months prior to groundbreaking, to virtually design and construct the new medical center. The project was broken down into 25,000-square-foot segments, and teams, including the architect of record Stantec, and Arup as the engineer, began working in parallel to virtually create the detailed building information model (BIM). According to Pfeffer, this process and use of BIM helped save approximately $100 million from the project’s budget.

“By using the latest technology through a collaborative and integrated process to design and build our new hospital complex, we’re developing the medical center of the future,” said Stuart Eckblad, director of Design and Construction for the UCSF Mission Bay Hospitals Project. “The combination of children’s, women’s and cancer services at Mission Bay means patients will have high-quality, seamless care at a state-of-the-art facility.”

In addition, the detailed BIM allowed the team to extract material quantities early on in the project with a higher level of certainty. Following are some of the quantities of materials being used in the construction of UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay:

• 11,000 tons of steel, which is enough to build approximately 7,500 cars.
• 5 million sq. ft. of drywall, which is enough drywall for more than 700 homes averaging 2,000 sq. ft.
• 12,451 light fixtures, enough for 1,000 average size homes.
• 210 miles of conduit, enough to stretch along 3,360 San Francisco city blocks.
• 1,125 miles of wire, enough to round the bases at AT&T Park (home of the San Francisco Giants) 16,500 times.
• 85 miles of piping, equivalent of approximately 50 Golden Gate Bridges put together end to end.
• 1,783,000 pounds of ductwork, approximately 300 Ford F250 trucks (or the same as three empty 747 airplanes).
• 1,069,665 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air supply, enough capacity to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in five seconds.

$150 Million State-of-the-art Healthcare Facilities to be Built Using Lean Construction Methods

The DPR-Turner Construction Company joint venture is pleased to announce that it will break ground today on a 140-bed, five-story acute care Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) hospital in Temecula, California.  The groundbreaking ceremony will be held at the construction site at 31700 Temecula Parkway today at 2:30 pm.  Featured speakers will include Marc D. Miller, President of Universal Health Services, Inc. and Temecula city officials.  Designed by HMC Architects, the 178,000 square foot project on a 37-acre site will serve residents of South Riverside County.

The DPR-Turner Construction Company joint venture team is providing contracting services for the new UHS Temecula Valley Hospital.  The healthcare facility will feature all private rooms, a 20-bed intensive care unit (ICU), six high tech surgical suites, digital imaging, an advanced electronic clinical information system, and a Consolidated Treatment Unit.  This unique emergency department will be flexible and versatile, allowing expansion according to need, and a space for inpatients and outpatients to prepare for procedures.  The project is anticipated to be complete in the summer of 2013.

UHS President Marc D. Miller says, “The new Temecula Valley Hospital is an important milestone in our goal to provide the finest quality healthcare to South Riverside County, so to reach this point is exciting for everyone involved.”

The UHS Temecula Valley Hospital will be built using lean construction techniques.  This method allows the owner, architect, and contractor to participate in the design and decision-making process, focusing on the present and future healthcare needs of the South Riverside County community.  This collaboration will result in an accelerated construction timeline and reduced costs.  Certain project components will be prefabricated offsite to minimize labor and installation time, and there will be a multi-trade sharing of tasks such as hoisting, cleaning, material handling and layout.  DPR and Turner Construction Company are leaders in using this emerging lean construction method.

“With every project, especially one as significant as UHS Temecula Valley Hospital, comes the opportunity to build smarter and deliver a higher quality product,” said Dave Seastrom, Regional Manager for DPR Construction in Southern California. “Lean production management revolutionized manufacturing around the world. Now, we are applying lean methodologies to construction to maximize value and reduce waste, improving total project performance and changing the way facilities are designed and built.”

Vice President and General Manager for Turner’s Southern California office, Kevin Dow, states, “The UHS Temecula Valley Hospital will serve as an excellent example of how a collaborative effort and lean construction techniques can result in a first-rate product, delivered quicker and more economically.  We’re pleased to use these lean construction methods to serve the residents of Temecula and Riverside County.”

UHS Temecula Valley Hospital brings together two strong construction companies, DPR Construction and Turner Construction Company.  Each company brings a unique set of strengths and resources to the partnership.  The collaboration will allow for the best construction technology and strongest team to be assembled for the project.

Universal Health Services, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest hospital companies.  Through its subsidiaries, the company operates acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, and ambulatory centers throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

DPR Construction, currently ranked #22 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and corporate office markets.  Founded in 1990, DPR is a privately held, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with 17 offices around the country, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation and a great story of entrepreneurial success.  For more information about DPR, visit http://www.dpr.com

Turner Construction Company is the leading general builder in the U.S., ranking first or second in all major segments of the building construction field.  Engineering News-Record currently ranks the company as the nation’s largest builder of green, education, healthcare, sports and correctional facilities.  Turner’s Southern California office operates as a local company with the strength and resources of the nation's leading general contractor and construction manager behind it.  Turner Construction Company opened its full-service Southern California office in 1964 with highly qualified and experienced local staff.  For more information, visit http://www.turnerconstruction.com/southerncalifornia

The Phoenix City Council recently voted to allow a development agreement between the city and The Boyer Company to develop a laboratory research facility on the Phoenix Biomedical Campus. 

The approximately 150,000-square-foot, six-story biomedical research facility, with at least   40 percent research space, including wet labs, will be located along Fifth Street between the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen)/International Genomics Consortium (IGC) and the Arizona Biomedical Collaborative facilities.

The project is expected to create up to 500 construction jobs and up to an additional 400 sustainable biomedical jobs, which on average have an annual salary of more than $57,000.  The $50 million facility will be privately funded, with no city financial assistance, generating up to $3.3 million in lease revenues to the city.

Mayor Phil Gordon said, “This project is exactly what this city needs right now.  Hundreds of new construction jobs to create a cutting-edge research facility in the heart of our downtown.”

Deputy City Manager Rick Naimark said, "The TGen/IGC building at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus is 100 percent leased.  There is demand for wet lab space where researchers can safely work with chemicals, drugs or other materials that require special equipment and ventilation.  This project meets that demand and allows for bioindustry expansion in Phoenix."

Boyer was selected after an extensive request for proposals process in 2010 when the company presented a lab-research facility that complements the Phoenix Biomedical Campus and can create synergy with other tenants such as the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix.

"The Boyer Company is pleased to have the opportunity to work with the city of Phoenix on this exciting project," said Matt Jensen, partner, The Boyer Company. "We have a great team, including SmithGroup Architects, DPR Construction and Cassidy Turley BRE Commercial that bring an unmatched level of experience to the project and we look forward to working with the companies in the collaborative research opportunities presented by the existing campus."

Construction is expected to begin in mid-2012 and the facility is expected to open early 2014.

"Virtual" Company United the Construction Project Team to Deliver the Facility Under Budget and Ahead of Schedule

DPR Construction's latest cutting-edge project, the University of California San Diego's $227 million Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center, was completed under budget and ahead of schedule largely due to a trend-setting team approach that created a "virtual" company among more than 50 key stakeholders on the project.

Over the two-year construction phase of the 127,000 square foot building, DPR's project team exceeded their performance benchmarks by employing the company's "High Performance Team" (HPT) approach, which unites the project's main players around a common mission statement and core values. An open dialogue is encouraged among the team, resulting in timely and non-traditional solutions to challenges, and helping to avoid costly delays and budget overruns.

The effectiveness of this approach has strongly resonated throughout the construction community, which according to a recent survey by the Associated General Contractors of America is on a growth track and plans to hire more workers nationwide in 2011. Creative teaming strategies such as DPR's will serve to further leverage and influence the efficiency of this rebounding industry.

"We appointed a board of directors made up of numerous senior managers from the project's stakeholders to anticipate issues and develop solutions before they became a problem," said Carlos Crabtree, project manager at DPR San Diego. "By establishing a level of trust among the subcontractors, engineers, design team and owners at the outset, they were free to voice their complaints and question the status quo, which transformed the process and enhanced the project."

For example, 16 months into construction, UCSD determined that additional patient beds were required, and requested that the fourth floor -- originally designed and permitted as office space -- be converted into a patient floor with 27 additional patient rooms, including five positive pressure and three negative pressure rooms. Since the steel framing, electrical and plumbing on that floor had already been set for office space, it was a significant challenge to accommodate the extensive design change at that stage. However, using the HPT, the team was able to successfully collaborate and adapt the space to the new requirements, and a four-month intensive re-design was successfully completed ahead of schedule.

"Many people have said that this was one of the best working environments they've ever experienced on such a large-scale technical project," said Randy Leopold, project manager for UCSD Facilities Design and Construction. "DPR is definitely leading the way in the industry by opening the lines of communication and giving all involved parties a seat at the table."

DPR Construction began building the Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center, the first dedicated center of its kind in San Diego County, in May 2008. The 76-patient bed hospital includes 22 daybeds for pre- and post-procedure care, 12 intensive-care beds, 15 intermediate-care beds and 27 acute-care beds. The center also features an expansive emergency department with four large operating rooms specifically designed for heart surgery, 14 smaller treatment rooms and an expanded area for heart-imaging services such as multi-slice CT scanning.

FIATECH, a member-led, industry consortium that provides global leadership in identifying and accelerating the development, demonstration and deployment of emerging and innovative technologies and practices, recognized and honored 13 organizations and individuals for their extraordinary work in developing and deploying innovative engineering and construction technologies last night at the 5th annual CETI Award Gala in Chandler, Arizona. FIATECH established the CETI (Celebration of Engineering & Technology Innovation) Award in 2006 to promote and showcase innovative construction-related technologies that benefit the capital projects industry. The CETI Award is given annually to organizations that have conducted new and emerging technology implementations as well as research and development.

The panel of jurors who reviewed and evaluated the nomination included John McQuary, vice president, knowledge management and technology strategies, Fluor, (CETI chair); John Fish, director of project support services, Ford, Bacon & Davis; Mani Golparvar-Fard, Ph.D., assistant professor, Virginia Tech; Lisa Grayson, program advisor, ExxonMobil; Kevin Hart, vice president and business information officer, Kaiser Permanente Information Technology; Tom Sawyer, information technology editor, Engineering News-Record; S. Shyam Sunder, Ph.D., director, Engineering Laboratory, NIST; Duane Toavs, director, Human Centered Design Institute, Emerson Process Management.

2010 CETI Recipients

SCENARIO-BASED PROJECT PLANNING CATEGORY: Patient Care Pavilion IPD Team Next Level Hospital Planning

This project used an integrated project delivery approach coupled with the philosophies of scenario-based planning on the patient care pavilion at the Alta Bates Summit medical campus in Oakland, California. The project team utilized the latest BIM tools to continually coordinate the multitude of disciplines needed in a state-of-the-art healthcare facility.

All team members were able to access the live model through the use of multiple off-site servers. The entire team met early in the process to identify the key elements to be included in the model relative to the projected value from coordinating that information. Team members were able to collaborate, in person or virtually, in real time while identifying conflicts and design priorities. By keeping the model live, changes were streamlined, reducing the design schedule even further.

The team invested a significant amount of time to model and coordinate the exterior wall system, a scope historically not modeled. More than 4,000 clashes have been identified and resolved. The team undertook a cost study based on the top 17 clashes that were identified as issues that would have been otherwise undetected and consequently unresolved prior to on-site installation and construction. That study resulted in an estimated cost savings of more than $1.8 million in problems that the team resolved prior to construction starting. Due to the phased-review process, the team adjusted the construction drawings during permitting, saving an estimated $500,000 in change orders.

The design/build team of DPR Construction, SmithGroup and Forell/Elsesser Engineers has completed construction of the Ray and Dagmar Dolby Regeneration Medicine Building for the University of California, San Francisco. Schematic architectural design was provided by Rafael Viñoly Architects of New York City and structural engineer Nabih Youssef & Associates of San Francisco. 

Located on the university’s Parnassus campus in San Francisco, the new $123-million building houses the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCSF.  Supported by funding from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and private donations, the new facility is considered a significant milestone in the history of UCSF’s pioneering stem cell research program.

Located on a steep hillside of the urban campus , the 660-foot-long Ray and Dagmar Dolby Regeneration Medicine Building has a serpentine-like design and sits on a structural framework 40 to 70 feet off the ground.  The building, which is targeting LEED Gold certification, features base isolators that allow 23”inches of lateral movement during an earthquake. This is achieved by earthquake isolation devices, some of which were custom designed by Forell/Elsesser the structural engineer, to withstand unique uplift forces, positioned between the foundation and structural steel bracing that supports the building.

The design/build team was awarded the design and construction on the new research lab in June2008 with a mandate from the CIRM that the building achieve beneficial occupancy within two years of the award.  To fast-track the design and construction, DPR, SmithGroup the architect of record, and Forell/Elsesser, used Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), a collaborative process that optimizes results, reduces waste, maximizes efficiency and increases value to the owner.  The team also utilized an innovative document production system and an incremental permitting process.  Numerous design solutions were implemented on-site, with university representatives playing a major role on a daily basis to assist with input and feedback on the construction.

“This process produced an intensely innovative, fluid, and rapid response, to a string of seemingly insurmountable challenges. The investment of each team member shows in the execution of every detail and the overall result,” said Marianne O’Brien, AIA, Project Manager for SmithGroup.

In addition to site and schedule hurdles, the team was challenged to find significant cost savings while remaining true to the original design and intent of the building.  This was achieved by reclassifying the building from a hazardous occupancy to a business (“B”) occupancy by applying the newly adopted building code.  The team also removed a mechanical level originally designed to hang from the underside of the building and embedded it into the office level.  This change eliminated fire and smoke dampers and increased the net to gross square foot ratio. The original design of the superstructure required expensive “falsework” during erection that would have interfered with the scheduling of other construction work. The design build team redesigned the superstructure of the building to include additional vertical columns, which reduced shoring and helped the schedule.

According to Gavin Keith, DPR’s project executive for the building, “The Regeneration Medicine building is a current, real-world example of how value is being increased and design enhanced through a collaborative team effort.  The entire team had a single-minded focus on delivering the best possible result to the university, given the complexities of the site, budget and schedule.”

Forward-Thinking National General Contractor Moves up 35 Slots from 2010 Ranking, the Company's Inaugural Debut on Coveted List

DPR Construction, one of the nation’s leading technical builders, jumps 35 slots to rank #22 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. Last year was DPR’s first time on the list, ranking #57.

“It is truly the people of DPR who make this company great,” said Doug Woods, the “D” in DPR and president of DPR Construction. “Our ranking is a testament to the organization and culture we have all built together over the last 20 years that can succeed and shine despite what has been a challenging economic climate. By working together and taking care of our people, customers and trade partners, we have been able to build great things, including a great place to work.”

According to FORTUNE, the annual survey, conducted with the Great Place to Work© Institute, is the most extensive employee survey in corporate America, polling employees from companies nationwide about their company culture, credibility of management, individual respect, fairness, job satisfaction and camaraderie. Those survey results accounted for two-thirds of DPR’s score. The other third of the scoring was based on responses to the Institute’s Culture Audit, which included detailed questions regarding pay and benefit programs, as well as a series of open-ended questions about hiring, communication, training and diversity.

