Reno News Archives

ASA names Reno Contracting "2005 Contractor of the Year"
The American Subcontractor's Association presented Reno Contracting, the Contractor of the Year Award at the annual awards banquet which took place on July 13th. Each year three contractors are nominated for this award and Reno has been nominated for the last nine consecutive years. This is the fourth year that we have been named Contractor of the Year. The Criteria for nomination and award is fair business practices, fair award of subcontract's, fair treatment and scheduling of subcontractors and prompt payment of subcontractors. Reno excels at all of this and more.

We would like to thank our subcontractors for this very special award. We couldn't do it without them. Receiving this award from our subcontractors signifies that we are living our Mission Statement and our Corporate Values and Beliefs in our day to day operations, as reflected in our short and long term vision.

Congratulations to each and every member of Reno Contracting, we are successful because of the effort we exert, and the results we achieve as a cohesive team.

ABC recognized Reno as a classic example of the quality work performed by merit shop contractors in San Diego. Also, they stated that this company represents ABC members who are committed to maintaining the highest performance standards in the employees they train and hire, and in the projects they construct. Congratulations go to the team responsible for the success of this project: Dan Schwartzer- Project Manager; Rod Tower- Shell and Core Superintendent; Tom Dances- Tenant Improvement Superintendent / Shell Core PE; Bryan McCarthy- Tenant Improvement PE; and Cheri Smeal- Project Administrator.

Reno also received recognition for the Biosite Main Campus which garnered an Honor Award in the category of Industrial projects in the $10 - 99M range.

Criteria used in the judging process consisted of eight different categories, such as: a portfolio of elaborate photographs of the center; a detailed narrative of the project, including the challenges and unique features; the safety record; references from the owner, architect and design team; merit shop involvement; and any Accredited Quality Contractor Awards.

There will be a public recognition and presentation of these awards at the chapter's official ceremony in February 2006. Currently, this project is entered into the National ABC Excellence in Construction Awards. Winners will be announced for this competition in March 2006.

RENO HAS BEEN AWARDED:

City Heights Square
The San Diego Revitalization Corporation is planning the development of City Heights Square, a 4-story, 90,000 s.f. mixed-use project. The 62,000 s.f. site is located on University Avenue between 43rd Street and Fairmount Avenue in San Diego. The project will have street-level retail space and three stories of office space above two levels of subterranean parking. The project architect is Fehlman LaBarre.

Rancho San Diego Hilton Head
Pacific Cornerstone Architects designed this 40,223 s.f., 2-story office building for AMS Plastics on Hilton Head Rd. in Rancho San Diego. The building site contains 212 parking spaces, features a spacious partially shaded court yard with extensive paving and stacked stone veneer, water fountain in the center and landscaping elements. The 2-story entrance lobby features stepped planters around the elevator and along the stairway up to the second floor.

Baker Electric, Inc.
Pacific Cornerstone Architects designed this 48,000 s.f., 2–story tilt office building for Baker Electric, Inc. on Pacific Oaks Place in Escondido, CA. The building site contains 77 parking spaces on a 1.96 acre lot. The building will be comprised of roughly 20,000 s.f. of office and tenant area with the remainder being for assembly and storage. The lobby entrance will be accented with a curved tube steel canopy with louver infill panels. A pyramid skylight in the lobby will add natural light to the stained concrete finishes, natural wood paneling, and reception area. The wood paneling will be accented with 4" stainless reveals and stone base.

PROJECTS UNDER WAY:

Kelly Corporate Center II
Allen Development, Inc is planning the development of a 77,300 s.f., 3-story, concrete tilt-up office building. The project is located at the corner of Aviara Parkway and Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad. The exterior fa®ade consists of painted concrete, architectural stone and bronze-shaded glass curtain walls. The project architect is Smith Consulting Architects of San Diego, CA.

The Reno Team members are: Dan Schwartzer – Project Manager, Steve Honn – Project Superintendent, Brandon Kyse – Project Engineer, Cheri Smeal – Project Administrator.

