In the 2017 CALIFORNIA HOME + DESIGN AWARDS presentation held in Yountville, CA, Asquared Studios received the Best Newcomer Overall in the Wine Country Awards category for MENDING WALL WINERY.
Congratulations to ASquared Studios! Learn more about the project here
Smith Consulting Architects Appoints Kristina Lekas as Director of Business Development SAN DIEGO, CA -- (February 28, 2017) – Kristina Lekas has been named director of business development at Smith Consulting Architects, announced Cheryl (Dennie) Smith, president of the San Diego-based planning, architecture and interior design firm.
In her new post, Lekas will develop and maintain relationships with clients, brokers and contractors to generate project leads, and create strategies and solutions designed to secure those new business opportunities. She is also charged with coordinating the company’s public relations activities, maintaining social media sites and attending industry functions. Additionally she will guide the firm’s design teams in developing and refining messaging, graphic design themes, and compelling reasons for using Smith Consulting Architects’ services through its market-focused teaming approach.
Prior to joining Smith Consulting Architects, Lekas served as evening operations manager for Bay Club Carmel Valley, one of San Diego’s premier athletic clubs, where she was employed for two years. There she was responsible for managing all aspects of the club’s operations, including fitness, spa, aquatics, tennis, childcare, yoga, Pilates, front desk and housekeeping. She provided daily coaching, recognition and training to employees and handled member complaints and emergency situations.
Previous career experience includes having served as business development manager for Modis, a San Diego IT and engineering staffing firm. Prior to that, she served as a recruiter for Insight Global, a provider of staffing and managed services.
Lekas graduated from the University of Oregon, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in political science and sociology, with minors in business and psychology. She also performed studies abroad in project management at the University of Westminster in London. She earned her certification in event management from San Diego State University.
Born and raised in Portland, Ore., Lekas currently resides in the San Diego community of Pacific Beach. In her leisure time, she enjoys traveling and participating in soccer and flag football.
About Smith Consulting Architects
Founded in 1988 by Cheryl (Dennie) Smith, Smith Consulting Architects is a full-service planning, architecture and interior design firm. In addition to corporate headquarters and office facilities, the firm has specialized expertise in retail, R&D, life science, medical, manufacturing and industrial facilities. Smith Consulting Architects is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and has extensive expertise in sustainable design. The firm is comprised of 25 design and support professionals, located at 13280 Evening Creek Dr., San Diego, CA 92128. More information about the firm can be found on the Web at
NCARB last year initiated a 14-institution, national pilot program to test the feasibility of offering an accelerated path to architecture licensing for qualified student-candidates. Two post-secondary, degree granting architecture schools in SoCal are participating - San Diego's NewSchool of Architecture and Design and Woodbury University (both here in San Diego and in Los Angeles). Critical to the success of the pilot is the ability of these schools to place IPAL participants in working practices - as either interns or "shadowers" - to fulfill the Architecture Experience Programs (AXP) requirements. To learn more, please visit www.ncarb.org/IPAL . If you firm is interested in taking on either (or both) an IPAL intern or shadower, please connect with the Chapter offices for details about the suitable contacts at each school.
Stephen Watson Joins Cavignac & Associates as Junior Account Executive
SAN DIEGO, CA -- (February 23, 2017) – Cavignac & Associates, a downtown San Diego-based risk management and insurance brokerage firm, has hired Stephen Watson as junior account executive, announced Jeffrey W. Cavignac, CPCU, RPLU, CRIS, company principal and founder.
Watson’s principle area of focus will be on professional liability. Initially he will be trained by senior management to service existing professional liability clients, educate them on areas of exposure and risk preventative measures, and recommend appropriate insurance coverage. He also will be responsible for identifying and contacting new business prospects, proposing marketing ideas, determining client ratings and issuing proposals, and documenting all material conversations with insureds and/or carriers regarding exposures and coverages.
Watson previously was employed as assistant manager of Walmart in Benner Pike Mall, located in State College, Pa. There he lead, trained and managed a team of associates; developed plans and tasks to execute day-to-day operations; facilitated a positive work environment in which employees would work well as a team; and regularly reported to upper management on what challenges arose in the course of work and how they were addressed and solved.
