Facts & Figures Owner: City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Police Department Type of Project: A new multipurpose facility for two police department units Size: 9,206 square feet Cost: $6.77 million (construction contract) Construction Time: June 2005 April 2007 The Need: A facility to accommodate the daily operations, personnel training and vehicle maintenance for the police department’s bomb squad and hazardous materials units The Challenge: Tying in the electrical systems with an existing building on the campus Program Manager/Construction Manager: City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering, Proposition Q – Citywide Public Safety Bond Program Architect of Record: WWCOT (Widom Wein Cohen O’Leary Photo courtesy of Daly Architectural Photography
Terasawa), Modesto, Palm Springs, Riverside and Santa Monica
Los Angeles, California
General Contractor: Bernards, San Fernando
Los Angeles Police Department, Valley Bomb Squad Facility
Electrical Engineer: R.E. Wall & Associates, Inc., Tustin, CA
In April 2007, the City of Los
NCARB,
AP,
ration frames the outdoor training
Works completed construction on a
partner/project
manager
for
area,” said Andrea Cohen Gehring,
groundbreaking facility for the Los
WWCOT (Widom Wein Cohen
FAIA, LEED AP, design partner for
Angeles Police Department (LAPD)
O’Leary Terasawa), the project’s
WWCOT. “The more ‘public’ func-
Bomb
Hazardous
architect. “Here, LAPD officers are
tions are placed in the north-south
Materials Units. This extraordinary
trained on the proper response and
wing, and the more ‘technical’
facility includes space for adminis-
handling of calls involving explo-
functions are placed in the east-
trative personnel, an apparatus bay
sives and hazardous materials.”
west wing. The location of the
Squad
and
open-air robot testing area.
CCCA,
“The facility’s L-shaped configu-
LEED
for vehicles, a training room and an
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4.5 acres,” said Dean J. Vlahos, AIA,
Angeles, Department of Public
Included in the new building is
apparatus bay at the western end of
a remarkable 2,600-square-foot
the technical wing allows for easy access to specialized vehicles.”
“The facility’s primary purpose
training and conference room
is to accommodate daily opera-
stocked with the latest technolo-
The open-air robot testing
tions, personnel training and
gy for audio and visual communi-
area is perhaps one of the most
maintenance of vehicles for the
cations. Additionally, the facility
innovative aspects of the new
LAPD Bomb Squad Division,” said
includes a 970-square-foot appa-
cutting-edge facility. The con-
Alan Paul, project manager for
ratus bay, office areas, men’s and
crete paved area is used for train-
Bernards, the general contractor
women’s locker rooms, a labora-
ing in robot maneuvering and
on the project.
tory room, an evidence process-
remote response simulation, said
Squad
ing room, and a 500-square-foot
Vincent Jones, PE, program man-
Training Facility is located adjacent
“The
Valley
Bomb
testing area enclosure. Adjacent
ager for the City of Los Angeles,
to the LAPD Edward M. Davis
to the building is a separate
Department of Public Works,
Emergency
3,000-square-foot
Bureau of Engineering.
Vehicle
Operations
concrete
Center & Tactics/Firearms Training
paved robot training area and a
Facility on a site of approximately
dog station enclosure.
Also included in the project was a brand-new, 209-space parking continued on page 6
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gold medal award winner
The Owner’s Perspective with Vincent Jones, PE, Program Manager City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering Q: What is the purpose of the new construction? VJ: To construct a state-of-the-art facility for the Los Angeles Police Department Bomb Squad and Hazardous Materials Units including space for administrative personnel, an apparatus bay for vehicles, a training room and an open-air robot testing area. Q: What is the most unique or important feature of the facility? What is the most innovative aspect of the project? VJ: The building features a 2,600-square-foot training room with the latest state-of-the-art technology for audio and visual communications. The facility [also] includes an open-air robot testing area for training in robot maneuvering and remote response simulation. Q: What were the greatest challenges encountered on this project? How, specifically, were they overcome? VJ: [The greatest challenge involved] utilizing existing systems infrastructure (e.g., phone and data communications) and joining with an existing LAPD facility. The challenge was met with pre-planning and coordination, which minimized operational impacts. Q: Were there any innovative strategies involving improved quality, cost-effectiveness or cost reductions? VJ: The concept of partnering with the City of Los Angeles, the general contractor and subcontractors, and the project architect was used to establish team building and a cooperative working relationship between owner and contractor to deliver the project successfully. During design, the Valley Bomb Squad project went through a review process at the end of every design milestone (i.e., schematic design, design development and construction document phases) to ensure the project was being designed within scope, budget and schedule. Also, at the end of the construction document phase of design, the project went through an extensive, independent, third-party constructability review of its construction documents (including plans and specifications) to determine if the project was buildable, and to minimize design flaws‌. Q: If another owner was about to commence work on a similar project, what advice would you offer from your experiences that he/she may not be aware of? VJ: Establish formalized partnering with all stakeholders. Q: In all your experiences as an owner, what were some of the best lessons you have learned? VJ: For successful delivering of the project, partnering was critical, as well as full-time construction management, timely response to questions and resolution of issues to minimize delays.
