 |
| EVENT NEWS |
Sustainability Brown Bag Lunch Meeting
What is it?
Sustainability Brown Bag Lunch meetings are periodic programs held in the LACCD Board room to discuss topics related to building green. All are welcome, the events, and as the name implies, please bring your own lunch.
. |
Sustainability Brown Bag Lunch Meeting
September 13, 2006
Topic: LEED™ for Laboratories
Our speaker, Rick Johnson of Fisher Hamilton, is a LEED AP and a significant driver behind Fisher Hamilton's leadership in environmentally responsible lab solutions. Johnson is a core committee member of the LEED Application Guide for Laboratories (AGL), and will share the construction sustainability standards for lab buildings.
This meeting is especially useful for anyone designing lab facilities for public or private sector buildings. Bring your own lunch.
Time: Noon to 1 p.m Location: LACCD Board Room 770 Wilshire Blvd., Downtown L.A.
RSVP: 213-891-2480
. |
|
|
|
| Building the Case for Going Green |
|
|
Larry H. Eisenberg, executive director of Facilities Planning and Development for the LACCD
 Building “green” is fast becoming a widely recognized solution for countering maintenance costs that increase throughout the lifespan of a building. At every stage of the construction process, decision makers are looking at green buildings as an improvement in quality, functionality, efficiency and marketability. In fact, a recent article in the New York Times* reminds us that the costs associated with green buildings have decreased from as much as 20% down to between 2 and 5%.
As the mainstream population comes to understand the end-use benefits of building green—increased productivity gains, decreased energy costs, and reductions in waste management costs—going green is fast becoming the standard in many facets of life. To go green can encompass changes across the board; from grounds maintenance and renewable energy technologies to reusing materials for new construction and donating unwanted items to local community organizations. When an institution, company or organization adopts sustainability measures, it has the power to also change the behavior of individuals at and beyond the workplace.
Though we are strongly committed to building green at our Colleges, the LACCD’s efforts are greater than constructing sustainable facilities. We also aim to have sustainable campuses that incorporate many green practices that reuse or recycle items and reduce dependency on non-renewable sources. Here are just a few of the practices currently in place:
-
Zero Landfill Policy: Reducing the amount of waste headed to our local landfills is one of the top priorities for the LACCD. We reuse wood, concrete and asphalt at construction sites and donate gently used and surplus office furniture items to LA Shares, a local non profit organization that redistributes these items to schools and other non-profits in the community.
-
Minimum 10% Alternate Energy: Either through the use of solar, wind, geothermal or co-generation, the LACCD has installed equipment to generate a minimum of 10% of the power needed for each campus. Pierce, Valley, City, Mission and Trade-Tech Colleges have either installed, or are planning to install, photovoltaic cells (solar panels) to generate electricity. We are working diligently toward our goal of producing one megawatt per college.
-
Furniture Procurement Program: Through a partnership with the California Community Colleges, the LACCD opened its own furniture showroom last fall in an effort to bring vendors and potential purchasers together under one roof. The set up makes it less expensive, more cost effective and efficient for all campuses to purchase furniture for classrooms, offices and common areas. The furniture is also made from 100% recycled material making the options more environmentally friendly.
-
Fly Ash Concrete: The LACCD has also begun using fly ash as an inexpensive replacement for portland cement used in concrete. Fly ash is a fine, glass-like powder recovered from gases created by coal-fired electric power generation. U.S. power plants produce millions of tons of fly ash annually that is typically dumped in landfills. Adding fly ash improves strength, segregation and eases the pumping of concrete.
Because of the long-term savings related to these green measures, the LACCD is a strong advocate for going “green” in all aspects of the construction process. We expect the benefits of building green at our nine colleges to reach beyond our campuses and positively impact the surrounding communities. Isn’t that what education is all about?
For more information on the LACCD's green building program and related sustainability measures, visit www.PropositionA.org.
*New York Times, April 16, 2006, “Life in the Green Lane” by Jamie Lincoln Kitman.
|
|
|
| $100 Billion in Construction Contracts Available: Inaugural California Construction Expo Visits Los Angeles |
|
|
Expo attracts crowd of more than 2,000 to the L.A. Convention Center, including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
More than $100 billion worth of upcoming construction projects were highlighted by a consortium of public agencies seeking contractors, designers and workers at the first ever California Construction Expo on August 17. The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) together hosted the event at the Los Angeles Convention Center in downtown L.A.
