MERCED, CA — As grading and infrastructure creation continues forward at the 10 thcampus of the University of California, construction management contracts were recently awarded for UC Merced's first three academic buildings. The contracts were awarded in late December 2002.
The funding for the academic buildings and site infrastructure — which amounts to $241 million — is supplied through lease revenue bonds.
Swinerton Builders of San Francisco will be responsible for providing construction management services for the university's Kolligian Library & Informational Technology Center. In addition to its primary purpose of housing the library collection and technology center, the 173,000 square foot building, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill of San Francisco and Fernau and Hartman of Berkeley, will accommodate campus administrative offices and student services. In October 2002, Swinerton was awarded the construction management contract to create the infrastructure of the initial phase of the new campus.
McCarthy Building Co. Inc. of Roseville will provide construction management services for the additional two academic buildings. The Science and Engineering Building is a 174,000 square foot facility that will house the Divisions of Engineering and Natural Sciences and incorporate energy-efficient teaching and research laboratories. In addition, faculty offices for both divisions will be located in the facility. The joint venture EHDD/Leo A. Daly of San Francisco designed the building.
McCarthy will also be responsible for the 95,000 square foot Classroom and Office Building that will accommodate the Division of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts. The three-story building will house a 360-seat auditorium, lecture halls, classrooms, computer labs, multi-media and studio arts spaces and faculty and graduate student offices. The structure, designed by Thomas Hacker & Associates of Portland, Oregon, will also serve as a distance-learning center.
Construction of these buildings is expected to begin in early spring of this year.
By incorporating sustainable building design, UC Merced is a leader in resource-efficiency and innovation by public entities. In meeting aggressive new standards for energy and water efficiency, reduced solid waste, and reduced carbon dioxide emissions, the university is setting a benchmark for higher education and large-scale construction projects throughout the San Joaquin Valley and beyond.