While there, he successfully completed a six-week management training program in Pittsburgh, Pa., where he learned to lead, train and develop associates to become more successful at implementing their job responsibilities.
Prior career experience includes having served two years as an administrative assistant for Levitzacks, Certified Public Accountants, located in downtown San Diego. He also completed a one-year internship as tournament coordinator for Future Champions Golf in San Diego.
Watson attended California Baptist University in Riverside, Calif., where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business management and, subsequently, a Masters degree in business administration, with a concentration on management.
A San Diego native, Watson currently resides in the San Diego community of Casa De Oro with his wife, Brittany. They have two dogs, Nala and Simba, who they enjoy taking to dog beaches and on walks around town. Watson also pursues golf, when time allows.
About Cavignac & Associates:
Founded in 1992, Cavignac & Associates is a leading risk management and commercial insurance brokerage firm providing a broad range of insurance and expertise to design and construction firms, as well as to law firms, real estate-related entities, manufacturing companies and the general business community. Company principals are Jeffrey W. Cavignac, CPCU, ARM, RPLU, CRIS, MLIS; James P. Schabarum II, CPCU, AFSB; Scott A. Bedingfield, AAI, CIC, CRIS; Patrick Casinelli, RHU, REBC, CHRS; Matthew Slakoff, CIC, CRIS; and Matthew Noonan, RHU, CIC, CHRS, CCWS. The firm employs a staff of 45 at offices located at 450 B Street, Suite 1800, San Diego, Calif., 92101. More information about the company can be found on the Web at www.cavignac.com.
Entering 2017, architecture billings slip modestly
Despite minor slowdown in overall billings, commercial/ industrial and institutional sectors post strongest gains in over 12 months
Contact: Matt Tinder 202-626-7462 mtinder@aia.org
Washington, D.C. – February 22, 2017 – The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) dipped slightly into negative territory in January, after a very strong showing in December. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the January ABI score was 49.5, down from a score of 55.6 in the previous month. This score reflects a minor decrease in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 60.0, up from a reading of 57.6 the previous month.
“This small decrease in activity, taking into consideration strong readings in project inquiries and new design contracts, isn’t exactly a cause for concern,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “The fundamentals of a sound nonresidential design and construction market persist.”
* Every January the AIA research department updates the seasonal factors used to calculate the ABI, resulting in a revision of recent ABI values.
Key January ABI highlights:
• Regional averages: South (54.2), Northeast (53.0), Midwest (52.4), West (48.8)
• Sector index breakdown: institutional (54.6), commercial / industrial (53.4), mixed practice (48.1), multi-family residential (48.1)
• Project inquiries index: 60.0
• Design contracts index: 52.1
The regional and sector categories are calculated as a 3-month moving average, whereas the national index, design contracts and inquiries are monthly numbers.
About the AIA Architecture Billings Index The Architecture Billings Index (ABI), produced by the AIA Economics & Market Research Group, is a leading economic indicator that provides an approximately nine to twelve month glimpse into the future of nonresidential construction spending activity. The diffusion indexes contained in the full report are derived from a monthly “Work-on-the-Boards” survey that is sent to a panel of AIA member-owned firms. Participants are asked whether their billings increased, decreased, or stayed the same in the month that just ended as compared to the prior month, and the results are then compiled into the ABI. These monthly results are also seasonally adjusted to allow for comparison to prior months. The monthly ABI index scores are centered around 50, with scores above 50 indicating an aggregate increase in billings, and scores below 50 indicating a decline. The regional and sector data are formulated using a three-month moving average. More information on the ABI and the analysis of its relationship to construction activity can be found in the recently released White Paper, Designing the Construction Future: Reviewing the Performance and Extending the Applications of the AIA’s Architecture Billings Index on the AIA web site.
About The American Institute of Architects Founded in 1857, the American Institute of Architects consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through nearly 300 state and local chapters, the AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. The AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. Visit www.aia.org.
February 2017 What is going on at AIA California Council?