Some notable DPR elements include:

• Strong company purpose (DPR Exist to Build Great Things) and core values (Integrity, Enjoyment, Uniqueness, Ever Forward),
• Open-office environment, where everyone including company co-founders and regional managers sit in wall-less cubicles,
• Title-less business cards to allow individuals to take on multiple roles and levels of responsibility, and
• Wine bars in every office used as a central gathering place for employee celebrations.

Founded in 1990 by Doug Woods, Peter Nosler and Ron Davidowski (the D, P and R), DPR has grown to a multi-billion-dollar, national general contractor and construction manager that has built long-standing relationships with some of the world’s most admired companies. (To be exact, 22 of the top 50 companies on FORTUNE’s 2010 list of World’s Most Admired Companies are DPR customers.)

“We’re fortunate to work with great customers, some who have literally changed the world through the medicines they have discovered and manufactured, the people they’ve helped in their hospitals and medical facilities, and the breakthrough innovations they have developed,” said Woods. “A number of them have also made this year’s Best Companies list, and we’re honored to be recognized among them.”

DPR Construction (http://www.dpr.com), one of the nation’s top commercial builders in the healthcare industry, officially broke ground this week on the new Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Patient Care Pavilion for Sutter Health in Oakland, Calif.  The 230,000-square-foot Patient Care Pavilion will house 238 medical/surgical and acute rehabilitation beds when completed in early 2014.

Located at 350 Hawthorne Ave., the new building consists of an 11-story patient care tower and rooftop central utility plant – all being built on a 1.5-acre site in the middle of the urban hospital campus.  The pavilion will rise to approximately 184 feet above ground, with two stories built below ground, and cost approximately $244 million. The new facility will be attached to existing hospital buildings, which will remain fully operational throughout the project, on three sides and seven different floors.  The entire project, with a total cost of $350 million,also includes a new Emergency Department, a 1,000-space parking structure and additional green space.

Unique Project Features
The project is being delivered using a 12-party Integrated Form of Agreement (IFOA) in which the owner, architect, general contractor and key design consultants and trade partners are all co-signatories of the IFOA contract, forming the core integrated project delivery (IPD) and sharing project risks and rewards.  In addition to DPR as the general contractor, the team includes Sutter Health, architect Devenney Group Ltd. of Phoenix, Ariz., and nine other design engineers and contractors.

According to Peter Lockett, project engineer for DPR, the team is making extensive use of Lean Construction methodologies such as Target Value Design (TVD), a practice in which cost and constructability inform the overall design process, and Last Planner®, a system that includes pull-planning and scheduling and creating a network of commitments.

The IPD team also has engaged in a high level of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to help identify and solve building challenges virtually in advance of actual construction.  For example, DPR, along with structural engineer Degenkolb Engineers of Oakland and steel and rebar contractors, modeled and coordinated the tower’s superstructure and exterior skin.  In addition, as part of its pre-construction services, DPR used laser scanning for the existing site and compared the scan to the model.

“The scan results produced an eight-inch dimensional difference between the team’s original model and the actual size of the site,” Lockett said.  “By catching this discrepancy early on in the process, our team was able to adjust construction drawings during the permitting process, potentially saving an estimated $500,000 in future change orders.”

The Patient Care Pavilion will be built in compliance with California’s newest earthquake safety law, SB 1953, and will use the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development’s (OSHPD) phased plan review system to accelerate the permitting process. The project is also pursuing LEED certification and meets all requirements of the Green Guide for Health Care and Sustainability Practices, the healthcare sector’s program for sustainable design, construction and operations modeled after the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program.

According to DPR Project Manager Jay Widdifield, at the height of construction, approximately 270 people will be working on the new hospital expansion over the next three years.  DPR is also building the $320 million Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley in nearby Castro Valley, Calif., which broke ground in July 2009 and is scheduled for completion in January 2013.

Clif Bar & Company, the leading maker of all-natural and organic sports nutrition food and healthy snacks, unveiled today its new 115,000 square foot energy-efficient headquarters, located in Emeryville, Calif.

The latest in solar technology, a new on-site childcare center, repurposed materials - from shipping container wood to blue jeans - and a 40-foot bouldering wall are some of the features that support the company's sustainability mission and unique company culture.

Located at 1451 66th Street, the newly designed space is housed in a former valve manufacturing plant with distinctive Bauhaus architectural details that hearken back to the city's past.

"We recycled an old building into a new space that's very open and communal as the next step on our journey toward sustainability," said Kit Crawford, Clif Bar & Company's co-CEO. "The space reflects who we are while limiting our footprint on the planet."

"If you would have told me this was possible 20 years ago when I had the epiphany to create CLIF BAR during a 175 mile bike ride, I would have stopped in my tracks," added Gary Erickson, founder and co-CEO of Clif Bar & Company. "This space is what Clif people have built - it's more than a headquarters, it's a home to their inspiration and passion to do business in a better way."

Sustainability from Rooftop Solar to Recycled Denim

Clif Bar & Company is installing the largest "smart" solar array in North America on its headquarters roof and parking structure, which it anticipates will provide nearly 100 percent of the office electricity needs. "Smart" solar array represents an emerging trend in solar technology aimed at optimizing output and reducing costs by integrating monitors onto individual solar panels. Additional solar thermal panels on the headquarters roof provide 70 percent of the heat needed for hot water.

The solar power, in addition to energy conservation efforts in its R & D kitchen and energy-efficient office equipment, makes Clif Bar & Company's new headquarters one of the first buildings in the state to comply with the 2008 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards. The company will be pursuing a LEED Platinum certification-the highest 'green' building rating available from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

To further soak up the California sun, the building's "biophilic" interior design brings the outside world into the work space. Four atrium gardens integrated into the interior of the office space bring sunlight and rain to the plants and greenery in the gardens. The glass garden walls, plus extensive exterior and clerestory windows, flood the open floor plan with natural light.

Reused materials can be found throughout the new headquarters. Much of the wood was reclaimed from sources such as container crates, railroad ties and barns, while recycled denim was used to make 380 sound-absorbing panels. Repurposed bikes, kayaks, snowboards and surfboards serve as artwork suspended from the ceiling.

Clif Bar & Company's new headquarters was built by San Francisco-based DPR Construction and designed by ZGF Architects, based in Portland, Ore. Earlier this year, Architect Magazine named ZGF Architects one of the nation's top 10 green architect firms.

New and Expanded Work Perks

The building houses a new 6,700 square foot childcare center. The center consists of specially designed inside and outside areas for five distinct age groups, from infants to five year olds. A music room, fitness toys ("pint-sized" treadmill, elliptical trainer, stationary bike and bench press) and outdoor playground help to provide kids with a balance of structured- and free-time.

An expanded wellness center features a weight room with a 40-foot bouldering wall, a yoga room, dance studio, shower/locker facilities, access to five on-site fitness trainers and two massage rooms. On-site bike parking, two massage rooms and a hair salon are also back by popular demand.

The athletes and foodies who make the company's sport nutrition food and healthy snacks are now sharing organic breakfast and lunch meals with their co-workers in Kali's Kitchen. Named after founder Gary Erickson's grandmother who inspired him to bake, Kali's Kitchen is employee-operated and sources organic ingredients from regional farms.

Adding to the community feel of the space is a theater which houses an elevated stage, customizable lighting, professional sound board and seating for 350 people. It's connected to a reception room and staging area by a wall that opens by rising into the building architecture.

About Clif Bar & Company
Clif Bar & Company is a leading maker of nutritious, all-natural, organic foods and drinks, including CLIF® BAR energy bar, LUNA®, The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women®; and CLIF Kid®, Nourishing Kids in Motion®. Focused on sports nutrition and healthy snacks, the employee and family-owned company is committed to sustaining its people, brands, business, community and planet. For more information on Clif Bar & Company, please visit http://www.clifbar.com check, out our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/clifbar or follow us on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/clifbar

Recently Clif Bar & Company was ranked the No. 1 brand in the Forbes Breakaway Brands survey, conducted by Landor Associates using Young & Rubicam's BrandAsset Valuator database measuring brand momentum from 2006 to 2009. Forbes.com

On September 24, 2010, the Balfour Beatty | DPR | Big-D joint venture, with KlingStubbins and Architectural Nexus as design partners, was selected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide design-build services for the Utah Data Center at Camp Williams, Utah.

The $1.2 billion project includes 100,000 square feet of a Tier III data center and 900,000 square feet of technical support and administrative space. Support facilities include water treatment facilities, vehicle inspection facility, interim visitor control center, perimeter site security measures, fuel storage, water storage, chiller plant, fire suppression systems and 100% electrical generator and UPS back up capacity.

The facility will showcase numerous innovative technology and energy efficiency features and will be designed and constructed to achieve LEED Silver certification. In addition, the team will maximize the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools to help facilitate collaboration and coordination of all project aspects during design and construction.

Completing this project will require thousands of highly skilled people in various disciplines; therefore, the Balfour Beatty | DPR | Big-D team has worked diligently to maximize involvement from local and small business communities. The team held several open houses and targeted workshops to solicit interest and input from local businesses. As the project moves forward the team will continue working with local and small businesses to ensure that qualified firms have an opportunity to be involved in the project.

The project will be designed and constructed on a fast-track basis. Construction is set to begin in late 2010.

About Balfour Beatty | DPR | Big-D

Balfour Beatty Construction, a national builder with a large Federal projects portfolio, DPR Construction, a national builder with expertise in mission critical facilities, and Big D Construction, a long-time Salt Lake City general contractor, have joined forces for this project. The joint venture will provide design-build services for the Utah Data Center project. The team includes KlingStubbins, a national full service AE firm with expertise in data and technology center design and Architectural Nexus, a Salt Lake City-based architect/designer. The team also includes five mechanical / electrical and plumbing contractors: ACCO Engineered Systems, J&S Mechanical, Ludvik Electric, RK Mechanical and Truland Systems Corporation. The overall team brings together the very best combination of national and local resources, as well as expertise in the mission critical facilities’ delivery.

College Solar Arrays will Supply Over 100 Percent of College's Electricity Needs

Butte College, located in Northern California and resting on a 928-acre wildlife refuge, has been recognized over the last few years as a national community college leader in sustainability. By May 2011, the college will move to the head of its class—as the only college in the nation that is grid positive—producing more clean energy from sustainable on-site solar power than it uses.

The college recently received approval from its Board of Trustees to complete its Phase III solar project, which adds approximately 15,000 solar photovoltaic panels—or 2.7 MW DC—to its current 1.85 MW or 10,000 solar panels—which will ultimately make the college the largest solar producing college in the world –for a system total of 4.55 MW DC of clean renewable energy generation capability.  The college will generate over 6.381 million kW hours per year – enough electricity to power over 9,200 average-sized homes, or the equivalent of removing over 6,000 passenger cars from the roadways.

"Once this solar project is completed, Butte College will provide enough clean renewable energy to cover all of our electricity needs and generate slightly more than we use--which will be a source of additional revenue for the college," said Dr. Diana Van Der Ploeg, Butte College President.  "Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do.  Being the first grid positive community college in the country demonstrates our commitment to the sustainable practices we're modeling for our students and our communities."

Van Der Ploeg credits the college's transformation to a national leader in sustainability due to student engagement both at the college and in the community, infusion of sustainability into the curriculum, workforce development focused on green jobs, LEED certified buildings, sustainable land use management, and operation of the largest community college student transportation system in California.

The new 15,000 solar panels will be placed atop rooftops and will create covered parking areas and walkways, in addition to being mounted on the ground.  The total funding for the project is $17 million, which $12.65 million is made possible by federal Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBS) which are low-interest loans that can be used for clean energy projects. The remainder, up to $4.35 million, will be funded by college.

According to Miller, the funding to pay for all of the solar projects, is the funding budgeted annually to purchase electricity from the grid, and for Phase III, almost $1 million in rebates from PG&E, the California Solar Initiative, and benefits from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act/CREBS allocations.

The Clean Renewable Energy Bonds for the project were arranged and funded by Bank of America as part of its 10 year, $20 billion business initiative to address climate change.

"Butte College is taking a true leadership role in helping California meet its clean energy goals," said John Rudberg, Energy Services sales executive for Banc of America Public Capital Corp. "We work with schools, colleges, public institutions and private companies across the country in energy efficient projects. We are pleased to continue helping Butte College on its path to becoming the only sustainable energy grid positive college in the nation."

The first component of the Phase 3 solar project includes the construction of 1,639 solar panels that will create covered parking spaces at the Butte College Chico Center and will generate 450kW DC. The installation of the 13 new solar arrays has started at the Chico Center campus and will culminate at the main campus. This project is scheduled to be completed by May 2011.

"This project directly employs local people, local vendors and provides a huge economic shot in the arm for Butte County. This is a sustainable project for everyone and saves money for taxpayers. All of Butte College's solar projects are projected to save the college over $150 million net over 30 years," said Mike Miller, Butte College Director of Facilities, Planning and Management.

When all of the college's solar projects are combined, the college will have a yearly reduction of over 6.9 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2), 27,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide (SO2)  and 20,000 pounds of nitrogen oxide (NOX).

"This solar project helps the college come close to being climate neutral and allows the college to offer solar training classes, in addition to reducing energy costs and generating revenue," said Van Der Ploeg.

Chico Electric and DPR Construction, Sacramento formed Chico Electric DPR Energy JV for this project.  The two companies bring expertise in LEAN project delivery and sustainable energy. LEAN construction is the collaborative design and construction methodology that incorporates all of the separate professional sub-groups, design disciplines and trade contractors into a cohesive management team. Norm Nielsen, owner of Chico Electric, is an alumnus of Butte College and has installed other solar projects at the college.

"This is a landmark project for Butte College and will make the college grid positive. Using solar will ultimately save the college money and help the environment.  We're also excited that a number of the workers on this projects are apprentices who went through the college's solar installation training program," said Norm Nielsen, owner of Chico Electric.

Over the past several years Butte College has earned a number of national awards for sustainability leadership including the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) 2009 Campus Leadership Award, the 2009 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Power Partnership Award, the 2008 National Wildlife Association Campus Chill-Out Award, and several Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council, 2010.

"This project serves as a model for other colleges and universities in meeting energy needs and supporting a green jobs economy," said Mark Cirksena, Regional Manager for DPR Construction in Sacramento. "According to the Environmental Information Administration's energy outlook a couple of years ago, buildings represented 72 percent of U.S. electricity consumption. Butte College should be commended for taking a leadership role and setting new standards for environmental responsibility."

Butte College, a single campus district, is located near the geographical center of Butte County, California.  It has centers in Chico, the largest city in the district, and Orland in Glenn County.  Because of its rural location, the college is unique among California Community Colleges because it operates as a self-contained city.  To this end Butte College has its own water system, maintains its own sewage treatment facility, and operates the largest community college transportation system in California.  The college implemented its first solar energy project in 2005 and its second in 2008.

