The 36,000-sq.-ft. building is designed to bring construction and architecture professionals together to work and learn as a team. It also serves as a gathering place for members of the industry to meet and interact with each other and with students aspiring to join them in the industry.

The project is pursuing LEED Platinum certificaiton.

The project team installed 12 solar arrays at the school’s main campus and one at its satellite location in Chico, CA. The majority of the panels are mounted to canopies, carports and shade structures; additional panels are ground mounted.

Phase 3 allows Butte College to generate 6.381 million kWh per year, making it the country’s first grid-positive college.  Butte College is the largest solar producing college in the world with a system total of 4.5 megawatts of clean renewable energy generation capability.

Careful consideration of the site layout and grading allowed the team to conserve the proper adjacencies and site security while improving sustainability and significantly reducing site development cost. As a result of the initial planning process, the team was also able to reduce the construction schedule by two months.

The three-story, 66,000-sq.-ft., OSHPD Level 3 facility houses a diagnostic imaging center, non-invasive vascular lab, infusion center, endoscopy services and a pharmacy.

Despite significant changes to the electrical scope of work, DPR managed the schedule to achieve the original occupancy date for the customer’s move-in.

DPR held a training session with the city and its architect, Calpo, Hom and Dong, that included a Charette and a review of the existing facility. During the session, the customer was able to see potential value of using green building elements, many of which either had no initial cost difference over non-green materials or would produce cost savings in the long run turning the city's vision into reality. It was also important to the city, which is experiencing significant growth in its undeveloped area, that it not only promote sustainable building in new development, but lead by example.

The city quickly adopted the goal of targeting LEED® certification for the 40,000-sq.-ft. buildout of its new city hall, and with DPR's help both the architect and the owner began to drive toward implementing as many green building aspects as were possible for the project.

The end result of that effort was the first LEED-CI (Commercial Interiors) Certified city hall in Northern California and possibly statewide.

A one-stop counter was installed that streamlines processes such as getting building permits or passports. Additional features include meeting and conference rooms, city council chambers and large community meeting rooms. All totaled, the project earned 24 LEED® credits covering everything from building systems to educational signage. Just a few of the highlights include the following:

• A new white, single-ply roof was installed directly over the top of the existing built-up roof, lessening the need for cooling in the summer.
• More than 43 percent water savings were achieved due to the selection of water conserving plumbing fixtures.
• More than 77 percent of the construction waste generated from this site was recycled. That included more than 30 tons of existing materials that were removed and donated to Habitat for Humanity, while the existing HVAC units were removed and 98 percent of them were recycled.
• More than 53 percent shading was achieved by keeping the existing trees.
• All of the materials used were low emitting.
• The city has permanently installed building signage to point out various green aspects of the building. In addition, a building tour script has been written that includes details on the green aspects of the building and materials used in its construction, and the city in partnership with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District set up an energy efficiency information display in the main lobby of the permit and business development area.

Serving as construction manager, with the subcontracts held directly by the city, DPR kept the project on track despite myriad challenges along the way. Recycling and donating materials from the demolition also proved challenging, as did management of the cumbersome LEED certification paperwork, which required multiple parties involved to maintain documentation of the products and processes used.

The building is located in the center of the high-traffic campus. DPR’s project management team utilized the The Last Planner scheduling system to plan and phase the construction process to minimize campus interruptions and ensure student and faculty safety.

The project is targeting LEED Gold certification.

Highlighting the success and innovation achieved on this project was:

• An adaptable, solution-oriented project team that adjusted to changing cost factors to ultimately deliver a project that exceeded owner’s expectations;
• The delivery of a renewable building that achieived LEED Gold certification despite strict budget constraints; and
• Implementation of a “paperless” project management system.

Because of its unique nature, this 77,000-sq.-ft., two-story building was challenging in design and construction. It houses a diverse array of fine and performing arts spaces, ranging from a “black-box” performing arts theatre to music rehearsal rooms, photography labs and much more. The building has over 42 specialized instructional spaces, each of which was unique with its own specific construction requirements.

During the design phase, the preconstruction team comprised of DPR, architect, LPAS, and the owner faced a major challenge when the construction market was hit with a period of rapid cost escalation. The price tag for the project, which was to be funded under public bond monies, suddenly spiraled up several million dollars. Facing a deadline to obligate the bond funds, the school district looked to DPR to find solutions that would shave the extra cost to make the project buildable within its original budget.

The team met the challenge. One solution included an “out-of-the-box” approach to construct a new structure approximately 400 feet from the existing arts building rather than within its original footprint as had been planned. This option reduced the need to relocate occupants during construction and ultimately shaved approximately $1.5 million off project costs. The use of Building Informaton Modeling also saved $400,000 in architectural / structural change orders.   