DiamondView Tower
DiamondView Tower
DiamondView Tower is located between 9th and 10th Avenues and J and K Streets immediately adjacent to PETCO Park and The Park at the Park. This 306,750 s.f., Class-A office tower provides 14 floors with amazing views to all levels of the stadium, downtown and bay. The high-rise floors range from 16,600 - 17,350 SF with the low-rise floors offering larger floorplates ranging from 27,600 - 33,700 s.f. The first two floors will offer 74,250 of on-site retail amenities with a "Hall of Fame" style lobby and 3 levels of underground parking. This dynamic location with fabulous signage opportunities offers fantastic exposure to the 42,000-seat PETCO Park and actual field views from its office suites.

Paseo del Mar
Reno Contracting has started construction on Paseo del Mar for JMI Realty; consisting of three (3) 4-story Class A office buildings, with the lower subterranean level assigned for parking, and site improvements on eleven (11) acres. The 240,000 s.f. office complex, located on El Camino Real in Carmel Valley, is designed by Carrier Johnson Architects, and scheduled for completion in August of 2006.

The Reno Team members are: Chris Heim – Project Director, Kevin Horst – Project Manager, Bob Canuso and Mike Jones – Project Superintendents, Francisco Michelena and Oliver Rose – Project Engineers, Cheri Smeal – Project Administrator.

Intuit – Santa Fe Summit Shell/Core
The Kilroy Realty Corporation is planning the development of the Intuit Regional Headquarters, a campus consisting of three, 4-story buildings totaling 375,812 s.f and a 4-level, 481,962 s.f. parking structure with 1,682 parking stalls. The 691,354 s.f. site is located on Torrey Santa Fe Road just south of Hwy 56 in San Diego. The project will have office space, laboratory, and full service cafeteria / kitchen. The site amenities will include basketball and volleyball courts, an amphitheatre, barbecue area, and walk paths. The project architect is Hanna Gabriel Wells.

The Reno Team members are: Chris Heim – Project Director, Erik Kissner – Project Manager, Steve Meister – Project Superintendent, Eric Scheidlinger – Project Engineer, Kari McFall – Project Administrator.

Centerpoint Plaza (Carlsbad Research Center Lot 6)
Beckman/Faraday, LLC is planning the development of a Class A, 97,500 s.f., 3-story steel framed Office Building with 1 level subterranean parking garage. The project is located at the corner of Faraday Ave and Priestly Drive in the Carlsbad Research Center. The exterior facade contains a combination of glass, stone and aluminum panels all being complementary to a unique massive aluminum entry trellis structure. The project architect is Austin, Veum, Robbins Partners (AVRP) of San Diego, CA.

The Reno Team members are: Eric Gradyan – Project Manager, Fred Hucke – Project Superintendent, Brandon Kyse – Project Engineer, Cheri Smeal – Project Administrator.

The Blackmore Company, Lot 66
Lot 66 is a 58,000 s.f., 2-story office building, located on Aston Drive, off of College Blvd in Carlsbad. It features 239 parking spaces, landscaping with mature trees, glass curtain walls and exterior stone. The lobby features skylights to provide the necessary lighting, and stone clad water features, including a sloped channel, water wall and a fountain pool. Aluminum reveals in partially curved walls and areas with wood ceiling and wall elements provide the transition to the individual tenant spaces.

The Reno Team members are: Wade Richardson – Project Manager, Rod Tower – Project Superintendent, Thomas Kohzina – Project Engineer, Kari McFall – Project Administrator.

Viasat – Levine Investments
North Pointe Tech Center Lot 5
Levine Investments is developing a 60,000-sf, 2-story concrete tilt-up building that consists of offices and R&D labs. The design team is Smith Consulting Architects for the Shell and Chapo and Hall Architects for the Tenant Improvement.

There are three existing similar buildings that make up ViaSat's Corporate Headquarters in Carlsbad. The three buildings were previously constructed by Reno Contracting, designed by Smith Consulting Architects, and Chapo and Hall Architects. This new building is now the fourth in the campus and has the distinguished feature of an auditorium on the first floor which seats 96.

The project started in January 2005 and has a projected completion date of February, 2006. The Reno Team members are: Chris Heim – Project Director, Eric Gradyan – Project Manager, Clark Clowar – Project Superintendent, Danielle Slagal – Project Engineer, Cheri Smeal – Project Administrator.