In addition to the solar projects the college has developed sustainability-related career and technical education programs; infused sustainability into existing curriculum; created a sustainability studies certificate; conducted numerous student-led green events and activities; gained Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification on its Arts Building and is awaiting final approval of Gold Certification on Student and Administrative Services; developed and implemented a number of sustainability-related workforce development activities; recycles over 75 percent of its waste stream; and operates the largest community college transportation systems in California.

Butte College, http://www.butte.edu provi,des quality education, services, and workforce training to students who aspire to become productive members of a diverse, sustainable, and global society.  We prepare our students for life-long learning through the mastery of basic skills, the achievement of degrees and certificates, and the pursuit of career and transfer pathways. The college has an annual enrollment of 21,000 full and part time students.

Butte College's Sustainability Facts:

• Sustainability is included in the college's mission statement and is one of five initiatives in the college's strategic plan.
• Butte College was one of the first community colleges to sign the American College and University President's Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)
• Butte College operates the largest bus transportation system for any community college in California—taking approximately 1,300 cars off the road each day.
• The college recycles 73-93 percent of its waste. Additionally, Dining Services partners with the Agriculture Department to compost approximately 1,500 pounds of pre-consumer food waste from the landfill per month.
• In 2008, Butte College implemented a credit Green Building Certificate Program using funding provided by the National Science Foundation.  In 2009, the courses that comprised this program were reformatted into a hybrid format.  This program, which was the college's first step in developing  comprehensive green technology career pathways, included the following courses: Green Building Technologies and Practices; Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and Certification Test Preparation – geared toward LEED Advisor and Build It Green - Green Building Professional.
• The college infuses sustainability into career and technical education programs.   For example, the college's Auto Technology Department recently partnered with Pacific Gas & Electric to develop a statewide Electric Hybrid Vehicle Technology training program for PG&E fleet vehicle mechanics to service electric and hybrid vehicles.
• In 2009-2010,  the college used two grants obtained through the California Workforce Investment Board to develop and implement training programs for displaced workers in areas such as Solar Photovoltaic Design and Installation Principles, Green Building, Solar Hot Water Installation and Design Principles, and Energy Fundamentals.  This training was delivered in Spring 2010.
• Over the past two years, students in the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program have worked as interns on a Biofiltration Wetland Education Learning Laboratory (BeWELL) Project.  This real-world project takes place on the Butte College campus and students are able to monitor stormwater runoff from a parking lot, identify chemicals in the runoff, calculate the amount of bioswale needed to biofilter these chemicals, construct the project, and monitor the results.
• Butte College is an annual participant in the National Teach In on Global Warming Solutions—a major educational initiative that coordinates faculty and students at over 1,000 colleges, universities, and high schools in the U.S. to engage in a national, interdisciplinary discussion on "Stabilizing the Climate in the 21st Century.
• The Sustainability Resource Center, funded and staffed by the Associated Students, features a wide variety of books, journals, magazines, and videos.  The goal of the center is to be a hub of information for students, faculty, and staff to learn about various topics related to sustainability as well as practical guides on how to live and work more sustainably.
• The Agriculture Department has gained organic certification on 26 acres where it grows fruit, hay, and wine grapes
• The Clear Creek Riparian Restoration Project uses goats to consume 90% of the non-native vegetation and noxious weeds growing along 2.5 miles of Clear Creek.

DPR Construction (DPR) announced today that construction is now complete on its new company-owned San Diego regional headquarters. The 24,000 square foot office located in University City is designed to be Net Zero Energy and is pursuing Platinum Certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy Environmental Design (LEED) program.

“We set out to transform a typical San Diego suburban office building into a cutting edge facility that respects the environment, our people and our culture. All of us feel we’ve hit a home run. We’re committed to redefining the market place, both in terms of tenant expectations and developer interest in rehabilitating and renovating otherwise nearly obsolete buildings into highly desirable and attractive spaces,” said Jay Leopold, regional manager of DPR San Diego. “There are an abundance of buildings just like this that are potentially problematic for their owners, but we believe they represent opportunity.  There are things you can do with these buildings in San Diego that you can’t do downtown or in mid-rises, and we believe we’re building a solid business case for doing so.”

The DPR office contains 11 conference rooms including the circular Delta room and a large training area, a 16 person video conference room and a space dedicated to building information modeling technology (BIM). In addition, the open office features over 14-foot exposed ceilings complete with scrims or material that hangs from the ceiling to defuse light, which are artistically designed to resemble the sails of boats.

“We recreated our cultural commitment to a work space that is wide open and transparent, with work stations in lieu of offices, continued Leopold. “With operable windows and skylights as well as glass garage doors to connect us to the outside, our cultural commitment to an open office environment is now supported by an office that is literally open to the environment.”

At the heart of the office sits the 14-foot wine bar, thoughtfully placed with the purpose of bringing staff members and outside guests together. The lobby area features four custom surfboards, each representing one of DPR’s four core values: integrity, enjoyment, uniqueness and ever forward.

To generate as much power as the building consumes, a 64 kilowatt AC photovoltaic system was installed. The solar panels are expected to produce enough power to offset the building’s energy consumption, annually.

According to Leopold, it was also important to the company to incorporate natural light and ventilation into building’s design.
“Our intent was to create an environment that was naturally ventilated and lit, and to do so in such a way that a person walking through the space wouldn’t even realize that there are no lights on or no air conditioning running,” he said. “In effect, we want to bring the outside in – not only because it’s the responsible thing to do but also because it’s a far superior working environment for our employees.  The response to breathing fresh natural air was immediate and the positive response by everyone is really exciting.”

Bringing light into the building was achieved from several modifications to the structure including stripping the film off existing windows to allow more light into the office, installing 36 Solatubes or high-performance daylighting systems, as well as roof monitors or large operable skylights and glass roll up doors around the perimeter of the space. With these additions and new energy efficient lighting fixtures and controls, DPR estimates it will reduce the building’s energy consumption by 53 percent and that an outdoor view will be enjoyed in 90 percent of the office.

A state-of-the-art interconnected skylight building management system enables the windows to open to bring natural ventilation into the structure. When the outside and inside air temperatures reach a certain range, the system opens the windows and the skylight to naturally cross-ventilate and cool the open office area. As windows open, the HVAC system is shut down to conserve energy. This ventilation strategy is expected to reduce the number of operating hours of the HVAC system by 79 percent compared to a sealed building.

Other sustainable features include new preferred parking for fuel efficient vehicles, replacing the roof with an Energy Star product, diverting over 75 percent of construction waste from disposal in landfills, installing low flow plumbing fixtures to decrease water usage 51 percent, modifying the existing irrigation to reduce landscape water usage by 60 percent, and placing Dyson hand dryers in the bathrooms to decrease energy and waste from paper towels.

DPR also reused many materials from its previous office and the existing building such as 40 work stations and casework. More than 80 percent of the new wood was managed using the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) principles and high recycled content materials were selected including tile, drywall and metal tiles. The carpet was also made from recycled materials and was adhered without glue with the volatile organic compounds (VOC) that are harmful to the Earth’s atmosphere. Other materials that used no or low-emitting VOCs included paints, coatings, composite woods, sealants, adhesives and caulking. In addition, used pallets were stripped and used throughout the space.

“At the end of the day, this building was designed to create an atmosphere that values our employees, our customers, our teammates, and the environment and with the goal of changing the world we live in by setting an example in our industry,” said Leopold.

The DPR Construction project team was comprised of Elizabeth Barrie, Jeff Cole, Jerry McElfresh and Mark Seidl. In addition, Jonathan Wood of Seattle-based Callison served as the architect of the project. Other consultants and designers included KEMA for LEED consultation; Hope Engineering for structural engineering; Latitude 33 Planning and Engineering for civil engineering; Howard Associates for landscape architecture; Bergelectric Corporation for electrical services; and Pacific Rim Mechanical for plumbing and mechanical services.

First in Nation to be Awarded with Platinum LEED® for Schools Certification

Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton (SHS), http://www.shschools.org a Rom,an Catholic, independent, coeducational school for students from preschool through twelfth grade, has just achieved two major “firsts” for its dedication to environmental responsibility. First, its newly constructed Michael J. Homer Science and Student Life Center has earned the first newly created Platinum-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Schools certification in the nation - the highest LEED rating a school building can receive from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Second, the school is the first in San Mateo County to be approved by the Department of Environmental Health Services Division to use fruits and vegetables grown in its own organic garden for preparation and food service in its school cafeteria. Under the supervision of Dr. Stewart Slafter, the 10,000-square-foot organic garden is maintained and operated by Sacred Heart students and faculty as part of its Environmental Science and Global Studies courses. In addition to feeding faculty, staff and students, food grown and harvested in the organic garden is donated to local charities like St. Anthony of Padua’s Dining Room in Redwood City and Sandwiches on Sundays in Menlo Park.

“Sacred Heart Schools is dedicated to providing a best-in-class learning experience for our students,” stated James Everitt, principal of Sacred Heart Preparatory. “The organic garden program and Michael J. Homer building give students a unique hands-on experience and insight into environmental sustainability, which will aid them as they grow up in a world where this issue is increasingly important. These accolades represent a much-appreciated recognition of Sacred Heart Schools’ on-going effort and commitment and will remind our students of the value they’re bringing the community. We’re thrilled to have been honored in this way.”

Platinum LEED for Schools Certification of the Michael J. Homer building was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact Sacred Heart Schools and the broader community. The two-story building, designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects and built by DPR Construction, Inc., encompasses 44,000 square feet and was built along an east/west axis to take maximum advantage of solar access and prevailing winds to reduce the cost of heating and cooling the building. The school building is designed to use 69 percent less energy than a typical school in the U.S. It features natural lighting and ventilation and use of renewable and recycled materials, including recycled cotton/denim used for insulation of the interior walls, 73 skylights throughout the building, solar panels and formaldehyde-free plywood and other wood products. Other environmentally friendly features include:

• Water Saving Plumbing: Water-efficient toilets and faucets reduce water consumption by over 40 percent.
• Photovoltaic Panels: A 40K photovoltaic system converts sun energy (sunlight and UV radiation) directly into electricity for the building.
• Living Roof: The roof, planted with native foliage, provides excellent insulation and reduces storm water runoff, while providing a habitat for native birds and butterflies.
• Water-Efficient Landscaping: Drought tolerant native plants reduce the amount of water consumption by over 50 percent.

“Sacred Heart Schools’ Platinum LEED for Schools certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and Sacred Heart Schools serves as a prime example of just how much we can accomplish.”

Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton (http://www.shschools.org) was founded in 1898 by the Society of the Sacred Heart and is located on a 63-acre campus in Atherton, California. It is the only accredited preschool through twelfth grade school in the Bay Area with a total enrollment of approximately 1070 students. SHS is a member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools with 21 schools in the United States and continues the educational mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart whose members serve in over 44 countries internationally.

National Forward-Thinking General Contractor Joins 100 Best Company List at #57, Marking 20 Years of Building Great Things Including a Great Place to Work

DPR Construction, one of the nation’s leading technical builders, kicks off its 20th anniversary year by ranking No. 57 on the 13th annual FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” list.

According to FORTUNE, the annual survey, conducted with the Great Place to Work© Institute, is the most extensive employee survey in corporate America, polling employees from companies nationwide about their company culture, credibility of management, respect for individuals, fairness, job satisfaction and camaraderie. In addition to the overall 100 Best Company list, DPR is ranked No. 6 among the top 10 Best Companies where employees feel “encouraged to balance their work and personal life.” DPR was also recognized for low turnover, annual pay, employee referral bonuses and fully paid sabbaticals.

“Making the FORTUNE 100 Best Company list is a huge honor for us, not only because we’re being recognized alongside a number of prestigious companies—some of which are customers—but most importantly because it means DPR employees are happy and enjoying what they do,” said Doug Woods, the “D” in DPR and president of DPR Construction. “You really can’t ask for anything better.”

Eighty five percent of DPR employees surveyed responded to the FORTUNE “Best Companies to Work For” survey, and those survey results accounted for two-thirds of DPR’s score. The other third of the scoring was based on responses to the Institute’s Culture Audit, which included detailed questions regarding pay and benefit programs, as well as a series of open-ended questions about hiring, communication, training and diversity.

Some notable DPR elements include:

• an open-office environment, where everyone including company co-founders and regional managers sit in low partition workspaces,
• title-less business cards to allow individuals to take on multiple roles and levels of responsibility,
• wine bars in every office used as a central gathering place for employee celebrations,
• customized wellness program for all employees that includes biometric screenings and a fitness reimbursement, and
• Phantom Stock program that allows employees to share in the financial performance of the privately held, employee-owned organization.

“When we founded DPR, we wanted to do something different; we wanted to build a company that really takes care of people—employees, their families, business partners and friends—and develop a culture centered around doing what is right for our projects and customers, and driving change in our industry,” said Woods.

Founded in 1990 by Doug Woods, Peter Nosler and Ron Davidowski (the D, P and R), DPR has grown to a multi-billion-dollar, national general contractor and construction manager that “exists to build great things” using four guiding core values: integrity, enjoyment, uniqueness, ever forward. DPR is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Following are some company highlights:

• 6,100 – Number of projects DPR has completed across the country for such world-class customers as Apple, Arizona State University, Banner Health, City of Hope, DreamWorks, Genentech, Hewlett-Packard, National Institutes of Health, Sutter Health, The Scripps Research Institute, U.S. Green Building Council and many others.
• <10 – Number of years it took DPR to reach the $1 billion mark in annual revenue.
• #33 – DPR’s current ranking among general contractors in the nation (ENR). DPR has ranked among the top 50 general contractors in the country since 1997.
• 0.93 – DPR’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordable incident rate for 2009. With an incident rate less than 1, DPR continues to set new industry standards in safety when compared to the national industry average of 5.4.

More than 200 Organizations Donate Time, Materials, Money to Complete Southface Eco-Office; Building Dedication

The “office of the future” opens today in Atlanta, introducing a building that saves approximately 61,000 gallons of municipal water annually and uses 53 percent less energy than comparable buildings. Scientists worldwide are expected to study the Southface Eco Office, which was constructed by a consortium of companies using widely available off-the-shelf products, materials and technologies.

The Eco Office is a three-story structure with a rooftop green roof. At 10,100 square feet, it is about the same size as 74 percent of commercial buildings in the U.S.

“The Eco Office demonstrates that small commercial buildings can be green and achieve high performance standards at a reasonable cost,” said Southface executive director Dennis Creech. “Our building design and construction teams have collaborated to make the Eco Office one of the greenest commercial buildings in the world.”

The Eco Office has achieved Platinum LEED® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It has also qualified for ENERGY STAR and EarthCraft Light Commercial certifications, and meets The 2030 Challenge launched by the non-profit group Architecture 2030.

Along with being an office building, the Eco Office serves as a demonstration and training facility, showcasing the possibilities for high-performance buildings to reduce operating costs.