As AIA|SD has the third largest membership in the state so proportionately we qualify for 3 delegates to the AIA California Council Board. This year our delegates are Dan Stewart, Steven Shinn, and myself. We attended the first board meeting for 2017 on Feb 10th which was a very interesting and engaging Board Meeting along with representatives of the other 21 AIA Component Chapters. Some of the topics presented and discussed included:
Your Advocacy Commissioner, Sandy Gramley, will continue to work closely with AIACC V.P. of Legislative Affairs and our Sacramento Lobbyists to craft an appropriate Advocacy Agenda to provide a voice for the architectural professional that reaches your state legislature and has positive impact on your businesses. AIACC’s Government Affairs and its political action committee lobby hard for fair laws and regulations regarding the built environment, promoting design and construction industry leadership, and advocating the vital role architects play in creating livable communities. I hope you will enjoy and benefit from the attachment from Dodge Data & Analytics.
I believe AIA at all levels of the Institute is providing significant benefits to the members, to society and to the built environment. I hope these initiatives will make the difference in attracting former AIA and other non-AIA members to join in and make our County an extraordinary case study in best practices.
Know that AIASD Executive Director, Bastiaan Bouma, is available to help you connect to the Chapter resources you need.
Sincerely,
Philip J. Bona, AIA 2017 President, AIA San Diego
Community planning groups are private organizations officially recognized by the City Council to advise the city on land use issues. It is essential to the success of recognized community planning groups that broad community participation be encouraged. To this end, the links to the monthly meeting agendas for community planning groups are provided below. The agendas contain information pertaining to meeting dates, times, locations, as well as a listing of informational and action items to be discussed at the meetings. Each community planning group sets its own monthly agenda and is responsible for providing it to the department for posting onto the web. Posting to the web is a courtesy notice and does not absolve the responsibility of each group to post the legal notice outside the place of the meeting 72 hours prior to the meeting. The City Planning & Community Investment department will endeavor to post the agendas for each individual planning group at least seven days prior to the meeting. All community planning group meetings are open to the public. For more information regarding a particular planning group meeting agenda, please refer to the Community Planning Group Contact List. View the agendas here
Be a part of the international Open House movement!
Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Team up with other design enthusiasts and become a volunteer for the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s newest program, Open House San Diego.
OH! San Diego gives San Diegans a brand new (and free) opportunity to learn and interact with our city through rare behind-the-scenes access to its most iconic buildings and sites.
By volunteering on the day of the event, you will meet new people with similar interests, learn more about our city and will play a part in promoting great design in San Diego.
By joining with New York and Chicago, San Diego proudly becomes only the third city in the United States to have the Open House program. Worldwide, there are thirty-seven Open House cities, reaching over 1 million people each year with their programs.
Review a detailed "FAQ" that should answer any questions you have about volunteering on the day of the event. Then sign up by filling out the online form. Please submit by February 22 to ensure your placement this year as a volunteer. An overview about OH! San Diego provides more information. The volunteer orientation is being planned for the week on February 27.
Any questions, please email maxine@sdarchitecture.org. Your volunteer participation is vital to making Open House San Diego happen and is greatly appreciated. Please join SDAF, our partners and dedicated directors and committee members in making Open House San Diego a spectacular success!
NEWS FROM: Cavignac & Associates
CONTACT: Bonnie Kutch, Kutch & Company, (619) 299-1010, bkutch@kutchco.com
Cavignac & Associates Celebrates 25 Years of Managing Risk
SAN DIEGO, CA -- (February 8, 2017) – Cavignac & Associates, a downtown San Diego-based risk management and insurance brokerage firm, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month, announced Jeffrey Cavignac, CPCU, ARM, RPLU, company president and principal.
A reputation for professional excellence and providing specific risk management services that are not customarily offered by its competitors has allowed the firm to maintain a strong standing within the insurance industry over past years, while laying solid groundwork for the future. Its guiding mission is to be a service-intensive, risk management-oriented insurance brokerage that puts its clients’ interests before its own.
Led by six principals, each of whom lends a specific area of industry expertise, Cavignac & Associates has been on a steady course of carefully mapped and managed growth, which has allowed the company to continually expand its range of insurance brokerage services. Veteran leaders include Jeffrey W. Cavignac, CPCU, ARM, RPLU, CRIS, MLIS; James P. Schabarum II, CPCU, AFSB; Scott A. Bedingfield, AAI, CIC, CRIS; Patrick Casinelli, RHU, REBC, CHRS; Matthew Slakoff, CIC, CRIS; and Matthew Noonan, RHU, CIC, CHRS, CCWS.