Gateway Chula Vista II
This is the second phase of a three phase development in Chula Vista at the corner of 3rd and H streets. Phase II is to build a six level level parking structure which ties into the existing five level structure, then build a six story office building adjacent to both the new parking structure and the Phase I, five level office building.

The building will have a total of 132,000 sf of floor space, three 'state of the art' "machine-roomless" elevators, two multi-floor lobbies and first class amenities throughout. The ground floor of the building will be home to several new restaurants to cater to the new building tenants and neighborhood workers. The floors above are designated for office use.

The project started in January 2004 and has a projected completion date of October 2005. The Reno Team members are: Chris Heim – Project Director, Ken Taylor – Project Superintendent, Mick Ellis – Project Engineer, Cheri Smeal – Project Administrator

Los Coches Village
C.W. Clark is developing the Los Coches Village project which is a 22,132 sf , 3-story medical office building, designed by Nadel Architects. The two upper levels are comprised of office space and 11,330 s.f. of parking below.

The building is constructed with a structural steel frame, castellated beams and metal floor decking topped with lightweight concrete. This system offers the benefit of spanning 62 feet for a column free garage and lease area without compromising floor stiffness. The building exterior has walls that are finished with stone veneer and exterior cement plaster.

The project is scheduled to start in May 2005 and has a projected completion date of November 23, 2005. The Reno Team members are: Eric Gradyan – Project Manager, Leighton Walker – Project Superintendent, Danielle Slagal – Project Engineer, Kari McFall – Project Administrator.

The Point – East Parking Area Stabilization
Construction for The Point began Nov 1, 2004. The project is located adjacent to Interstate 15 linking properties between Bernardo Center Drive and Rancho Bernardo Road. This $18 million project, a joint venture between Reno Contracting, Inc. and Condon–Johnson & Associates, Inc., with Legacy Partners as the developer, consists of three major phases all utilizing the construction of post–tensioned tieback systems.

The first phase of the project takes place at an existing keystone wall, which since its construction in 1999 has showed evidence of failure. A total of 186 tiebacks ranging from 60 ft to 120 ft in length will be drilled and placed throughout the keystone wall in an effort to stabilize the failing hillside. Once the tiebacks are placed and stressed an architectural layer of shotcrete simulating a rocky hillside will be placed concealing both the keystone wall and the tieback system.

The second phase, a 1,340 ft retaining wall, will be constructed to facilitate Caltran's current I–15 freeway expansion. The 6 ft pre–cast wall sits on top of a grade beam/tieback system consisting of 662 tiebacks and 2550 cubic yards of shotcrete.

The third phase, located at the northern section of the project will employ a grade beam/tieback system similar to the 2nd phase. The system will incorporate five separate grade beam arrays which will all be buried upon completion. The Reno Team is: Chris Heim – Project Manager, Mike Stout – Superintendent, Francisco Michelena – Project Engineer, Kari McFall – Project Administrator.

Biosite Main Campus

Reno Contracting is slated to complete construction during the fourth quarter of 2005 on a state-of-the-art new corporate headquarters for Biosite Incorporated. Biosite is a research-based company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel protein-based diagnostics that improve a physician's ability to diagnose debilitating and life-threatening diseases. One of the most sizeable and complex biotechnology projects currently underway in San Diego County, the project consists of four buildings spanning nearly 350,000 s.f.

This first phase of the Biosite campus features an 85,000-s.f. office building, a 75,000-s.f. research and development building and two 95,000-s.f. buildings for manufacturing, laboratories and warehouse. With the company's future in mind, the new facilities were designed by Architects Delawie Wilkes Rodrigues Barker to accommodate rapid growth and easily incorporate expansions.

The Reno Team members are: Bill Hansen – Project Director, Erik Kissner - Project Manager, Bart Provo, Gary Magill – Project Superintendents, Robin Delaney and Adam Gressel – Project Engineers, Terri Ehret – Project Administrator.

RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS:

Innovation Bldgs D & E
Kilroy Realty is developing Buildings D & E of the Innovation Corporate Center Campus. Both buildings are 2-story, shell and core, proposed office/industrial facilities and is serviced by a central plant. Building E is the larger of the two buildings at 65,295 square feet. Building D is half as large at 37,155 square feet.