Southface measures the Eco Office’s performance through a Lucid Design Group’s Building Dashboard®, which presents real-time and historical data on the facility’s resource use including electricity consumption; daily kilowatt hours of electricity produced onsite through its photovoltaic solar array; daily gallons of water consumed and saved; current rainwater levels in the building’s above- and below-ground cisterns; and more.

The energy usage model projects the building will use 53.3 percent less energy than a comparable code-built building which puts it among the top 9 percent of such U.S. buildings.
Strategies and products that accomplish these energy savings include:

• Site orientation to maximize daylighting.
• Louvers on the building’s south and east sides to control glare, minimize solar heat gain in the summer and maximize it during the winter.
• A high-performance thermal envelope with insulated concrete form walls.
• A 6.4-kilowatt photovoltaic canopy which has produced ~7 percent of the building’s energy over the last 12 months.
• Electrochromic glazing to shade east-facing windows. This glazing uses a low-voltage electrical current to switch clear glass to dark while preserving views.
• A 1,937-square-foot extensive green roof, which reduces the urban heat island effect, stormwater runoff and energy demands.
• Super-efficient fresh air ventilation that uses an evaporative cooler, energy recovery ventilator and liquid desiccant system to remove moisture and capture waste heat.
• A high-performance lighting system.

Captured rainwater saves energy by cooling the air-source heat pump condensing units. Each kilowatt-hour of electricity saved saves approximately 1 gallon of water from being evaporated at a power plant.

The Eco Office also uses 84% less water by eliminating the use of potable water for sewage conveyance and irrigation, saving ~61,000 gallons of municipal water annually. Saving potable water also saves the energy needed to treat and pump water.

More than 200 organizations donated products and services to the project. Creech cited the exceptional cooperation and green building know-how of partners Lord, Aeck & Sargent (architect) and contractor consortium members, normally competitors - DPR, Hardin, Holder, R.J. Griffin, Skanska, and Winter.

“The Eco Office demonstrates the considerable depth of talent and expertise that exists within the Atlanta building design and construction community,” he said.

About Southface

Southface is the Southeast’s non-profit leader in the promotion of sustainable homes, workplaces and communities. Please visit Southface at http://www.southface.org
. # # #
Trademark Notes:
LEED® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council.
Building Dashboard® is a registered trademark of Lucid Design Group.

Landmark Regional Medical Center Project for Sutter Health Breaks New Ground in Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), Building Information Modeling (BIM)

DPR Construction, a forward-thinking national commercial contractor and construction manager, announces the start of construction on the new $320 million Sutter Medical Center, Castro Valley to replace Eden Medical Center. The project includes a 230,000-sq.-ft. hospital with 130 acute-care beds and a 34-bed universal care center. Targeting LEED certification, the project is utilizing, for the first time, an 11-party Integrated Form of Agreement (IFOA) in which the owner, architect, general contractor, key design consultants and trade partners are all co-signatories of the agreement and part of a core Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) team. (In previous uses of the IFOA, only the owner, architect and general contractor signed the agreement and formed the core team.)

“We’re breaking new ground not only on a ‘next generation’ medical center to provide the foremost care to the community but also on how projects are delivered using a highly integrated approach and Building Information Modeling (BIM),” said George Hurley, project executive for DPR Construction, which is serving as the general contractor for the project. “Our goal as an IPD team is to design and deliver a facility of the highest quality, at least 30 percent faster than comparable projects in California, and for no more than the target cost. We’re also taking BIM to new levels with model-based estimating. This is truly a breakthrough project in health-care construction.”

The new medical center, designed by the Phoenix-based Architect, Devenney Group Ltd., will include all private rooms within the hospital, as well as a Level 2 Trauma 20-bed Emergency Department, Diagnostic Imaging, Interventional Services, Intensive Care and Women’s Services. An official groundbreaking ceremony was held on Wed., July 1, the same day DPR began demolition of a vacant apartment building located on site, and construction crews are currently clearing away deconstruction debris, as well as working on the relocation of the helipad.

Some of the notable design and construction strategies being used on the project include:

• Value Stream Mapping, a lean tool, which the IPD team used to plan and streamline the design process. The result: Typical time to design a comparable facility is 24 months. The team delivered complete designs in 15.5 months to meet regulatory deadlines for an on-schedule construction start.
• BIM used to coordinate all elements of the project virtually and maximize the offsite fabrication and pre-assembly. In addition, DPR is using model-based estimating, allowing estimates to be generated rapidly and giving the team greater access to real-time cost information.

The first new medical center in Alameda County to be built in compliance with California’s earthquake safety law, SB 1953, the project is also one of the first to use California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development’s (OSHPD) phased plan review system. Using this system, the team is accelerating the permitting process and overall schedule by nearly 12 months.

With an anticipated hospital opening scheduled for January 2013, the project will have up to 350 people working on site at the height of construction over the next three years. Following the opening of the new facility, DPR will begin demolition of the adjacent existing hospital, which will remain fully operational throughout the Sutter Medical Center, Castro Valley project.

USGBC Recognizes Autodesk San Francisco Design Gallery and Office Space; Second LEED Platinum for Commercial Interiors in California

Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) announced that its Autodesk Gallery at One Market in San Francisco and newly renovated office space in the historic Landmark Building at One Market has received Platinum certification in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) rating system. The Autodesk offices are one of only four Platinum-certified projects in San Francisco, and second in the state of California under the commercial interiors rating.

General contracting firm, DPR Construction, and law firm Hanson Bridgett, and Design firms Anderson Anderson Architecture and HOK worked with Autodesk to renovate the space using an integrated project delivery (IPD) approach—an emerging business model in the building industry that allows the entire extended team to collaborate and efficiently drive projects toward their best outcomes. Using the Autodesk Revit platform for building information modeling (BIM), the integrated team was able to exchange highly accurate project data very early in the design process and optimize the sustainable design elements in the building, such as natural daylight, and using recycled content.“

While IPD requires high levels of collaboration, BIM serves as a decision-making platform that facilitates collaboration and makes IPD possible,” said Phil Bernstein, FAIA, Autodesk vice president of industry strategy and relations. “These are concepts that we believe will change the future of the industry, and we felt it was important to use both of these methodologies as we are also advocating their use to our customers.”One of only a handful of IPD projects across the globe, the San Francisco renovation overcame many of the common obstacles in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries, including material waste and procedural inefficiency. This IPD approach enabled the teams to fast-track the design and construction schedule and achieve the ambitious LEED Platinum certification.

“We are excited for the entire project team that the Autodesk office space in San Francisco has achieved LEED Platinum certification,” said Marc H. Flax, Associate AIA, senior vice president and director at HOK San Francisco. “From the beginning stages of this IPD project, the extended team agreed contractually to share both the risks and rewards of this ambitious project. LEED Platinum certification was a goal and certainly qualifies as a huge reward. This level of collaboration and sustainable design is something that we want to repeat on future projects.”

In the LEED Platinum space is the Autodesk Gallery at One Market, which showcases the work of Autodesk customers and illustrates the role of software in great design and the process that takes an idea and turns it into a reality. The Gallery highlights over 20 highly visual projects, such as the California Academy of Sciences, a Ford Shelby GT500, an 8.5 foot LEGO dinosaur and the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge seismic retrofit. The Gallery is a location where designers can discuss the latest in technology and be inspired by others' work.

Autodesk also completed the first IPD project in New England, a 65,000-square-foot office building in Waltham, Massachusetts, that contains the headquarters for its AEC industry group and the Autodesk Gallery Boston. Using the Autodesk Revit platform, the architecture and contracting firms were able to create coordinated, digital design information and documentation, and use that information to more accurately predict energy performance, as well as appearance and cost. Autodesk is in the process of seeking Platinum LEED for Commercial Interiors and LEED Gold Certification for core and shell. The Autodesk Gallery Portland highlights customer examples from the manufacturing industry and exhibits the most advanced Digital Prototyping technology for the automotive and transportation, consumer product and industrial machinery markets. The Autodesk Gallery Portland has recently received LEED certification.

The Autodesk Gallery at One Market is open to the public on the first Wednesday of each month from 1 to 5 p.m.

About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc., is a world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art Digital Prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.

Fortune Achieves Top Energy-Efficiency Metrics at New San Jose Facility; Estimates Annual Energy-Efficiency Savings at $4 Million and Reduction of CO2 Emissions by 27,000 Tons Annually; Awaiting LEED Gold Certification

Fortune Data Centers, which provides premium wholesale data center space for corporate customers, announced today that the company has commenced operations of a new highly energy-efficient, 'green' data center in Silicon Valley, despite an industry slowdown of new development due to the economic downturn and lack of available financing.

"There is a continuing demand for high quality datacenter space in Silicon Valley," said Dan Golding, vice president and research director, Tier1 Research. "The current recession has dried up new datacenter supplies while pushing enterprises to outsource their datacenter requirements to specialist firms. The direction of the Bay Area market is clear: higher utilizations now and higher prices in 2010 - smart buyers will lock in as soon as possible."

Fortune Achieves Top Energy-Efficiency Metric

Fortune's new facility, located at 2001 Fortune Drive in San Jose, delivers superior energy efficiency as measured byPower Usage Effectiveness (PUE) - a standard developed by The Green Grid(TM) consortium. PUE is determined by dividing the total facility power by the IT equipment power - the lower the resulting ratio, the more efficient the data center.

During independent testing through a Level 5 Commissioning Process, the data center achieved a PUE of 1.37 at full load, an energy-efficiency level far superior to the industry average data center PUE of 2.0, and better than the EPA's 2011 target PUE of 1.45 for state-of-the-art enterprise-class data centers.

The company estimates that moving IT load from a legacy data center to Fortune's facility would result in reduced annual electrical consumption of 40 million Kilowatt-hours, enough to fully power 3,800 average U.S. homes. In economic terms, Fortune estimates this energy reduction will save tenants over $4 million per year in energy costs. In environmental terms, removing 40 million Kilowatt-hours from the U.S. grid reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 27,000 tons annually.

According to Fortune Data Centers' CEO John Sheputis, "We are thrilled to bring this facility online. To be able to fund, construct, commission, and lease a project of this size in this economic climate is a true indication of the underlying strength of local data center market. I consider the Phase I facility to be among the largest, most powerful, and most energy-efficient data centers ever to be developed in Silicon Valley."

Fortune's Energy Efficiency Results from Rethinking Traditional Data Center Cooling Methods

Data centers traditionally rely on raised floor to deliver cold air to servers. The cold air is forced up to the IT equipment through the raised floor; this requires considerable fan horsepower to push the cold air high enough to reach servers at the top of a standard rack or cabinet. By contrast, Fortune has eliminated the raised floor and instead supplies cold air from an overhead plenum, with insulated ducts for hot air return. Taking advantage of the natural density of cold air andthe buoyancy of hot air significantly reduces the power required for air distribution. In addition to the energy savings, mounting cabinets directly on the floor reduces installation cost, increases seismic stability, and removes weight
constraints.

Other key efficiency features include the use of ambient cooling to supplement and optimize chilling capacity. Fortune has installed 5 high efficiency cooling towers to supply 3,500 tons of cooling capacity, greatly increasing the central chilling plant efficiency.

Fortune also requires the use of contained hot / cold aisles in the data rooms. Eliminating the mixing of hot and cold air allows for better air pressure control, decreases waste, and further reduces needed fan horsepower.

Fortune Applies for LEED Gold Certification

In addition to designing the facility to be energy-efficient, Fortune has worked with DPR Construction and other partners to adhere to sustainable construction and operational methods, as described in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Program (LEED) of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Fortune has submitted all required documentation for its San Jose data center to achieve a Gold rating under the LEED Certification for Commercial Interiors, Major Renovation. Upon certification, Fortune San Jose could become the first operational data center in California to achieve the LEED Gold certification.

According to DPR Construction, approximately 96% of construction waste was diverted from landfill, meaning 1,137 tons of material were either recycled or re-used on site. LEED points were earned for use of regionally sourced and recycled content of the construction materials. Furthermore, all paints, adhesives, sealants, and coatings were low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound).

Facility operations are controlled by a state-of-the-art Building Management System with extensive power and environmental metering. Refrigerants are non-CFC based, and cleaning materials are LEED compliant. In addition, lighting is motion sensor controlled.

Key Data Center Features and Specifications

The recently completed initial phase provides 7.86 Megawatts of IT critical load over two data rooms consisting of 43,000 fully powered and usable square feet of IT floor space in a 78,000 square foot building. The facility was built with blade servers in mind, and will support a minimum energy density of 185 watts per square foot, more than adequate for the high density needs of cloud computing. When fully complete, Fortune San Jose is slated to consist of over 140,000 square feet in three buildings on a 9.26-acre campus.

The Phase I development was designed, built, commissioned, and will be maintained to the highest industry standards by the leading firms in the industry. Fortune partnered with DPR Construction, Rosendin Electric, Therma, and Dowler Gruman Architects. EYP Mission Critical Facilities, recently acquired by Hewlett Packard, led the Level 5 commissioning effort. Fortune's facility engineering and maintenance conform to ISO 9001 standards.

Fortune made significant investments in the property, including structural and seismic upgrades, allowing the building and systems to meet the FEMA "Essential Facility" standards. Power backup is provided by seven new Cummins diesel generators for 14.75 Megawatts of back-up power.

The Max Planck Florida Institute has selected the joint-venture partnership of The Weitz Company and DPR Construction, Inc. as construction manager to build its 100,000-square-foot biomedical research facility at Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) MacArthur Campus in Jupiter, Fla.

“The Max Planck Florida Institute will be a world-class facility for bioimaging research in Palm Beach County, and we feel this team had the specific experience and knowledge plus profound capabilities to deliver on this promise,” said Dr. Claudia Hillinger, Vice President of Institute Development for the Max Planck Florida Institute.

The team of Weitz and DPR were also responsible for building the 350,000-square-foot Scripps Florida campus, which is adjacent to the Max Planck Florida Institute site.

“The Weitz/DPR team looks forward to its role in building another chapter in the development of the life sciences industry in Palm Beach County. Being selected today is important in a context larger than the news of our companies being charged with the construction of the Max Planck Florida Institute building. This contract is an important step in building lasting relationships with world-class research institutes like the Max Planck Society and companies in this sector,” said Deborah Beetson, regional manager of DPR Construction’s West Palm Beach office.

Founded in 1855, The Weitz Company is a national full-service general contractor, design-builder and construction manager with 25 offices in the U.S. and Guam, including Florida offices in West Palm Beach and Hollywood. Locally, Weitz handled the construction of the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach and recent renovations to The Breakers in Palm Beach. Nationally, the company has completed Grinnell College Noyce Science Center in Grinnell, Iowa; Mayo Clinic Collaborative Research Building in Scottsdale, Ariz.; and the National Jewish Medical Research Center in Denver, Colo.

DPR Construction, ranked among the top 50 general contractors in the country for the last 10 years, is a national commercial general contractor with 15 offices around the country, including a West Palm Beach, Fla. office. With annual revenues in excess of $1.7 billion, DPR has the largest percentage of LEED-accredited professionals on staff of any general contractor in the nation and has been at the forefront of the green building movement, boasting a resume of more than $1 billion in green building projects.

Specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the life sciences, advanced technology, healthcare and corporate office markets, DPR is ranked as the second largest pharmaceutical contractor in the country by industry publication ENR. In addition to Scripps Florida, the company has been involved in 60 projects with The Scripps Research Institute over the last eight years. Other signature projects include the United Therapeutics, Solid Dose Manufacturing Facility in Raleigh, N.C.; the University of Virginia Foundation, Advanced Research and Technology Building in Charlottesville, Va.; the University of California, San Francisco Institute for Regeneration Medicine in San Francisco, Calif.; and the Genentech, Cell Culture Plant 2 Manufacturing Facility in Vacaville, Calif., a 450,000-square-foot expansion making it the largest biotechnology fermentation facility in the world.

The construction manager for the Max Planck Florida Institute was selected based on conditions and criteria set forth in the agreement with Palm Beach County, including experience in the construction of complex, major educational, institutional, industrial and research projects. The RFP specified that three of those projects should have been completed within the last 10 years, and each have a value of more than $50 million. Firms also needed to demonstrate experience in managing and executing LEED-certified projects, maximize involvement of local business and a 15-percent commitment to Small Business Enterprise (SBE) throughout the construction program.

Washington, D.C.-based Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, LLP is the architect for the facility. Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc., a financial and professional services firm, serves as the program manager that will oversee development and construction.

Construction on the Max Planck Florida Institute is expected to begin in the Spring 2010, and is scheduled for completion by Fall 2011.

About Max Planck Florida Institute

In March 2008, Max Planck Florida Corporation entered into an agreement with the Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade & Economic Development (OTTED) for $94 million from the Innovation Incentive Fund. In July 2008, the Board of Palm Beach County Commissioners unanimously approved the allocation of $86.9 million to build and operate a 100,000 square facility on six acres on FAU’s MacArthur campus in Jupiter, adjacent to Scripps Florida. The total value of the agreement with Palm Beach County and the partners in the deal, including FAU and the Town of Jupiter, is $94 million, which matches the amount from the State.

Germany’s Max Planck Society is an independent, non-profit scientific research organization. With an annual operating budget of $1.8 billion and 81 institutes located through the European Union and now in the United States, the Society pioneers research at the frontiers of human knowledge in the natural sciences, life sciences, and the humanities. It has 17 Nobel Prize Laureates to its credit since its inception in 1948, a staff of 13,000, and an additional 12,000 fellows of the International Max Planck Research Schools, doctoral students, post-doctoral students, assistants and visiting scientists.

Research at the Max Planck Florida Institute will focus on bioimaging, using the most advanced techniques to visualize microscopic molecular processes. Bioimaging provides a critical opportunity to translate discoveries of basic research into clinical and patient-oriented applications, which can ultimately be used to help improve medical diagnostics and medical care. The Florida-based institute plans to collaborate with Scripps Florida on health-oriented research applications, and has established relationships with FAU and other universities, as well as with the Palm Beach County K-12 School District and Palm Beach Community College to enhance and advance bioscience programs at all levels of education.

The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County anticipates that Max Planck Florida will support the creation of more than 1,800 jobs --- both directly and indirectly --- over the next two decades, and generate more than $2 billion in economic activity.

SAMCEDA, The Voice of Business on the Peninsula, announces the recipients of the 2009 Awards of Excellence program for individuals, businesses, organizations, and public agencies in San Mateo County. For more than 50 years, SAMCEDA’s Awards of Excellence program has recognized the outstanding achievements, innovations and contributions of individuals, businesses, organizations and public agencies in San Mateo County. The 2009 Awards of Excellence program honored 6 winners in 6 distinct award categories: Business, Clean & Green, Public Agency, Community Service, Start-Up Company and the ‘David D. Bohannon Memorial Award of Excellence.’ Apart from the awards presented to businesses, organizations and agencies, the Bohannon Award is presented to an individual demonstrating significant leadership and success though their contributions to the local economy and the quality of life in San Mateo County. SAMCEDA, coordinator and sponsor of the Awards of Excellence program, believes that by recognizing these individuals, companies, agencies and organizations whose actions and examples serve as a model for “best practices,” both in business and in life, others will be inspired and encouraged to strive for this same standard of excellence in their own endeavors. The winners were announced at the awards event luncheon held March 25, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City, CA.

SAMCEDA ‘AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE’ 2009 WINNERS

DPR Construction, selected as the winner of the Business Award of Excellence. This award is presented in recognition of the innovation, good management and overall success of a business, or one of its departments or subsidiaries.

DPR Construction, ranked in the top 50 general contractors in the country for the last 10 years, is a national commercial general contractor headquartered in Redwood City, CA, with annual revenues in excess of $1.45 billion. DPR has the largest percentage of LEED-accredited professionals on staff of any general contractor in the nation and has been at the forefront of the green building movement, boasting a resume of more than $1 billion in green building projects. Every DPR project that has obtained LEED certification has diverted a minimum of 75% of its waste from landfills. Over the past 12 years, DPR employees have volunteered their time and support to Rebuilding Together, and on April 28, 2008, sponsored National Rebuilding Day. More than 150 DPR employees and their families helped restore schools, community centers and homes including the Coastside Parent’s Nursery School in Half Moon Bay.

SAMCEDA’ S Leadership In County Economic Development Efforts

SAMCEDA, the San Mateo County Economic Development Association, involves members businesses, individuals, and civic leaders in a collaborative effort with local, regional, and state officials to ensure the preservation and advancement of commercial activity, creativity and innovation; economic vitality; and social wellbeing as core priorities for San Mateo County and its communities.

SAMCEDA works to influence public policy on key issues including expanding housing to meet workforce needs, integrating the regional transportation system, establishing an internationally competitive education system, standardizing permit streamlining and regulatory reform, while preserving open space, and perpetuating the cultural and ethnic diversity of San Mateo County.The impact of SAMCEDA’s advocacy and action is evident in each of these critical areas of focus.

• SAMCEDA successfully advocated for and realized the defeat of Measure W in Redwood City in the November, 2008 election.
• SAMCEDA supported the passage of Prop 1A and has been active in facilitating stakeholder scoping sessions focused on the build out of the San Francisco – San Jose segment of the High-Speed Rail line through San Mateo County.
• SAMCEDA has played a pivotal role in both advocating for and disseminating information to its members regarding environmental legislation AB 32 and SB 375, holding multiple educational forums on AB 32 and meeting directly with MTC officials to discuss SB 375 and its implications for business, housing and transportation in San Mateo County.
• SAMCEDA is part of the Bay Area Work Recovery coalition whose charge is to advocate for the allocation of Federal stimulus funds to San Mateo County and Bay Area infrastructure, transportation and reinvestment projects critical to California.
• SAMCEDA recently concluded a research project focused on identifying economic, political and social factors that inform the location, growth, success and retention of knowledge-based start-up businesses in San Mateo County.

DPR Construction and RSP Architects’ project for the Arizona State University Polytechnic Academic Complex has been recognized by Engineering News-Record (ENR), and the 11 Regional Publications of McGraw-Hill Construction, in its first annual Best of the Best Awards, titling it as the Best of the Best 2008 – Best Green Building in the U.S. In December, the project was awarded winner of Southwest Contractor Magazine’s Best of 2008 Public “Green” Project in Arizona.

The national competition recognizes design and construction excellence based on regional winners of ENR’s 11 regional publications' Best of 2008 Awards. Out of 225 regional winners, just 23 were chosen by an independent jury of construction professionals as national winners. The projects were judged for innovation, contribution to the community, aesthetic quality, and craftsmanship. ENR’s award comes on the heels of the 11th annual Southwest Contractor competition, which recognizes construction and design excellence in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. The ASU Polytechnic Academic Complex was among 22 winning projects selected from 650 entries by an independent jury of design and construction professionals.

The design of the 245,000-sq.-ft. Polytechnic Academic Complex in Mesa contains four Arizona State University academic colleges and includes laboratories, classrooms, faculty offices, a lecture hall and a fine arts performance space. Situated on a decommissioned air force base, the project is seeking LEED® for New Construction (LEED-NC) Silver certification.

By integrating photovoltaic panels, recycled concrete, and recycled building materials in its construction, the project utilized innovative techniques to make use of Arizona’s abundant sunlight, while simultaneously protecting students from the heat. The new buildings were completed through the collaboration of RSP Architects, Lake|Flato, and DPR Construction, Inc. in June 2008.

Arizona State University is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and creating sustainable environments for its students, said Todd Raven, ASU project manager. “The facilities are an example of that commitment, and we are delighted to see the efforts and talents of RSP Architects and DPR Construction being recognized nationally.”

NOTE: LEED®-NC (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – New Construction) is an accreditation given by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) The USGBC grants certificates based on a stringent rating system that recognizes design and construction processes that minimize negative impact on the environment.

About DPR Construction, Inc.

DPR Construction, Inc. (http://www.dprinc.com) is a unique technical builder with a passion for results. With an established goal of having a proven track record of being environmentally responsible in the way we do business, DPR provides the committed expertise and disciplined leadership required to deliver highly complex and sustainable projects in Life Sciences, Education, Advanced Technology, Healthcare and Corporate Office Construction.

A privately held, employee-owned company, DPR was founded in 1990 and has grown to more than $1.7 billion in annual revenue, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation and a story of “great” entrepreneurial success. With a backlog of more than $2 billion worth of technically demanding and sustainable projects currently in preconstruction or under construction across the country, DPR is building for world-class customers, including: Arizona State University, Amgen, Banner Health, Bayer, Catholic Healthcare West, City of Phoenix, Covance, Digital Realty Trust, eBay, General Dynamics, Jones Lang LaSalle, Kaiser Permanente, Pixar, Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Salt River Project, sanofi-aventis, The Scripps Institute, TGen/IGC and the University of Arizona.

The firm’s 226-person Arizona office has been “building great things” since 1994, and with more than $257 million worth of work underway, is ranked as the 9th largest general contractor in Arizona.

About ASU Polytechnic

Arizona State University offers technical and professional programs that provide a project based, hands-on learning experience for students at the Polytechnic campus. Programs are available in business administration, education, arts and sciences, technology and engineering. Visit us online at http://www.poly.asu.edu

In 16 Weeks, DPR Converts Norcross Warehouse into Facility for Clean Energy Production

DPR Construction, one of the nation’s leading technical builders serving the advanced technology, life sciences and healthcare markets, announces the completion of Georgia’s first solar cell manufacturing facility. DPR managed the design/build services of the new Norcross facility for Suniva, a high-efficiency clean energy solar cell manufacturer. DPR completed the facility’s 30,000sq.-ft. Photovoltaic cell production space and 15,000 sq.ft. of office space in four months.

The building team began work on the high-tech project July 1, and in a period of 16 weeks, converted an empty warehouse into a fully operational facility. Suniva began production of solar cells while DPR was still in the final stages of construction, and produced the facility’s first solar cell Oct. 23, 2008 — just 115 days after DPR began work on the project.

“Our team worked in two shifts for a total of 18 hours each day, six days a week, to meet the project’s strict schedule,” said Andy Andres, regional manager for DPR. “It takes an incredibly dynamic group to build such a complex project in record time, and we’re proud to have met the ambitious challenge that Suniva presented us.”

DPR managed the design and construction of the facility’s high-tech structures, including such advanced elements as high-purity water systems, on-site waste treatment systems, chemical delivery systems, chemical bunker and high-purity piping. To build the complex systems, DPR used unique materials, including epoxy flooring coatings, Teflon-lined stainless-steel ductwork and double-contained welded polypropylene piping.

Constructing the project’s specialized systems presented several challenges, including last minute changes to duct work requested by insurers, nonspecific drawings of laboratory equipment and having to coordinate intricate installation within a small space—all while meeting the project’s tight schedule.

“It was like a ballet because we had to dance around each other. Tools were coming in the door and we were still putting up the ceiling,” said Jack Poindexter, project manager for DPR. “But when you’re moving that fast, the schedule has zero flexibility and you have to work together as a team to get the job done.”

Another important element of the project’s success was DPR’s design/build partnership with architecture firm Perkins+Will. Because the laboratory’s foreign-made equipment required precise coordination between the design and build teams, DPR worked closely with project architect Rob Noma of Perkins+Will to solve problems and ensure they successfully adapted the plans into reality. “I’ve never had a better architect-contractor relationship, and that made the difference,” Poindexter said. “This project was a one-of-a-kind office and lab facility, so having the right team was crucial.”

Because Suniva’s facility is one of only 3 or 4 solar cell manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and the first of its kind in the U.S. (and the first new one in many years), DPR had no prior experience building a solar cell facility. However, the building team’s experience with constructing somewhat similar high-tech facilities, such microelectronic manufacturing facilities for some of the world’s leading companies, enabled them to successfully break new ground.

“As a builder of highly technical projects, we’re often presented with unique situations and building facilities that have never been built before under tight deadlines,” said Andres. “Facilities such as Suniva’s are right in our ‘sweet spot’ and are just the type of challenging projects we love to build. We hope this facility will spur further growth of Georgia’s clean energy community.”

About DPR Construction

DPR Construction, Inc. is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology, life sciences, healthcare and corporate office markets. Founded in 1990, DPR has grown to more than $1.5 billion in annual revenue, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation and a “great” story of entrepreneurial success. The privately held, employee-owned company serves customers nationwide and has built projects—both large and small--for such world-class companies as Apple, Bayer, Digital Realty Trust, Genentech, HCA, Kaiser Permanente, Oracle, Pixar, Rockwell International, Sun Microsystems and Sutter Health. For more information, visit http://www.dprinc.com

About Suniva

Based in Atlanta, Suniva develops, manufactures and markets high-value crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells for clean solar power generation. The company has an exclusive license to critical patents and patent-pending intellectual property developed by founder and CTO Dr. Ajeet Rohatgi at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s University Center of Excellence in Photovoltaics, the nation’s premier silicon PV research center. In addition, the company’s deep process know-how and unique approach to
manufacturing delivers leading solar cell performance while dramatically cutting the cost of PV-generated electricity. For additional information, please visit http://www.suniva.com

Design/Build Team Begins Site Preparation for $85 Million Facility

Some of the best minds in the construction industry—DPR Construction, Inc., SmithGroup and Forell/Elsesser Engineers—have joined forces to build a structure that will house some of the best minds in scientific research. DPR, SmithGroup and Forell/Elsesser have recently been awarded the $85 million, 75,000-sq.-ft. University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Institute for Regeneration Medicine project located on the Parnassus campus. With site preparations beginning at the end of this month, the new facility, when complete in mid 2010, will support 25 UCSF scientists and their teams in their goal to understand the basic biology of stem cells and to translate those discoveries into medical therapies for presently incurable diseases and debilitating injuries.