Photo courtesy of City of Los Angeles
The Architect’s Perspective with Andrea Cohen Gehring, FAIA, LEED AP, Design Partner, WWCOT and Dean J. Vlahos, AIA, NCARB, CCCA, LEED AP, Partner/Project Manager, WWCOT Q: What were some of the drivers behind the design? ACG: Facility requirements that drove WWCOT’s design include: Provision of safety and security to allow for active emergency response to protect the community Flexibility to support and accommodate future growth, new technology and future changes Q: How does the design complement the overall mission of the owner? ACG: The facility’s “L-shaped” configuration frames the outdoor training area. The more “public” functions are placed in the north-south wing, and the more “technical” functions are placed in the east-west wing. The public wing contains the entry lobby/reception, training room, conference room and lavatories. The technical wing contains evidence processing, laboratory, lockers, etc. The location of the apparatus bay at the western end of the technical wing allows for easy access to specialized vehicles. Q: What design materials or concepts were used? ACG: Complementing the adjacent Edward M. Davis Emergency Vehicle Operations Center & Tactics/Firearms Training Facility so as to create a cohesive LAPD campus required a contemporary
Andrea Cohen Gehring, Photo courtesy of Berliner Photography, LLC
architectural vernacular. An eclectic mix of multicolor plaster and masonry volumes is articulated by painted metal canopies and a distinct glass entry. Two colors of plaster, similar in hue to colors of the existing facility, are used: “sand” for the public wing and “ochre” for the technical wing. The corrugated material accents represent functional apparatus bay and lavatories, where the use of the industrial material is appropriate. Q: What were some of the design innovations on this project, especially those that would be helpful for other owners to learn from? ACG: This successful emergency training facility provides optimum security and accommodates instruction and associated activities on a single site. Access is restricted and monitored through multiple layers of security, including walls, secured pedestrian and vehicular entries, cameras, motion sensors, locks, card readers, and entry access devices. The L-shaped building enclosing a courtyard allows for “one-stop” training, combining classroom instruction and laboratory analysis with an obstacle course. Dean J. Vlahos, Photo courtesy of John C. Lewis Photographer
Q: What were the greatest challenges encountered on this project, either from your firm’s point of view or as a project team? DV: In an era of escalated materials and labor costs, the greatest challenge was to create a design that provided for the most economical construction, maintenance and operational costs possible without compromising safety and security. Q: What were some of the lessons learned from this project? DV: Critical to the project’s success is its flexible infrastructure, which supports ever evolving changes in mechanical, data and laboratory technology.
3130 Wilshire Blvd., Sixth Fl. Santa Monica, CA 90403 310-828-0040 info@wwcot.com
The General Contractor’s Perspective with Alan Paul, Project Manager, Bernards Q: What were the greatest challenges encountered on this project and how, specifically, did you overcome them? AP: The project was divided in two phases. Phase I was to build a new 209stall parking lot to replace the existing parking lot onto which the new building was to be constructed (Phase II). During the excavation process for the new parking lot, an unforeseen amount of large rock debris was discovered, which could not be used for compaction under the asphalt paving as planned. Removing this debris would mean removing an unexpected amount of “good” soil that was required to balance the grades for both the new parking lot and the Phase II building. Instead of removing the debris and having to truck in approved soil (which increases project costs), a crushing machine was brought in to crush the debris to a size acceptable by the civil engineer for proper compaction. The concrete building slab was poured on top of a 12-inch-thick concrete slurry mix, which in turn was placed on top of the two-foot-thick mat foundation. This provided the challenge of installing plumbing waste lines in this 12-inch space for toilet and sink fixtures prior to placing the slurry. The waste lines needed to be routed to the edge of the mat foundation where the site sewer lines would make the connections. The limited space restricted the sloping of the waste lines, especially when a toilet or sink fixture was located near the middle of the building. Much thought and creativity by the contractor and coordination with the plumbing engineer provided a successful drainage system. Q: How did you work with the architect and owner to save time and/or money on the project? How was value engineering applied to your
Photo courtesy of Bernards
responsibility? AP: Bernards and the electrical subcontractor worked closely with the electrical engineer, architect, owner and local authorities to provide practical expertise in the redesign of the main electrical system. This saved the owner both money and time, especially now that the large amount of trenching and patching of roadways was averted. Q: What were some of the lessons learned from this project? AP: We were reminded how important it is to keep the local building department involved in the construction process, especially the local inspectors. The more they know and understand, the fewer potential delays there were to the process. We were also reminded how important it is to maintain clear, consistent and courteous communication with the owner and neighbors — in our case, the training center that we were building alongside of. They continued their business while we built their new facility. Consistently communicating with them minimized any potential safety hazards and maintained reliable access to the site. We were very pleased to work with those individuals who managed the property.
