Three-Year Construction Project Completed

SAN MATEO, Calif. — A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the end of a three-year construction project at the College of San Mateo campus, held after the completion of the new flagship building, the College Center.

 

The project was built by McCarthy Building Companies in a design-build partnership with Irvine, Calif.-based architecture firm LPA, Inc.

 

The 140,000-square foot building, located at the center of the remodeled campus, is the “hub of college life and serves as a central location for student services,” according to school officials.

 

Housed in the new building are the admissions, career services, counseling, transfer services and financial aid offices, among others.

 

In addition to administrative space, the building features a learning resource center, laboratories for the digital media program and classrooms capable of seating more than 120 students.

 

The center, which features outdoor terraces, also offers “stunning views” of the San Francisco Bay, according to school officials.

 

The facility was part of the San Mateo County Community College District’s overall $285 million construction program at the college, funded by San Mateo County voter-approved Measure A.  

 

The $220 million design-build initiative, led by McCarthy, consisted of more than 60 acres of major site improvements such as infrastructure and landscaping, and the construction of two facilities.  

 

The first building, the Allied Health and Wellness Building and Aquatics Center, an 88,000-square-foot, LEED-Gold certified facility designed by Kwan Henmi, was completed in April 2010.  

 

Though initially aiming for LEED Silver certification, the second facility exceeded the district’s goal and is currently under review for LEED Gold certification.

 

After completion of the two facilities, a number of other contractors used the remaining $65 million to renovate eight existing buildings on the campus.

“Through an innovative and successfully collaborative design-build program spanning multiple projects, College of San Mateo was able to open its doors to both buildings months ahead of their respective schedules and present our students, faculty and the greater community with two exceptional facilities,” said Rick Bennett, the community college district’s executive director of construction planning.

The McCarthy team used a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to managing both jobs as a single design-build project to ensure minimal campus impact and create a consistent and integrated connection between the two buildings, firm officials said.  

Bill Niemann, McCarthy project executive, said despite the accelerated building schedule, the project was completed with a perfect safety record.

 

“The design-build initiative at CSM, while large and complex, could not have gone any smoother,” he said.