DPR Project Executive George Hurley said that the core team of DPR, SmithGroup and Forell/Elsesser won the UCSF project—designed by New York architect Rafael Viñoly—based on its combined expertise and experience in green construction, building information modeling (BIM) and integrated project delivery (IPD), a progressive delivery approach that incorporates lean construction principles and has proven to reduce waste while maximizing efficiency and ensuring quality.

“We ultimately won this competitive project,” added SmithGroup Principal Marianne O’Brien, “because we proved to UCSF our commitment to protect and preserve the intentions of Rafael Viñoly’s design and still find a price-competitive way to deliver the project.”

SmithGroup Principal William Diefenbach went on to say, “This is a very challenging design concept, and the opportunity to bring it within budget for UCSF, one of SmithGroup’s best clients, is one of the main reasons we chose to engage in this endeavor.” Another reason, he added, “is the fact that this building will house truly world-class research in a rapidly growing field.”

-Project Challenges:
The Institute for Regeneration Medicine—which will be comprised of wet laboratories, laboratory support and offices—will be perched on a steeply sloping hillside on the campus, complicating the construction of the foundation system and general access to the site. “The building will also be base isolated, which means it will be seismically designed to move laterally a maximum of 26 inches during a significant earthquake with little or no damage,” said Simin Naaseh, president and CEO of Forell/Elsesser.

Team Approach:
“Much like all good laboratory design, which cultivates collaboration and interaction among the building’s occupants,” said Hurley, “the core team is taking an integrated approach for this momentous project, drawing upon the principles of lean construction and using the latest building information modeling technologies to meet the schedule and budget and deliver a world-class facility for breakthrough scientific research.” Added Diefenbach: “The proposed team is a great partnership between firms and individuals based on shared values and a foundation of trust.”

The UCSF Institute for Regeneration Medicine is also targeting LEED® Silver certification and includes a green roof that canvasses the laboratory spaces. DPR and SmithGroup, who have worked on a combined $6.1 billion worth of green projects, will be using energy modeling, a computer-based tool to simulate the energy use of the building, to help design/build sustainability into the UCSF project and reduce the building’s energy load by a targeted 20 percent below California Title 24 requirements.

DPR, SmithGroup and Forell/Elsesser were awarded the project days after the UCSF Institute for Regeneration Medicine received a $34.9 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), which was founded in 2005 following the passage of Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. The UCSF project is one of 12 planned facilities that were awarded a total of $271 million in funds by CIRM’s governing board. That figure, combined with an additional $560 million from those institutions’ charitable donations and internal reserves, brings the total statewide investment in new stem cell research space to $831 million, according to CIRM.

About DPR Construction, Inc.
DPR Construction, Inc. (http://www.dprinc.com) is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology, biopharmaceutical, healthcare and corporate office markets. Founded in 1990, DPR has grown to more than $1.5 billion in annual revenue, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation and a “great” story of entrepreneurial success. The privately held, employee-owned company serves customers nationwide and has built projects for such world-class companies as Apple, Bayer, Digital Realty Trust, Genentech, HCA, Kaiser Permanente, Oracle, Pixar, Rockwell International, Sun Microsystems and Sutter Health.

About SmithGroup

SmithGroup (http://www.smithgroup.com) is one of the nation's leading architecture, engineering, interior design and planning firms. The firm employs a staff of 800 throughout 10 U.S. offices located in San Francisco; Los Angeles; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Chicago; Detroit; Madison, Wis.; Minneapolis; Phoenix; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; and Washington, D.C. SmithGroup is composed of client industry-focused practices serving the science & technology, university, healthcare and workplace markets. Recent work includes UCSF Mission Bay Cardiovascular Research Building and Genentech Hall, as well as Helios Energy Research Facility and the Molecular Foundry, both located in Berkeley, Calif. Established in 1853, SmithGroup is the longest continually operating architecture and engineering firm in the U.S.

About Forell/Elsesser

Forell/Elsesser Engineers (http://www.forell.com) is an award-winning structural and earthquake engineering firm with experience in all aspects of structural engineering and seismic design, providing cost-effective and innovative design solutions for more than 47 years. The firm is a known leader in the application of new research findings and innovations, including seismic base isolation systems, buckling restrained braced frames and passive damped systems. Recent and similar projects include the UCSF Mission Bay “Rock Hall” biotechnology building; UC Berkeley’s nanotechnology building “CITRIS”, the base isolation of Genentech’s CCP2 Manufacturing facility in Vacaville, and the original LBNL Human Genome Laboratory. Forell/ Elsesser Engineers are proud members of the U.S. Green Building Council and have been at the forefront of structural engineering in providing services that promote the design, construction, and operation of buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.

Following a nationwide review of general contracting companies, DPR Construction, Inc. has been selected by the American Institute of Architects for a major renovation of the AIA’s national headquarters in Washington, D.C. DPR Construction will partner with the AIA and Studios architecture to use a fully integrated project delivery (IPD) process enhanced by building information modeling (BIM) to reduce waste, maximize efficiency, and ensure quality throughout all phases of design and construction of the project.

DPR Construction was awarded the renovation contract for the AIA’s 180,000-sq.-ft. building, located at 1735 New York Ave. N.W. in Washington, D.C., due to the company’s leadership in IPD, BIM and sustainable construction, according to Marnique Heath of Studios Architecture, the firm that has been named the architect of record for the renovation project and part of the contractor selection jury.

The AIA headquarters building was originally designed by The Architect’s Collaborative, a firm founded by Walter Gropius, one of the most innovative and influential architects of the 20th century. First occupied in 1973, the building is located a few blocks from the White House.

According to Chris Gorthy, preconstruction manager for DPR Construction, Inc. on the AIA project, the IPD approach combined with BIM and sustainability on the AIA project will forever change current delivery methods for future design and construction. The headquarters renovation also will provide a 21st century example of a sustainable workplace that other architects and building construction companies, as well as the general public, can emulate. The AIA plans to reduce its fossil fuel usage by 60 percent at the time of completion via the use of passive and active mechanical systems. The project will be a stepping stone for the AIA and will provide the means to achieve the ultimate goal: to be carbon neutral by the year 2030.

The project may use photovoltaic panels, wind turbines or geothermal systems, among other strategies to satisfy electrical demand. The project also looks to harvest 100 percent of the rain water falling on the site to reduce demand for potable water and ease the city’s overstressed sewer system.

“All of us at DPR Construction are thrilled and honored to have been selected by the AIA for this once-in-a-generation project,” Gorthy said. “Sustainable design and construction is clearly one of the most important architectural movements of our time, and we look forward to helping the AIA achieve its vision of the world of the future.”

The AIA headquarters renewal project will be overseen by DPR Construction’s Falls Church, Va., office. The company’s other notable projects in the region include the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center for the Library of Congress in Culpeper, Va., a headquarters consolidation project for U.S. Pharmacopeia in Rockville, Md., a medical office building renovation for Kaiser Permanente in Frederick, Md., a data center renovation for Digital Realty Trust in Ashburn, Va., and a solid-dose manufacturing facility for United Therapeutics in Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.

Construction on the AIA project is tentatively scheduled to start late spring/early summer of 2009, with completion expected by the end of 2011.

Redwood City, Calif.-based DPR Construction, Inc. (http://www.dprinc.com), founded in 1990, is one of the world’s leading general contractors within the “green” movement and was ranked the fifth “greenest” contractor by Engineering News Record in 2007. The company, which specializes in technically challenging and sustainable projects, is also a recognized leader in Integrated Project Delivery, defined by the AIA as an approach that integrates people, systems, business structures and practices into a process that collaboratively harnesses the talents and insights of all participants to optimize project results, increase value to the owner, reduce waste and maximize efficiency through all phases of design, fabrication and construction.

Nearly 30 percent of DPR Construction’s professional staff is LEED®-accredited by the U.S. Green Building Council, the highest percentage of any general contractor in the United States. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-accredited professionals have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles, and the LEED Rating System.

About The American Institute of Architects

For over 150 years, members of The American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. By using sustainable design practices, materials, and techniques, AIA architects are uniquely poised to provide the leadership and guidance needed to provide solutions to address climate change. AIA architects walk the walk on sustainable design. Visit http://www.aia.org/walkthewalk

Forward-Thinking Technical Builder Welcomes Michael Lynch to Lead National Biopharmaceutical Core Market Group

DPR Construction, Inc., one of the nation’s leading technical builders and ranked the third largest pharmaceutical contractor in the nation by ENR magazine, announces the addition of industry veteran Michael Lynch to lead DPR’s National Biopharmaceutical Core Market Group. In his new role, Lynch is working with members from DPR offices across the country to enhance overall customer service, analyzing industry trends and the needs of potential and existing biopharmaceutical customers, which include such industry leaders as Bayer, Amgen, Genentech, Roche Molecular Systems, The Scripps Research Institute and United Therapeutics.

“This is a noble business,” said Lynch, who is passionate about the cures discovered and medicines produced in the facilities built by DPR. “The customers we have the opportunity to work with touch the lives of millions of people every day, delivering hope and promise. It’s rewarding to be a part of that process, and like them, we want to do everything we can to deliver the highest quality end products for our customers.”

Lynch, who has more than 40 years’ experience in mechanical engineering, comes to DPR from Kinetics Systems, Inc., the world’s leading provider of process and mechanical solutions. At Kinetics, Lynch most recently was the executive vice president of marketing and business development of the company’s pharmaceutical division before joining DPR.

“Having someone with Mike’s integrity, passion and depth of experience leading this important industry group will go a long way in helping DPR provide even better service to our biopharm customers around the country,” said Doug Woods, co-founder and the “D” in DPR. DPR currently has more than $780 million worth of biopharmaceutical projects either in preconstruction or construction.

About DPR Construction, Inc.

DPR Construction, Inc. is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology, biopharmaceutical, healthcare and corporate office markets. Founded in 1990, DPR has grown to more than $1.5 billion in annual revenue, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation and a “great” story of entrepreneurial success. The privately held, employee-owned company serves customers nationwide and has built projects for such world-class companies as Apple, Bayer, Digital Realty Trust, Genentech, HCA, Kaiser Permanente, Oracle, Pixar, Rockwell International, Sun Microsystems and Sutter Health. For more information, please visit DPR’s website at http://www.dprinc.com

Nation's Leading Technical Commercial Contractor Continues to Build Great Things, Including Great Regional Management Teams in the Bay Area

With the purpose of building great things—great teams, great projects, great relationships—DPR Construction, Inc., announces the elevation of Jody Quinton and Greg Haldeman to regional managers of DPR’s Redwood City and San Jose offices, respectively. Both professionals have more than 20 years of construction experience, and each has spent approximately 10 of those years with DPR.

Quinton, who joined DPR in 1997, has never delivered a project behind schedule and has personally worked on more than 20 ground-up structures, including projects for such customers as Nortel Networks, Sun Microsystems, Carnegie Institution of Washington and VMware. In her new position as regional manager, Quinton oversees all operations of the Redwood City office and works closely with DPR’s Redwood City Regional Management Team of Gavin Keith, Mark Thompson and Steve Spence.

Since joining DPR in 1997, Haldeman has worked on a wide range of projects, ranging from small tenant improvements and Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) projects to ground-up structures for such customers as PDI/DreamWorks, Stanford Medical Center and Novo Nordisk. As regional manager, Haldeman is supported by DPR’s San Jose Regional Management Team comprised of George Hurley and Scott Greubel.

Quinton and Haldeman are both U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) accredited professionals and graduates of the University of Illinois with degrees in Civil Engineering.

“These individuals represent some of the very best that DPR has to offer and will help shape the future of our organization,” said Doug Woods, co-founder of DPR. “We are at a very exciting time in our short history as we continue to identify and cultivate our next generation of leaders and provide opportunities for people to grow.”
DPR’s Redwood City and San Jose offices join DPR’s San Francisco office to form the company’s Bay Area region, which last year generated nearly 50 percent of DPR’s national $1.58 billion revenue. The region also has scored some of the highest employee satisfaction scores over the last several years with a 97 percent average job satisfaction rating on annual employee satisfaction surveys.

About DPR Construction, Inc.

DPR Construction, Inc. is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology, biopharmaceutical, healthcare and corporate office markets. Founded in 1990, DPR has grown to more than $1.5 billion in annual revenue, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation and a “great” story of entrepreneurial success. The privately held, employee-owned company has 10 offices across the country and has built projects for such world-class customers as Apple, Bayer, Digital Realty Trust, Genentech, HCA, Kaiser Permanente, Oracle, Pixar, Rockwell International, Sun Microsystems and Sutter Health. For more information, please visit DPR’s website at http://www.dprinc.com

ISPE, a global not-for-profit association of 25,000 pharmaceutical manufacturing professionals, along with INTERPHEX and Pharmaceutical Processing magazine, named Genentech's Oceanside Product Operations Facility the overall winner of the 2007 Facility of the Year (FOYA) Awards during the Keynote Session at the November ISPE 2007 Annual Meeting held in Las Vegas, Nevada, US.

Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and commercializes biotherapeutics for significant unmet medical needs. Genentech received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensure in April to manufacture bulk Avastin® (bevacizumab) drug product at the Oceanside Facility. Avastin® is the first FDA-approved therapy designed to inhibit angiogenesis, the process by which new blood vessels develop and carry vital nutrients to a tumor.

Genentech's Oceanside Facility was named the overall 2007 Facility of the Year Award winner largely due to the Design-Build Hybrid approach and people-oriented execution focus the team delivered – on time and under budget. It is a facility that features unique innovations, design advancements, and quality attributes, including large-scale modular construction (super skids), an advanced degree of automation systems, a high level of system integration, flexibility and adaptability within the manufacturing building, and expandability of each functional area.

“This award serves as great recognition of the teamwork and quality of work of the many people who have contributed to bringing this facility on line to produce Avastin® for thousands of cancer patients,” stated David Broad, Vice President and General Manager of Genentech's Oceanside Campus.

Genentech's Oceanside Facility was selected Overall 2007 Facility of the Year Award winner by a judging panel consisting of nine prominent industry professionals. It was one of five Category Winners:

• Cook Pharmica, LLC, located in Bloomington, Indiana, US, selected as winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Facility Integration
• Genentech, located in Oceanside, California, US, selected as winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Project Execution
• Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., located in Shanghai, China, selected as winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Project Execution Regional Excellence
• Taiyo Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., located in Takayama City, Japan, selected as winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Equipment Innovation
• Vetter Pharma-Fertigung GmbH & Co. KG, located in Ravensburg, Germany, selected as winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Process Innovation
• The Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) program recognizes state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing projects that use new and innovative technologies to enhance the delivery of a quality project, as well as reduce the cost of producing high-quality medicines.

Now in its fourth year, the awards program effectively spotlights the accomplishments, shared commitment and dedication of individuals in companies worldwide to innovate and advance pharmaceutical manufacturing technology for the benefit of all global consumers.

