Architecture

We performed architectural, structural, mechanical, and electrical services on this new 900 student Junior High school on the historic Martin Luther King, Jr., Elementary School site. The project involved razing the existing school, and providing A/E designs, achieving approval, and construction of the new school within 13 months. 

The Million Dollar Theater at 307 S. Broadway in downtown Los Angeles is one of the first movie palaces built in the United States. It opened in February 1918. It is the northernmost of the collection of historical movie palaces in the Broadway Theater District and stands directly across from the landmark Bradbury Building.

The Million Dollar was the first movie house built by entrepreneur Sid Grauman. Sculptor Joseph Mora did the elaborate and surprising exterior Spanish Colonial Revival ornament, including bursts of lavish Churrigueresque decoration, multiple statues, longhorn skulls and other odd features. The auditorium architect was William L. Woollett, and the designer of the twelve-story tower was Los Angeles architect Albert C. Martin, Sr. For many years the office building housed the headquarters of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Working alongside Gray Construction, the design-build of this new 203,000 sf facility serves as a strategic location for the Japan-based company. The new facility is the company’s first greenfield operation, designed to meet the specific requirements of the aerospace industry. Featuring refrigerated and ambient temperature warehouse space, maximum flexibility, and secure storage of product in a controlled environment, the new facility will serve to support the company’s distribution services.

AC Martin designed a four-building headquarters and manufacturing facility on a 74-acre site, housing 1,500 personnel. Facilities include a one-story administration building of 40,000 SF, data processing and cafeteria. Three manufacturing buildings, totalling 245,000 SF, house engineering and manufacturing activities of the firm's operation division.

The 74-acre site was master planned to allow orderly incremented expansion to meet the company's future growth. A campus-like arrangement of buildings affords an environment conducive to the professional nature of the engineering, design and product development work of the aerospace group. Sandblasted, integral-color, light-weight, concrete tilt-up walls at the exterior are demountable in the event of building expansion.

The initial intent for this project was an MEP upgrade and replacement, but the University decided to take the opportunity to upgrade and reposition Payson Library to become more of an enhanced student experience—a destination for students to interact socially and academically.

The Library decided to shift its approach with the renovation—specifically, to make the Special Collections museum-quality and better known. Goals include a state-of-the-art restoration and training program to care for their unique archives. This new approach was refined through many stakeholder workshops.

The renovation provides several levels of study space, ranging from vibrant interactive areas to be used for lectures, to private break-out rooms for small groups or private study. These are flexible spaces that can provide the differing levels of privacy desired by users. The intent is for Payson Library to become the students’ “third place” on campus— a place where students spend time between home (dorms) and work (study). It will be a place where students can interact, exchange ideas, build relationships, and be part of the total student experience.

The curving forms that define this auto-oriented space evoke a sense of motion and serve as a continuation of the building’s exterior architecture. The Porte Cochere is designed as a “drive-in lobby”, featuring high ceilings and natural light flooding in on three sides.

The 20-foot-tall mural above the main drive aisle spans an entire city block from Wilshire Blvd to 7th Street. Embracing the “Autopia” ecology, the hand-painted mural depicts elements of the Los Angeles horizon line instantly recognizable to those driving across the city. A silhouette of billboards, power lines, palm trees, cell phone towers that look like palm trees, and landmarks like Watts Towers and Randy’s imposing donut deliver an experience that is uniquely Los Angeles. 

The simple, elegant design carries a sense of serenity and grace with it, while the large windows and its spires that rise 90 feet above the surrounding reflection pool inspire hope. The chapel can hold 190 people and is available for viewings, visitations and funeral services. It was completed in honor of the leadership and vision of John Gregg, son of Rose Hills’ founder Augustus Gregg.

The original San Ramon library was built in 1989, and was no longer meeting the needs of the community. Along with the library working group, we facilitated a series of community meetings to develop a building program for the library remodel and expansion. Programming efforts consolidated extensive input and feedback from stakeholders, community members, library patrons, and other user groups. Our team continued its partnership with the working group during the design, and construction phases to insure these goals were met.

We designed the new Fire Station 36 and Annex building for the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District. The new single story, 7,740 sf Fire Station houses 2 apparatus bay stations with engine, grass rig, ambulance, dorm space for 4 duty personnel plus Captain, dayroom, gym, EMT storage, kitchen/dining area, and, support space. The Annex building is a new single story, 10,000 sf Fire Equipment Storage facility. The storage facility matches the same Mission Style of design as the fire station. It included five apparatus bays to house fire engines of various sizes and types, and a secured storage area for fire-fighting equipment. The purpose of the facility is to function as a central storage site for excess equipment. The support spaces in this facility include a workshop, laundry, and restroom.

The City of Pleasanton’s Softball Complex Field House was originally constructed in 1990 and serves as the center for all activities in the Ken Mercer Sports Park. We were hired by the City of Pleasanton to remodel and modernize the existing facility including updating finishes, ADA restroom upgrades, and provide amenities for the community. The remodel included removing areas of flat roofs that were ponding and leaking and replacing sloped roofs; replacing single pane windows with dual pane; and the second floor offices for Parks and Rec staff received all new interior finishes, casework and Title 24 upgrades to power and lighting. The original structure included a natural wood siding that has deteriorated over the years, especially on the southern face of the building that receives the brunt of sun, wind and rain. We proposed replacing the existing finish with a phenolic rain screen system that resembles wood, but holds up to the elements much better.