 The event kicked off with L.A. City Councilmember Jan Perry providing opening remarks followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting with representatives from LACCD, LAUSD and MWD to officially open the Expo floor. Contractors, designers, construction professionals and members of the public heard directly from agencies ranging from schools to airports throughout California about various career and contracting opportunities available.
Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles, gave the keynote speech at the Expo’s luncheon.
“We have an opportunity to remake this city,” said Villaraigosa, stressing the importance of current and upcoming construction projects across Los Angeles as an important and critical investment for the city’s future.
Workshops held throughout the day focused on various topics and construction opportunities including: (1) how to get a contracting license; (2) attracting skilled labor for construction; and (3) sustainable design and building. The exhibit hall featured more than 140 booths with vendors, industry associations and the latest innovative products. The event closed with a BBQ reception, which provided networking for individuals interested in the construction industry.
"We wanted to help organize the Expo to be able to have a chance to tell the construction community that we get it," said Larry H. Eisenberg, executive director of Facilities, Planning and Development for the LACCD. "We understand what it takes for construction businesses to be successful and we have organized our entire approach to construction in a manner that is responsive to the needs of large and small contractors. We need firms to bid on our projects and in return we are prepared to pay promptly, minimize the bureaucracy, and support a fair profit for quality construction."
For more information on doing business with the LACCD, visit www.PropositionA.org.
|
|
|
| Los Angeles Community College District Awards Construction Contracts for Upgrades at Two Colleges |
|
|
Contracts will bring needed construction services to Los Angeles Southwest and Valley Colleges as part of the $2.2 billion Proposition A/AA Bond program
 The Los Angeles Community College District announced today that it awarded $215,671 in construction contracts during July 2006 to businesses for construction and upgrade projects at two of its nine colleges. Each contract is the result of formal competitive bidding and will be funded by the Proposition A/AA Bond program, the $2.2 billion bond measures overwhelmingly approved by Los Angeles voters in 2001 and 2003.
The Colleges’ Board of Trustees authorized the following construction contracts in July 2006:
Los Angeles Southwest College: A contract was authorized with Leymaster Environmental Consulting, LLC, a small business based in Long Beach, Calif. to provide services for the Land Acquisition – Demolition of Existing Service Station project in the amount of $27,600. This project includes the drilling and sampling of soil at the site of a former gas station where underground storage tanks were removed. Funding is provided by Proposition A/AA Bond proceeds.
A contract was also authorized with C.G. Construction, Inc., a small and local business based in Paramount, Calif. for $121,000 to provide construction services for the Roof Screenwall project in the Student Services Center. This project will provide remediation services and duct work support needed in order to obtain final certification from the Division of the State Architect. This project is funded through Proposition A/AA Bond proceeds.
Los Angeles Valley College: An agreement was authorized with Brandt Commercial Signs, a Disabled Veteran business based in Newport Beach, Calif. to provide construction services for the Phase 1 Courtyard, Monuments, and Graphic Signage Renovation project in the amount of $67,071. This project will refurbish existing signage on campus buildings. Funding for this project is provided by Proposition A/AA Bond proceeds.
The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) is one of the largest community college districts in the country, and has embarked on a $2.2 billion construction and modernization program, funded by Propositions A/AA, at its nine colleges. The LACCD has contracted 85 percent of the construction program's work to local and small businesses. Companies interested in participating in this $2.2 billion renovation and modernization program are encouraged to contact Donetta Pickett at Donetta.Pickett@dmjmjgm.com, and to visit www.PropositionA.org and click on “Doing Business with Us."
|
|
|
| East L.A. College Upgrades Sports Facilities: Baseball and Weingart Stadiums Get New Amenities |
|
|
Renovated Baseball and Weingart Stadiums to benefit many of the College's sports teams
Moving forward on its Proposition A/AA construction plans, the Baseball Stadium upgrade project at East Los Angeles College is in the final stage of completion. The project provided for an overhaul of the Stadium's current facilities, in addition to constructing new amenities for the Colleges' sports  teams and patrons.