The deadline for submissions for the 2008 Facility of the Year Awards program is 30 November 2007. The on-line submission form can be accessed at 2008 FOYA On-line Submission Form. For complete information about the awards program and submission procedures please visit http://www.facilityoftheyear.org

About ISPE

ISPE, the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, is the Society of choice for 25,000 pharmaceutical manufacturing professionals in 90 countries around the globe. ISPE aims to be the catalyst for "Engineering Pharmaceutical Innovation" by providing Members with opportunities to develop technical knowledge, exchange practical experience, and collaborate with global regulatory agencies and industry leaders. Founded in 1980, ISPE has worldwide headquarters in Tampa, Florida, US; its European office in Brussels, Belgium; and its Asia Pacific office in Singapore. Visit http://www.ISPE.org for additional Society news and information.

About INTERPHEX

The INTERPHEX Conference and Exhibition is the world's largest gathering of professionals and technology providers for the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, now in its 29 th year. Scheduled for 26-28 March at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, the 2008 exhibition will feature more than 950 exhibitors, an expanded conference program, and a high-profile roster of industry professionals and speakers. INTERPHEX is the world's most trusted source for insight into issues, education, products and services, with a wealth of innovative strategies and solutions for company and project success. For information, visit http://www.interphex.com

About Pharmaceutical Processing

Pharmaceutical Processing magazine is the pharmaceutical industry's leading information provider, reporting on a full range of innovative new products, equipment, technology and trends for 31,000 engineers and managers responsible for the development, manufacture, validation and packaging of pharmaceuticals. An official sponsor of INTERPHEX, Pharmaceutical Processing distributes critical information to these professionals in a timely manner through a full range of print, electronic and on-line media. For information, visit http://www.pharmpro.com

Award recognizes environmentally friendly construction and design

The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University has garnered the highest designation for environmentally friendly design and construction from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The platinum certification for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” (LEED®) was issued for Building B, which opened in 2006. This marks the first time a building in Arizona has received the platinum award.

Building A, which opened in 2004, received gold-level certification. The two buildings were constructed separately, but are connected on all levels by glass walkways.

The USGBC granted the certificates based on a stringent rating system that recognizes design and construction processes that minimize negative impact on the environment. So far, there are 40 platinum and 257 gold LEED certified buildings in the United States. ASU President Michael Crow has called for all new construction at the university to meet LEED standards.

“The certifications of both buildings A and B send a message that ASU leadership cares about the health of the buildings’ users and employees. Everyone’s comfort, safety and well-being will benefit from the fresh air and natural daylight,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC.

The Biodesign Institute facilities were designed by architectural team of Gould Evans+Lord, Aeck & Sargent. They were built via a joint venture of Sundt Construction and DPR Construction. Certification assistance was provided by Green Ideas. In addition to LEED certification, the team’s work won Biodesign the 2006 Lab of the Year award from R&D Magazine.

At 172,000 square-feet, Building A was funded by university capital funds and opened in 2004. It earned a gold-level LEED certificate, despite being a fast-track construction project that originally had not targeted certification. Experience from raising Building A was incorporated into Building B, making it possible to earn the platinum-level certificate. The slightly larger Building B, at 175,000 square-feet, was completed in 2006, utilizing funding from a 2003 Arizona legislative appropriation to support infrastructure improvements at the state’s three universities.

“Our research attempts to imitate nature’s design. So in constructing our facilities, we strove for minimal impact on the natural environment that inspires us,” said George Poste, director of the Biodesign Institute.

Featuring large expanses of glass, the facilities attempt to bring the scientific source of inspiration indoors. All offices have views of a Sonoran Desert garden. A central atrium skylight runs the length of both buildings, allowing natural light to infuse all four levels.

Environmentally friendly features range in scale from site and urban planning to interior finishes. The facility entry is near the new light-rail station set to open in 2008. Overall the project exceeded LEED criteria for use of recycled materials, at 15 percent, including aluminum ceiling panels, recycled-content carpet and rubber stairwell flooring. A construction waste management plan reduced landfill construction waste by more than 60 percent.

The facilities foster cross-disciplinary interaction to support the Biodesign Institute’s goals. Its height was limited to four levels to encourage using stairs, rather than elevators. Glass-walled laboratories and office space offer transparent views of each other and the atrium that separates them. This design encourages researchers to cross public spaces, which provides ample opportunities for impromptu meetings in the spacious hallways and stairwells.

“The idea of the atrium was bold for a university, where space is at a premium,” said Barbara Hendricks, project manager, Gould Evans.

Larry Lord, FAIA, LEED AP, is a science principal with Lord Aeck & Sargent. “What we created was the idea of a large connecting space, or as we call it, a three-dimensional collaborative space,” he said. “So, all the floors are associated with an atrium that goes north and south, and then in the future, east and west so that everyone is connected in a bigger sense within the buildings.”

The Biodesign Institute’s master plan includes two additional east-west buildings, which will bring the total space to nearly 800,000 square feet.

The facilities represent the largest investment in biotech research infrastructure in Arizona. The investment is paying off. The institute is the largest generator of federal biomedical research funding in the valley. Its research integrates biology, medicine, engineering, nanotechnology and advanced computing in new ways to inspire new solutions to disease, injury, sustainability and security.

Other green elements to the institute include:

• Fly ash – a waste by-product of coal burning power plants – was used to offset the energy demands of a typical concrete structure.
• A reflective roof membrane and high-albedo paving materials mitigate the Phoenix area’s urban heat island effect.
• A 5,000-gallon irrigation water cistern collects air conditioning condensate water, which eliminates the use of potable water in landscape irrigation. Rain water from the roof and paving are routed directly via pipes to the drought-resistant native desert landscaping.
• Low-flow lavatories, kitchen sinks, showers and waterless urinals use 30 percent less water than conventional fixtures.
• An exterior shading system on south and west facades controls unwanted heat from the hot desert sun.
• The top portion of the interior shade louver system is automatically controlled to maximize daylight penetration by reflecting diffuse light onto the ceilings.
• Office occupancy sensors automatically control artificial lighting, reducing both lighting energy demand and associated cooling loads. These strategies reduce energy use by 29 percent.
• Terrazzo floors were made with locally available materials, including area river rock. This pays tribute to the Salt River that flowed through the site long ago.
• Ozone-friendly refrigerants were used to help mitigate ozone depletion.
• An innovative variable-volume exhaust system was designed in place of a conventional, constant-volume system, reducing energy demand associated with meeting laboratory ventilation requirements in the desert.
• A two-week flush-out was performed to improve indoor environmental air quality before occupying the building.

About the Biodesign Institute at ASU

The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University is focused on innovations that improve health care; provide renewable sources of energy and clean our environment; outpace the global threat of infectious disease; and enhance national security. Using a team approach that converges the biosciences with nanoscale engineering and advanced computing, the goal is to find solutions to complex global challenges and accelerate these discoveries to market. The institute also educates future scientists by providing hands-on laboratory research for more than 250 students per semester. For more information, visit: http://www.biodesign.asu.edu/

About the U.S. Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation's leading coalition of corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations working together to transform the way buildings are designed, built and operated. Green buildings are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Since its founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 7,700 member companies and organizations, an 85-person professional staff, a broad portfolio of LEED® green building products and services, the industry's popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo and a network of over 70 local chapters, affiliates and organizing groups.

About Lord, Aeck & Sargent Architecture

Lord, Aeck & Sargent is an award-winning architectural firm serving clients in scientific, academic, historic preservation, arts and cultural, and multi-family housing and mixed-use markets. The firm’s core values are responsive design, technological expertise and exceptional service. In 2003, the Construction Specifications Institute awarded Lord Aeck & Sargent its Environmental Sensitivity Award for showing exceptional devotion to the use of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials and for striving to create functional, sensitive and healthy buildings for clients. In 2007, Lord, Aeck & Sargent was one of the first architecture firms to adopt The 2030 Challenge, an initiative whose ultimate goal is the design of carbon-neutral buildings, or buildings that use no fossil-fuel greenhouse gas-emitting energy to operate, by the year 2030. Lord, Aeck & Sargent has offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Atlanta; and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. For more information, visit the firm at http://www.lordaecksargent.com

About Gould Evans

Gould Evans is a multi-faceted design firm, providing architecture, planning, graphic and interior design to a range of public and private clients. Since the firm’s founding in 1974, Gould Evans has grown to more than 200 professionals in eight offices. The Phoenix office, formed in 1996, has grown to a staff of 40 and emerged with an award-winning portfolio of projects, 85% repeat client ratio, and reputation for unique, fresh design solutions. We believe in the power of superior design, but more importantly, we believe in the power of the collaborative process. For more information, visit http://www.gouldevans.com

About Sundt Construction Inc.

Tempe-based Sundt Construction Inc. is the 65th largest construction company in the United States. The employee-owned company is a highly diversified provider of construction services and has won more national Build America Awards for construction excellence than any other contractor in the United States. Sundt currently has 71 LEED-accredited professionals. The company builds projects for both public and private clients, including buildings of many types; roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects; and projects to support national defense initiatives such as military family housing and a variety of operational facilities. For more information visit http://www.sundt.com

About DPR Construction Inc.

DPR Construction Inc., a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager, consistently ranks in the top five percent of general contractors in the country in its four core markets of advanced technology, biopharmaceutical, corporate office and healthcare. The privately held company currently has more than 185 LEED-accredited professionals, making it a leader among general contractors with the highest percentage of professionals on staff accredited and trained in green building. DPR also is the sixth largest laboratory, research and biopharmaceutical builder in the nation. The firm’s 130-person Arizona office has been “building great things” since 1994 and, with more than $112 million worth of work under way, is ranked one of the largest general contractors in Arizona. For more information, visit http://www.dprinc.com

The joint venture team of Sundt Construction, Inc., and DPR Construction, Inc. has won a 2007 Aon Build America Award for construction of Building B at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University. Build America Awards are often referred to as the “Oscars of the Construction Industry.” Sundt/DPR will receive the award during the Associated General Contractors of America annual convention in San Antonio, Texas on March 23.

Build America Awards showcase the best of construction, recognizing outstanding contractors building America’s buildings, bridges, roadways and municipal and utility construction.

The Sundt/DPR joint venture was chosen for the award due to its overall excellence in project management and completion of the research facility, including its success at taking ownership of the institute’s distinct challenges, overcoming those challenges, and meeting goals.

The 183,000-square-foot Building B combines many of ASU’s top biomedical science programs, including research efforts in biotechnology, information technology, manufacturing, technology transfer and workforce development in one location. To complete the project on a timeframe that would allow ASU to fully utilize the laboratory for recruitment purposes and initial research, Sundt/DPR adopted a fast-track construction plan using phased documentation. This allowed the joint venture to deliver biotechnology and nanotechnology laboratories approximately one year faster than could have been accomplished using more conventional approaches.

The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University was designed by the team of Gould Evans Associates and Lord, Aeck & Sargent Architecture. The state-of-the-art facility was recently recognized internationally by R&D Magazine as the 2006 Laboratory of the Year.

Sundt Construction, Inc., is a diversified company that builds projects for private and public clients throughout the United States. It has offices in Tempe, Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; and San Diego, Sacramento and Novato, Calif.

DPR Construction, Inc., is forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology, biopharmaceutical, health care and corporate office markets.

About The Biodesign Institute at ASU

The Biodesign Institute at ASU fuses research in biology, engineering, information technology, and cognitive science to accelerate discoveries into beneficial uses. The institute currently is pursuing innovations in healthcare, national security and environmental sustainability. For information, visit http://www.biodesign.asu.edu or call (480) 727-8322.

About Sundt Construction, Inc.

Tempe-based Sundt Construction, Inc., is one of the 100 largest construction companies in the United States. The employee-owned company builds projects for both public and private clients, including buildings of many types; roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects; and projects to support national defense initiatives such as military family housing and a variety of operational facilities. For more information visit http://www.sundt.com

About DPR Construction, Inc.

DPR Construction, Inc., a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager, consistently ranks in the top five percent of general contractors in the country in its four core markets of advanced technology, biopharmaceutical, corporate office and healthcare. Completing more than $2 billion worth of biopharmaceutical projects, DPR is the sixth largest laboratory, research and biopharmaceutical builder in the nation. The firm’s 130-person Arizona office has been “building great things” since 1994 and, with more than $112 million worth of work underway, is ranked one of the largest general contractors in Arizona. For more information, visit http://www.dprinc.com

About Lord, Aeck & Sargent Architecture

Lord, Aeck & Sargent is an award-winning architectural firm serving clients in scientific, academic, historic preservation, arts and cultural, and multi-family housing and mixed-use markets. The firm’s core values are responsive design, technological expertise and exceptional service. Lord, Aeck & Sargent has offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Atlanta; and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. For more information, visit the firm at http://www.lordaecksargent.com

About Gould Evans

Gould Evans is a multi-faceted design firm, providing architecture, planning, graphic and interior design to a range of public and private clients. Since the firm’s founding in 1974, Gould Evans has grown to more than 200 professionals in eight offices. The Phoenix office, formed in 1996, has grown to a staff of 40 and emerged with an award-winning portfolio of projects, 85% repeat client ratio, and reputation for unique, fresh design solutions. We believe in the power of superior design, but more importantly, we believe in the power of the collaborative process. For more information, visit http://www.gouldevans.com

Genentech's Oceanside Product Operations Project (NIMO) Wins Top Honors in Project Execution Category

Five pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities located in China, Germany, Japan, and the United States have been selected as Category Winners in the third annual Facility of the Year Awards competition sponsored by ISPE, INTERPHEX, and Pharmaceutical Processing magazine. New enhancements to this year’s awards program include naming winners in five specific categories. The companies and respective award categories include:

• Cook Pharmica, LLC, located in Bloomington, Indiana, USA, selected as winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Facility Integration
• Genentech located in Oceanside, California, USA, selected as winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Project Execution
• Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., located in Shanghai, China, selected as winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Project Execution Regional Excellence
• Taiyo Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., located in Takayama City, Japan, selected as winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Equipment Innovation
• Vetter Pharma-Fertigung GmbH & Co. KG located in Ravensburg, Germany, selected as winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Process Innovation

The Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) competition recognizes state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing projects that utilize new and innovative technologies to enhance the delivery of a quality project, as well as reduce the cost of producing highquality medicines. Now in its third year, the Awards program effectively spotlights the accomplishments, shared commitment, and dedication of individuals in companies worldwide to innovate and advance pharmaceutical manufacturing technology for the benefit of all global consumers.

"There is something truly remarkable and innovative about every single submission," said Scott Ludlum, ISPE's Director of Business Initiatives. "The five Category Winners hail from four different countries. This diversity demonstrates that the Awards program is a true reflection of the global nature of the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry," said Ludlum.

Each of the submissions was reviewed by an independent, blue-ribbon judging panel of global representatives from the pharmaceutical design, construction, and manufacturing sectors.

