View the original article from Del Mar Times
May 9, 2018 The City of Encinitas will be honored with a Public Works Project of the Year Award for its new Moonlight Beach Marine Safety Center (MSC). The award, which will be presented on May 24 by the American Public Works Association (APWA) San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter, was established to promote excellence in public works projects by recognizing the partnership between the managing agency, the consultant/architect/engineer team, and the contractor, who work together to successfully complete outstanding projects for the community. The City of Encinitas will also be celebrating the grand opening of its new Marine Safety Center at 6 p.m. on May 30, at Moonlight State Beach.
The MSC successfully competed against other structures in the $2 million-$5 million budget category for the honor of the award. Selection criteria included considerations such as the degree to which the project enhances a public service or facility; environmental concerns and actions for mitigation, enhancement, or avoidance during project development or construction; quality control, safety, value engineering, and construction innovation; and accomplishments under adverse conditions including weather, soil, traffic, site conditions, space, time budget, or other conditions over which there was no control.
Designed by Stephen Dalton Architects of Solana Beach, this two-story lifeguard station is carefully crafted to enhance safety operations and withstand its coastal environment. Its sweeping second floor walls and roof lines recall rescue boats and ocean waves while also allowing ample daylight to enter the facility. Operationally, the building acts as a "tool box" for lifeguards, with every space serving multiple functions and minimizing wasted space. Keeping the station size to a minimum resulted in more beach area for public use. Stephen Dalton Architects also designed the restroom/concession and garage structures built with the first phase of the Moonlight Beach renovation.