618 San Fernando Rd. San Fernando, CA 91340 818-898-1521 fax: 818-361-9208 clientservices@bernards.com www.bernards.com
continued from page 2
lot, which was built to replace the existing parking lot onto which the new building was constructed. “The parking lot incorporates an innovative bio-swale that is planted with unique plants that break down potential contaminants in rain water runoff before it enters
an
existing
retention
basin,” explained Paul. This is just
appearance. Furthermore, the front
one of the sustainable features
entrance includes a large alu-
that led to the facility’s Leadership
minum curtain wall system that
in Energy and Environmental
lends ample light to the main lobby
Design (LEED®) certification.
area. “The angled features of this
Constructed on a two-foot-thick
curtain wall give the building char-
concrete mat foundation, the facil-
acter,” said Paul.
ity is an incredibly robust building.
The interior also includes many
Facility with the existing building on
“This foundation was formed and
eye-catching, unique elements. For
the campus. “It was discovered
poured entirely above grade,” said
example, the ceiling of both the
after the building construction was
Paul. “The entire building sits on
lobby and main office areas is
started that the local electrical utili-
top of this one large ‘footing,’” he
exposed around the perimeter of
ty company would not install a sep-
said, adding that this feature was
the rooms. “The center of the ceil-
arate transformer at the street to
included as a safety precaution in
ing area is acoustical ceiling tiles on
service the new building as original-
case of an earthquake. “In a seis-
suspended
Any
ly planned,” said Paul. “It was then
mic event, the entire building will
exposed ductwork, conduit or pip-
discovered that an existing building
was ultimately a success. “Although
move together.”
ing around the perimeter is then
on the same property had an elec-
any project involves any number of
painted the same color throughout
trical switchgear panel that was
people trying to achieve what are at
Emergency
(white), allowing it to blend in with
supplied with much more amper-
times somewhat conflicting goals,
Center
the adjacent walls,” Paul said.
age than they would ever require.
the attitudes of the various project
“Complementing the adjacent Edward Vehicle
M.
Davis
Operations
&
metal
Countless
grids.
arose
The electrical engineer decided to
team members always was positive,
as to create a cohesive LAPD cam-
throughout the design and con-
redesign the new building’s main
which allowed the resolution of the
pus required a contemporary archi-
struction process. However, the
electrical system to feed from this
inevitable conflicts to be accom-
tectural vernacular,” said Cohen
project team successfully prevailed
existing panel. Having approval
plished quickly with a minimum of
Gehring. “An eclectic mix of multi-
over each issue.
Tactics/Firearms Training Facility so
challenges
from the local authorities, this
conflict,” said Forrest Petersen, PE,
color plaster and masonry volumes
One particularly complex hurdle
redesign required the simple instal-
vice president of R.E. Wall &
is articulated by painted metal
the team faced involved using exist-
lation of overhead conduit in the
Associates, Inc. As the electrical
canopies and a distinct glass entry.”
ing systems infrastructure, such as
existing
engineer, R.E. Wall & Associates
Metal wall panels were also used
phone and data communications,
underground trenching.”
on the exterior to provide a durable
and joining the Valley Bomb Squad
building,
minimizing
designed the entire electrical sys-
According to Jones, the team
tem necessary to support this con-
came together to overcome this
temporary facility, including power,
daunting challenge with pre-plan-
lighting and telecom pathways
ning and coordination, which mini-
throughout the building.
mized operational impacts.
“For successful delivering of the
“Bernards and the electrical sub-
project, partnering was critical,”
contractor worked closely with the
said Jones. “The project’s strongest
electrical engineer, architect, owner
asset was that the management
and local authorities to provide
team [members], including the
practical expertise in the redesign of
project manager, project engineer,
the main electrical system,” added
construction inspector, administra-
Paul. “This saved the owner both
tive support and the architect, were
money and time.”
on site full time to address contrac-
Throughout the life of this proj-
tor issues, respond to questions in a
ect, all the team members pulled
timely manner and avoid delays.”
together to ensure the new facility
— Amy Bell
Photos courtesy of Daly Architectural Photography
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southern california edition
gold medal award winner
2842 Walnut Ave., Ste. A Tustin, CA 92780 714-544-2783 fax: 714-544-4762 rewall@rewall.com Electric Avenue: Exceptional Electrical Engineering for High-tech Projects
both turbine and reciprocating engine technology. Of
approach, relying instead on meeting the needs of
particular note is our large multi-engine emergency
each client and project.”