The project received the "Energy Efficiency Partnership Program Best Practice Award in HVAC Design & Retrofit” from the  California Community College Chancellor’s Office. 

• Remodeled emergency department with five additional treatment bays for a total of 13 and a much larger waiting area
• 4,000-sq.-ft. addition to the obstetrics wing that increased the overall square footage by 50 percent, providing the ability to offer some private labor/delivery/recovery rooms
• 3,000-sq.-ft. renovation and 10,000-sq.-ft. addition of a new outpatient surgical support center.

"It was a very complex project that required good communication and customer service skills by the entire project team," said Fred Ford, assistant administrator for Sutter Tracy Community Hospital. "DPR began working with the nursing managers, hospital staff and management to game plan safety processes and procedures and prioritized the most important issues as a team even before project start. This helped establish a higher level of trust and rapport over the course of the expansion. DPR rates among the best of the general contractors I have worked with."

Urban development on a zero lot line is not without its challenges. With the lack of a material storage area, DPR developed a "just in time" material delivery system. Materials were delivered and installed on the day needed and not a moment before. In addiiton, the project team developed a site specific safety plan that ensured the safety and minimal disruption to the residents of an apartment complex that was in close proximtiy of the site. 

The Mercy Midtown Medical Center, DPR's second project for the developer, is occupied by more than 91 doctors representing a full range of medical specialties. The six-story, 122,000-sq.-ft. building includes diagnostic imaging technology, an onsite medical laboratory, electronic medical records, administrative offices, and specially designed exam rooms.

DPR's collaborative spirit was evident from the onset and sustained itself through the duration of the project to ensure the owner's and tenant's interests were of utmost concern. One of the most important aspects of the preconstruction efforts on the Midtown Medical Center was the early selection of quality MEP design/build subcontractors. The preconstruction time period was sufficient for owner-driven changes to take place without affecting the project schedule. With the exception of a few owner-driven changes early in preconstruction, there were zero change orders on the project.

One challenge to the team was that the project was constructed on a “postage-stamp” site with a zero lot line making space extremely tight. DPR had to be creative when scheduling subcontractors. Just in time deliveries to the site were required as there was nowhere to stage or store the materials.

Another challenge to the project team was a four month delay due to permitting issues and owner/tenant contractual negotiations. With the delay, the building enclosure activities had to be performed during the rainy season. Schedule activities had to be re-sequenced so that the building would be water-tight to proceed with drywall and other interior finishes. Despite these challenges DPR delivered another successful project, again exceeding the customer's expectations.

The expansion and renovation project nearly tripled the size of the existing emergency department. As part of the 12,000-sq.-ft. expansion, the hospital added a new main entrance, waiting area and 16 new treatment bays. Included in the renovation was the patient registration area and direct elevator access to the second floor surgery rooms from the emergency department. Outside the hospital, improvements were made to the central plant along with the parking lot to accommodate the increased volume of visitors.

The biggest challenge to the hospital was maintaining access to the facility during construction, as all the main entrances were closed during construction. To assure uninterrupted access by visitors, DPR constructed temporary entrances to the hospital and the ambulance/emergency entrance prior to the start of construction.

The centerpiece of the project is the Alex G. Spanos Heart and Vascular Center, a 121,130-sq.-ft., four-story (plus basement) building that will enhance Mercy General's cardiac and heart program. Also included is the complete remodel of the existing hospital's North Wing and additional work on the “Get Ready” projects.

The new building design features craftsman-style architecture with brick exterior skin and cultured stone accents. Additional elements include a unique “healing garden” and interior features designed to promote a healing atmosphere, including extensive use of natural lighting and features to reduce noise and enhance patient safety. Stained glass from an existing chapel will be removed and reused in a new chapel planned within the Heart Center.

Highlights of the project include: Cardiac Surgery and Cardiac Catheterization Center, Cardiopulmonary Conditioning Center, and Chapel and Healing Garden.

Sensitive to the concerns of neighbors and the existing operational facility, the team designed a foundation system that uses drilled auger cast-in-place piles rather than driven piles, for a less disruptive installation.

Due to the tight project site, the team faces logistical challenges ahead with tying the new heart center into the existing Medical Office Building via an underground tunnel, all while maintaining complete patient access and full operation of the existing facility.

Ultimately, the finished product will be well worth the wait and team effort: an architecturally stunning, state-of-the-art facility that will meet the growing healthcare needs of the Sacramento area.

The 91 bed, OSHPD approved facility is anticipated to be complete in 2013.

The two-story, Leed Certified office building includes a call center, data center, commercial kitchen and dining, fitness center, learning centers, high-tech audio/visual conference rooms, and disaster recovery operations.