"The addition of Category Winners to the 2007 Awards program significantly improved the competition and effectively enabled the judges to properly acknowledge those facilities that stood out and deserve special recognition," stated Andy Skibo, 2007 Judging Panel Chair, and Vice President Corporate Engineering and Capital Projects for Amgen. Those Category Winners are:

Facility of the Year Award Winner in Project Execution: Genentech

Genentech’s Oceanside Product Operations (NIMO) project is located in Oceanside, California, USA. Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes biotherapeutics for significant unmet medical needs. Upon U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensure, which is expected in the first half of 2007, the facility will have 90,000 liters of capacity for the production of Avastin® (bevacizumab), a therapeutic antibody for the treatment of various forms of cancer. The six-building, 500,000-square-foot, master-planned campus features manufacturing, laboratory/office space, a warehouse, central utilities, and a "spine" inter-connecting space. The Oceanside Product Operations facility currently employs approximately 580 people.

A team consisting of the owner, engineering company, architect, and general contractor was formed and developed an innovative project delivery approach that is best described as "Design-Build Hybrid." Civil, architectural, and structural work were executed design-bid-build, and mechanical, electrical, process, and instrumentation and controls (I&C) were completed design-build under the management of the general contractor. In order to achieve consistency in project standards and quality, the owner, architect and general contractor all unanimously selected an engineering company to oversee all engineering performed by the design-build subcontractors in the mechanical, electrical, process, and I&C engineering disciplines. Largely due to this Design-Build Hybrid approach and people -oriented execution focus, the team delivered the base project on time and under budget.

Architect/Designer: Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects, San Diego, California, USA
Engineering: Clark, Richardson & Biskup Consulting Engineers, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
General Contractor: DPR Construction, Inc., San Diego, California, USA

Facility of the Year Activities in 2007 include:

There will be several opportunities to meet the 2007 Facility of the Year Award Winners and learn first-hand about the facilities being honored as "best in their class." These events include:

INTERPHEX2007 – Meet the Category Award Winners at the Facility of the Year Exhibit located in Hall 3D, Upper Level, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. This is the opportunity to meet personally with representatives from companies of the Category Winners to discuss the success stories associated with these pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. To register, or for more information, visit http://www.interphex.com

ISPE Facilities Summit – Learn about case studies from 2007 Category Award winners during ISPE’s Facilities Summit taking place in Arlington, Virginia, from 4-7 June 2007. To register, or for more information, visit http://www.ispe.org

ISPE Annual Meeting – Learn first hand who the Overall Winner of the coveted 2007 Facility of the Year Award is during ISPE’s 2007 Annual Meeting taking place at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, from 4-7 November. For more information, visit http://www.ispe.org
. At each event, a Facility of the Year Awards display will feature 2007 Category Award Winners.

Additionally, comprehensive coverage and publicity initiatives will be conducted by ISPE and Pharmaceutical Engineering, INTERPHEX, and Pharmaceutical Processing.

A sell-out field of more than 110 golfers teed off at DPR Construction, Inc.’s first annual “Building Great Things” golf tournament held at Currahee Club in Toccoa, Georgia on Oct. 5, 2006. DPR Construction, Inc., a forward-thinking, national, commercial general contractor and construction manager, hosted the event, which brought in more than $45,000. All event proceeds are to benefit The American Red Cross Blood Services Southern Region, an organization committed to the humanitarian mission of providing the safest possible blood components for every patient in need of a life-saving transfusion.

According to DPR’s Andy Andres, the event brought together a mix of business partners with whom DPR collaborates on projects throughout the Southeast, including the 182,000-sq.-ft. blood processing and distribution facility currently under construction for the American Red Cross in Douglasville, Georgia. “Our sponsors really stepped up for this cause. The partnerships we cultivate in our business extend beyond the construction site into service to our community. We are helping to build great things, not just great buildings. We truly appreciate the contributions of our sponsors to make this tournament happen” said Andres. Major sponsors included SteelFab, Inc., MCI Enterprises, Inc., Georgia Specialty Constructors, Inc., Walker Door Company and A.L. Grading Contractors, Inc., among others.

Steve Bartkowski, former All-Pro quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons and member of DPR’s Atlanta leadership team, also joined in the day, noting that “we live and do business in this community, and it’s to the benefit of all of us to give back.”

In addition to a great day of golf, players were provided the opportunity to sign up to donate blood. According to the Red Cross, there is an ongoing need for more donations in Georgia, which has more than 130 hospitals served by the organization. Last year, the Red Cross had to bring in more than 44,000 units of blood from other states to adequately supply hospitals across the state. Healthy people usually can give blood every 56 days and are eligible to donate if they are at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 pounds. To learn more about blood donation, call 1.800.GIVE LIFE (1.800.448.3543).

About DPR:
A local builder with national capabilities, DPR Construction, Inc., has been “building great things” in the Southeast since 2000, for such notable customers as The American Red Cross, Digital Realty Trust, Trammell Crow Company and Wellstar. DPR specializes in technically demanding and sustainable projects in advanced technology, biopharmaceutical, healthcare and corporate office markets and has been recognized for its unique collaborative approach in both the national and local markets. DPR's Atlanta office is located at 5887 Glenridge Drive, Suite 300, Atlanta and can be reached by phone at 404.255.1280 or on the Web at http://www.dprinc.com

?Share the Dream? Construction Project Reaches Halfway Mark

DPR Construction, Inc. has announced that construction is complete on Phase I of the new San Dieguito Boys & Girls Club in Solana Beach, Calif. Known as the “Share the Dream” project, the $7 million renovation will encompass two phases of construction resulting in a new complex featuring state-of-the-art recreational and learning facilities for children. DPR is providing full general contractor services for the project, which is scheduled to be completed in April 2007. DPR began demolition and construction of the new facility in November 2005.

The Boys & Girls Club, recently renamed the “Barbara Harper Branch and Doug and Marianne Pardee Aquatics Center,” is located on three acres at 533 Lomas Santa Fe Dr. The club has been operating at that location since 1966.

The renovated facility, which will also serve as a community center, will feature a new 12,050-square-foot clubhouse, a computer lab, game room, homework room, gym and work-out facility, youth mentoring center, the Center for Healthy Lifestyles, and the 20,450-square-foot Pardee Aquatics Center with two pools.

Phase I of the expansion involved demolition of the club’s outdated clubhouse, a new pool for competitive meets and water polo matches, as well as a new main entrance and front parking lot. The first phase also included reinforcement of the retaining walls, a new pool equipment building and upgraded landscaping.

The second phase of construction is scheduled to start next month, according to DPR project manager Ian Pyka. Phase II encompasses the construction of new administration and aquatics offices, the new clubhouse, a landscaped playground, and renovation of the gym and current pool.

“The Share the Dream project is a labor of love for everybody involved in this project,” Pyka said. “One of DPR’s goals as part of our mission to be a most admired company by 2030 is to be as integral and indispensable as the Boys & Girls Club to the communities we operate in, so we are immensely proud to have played a role in this particular project. When completed, this center will have a very positive impact on the entire community, with results seen and felt by generations of kids and their families.”

DPR Construction, Inc. (http://www.dprinc.com) is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects. A privately held, employee-owned company, DPR has grown to more than $1 billion in annual revenue, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation. DPR’s San Diego office is located at 6333 Greenwich Dr. Other current San Diego projects include St. Augustine High School, Seacrest Village Retirement Communities, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Equity Office Properties’ Bridge Pointe Corporate Center, Senomyx, Cambridge Healthcare Center of San Diego LLC and Genentech.

The first phase of Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix Campus master plan, opens August 15th. Completion of this three-building redevelopment by the Design-Build Team of SmithGroup, one of the nation’s leading architecture, engineering, planning and interiors firms, and DPR Construction, Inc., a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager, create ASU’s fourth campus. This new campus in the heart of downtown Phoenix combines academic excellence with a dedication to the community: socially, economically and culturally, defining an “urban downtown student life.” Classes begin August 21st for students in the College of Nursing, College of Public Programs, including the Schools of Public Affairs, Social Work, and Community Resources and Development, as well as University College, with the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and KAET-TV/Channel 8 expected to follow in fall 2008.

The three-building redevelopment needed to be ready for students this fall, was completed in approximately 15 months through the design-build delivery method, performing architectural and engineering tasks simultaneously during the construction process. The redevelopment took place at University Center, located at 411 N. Central Ave. (280,000 sq. ft.), the Nursing & Healthcare Innovation building, located at Third and Taylor Streets (80,000 sq. ft.), and portions of the Mercado, located at Seventh and Van Buren Streets (16,000 sq. ft.). Arizona State University is also celebrating the opening of the Residential Commons located directly east of the University Center at First and Polk Streets.

As the nucleus for ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus, SmithGroup strove to create open spaces in the University Center. By removing walls and adding the signature lobby stair, the University Center renovations create a successful flow of students, faculty and tenants. These design implementations add both visual and physical connectivity to the space. In addition to the conversion of offices to teaching spaces, the mechanical systems previously located in the University Center were removed, allowing the lower level to accommodate the Information Commons, a library and resource center. Previously the First National Bank of Arizona, the University Center incorporates several historic elements into the new fabric of the building. The bank vault and the columns from the original structure are visible on the lower level. By incorporating these details, the renovations of the University Center honor the past, while adding a new layer of function and efficiency to the downtown campus.

Renovations to the Nursing & Healthcare Innovation building and the Mercado converted office space into mediated classrooms, a laboratory, administrative and public areas. The Nursing & Healthcare Innovation structure was given a new exterior skin while the Mercado spaces were modified to accommodate clinical teaching spaces for incoming nursing students.

Combined square footage for these renovations exceeds 360,000 feet with a design-build cost of $40 million. A large percentage of the budget was used to improve and replace building infrastructure including a majority of the mechanical, electrical and life safety systems.

The ASU Downtown Phoenix campus opens on August 21, 2006 to approximately 4,000 students and 600 faculty and staff. Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix, ASU’s newest campus provides an academically rigorous university experience in a vibrant, urban campus that is integral to the success of the community. The campus is expected grow to 15,000 students and 1,800 faculty and staff by 2020. The College of Nursing, College of Public Programs and University College serve as the anchor colleges for the downtown campus. The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Channel Eight KAET, Phoenix’s PBS affiliate, join the campus in fall 2008. The ASU Downtown Phoenix campus is part of a larger plan with the City of Phoenix to revitalize the city’s urban core into a 24/7 city where people live, work and entertain, and it further demonstrates ASU’s pioneering vision to become the New American University – a gold standard for the American research university.

The City of Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the U.S. with a population of 1.5 million residents. The city spans an area larger than Los Angeles, totaling 515 square miles. Phoenix is one of the largest employers in the state and its 14,000 employees provide municipal services out of 26 departments to area residents.

DPR Construction, Inc., a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager, consistently ranks in the top five percent of general contractors in the country in its four core markets of advanced technology, biopharmaceutical, corporate office and healthcare. DPR has more than $800 million worth of technically demanding and sustainable projects currently in preconstruction or under construction across the country for such world-class customers as Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Abbott Laboratories, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, eBay, HCA, Hewlett-Packard, Kaiser Permanente, Oracle, Pixar, Roche Molecular Systems, Sutter Health and Yahoo!. The firm’s 130-person Arizona office has been “building great things” since 1994 and, with more than $112 million worth of work underway, is ranked as one of the largest general contractors in Arizona. DPR has offices in Atlanta, Austin, Fairfax, Newport Beach, Phoenix, Redwood City, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose. For more information, visit http://www.dprinc.com

SmithGroup, Inc. (http://www.smithgroup.com) ranks as the nation’s 7th largest architecture and engineering firm (Building Design & Construction, July 2006) and employs 800. The firm is composed of client industry-focused practices serving the healthcare, learning, workplace and science & technology markets. SmithGroup has offices Ann Arbor, MI, Chicago, IL, Detroit, MI; Los Angeles, CA; Madison, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Phoenix, AZ; Raleigh-Durham, NC; San Francisco, CA; and Washington, D.C. Established in 1853, SmithGroup is the longest continually operating architecture and engineering firm in the U.S.

Do you know a business that could be a winner? The Greater Austin Chamber announces the finalists for the Sixth Annual Greater Austin Business Awards event that will be held Wednesday, August 30 from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Hilton Austin, 500 East Fourth Street.

Created in 2001, the Greater Austin Business Awards continues to set the standard for business excellence in the Greater Austin area. In the past, the Awards recognized only Chamber members. This year marks the first time that the Chamber will recognize companies across the entire Greater Austin business community including businesses in Georgetown, Leander, San Marcos, Buda and all other cities within the Central Texas region.

New additions to the Business Awards include an Environmental Award and a VIP reception which will be sponsored by Frost Bank. Finalists, judges and distinguished guests will honor those who make the awards possible. This year’s theme, “Summer in the City,” will feature local artists and music celebrating Austin at its finest.

The finalists have been selected, bringing these companies one step closer to winning. The awards will be given to small, medium, large and not-for-profit businesses in five categories: Community Relations, Innovation, Customer Service, Education and Environment. Finalists for the Freescale Non-Profit Award have also been selected.
And the finalists are:

Small Business:
Innovation- Biophysical Corporation; M3 Design, Inc; Watershed 5 Studios
Customer Service- Community TechKnowledge; Personal Wine by Pervino, Inc.; Red Velvet Events, Inc.
Education- Locke, Liddell & Sapp; Risas Y Sonrisas Spanish for Kids; Sprysoft Corporation
Community Relations- $usan $peaks; austinwoman Magazine; O’Connell Robertson & Associates
Environment- Habitat Suites Hotel; The Natural Gardner

Medium Business:
Innovation- ABC Pest & Lawn Services; Motion Computing, Inc.; Netspend Corporation
Customer Service- David Weekley Homes; Higginbotham & Associates; Truluck’s Seafood, Steak and Crab House
Education- University of Phoenix; Washington Mutual Bank
Community Relations- Fox 7; Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody; KXAN

Large Business:
Innovation- Silicon Laboratories, Inc.; Time Warner Cable; Yellow Cab
Customer Service- Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Hoover’s, Inc.; Texas Gas Service
Education- Bracewell & Giuliani; Wells Fargo
Community Relations- Applied Materials, Inc.; Temple-Inland, Inc.; Time Warner Cable
Environment- DPR Construction, Inc.; IBM Corporation; Texas Disposal Systems

Not-for-Profit:
Innovation- Capital IDEA;, City of Austin- Solid Waste Services; Rawson-Saunders School
Customer Service- Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority; TG; University Co-Operative Society
Education- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas; Housing Authority of the City of Austin; Star of Texas Fair & Rodeo
Community Relations- Assistance League of Austin; Impact Austin; Meals on Wheels and More

Freescale Non-Profit Award:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas
Meals on Wheels and More
Town Lake Trail Foundation

The Chamber thanks Media Sponsor: Austin American-Statesman. Title Sponsors: Freescale Semiconductor, Jackson Walker LLP and Wells Fargo. Sustaining Sponsors: Austin Energy, H-E-B and Wachovia, N.A. Contributing Sponsors: Colliers Oxford Commercial and Gameplan Marketing & Events. Partner Sponsors: Temple-Inland, Inc. and Time Warner Business Class. Thanks to Frost Bank for sponsoring the VIP reception.