Larry Brown Construction, a Los Angeles-based firm, was the contractor for the project, and P2S Engineering of Long Beach, Calif. provided design services. Both the field and locker room facilities were recently turned back over to the College for practice and games.
Upgrades and new amenities added to the Stadium under this project include: new utilities for the baseball field; showers and locker rooms; men's and women's public restrooms; press booth; training room; snack bar; wash room; equipment room; new dugouts; bleachers; and replacement and extension of the safety fence around the perimeter of the Stadium.
Final construction cost for the Baseball Stadium's upgrades is estimated at $1.8 million.
Earlier this year, a handful of modernization projects were completed on the college's Weingart Stadium, which provides practice and game space for football, track and field and soccer teams at the College. Upgrade projects for the Stadium will continue over the next year to include a new scoreboard and new east end-zone terrace. The end-zone terrace project includes a 10,000 sq.-ft. terraced outdoor plaza, which will provide a seating capacity of 400 with a beverage service, concessions, stage area and restrooms. The design services for all modernization projects related to Weingart Stadium are provided by HNTB Architecture, Inc.
Weingart Stadium is a 20,355-seat multipurpose stadium for both East L.A.'s College and the surrounding community. In 1984 the stadium hosted field hockey matches for the Olympics held that year in Los Angeles.
For more information on East L.A. College's Proposition A/AA construction projects, visit www.elac.edu/general/ELAC_Prop_A/index.htm.
|
|
|
| GREEN NEWS: L.A. City College’s New "Green" Satellite Campus on Track— Construction to Begin in Spring 2007 |
|
|
Campus at site of the former Van de Kamp Bakery's headquarters to be first in the world to have dual sustainability certifications from US Green Building Council and United Kingdom's Building Research Establishment
Construction is expected to begin on L.A. City College's Northeast Satellite Campus in spring 2007, reports Dr. Steve Maradian, president of the urban campus in Hollywood.
 When completed, the historic Van De Kamp bakery site will have two large-scale buildings at Fletcher Drive and San Fernando Road at the Glassell Park site in northeast Los Angeles. The first will be the bakery's renovated two-story office structure, to be used for classrooms and offices. A new two-story classroom building will be constructed behind it. Both buildings’ anticipated completion date is 2008.
Upon completion, City College's new satellite campus will have approx. 70,000 sq.-ft. in space for 36 classrooms as well as offices. Facilities will include two science labs, several computer labs, and a fitness center. The fitness center is being funded by a $236,000 Health and Human Services grant, which was awarded with the support of Congressman Xavier Becerra.
Plans to renovate the former bakery and construct the adjacent building are both currently being reviewed by the Division of the State Architect. Design architect for the new building is Steven Ehrlich Architects, and Roschen Van Cleve Architects designed the renovated look for the new Van de Kamp Bakery building. The façade and roof of the historic bakery have been designated a Los Angeles City Monument and will not be changed.
The bid process for construction will start next year, with construction to begin in April of 2007. Grading and reinforcement of the site have already been completed. Construction is moving forward at the site, with the removal of old pilings and other excavation and clean up projects.
L.A. City College owns the site the Bakery sits on, which was purchased using funds allocated to City College from the Proposition A/AA Bond Program. Estimated total cost of the project is $70 million.
The renovated Van de Kamp Bakery building will house classrooms, administrative offices and a display on the historic former bakery. A new classroom building will be located behind it, and will house a library and student center. The renovated Van de Kamp Bakery building will also be the first-ever to receive both Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications, signifying that the buildings comply with both the United Kingdom and United States 'green' building guidelines. Both buildings will generate more than 10 % of energy needs from renewable and clean energy resources.
For more information on L.A. City College's Proposition A/AA construction projects, visit www.PropositionA.org/college_city.html.
|
|
|
| Photo of the Month |
|
|
Larry H. Eisenberg, executive director of Facilities Planning and Development, highlights the LACCD's construction progress under its Proposition A/AA Bond Program during his presentation at the inaugural California Construction Expo on August 17. The event attracted more than 2,000 people interested in the region's booming construction industry.
|
|
|