Since opening its doors more than 36 years ago, R.E.
generator plant experience; we’ve designed and
Since its founding, the firm has lent its expertise and
Wall & Associates, Inc., a leader in the electrical engi-
commissioned more than 20 large plants totaling
customized services to countless projects. Some of the
neering industry, has specialized in high-tech telecom
more than 100 megawatts of generation.”
recent notable projects the firm has completed include:
Teamwork at its best
• Hoag Hospital Newport Beach Women’s Pavilion,
and data center projects as well as power generation, institutional and medical facilities. The company is based in Southern California, however, R.E. Wall &
During the years, R.E. Wall & Associates has built a
Newport Beach, CA
reputation for working as a team with each client and
• Joint Strike Fighter Project, Edwards AFB, CA
“We bring decades of expertise to each project we
providing superior service customized to each unique
• John Wayne Airport Terminal, Orange County, CA
work on, which simplifies the process and adds value
project. “We never lose sight of our role as a service
• EVO 23-Story High-rise Residential Condominiums,
to the final product,” says Forrest D. Petersen, PE,
provider,” explains Petersen. “We bring our many
vice president of R.E. Wall & Associates.
years of experience and vast knowledge of different
Associates has completed projects on five continents.
Los Angeles, CA • Carrier Center, Co-Location Facility, Los Angeles, CA
facilities to each project, and we work as a team, both
More than 36 years of expertise Founded by Richard E. Wall and Russell Givens,
in house and with the project team, so the client has the benefit of our best talent.”
R.E. Wall & Associates was incorporated in Irvine,
Additionally, a principal from the firm is involved in
Calif., in 1972. From the beginning, the firm offered
every single project. “We believe this has been the
full-service electrical engineering to clients through-
key to our success through the years,” he says. “All
out the area. When Wall retired in 1989, Givens took
of our projects have direct principal involvement
the helm. Today, he and Petersen lead the firm.
along with the rest of our design staff, so the client
On every project it’s a part of, R.E. Wall & Associates leaves its mark of quality. As such, it has been recognized with numerous awards for lighting design, energy efficiency and overall project quality. — Corporate Profile
can be assured that each project is headed by a
PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS
of office buildings, power generation facilities, air-
knowledgeable and motivated team.”
ports, hospitals, educational facilities, hotels and
The firm is also praised throughout the industry for its
Below is just a sampling of the prominent awards R.E. Wall & Associates has received:
government buildings. The firm serves a diverse
keen communication skills. “Communication and
client base, including many Fortune 500 compa-
open minds are the keys to combining technical and
nies, and Givens and Petersen are internationally
financial needs for a cohesive solution to design
recognized experts in critical facilities and data
problems, and we pride ourselves on our abilities to
centers. Additionally, R.E. Wall & Associates has
stay current on the latest solutions for common prob-
developed in-house electronic programs, giving the
lems,” says Petersen.
R.E. Wall & Associates has designed thousands
firm a significant competitive advantage. “Over the years, we have developed a high-tech
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America Regional Lighting Award Paul Waterbury Award of Excellence (Highest Level International Award) Illuminating Engineering Society of North America Regional Lighting Award Empire Center - Palm Court
Unique solutions for distinctive projects
project expertise and have been involved in the
The R.E. Wall & Associates team realizes that every
design of our peer review of more than 300 data cen-
project is unique, which means that each job requires
ters on five continents,” says Petersen. “We also have
customized electrical solutions. “Although there are
hundreds of hospital and central plant projects,
many similarities in facilities, each project is differ-
including a number of cogeneration projects using
ent,” Petersen points out. “We resist a cookie-cutter
National Electrical Contractors Association Award for Electrical Excellence Chapman University Student Center Argyros Forum Top Orange County Lighting Design Illuminating Engineering Society of North America Lumen Award Excellence in Lighting Design John Wayne Airport Terminal (Exterior) Illuminating Engineering Society of North America International Level Edwin F. Guth Memorial Award of Merit John Wayne Airport Terminal (Interior) Southern California Edison Certificate of Merit for Lakeside Tower Energy Efficiency Award for Electrical Excellence
24445 Northwestern Hwy. Ste. 218 • Southfield, MI 48075 • 248-945-4700 • fax: 248-945-4701 • www.constructionreviews.com