Together, their experience allows the firm to provide commercial insurance, risk control, construction surety bonds, employee benefits and personal lines. Its client base comprises design and construction firms, real estate-related entities, manufacturing companies, nonprofit organizations and the general business community.
“It made good sense for us to augment our commercial insurance services with a full spectrum of insurance offerings so clients could obtain all their insurance coverage from a single source,” said Cavignac. “More, it’s allowed us to take a holistic approach to lowering clients’ overall cost of risk. That is the concept behind our program we’ve branded the ‘TotalRISK Approach,” which involves four steps: Risk Analysis, Risk Control, Risk Finance, and Risk Governance.”
Cavignac & Associates officially was founded on February 11, 1992 – the day Cavignac walked out the door of the insurance firm he was working for at the time. Initially it was a one-man shop with no staff and no clients. But what Cavignac did have was a mission statement and a business plan.
The first year had its share of challenges. The economy in San Diego was weak and getting weaker, and the insurance market was spiraling downward. These factors, combined with the normal learning curve associated with a start-up business, made for an interesting first year.
Nevertheless, the fledgling agency was able to get moving in the right direction thanks to some quality insurance company appointments, including Chubb, Continental, Safeco, Aetna, Industrial Indemnity and Zenith. In addition, DPIC Companies (now known as XLCaitlin) switched its exclusive agency appointment in San Diego and Imperial counties to Cavignac & Associates. Most important, a number of previous clients, as well as new clients, elected to place their coverage with the firm.
In 1996, Jim Schabarum and Scott Bedingfield joined the firm. Schabarum’s background in surety and Bedingfield’s background in real estate were natural additions to the firm’s existing commercial insurance expertise. In January of 2000, both Schabarum and Bedingfield became principals and shareholders of the agency.
Around the same time, the company underwent a major change, evolving from an insurance brokerage firm to a risk management company. The principals realized that the only way to drive down clients’ costs of risk was to reduce the frequency and severity of the claims that drive those costs. With that in mind, it invested in a safety professional, a human resources consultant and a workers’ compensation specialist. The focus of these three individuals was to work with the agency’s clients to prevent claims from occurring in the first place, and effectively manage the claims that did occur.
In the fourth quarter of 2002, the firm recruited Patrick Casinelli to open its Employee Benefits Department. In 2007, Casinelli became a partner. Later, in 2013, Matt Slakoff was promoted to partner and, in early 2016, Matt Noonan was promoted to partner as well.
“An important part of our original company mission statement was that we will always hire above-average people who are service-oriented, education-minded, and willing to make a commitment to the company’s objectives,” said Cavignac. “To do this, we knew we needed to keep employees challenged and engaged by providing an exceptional work environment that makes their jobs both rewarding and fun.”
In various “Best Places to Work” competitions, Cavignac & Associates consistently has been scored high by employees, based on its desirable social environment and staff camaraderie. Picnics, baby showers, holiday gatherings, group tickets to Padres baseball games, company softball games, sushi-making classes, hosted happy hours, beer and wine tastings, weekly catered lunches and more is what has helped the firm recruit and retain exceptional employees.
“Insurance might be viewed as a rather dry and tedious job,” said Cavignac. “But we don’t allow the work environment here to become stale or boring. We’re dedicated to being the best we can be, and continually seek ways to improve our productivity, technical expertise, and the services we deliver to clients.”
As for the next 25 years, the company is well prepared to expand in new directions in order to serve its clients better, and to provide even more growth opportunities for its employees.
About Cavignac & Associates:
Founded in 1992, Cavignac & Associates is a leading risk management and insurance brokerage firm providing a broad range of insurance and expertise to design and construction firms, as well as to law firms, real estate-related entities, manufacturing companies, nonprofits and the general business community. Company principals are Jeffrey W. Cavignac, CPCU, ARM, RPLU, CRIS, MLIS; James P. Schabarum II, CPCU, AFSB; Scott A. Bedingfield, AAI, CIC, CRIS; Patrick Casinelli, RHU, REBC, CHRS; Matthew Slakoff, CIC, CRIS; and Matthew Noonan, RHU, CIC, CHRS, CCWS. The firm employs a staff of 45 at offices located at 450 B Street, Suite 1800, San Diego, Calif., 92101. More information about the company can be found on the Web at www.cavignac.com.
