Carrier Johnson Architects
Edenvale Community Center, San Jose, CA
Project Description
The Community Center facility comprises an approximate 17,400 square foot multipurpose recreational facility including building shell, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems. The Project is scheduled to achieve LEED Gold Status and will incorporate innovative lighting, HVAC and Controls. The project is a joint use facility on the existing Carolyn Davis School. Building Budget Construction Cost $6.5M.
Salas O’Brien’s role had many facets, which included the services, such as: LEED Documentation, Lighting, Power, Utilities, Telecom, Fire Alarm and Security.
With population fluctuations in California school districts, many school districts were forced to seal off and then purchase land to accommodate declining and increased student populations. This was also true with the San Jose School District. Salas O’Brien was hired to plan and design for fire alarm systems for buildings that were not originally part of a school campus to accommodate the growth.
When the two entities were then incorporated, Salas O’Brien was called back a second time to help with the required upgrades since educational institutions require additional codes and requirements. The original designs were therefore approved by DSA on two occasions, due to changing requirements (as mentioned above). The second approval was to gain SB 575 Compliance. This project required both selected and complete sensor coverage.
Community Impact winner: Sticks and stones don’t stop San Jose community center
By David Mills, Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal
The $18.5 million project to build the Edenvale Community Center in San Jose got off to a rocky start — literally
Shortly after breaking ground in September 2008, crews discovered a layer of hardened rock that contained asbestos on the 2-acre site at the Caroline Davis Intermediate School
"That presented some interesting environmental challenges," said Bill Ekern, director of project management for the San Jose Redevelopment Agency.
The agency worked with the subcontractor, Salas O’Brien of San Jose, as well as Carrier Johnson Architects of San Diego and the Oak Grove Unified School District to remove the rock without dust or debris contaminating the school or the nearby neighborhoods.
"Everybody worked together through all the obstacles we had on this project," said Mary Jo Coash McCully, a project manager with the agency
The community center is now poised for its grand opening on Sept. 25, on budget and within weeks of its scheduled completion date.
The complex is a joint-use facility, providing services for the school, the community and the Boys and Girls Club down the street.
The 20,000-square-foot center contains a gymnasium, a multipurpose room, computer labs, student union, homework study center, meeting room and a pool.
It was designed to be adaptable to whomever is using it. For example, a dance/fitness room opens to the gymnasium to create a stage for performances. Two adult education classrooms can be combined as one for larger events.
The intermediate school is the primary user during school hours, while the city and community groups make use of the building during other times.
"The center provides symmetry between the community and the school district that you might not otherwise have," Ekern said.
"It’s giving the community a building that energizes both kids and adults," added Kevin Krumdieck, an architect with Carrier Johnson.
The large windows on the gymnasium are a visual example of that philosophy. They allow students using the gym to look out onto the community while the neighborhood can peer in on the schoolchildren
"It’s literally a window to the world," Krumdieck said.
The center is also a showcase for green technology. Its sustainability measures include facilities that reduce water use by 40 percent as well as extensive use of windows for natural daylight.
"This is one of those buildings that will be part of a cultural shift," said Donald Young, a vice president at Salas O’Brien. "It’s a model of how things like this should work.
All the firms who collaborated on the project said they immediately saw the center as something that fit in well with their company’s culture.
"We love being part of innovative projects, so we were happy to be part of this one," Young said.
Salas O’Brien put six people on the development, including two of the company’s founders.
"It was important to us that this project turn out to be successful," Young said.
Krumdieck said Carrier Johnson Architects specializes in civic buildings and was immediately attracted to this project.
"We just don’t want to do another building and move on," Krumdieck said. "This project came along, and it seemed like a good fit for us."
The architect said the building will be a model in the future on how companies can work together as a team as well as a showcase for multi-use facilities and environmental design.
"It will be a great teaching tool as a building," Krumdieck said.
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