Want to get involved? Want to make your voice heard? The Peninsula Community Planning Board (PCPB) will be holding elections in March 2017 to fill 5 vacancies. Requirements and applications can be downloaded from the PCPB website at www.pcpb.net. This is a great opportunity to represent and support your local community. PCPB Jurisdiction:
The Peninsula community is comprised of a number of relatively distinct residential neighborhoods including: Ocean Beach Highlands, Point Loma Highlands, Loma Alta, Loma Palisades, Loma Portal, Fleetridge, Roseville, Sunset Cliffs, Wooded Area, La Playa and the former Naval Training Center renamed Liberty Station. Zip codes include 92106, 92107, and 92147
Board terms are three (3) years, with exception of unexpired terms which are filled.
Requirements for those interested in becoming a Board Member:
The election will be held on Thursday, March 16, 2017 from 4:00pm – 8:00pm, at the Point Loma / Hervey Branch Library located at 3701 Voltaire Street, San Diego, CA 92107. Proof of residence, business operation, or property ownership within the PCPB boundaries must be provided for an individual to vote.
The candidates’ forum will be held on Thursday, March 2, 2017, from 5:30pm - 7:00pm, at the Point Loma / Hervey Branch Library located at 3701 Voltaire Street, San Diego, CA 92107.
Applications can be downloaded on the PCPB website at www.pcpb.net under the Elections tab. Email completed applications to: pcpbsd@gmail.com and robert.goldyn@gmail.com.
The deadline to qualify for candidacy in the March general election shall be on or prior to the Candidates Forum.
For additional information, please contact Robert Goldyn at robert.goldyn@gmail.com or (419) 215-4287.
Now more than ever, the collective voice of architects is essential for designing a better future for our country and planet. Even in times of change, AIA’s values remain constant. We are at the table with policymakers who are committed to a better built environment and a prosperous architecture profession. But we will not hesitate to call out those whose values we oppose.
Please take a moment to review our statement of values: http://new.aia.org/resources/50766-where-architects-stand-a-statement-of-our-va
Together, our members can accomplish great things in challenging times. We commit to you and to all members that we will remain steadfast in the resolve to uphold our values and to insist upon national policies and practices that reflect and reinforce them. This is only the beginning. Much work is ahead of us. We hope and trust you will continue to support our efforts and work with us.
Knowledge Community opportunities
|
Washington, D.C. January 31, 2017 – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) today announced its agenda for the new Administration and Congress, advocating programs and policies that create more livable and energy efficient communities with investments in buildings as key elements of the national infrastructure. “The AIA will continue to advance architecture as a powerful catalyst that stimulates economic activity while enhancing the common good,” said AIA President Thomas Vonier, FAIA. “Congress and the Federal agencies must expand efforts to build sustainable communities, with fair and affordable housing for all Americans.”
Contact: Rebecca Martinezrmartinez@cuningham.com (310) 895-2200 or (310) 650-4002 (mobile)
CUNINGHAM GROUP ARCHITECTURE ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONS
Firm Welcomes New Senior Associate & Associates in San Diego Office
(San Diego, CA) – Cuningham Group, an international architecture firm with 10 offices and more than 340 employees, is thrilled to announce recent promotions in its San Diego office.
“The promotions recognize the contributions each of these employees has made to the growth of our firm,” said Cuningham Group President Tim Dufault. “We are fortunate to have such a talented group of emerging leaders. They represent our commitment to building and maintaining strong and dynamic teams that exemplify the firm’s vision and core values.”
Senior Associate
Tim Casey, AIA, NCARB
An architect with Cuningham Group since 2014, Tim works with a diverse group of clients in the Heal Market Group, including Kaiser Permanente and Sharp HealthCare. Tim assists with scheduling, budgeting and monitoring of all technical issues for projects. In addition, he coordinates with consultants and agencies to meet milestones, manages the technical coordination, resolve code issues, and obtain agency approvals.
Associate
Diego Lastres, AIA, NCARB, LEED® AP BD+C (Health Market Group) Sean Pak, CSI (Health Market Group)
In addition to the promotions in San Diego, Cuningham Group also recognized individuals in its other offices.
Associate Principal
Dan Grothe, AIA, LEED® AP, Minneapolis Mike Hoffman, AIA, LEED® AP Culver City
Senior Associate
Mike Berg, AIA, Minneapolis Amy Cheever, AIA, NCARB, LEED® AP, Minneapolis Paul Hagen, AIA, Minneapolis Scott Krenner, AIA, Minneapolis Pete Mikelson AIA, LEED® AP, Minneapolis
Associate
Pamela Tribbett, Denver Catherine Britt, AIA, LEED® AP BD+C, Minneapolis Joel Brygger, AIA, Minneapolis Kelley Casey, LEED® AP, Minneapolis Tony Glebus, Assoc. AIA, Minneapolis Heidi Neumueller, AIA, NCARB, LEED® AP, Minneapolis Wes Pfeifer, AIA, LEED® AP, Minneapolis Matt Saunders, Minneapolis Marie Tomala, CDFA, Minneapolis Bill Valentine, Minneapolis Ashley Maxwell, MPH, IIDA, WELL AP, Culver City Yisan Tai, AIA, LEED® AP, Culver City
About Cuningham Group
Awarded the American Institute of Architects Minnesota Firm Award in 2013, Cuningham Group® transcends tradition with architecture, interior design, urban design and landscape architecture services for a diverse mix of client and project types. The firm’s client-centered, collaborative approach incorporates trend-setting architecture and environmental responsiveness to create projects that weave seamlessly into the urban fabric. Founded in 1968, the firm is consistently recognized as a leader in the field of architecture and has grown to over 350 employees in offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Denver, San Diego, Phoenix, Seoul, Beijing and Doha. For more information, please visit cuningham.com.
Congratulations to T.B. Penick & Sons for their recent honors in the American Society of Concrete Contractors – Decorative Concrete Council awards!
The Decorative Concrete Council is pleased to recognize outstanding decorative concrete projects around the world through the Decorative Concrete Council Awards Program.
The Project Awards are open to both ASCC members and non-members. Decorative Concrete Contractors are encouraged to join the ASCC if they are not already a member.
Battery Park (1st place; Decorative Environmental/Over 5,000 SF category)
https://tbpenick.squarespace.com/battery-east-park
I805 DAR (1st place; Project Video category)
(Profile coming soon)
Fashion Show Mall (1st place; Vertical Application/Over 5,000 SF category)
https://tbpenick.squarespace.com/fashion-show-mall
SDIA Rental Car Center (2nd place; Cast-In-Place, Special Finishes/Over 5,000 SF category)
https://tbpenick.squarespace.com/sd-international-airport-rental-car-facility
Congratulations to T.B. Penick & Sons for their recent honor!
Polished Concrete Awards. CATEGORY: INSTITUTIONAL
OTAY BORDER CROSSING - REHAB WINNER
Cream polished concrete with 1/8-inch zinc strips at the world's first true binational airport passenger terminal.
The Otay Border Crossing, located roughly between the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry, is a one of a kind pedestrian bridge that allows travelers to walk across the U.S. – Mexico border directly into the main terminal of the Tijuana International airport. This allows travelers to park on the U.S. side and bypass the traditional border entries which usually takes two to four hours to cross.
T.B. Penick collaborated with the owner, architect, and general contractor to polish the 48,300 square feet of integrally colored concrete to a cream/sand finish and to also perform architectural sawcuts throughout the project in order to epoxy set 3,300 lineal feet of 1/8-inch zinc terrazzo strips.
One challenge was achieving a consistent finish since the first floor was poured slab-on-grade and the second floor was poured on a pan deck. Another challenge was addressing all of the shrinkage cracks. To do this, T.B. Penick utilized a colored epoxy system to fill in the cracks. This was challenging due to the variations in color which required custom colors to be made onsite to allow the repaired cracks to blend in with the finished surface.
Finally, the project required coordinating with U.S. Customs and Border Protection due to the high security aspect of the location on one of the most heavily fortified spots on the border. It also required collaboration with the contractor working on Mexico’s side of the facility in order to help them achieve the required finish.
Voice of San Diego asked architects, urban planners, and design leaders for their thoughts and ideas on how the City of San Diego could repurpose Qualcomm Stadium's site. AIA San Diego Public Awareness Commissioner, Kevin Bussett, AIA, along with other AIA members, offered up their insight on how to shape the Mission Valley land into a meaningful space.
"Housing, Soccer, Housing and More Ideas for the Qualcomm Stadium Site" by Voice of San Diego
A new proposal for the Qualcomm Stadium site includes a $200 million stadium, a river park, student housing and more. It’s unclear whether San Diegans will get to weigh in with a public vote, but there’s no shortage of opinions about how this should play out. We asked local urban planners, architects and community members what they want to see happen to the site.
It’s difficult to justify a large investment to upgrade/renovate the existing stadium or build a new one without an NFL franchise. In that context, a new downsized stadium (for college football and soccer) and a new arena combined with an imaginative mixed-use development might be the drivers for a redevelopment effort. If the site remains a sports venue, adaptive reuse should be considered. This approach would repurpose the structure in part or as a whole to underpin new uses like housing, shopping or other commercial uses. The stadium remains structurally viable and is nationally recognized for its design (it received a National Honor Award for Design Excellence from the American Institute of Architects when it was first built.) However, if it is ultimately necessary to remove the structure, then we must consider the site’s highest and best use for Mission Valley and the people of San Diego. Many architects and visionary developers have proposed visions for a “Village at the Q” that mixes workforce housing, academic uses, commercial office, shopping and enhanced recreation opportunities for all of Mission Valley’s residents along an accessible and preserved San Diego river park. This new neighborhood would be walkable, well-connected to public transit via the existing high-capacity trolley station and enhanced connections to I-8 and I-15, and provide a great opportunity for needed growth. — Kevin Bussett, AIA, architect with Studio E Architects in San Diego and 2017 public awareness commissioner for the American Institute of Architects San Diego Chapter
_______________________________
First off, Qualcomm Stadium is no dump. I know the stadium well. I’ve been in the press box, locker rooms and even on the field. Qualcomm Stadium is a masterfully designed landmark with many decades of useful service remaining. The modernist structure is made of solid concrete and was built to last. It opened in 1967 as a state-of-the-art sports venue and is clearly in need of upgrades, like new video screens, scoreboard, locker rooms, a sound system, restrooms, lighting and seats. That’s a long list, but it equates to less than one-third of the cost of a new stadium. The concrete shell of Qualcomm Stadium is solid and simply needs a good power-washing. The winner of a national design award, Qualcomm Stadium is one of San Diego County’s most recognized structures – alongside the Hotel Del Coronado and Balboa Park’s California Tower. The stadium should be treated with the respect it deserves and be rehabilitated rather than imploded and sent to the landfill. Small minds in our disposable culture only want the latest new thing. But Qualcomm Stadium is a classic work of functional architecture, not an outdated iPhone. — David Marshall, AIA, architect and president of Heritage Architecture & Planning in San Diego
_______________________________
I think that the Mission Valley site is most useful as a major regional River Park combined with a new lower campus for SDSU. Logan Jenkins got it right in his recent U-T column. It is critical to respect the historical status of Qualcomm Stadium and leverage it to become a new asset through creative adaptive reuse. From a sustainable standpoint alone, it would be irresponsible to grind tons of perfectly good structural concrete into dust. The only real problem with the Q is geometry – it has too much seating capacity and is too wide. For the price of the stadium demo proposed by some, you could sink the field a little and add very desirable seats close to the sidelines. Remove the horrible NFL additions and open the end back up. The lower seats will work as a more intimate stadium, and you can get creative with the unneeded upper deck. And how about the obvious – build a student trailer park. It’s proven low-cost housing sited with the romance of an Italian hill town. A village of recycled, colorful, funky trailers, repurposed as dorms and relocated to the slope of the upper bleachers will beat a boring dorm building every time, both in desirability and cost. Elevators and bathrooms are already there, just add showers. Save a few seats between groups of trailers for seminars. After three decades of endless abuse, it’s not clear that San Diegans would allow another NFL team here, even if they were adult enough to pay there own way. But should that happen, the trailer housing can be removed and the Q would be NFL-ready again. — Rob Quigley, FAIA, architect and urban planner who lives in East Village
_______________________________
I think that the city should engage in an international RFP. We call ourselves America’s Finest City, and we have the greatest opportunity to design our city striving toward this goal, so we should open our biggest urban and landscape opportunities to world-class thinking. Not to say that there aren’t very skilled, visionary designers and planners in this city, because there most certainly are, but San Diego wants to be a global city, we want to be a world destination and so we should allow ourselves the opportunity to be flooded with far-reaching ideas. We should demand a development solution that promotes the very best urban planning concepts from around the globe, and to put them into practice here in San Diego. — Pauly De Bartolo, Assoc. AIA, principal at DBRDS architecture studio
_______________________________
Congratulations to AIA San Diego member, Bill Bocken, AIA! The renovation on his home won him a coveted spot in this year's San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyle Magazines 38th Annual Home of the Year February issue.
From the architect: "The home was originally built in 1935 by architect, Frank Hope, Sr. (he is considered a master architect by the City of San Diego Historical Resource board). The 8500 sq. ft structure recently underwent an extensive whole house renovation and remodel. We were also successful in having the home historically designated."
ARCHITECTS hanna gabriel wells is excited to announce the promotions of Sean Chen AIA, Kristin Shultz AIA and Eric Wendlandt to leadership positions in our studio. Sean Chen has been promoted to the level of Principal Architect overseeing firm and project development.
Kristin Shultz and Eric Wendlandt have been promoted to the level of Associate, where they will oversee project management and office standards.
Sean, Eric and Kristin are a key part of our success and we are thrilled to promote them to these important positions of leadership within the studio. 
ASSOCIATE Kristin Shultz, AIA LEED AP joined the firm in 2007, bringing with her an energy and enthusiasm that inspires her work with each client and each challenge. Kristin’s organization and mentoring have been instrumental in managing complex projects and developing our office staff.
PRINCIPAL Sean Chen, AIA joined our studio in 2003 as a young Architect and has been instrumental in the design and development of many of the firm’s best projects, including the recent Orchid Award winning Spanos Athletic Performance Center at UCSD. Sean’s passion for architecture has led the firm towards meaningful and creative solutions to each new challenge- setting new expectations for the entire office.
ASSOCIATE Eric Wendlandt joined Hanna Gabriel Wells in 2002, and after a short break, he re-joined the office in 2010. Over these years, Eric has helped shape much of the firm’s work. Eric’s commitment to the craft of architecture and building continues to set new standards for our work, while inspiring the office team.
CONSTRUCTION, DESIGN-BUILD, INNOVATIVE CONCRETE SYSTEMS
It takes an agile company like T.B. Penick to meet today’s aggressive schedules and tighter budgets, offer cutting-edge methodologies such as BIM, advocate best practices and offer safe and sustainable construction practices.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, CIVIL Engineering & land SURVEYING
BWE is dedicated to providing industry leading engineering and professional services through efficient, cost-effective and sustainable solutions that make positive impacts in our community.
LEADING LIGHTINg and controls manufacturer’s representative
We are a forward-thinking lighting agency that offers an expansive line of lighting and controls products from leading manufacturers. At SDLA, we stand behind our products 100% . We respond to your needs quickly, efficiently and accurately to provide onsite assistance to ensure the job exceeds expectations.
Architecture and Interior Design
Miller Hull has a passion for creating dynamic and environmentally sensitive buildings. It is the essence of the firm and continues to push our work forward.
Architecture is a Shared endeavor
We craft innovative solution which enrich programmatic and sensory intent, engage the greater community and achieve tangible success.
unprecedented performance and exceptional aestheticS
Designed in America and manufactured in Europe, INICIO's products exemplify a fusion of exceptional quality, precision, and innovation for residential applications.
lighting industry with innovative products and best in class service.
Our team is on the forefront of the latest technologies, trends, and requirements meaning our customers are always one step ahead of their competition. We are result and ROI driven, and are passionate about making lighting more than just an afterthought.
Providing Design Professionals with Confidence in the FutureMake it stand out
We’ve served Design Professionals since 1992, with a focused expertise that gives our architectural, engineering, and construction management clients a critical advantage. As the exclusive broker for two of the top A&E insurance companies, we’re experts at negotiating appropriate coverage and competitive pricing.