Both buildings are constructed using tilt-up concrete walls with open web steel floor and roof joists. The building exteriors are painted concrete and high-performance glass, with slate tile at the building entries. The lobbies are open to the second floor with decorative canopies over the elevators.

The project is scheduled to complete is May 2005. The Reno Team members are: Eric Gradyan – Project Manager, Mike Jones – Project Superintendent, Bob Hardege – Project Superintendent, Brandon Kyse – Project Engineer, Terri Ehret– Project Administrator.

Temecula Highlands
The Garrett Group's Temecula Highlands project is underway with a projected completion date of July 2005. The project consists of a 2-story tilt up office Building totaling 29,516 s.f., core and shell only.

Interior features include travertine and limestone flooring, lobby paneling, and pre-finished oak doors. Exterior features include travertine tile, aluminum storefront, metal canopy, wood trellis at trash enclosure, and lush landscaping.

The Reno Contracting Team members are: Craig Hueners - Project Manager; Steve Honn - Project Superintendent; Bryan McCarthy - Project Engineer; and Cheri Smeal -Project Administrator.

Ridge Park Office Center
The May 5, 2005 grand opening ceremony for The Garrett Group's new Ridge Park Office complex was a tremendous success. This elaborate $15-million-plus project sits on 5ý acres on a southwest hillside overlooking the Temecula Valley. Designed by Leary Childs Mascari Warner Architects, the project consists of three buildings. The outside buildings are two stories at approximately 14,000 sf each and have virtually identical footprints, with only minor differences in the entryways. The 42,000 sf center building has four floors including a basement. The Garrett Group and Better World will occupy its top two floors for their Temecula headquarters.

The attention to detail and fine craftsmanship evokes an old world tradition very rarely accommodated in today's budget driven, fast-paced construction industry. Beneath the beauty of the skin one gets a sense that the structure and foundation are strong. The extra thick walls, with double and triple frame construction, not only enable the complex angles and numerous arches, but also will insure that these magnificent buildings will be enjoyed for many generations to come.

The Reno team consisted of: Dan Schwartzer – Project Manager, Rod Tower – Shell & Core Superintendent, Tom Dances – Tenant Improvement Superintendent/Shell & Core PE, Bryan McCarthy – Tenant Improvement Project Engineer, Cheri Smeal – Project Administrator.

Diamante
Reno Contracting has completed construction on Diamante Del Mar, a $4.7-million commercial office building owned and developed by The Allen Group, a major developer of commercial and industrial real estate headquartered in San Diego.

Located at 11943 El Camino Real in the rapidly-growing Carmel Valley/Del Mar Heights neighborhood of San Diego, the two-story modern craftsman-style structure spans 55,364 s.f., including one level of subterranean parking.

Interiors feature wood paneling at the elevator and main lobby, decorative wall sconces and limestone floors and elevator lobbies. The structure also features a striking stone veneer exterior, a standing seam metal roof at the high bay roof, and colored sidewalks and flatwork.

The Reno Team consisted of: Eric Gradyan - Project Manager, Fred Hucke - Superintendent and Bryan McCarthy - Project Engineer.

Slatestone
The Slatestone building, developed by the Slatesone Group and designed by Conwell, Shonkwiler & Associates, is a 22,400 s.f., 3-story structural steel building with high-end finishes. The skin of the building consists of a glazing curtainwall system and stone veneer. A visual highlight of the building is a rounded tower section in the SW corner of the building with the top forming a cylinder protruding into the sky. The tower is all glass, and the glass is curved to give smoothing lines to the curvature of the tower.

As the name of the project implies, a theme with the building is the use of a lot of slate stone material. Other finishes include cherry wood doors and architectural panels on the walls and ceilings.

The Reno team consisted of: Chris Heim – Project Director, Paul Kelley – Superintendent, Mick Ellis – Project Engineer, Cheri Smeal – Project Administrator.

SDG&E Mission Skills Training Facility
The SDG&E Training Facility is used to train SDG&E's field personnel including, lineman, electricians, gas line technicians, labors, meter readers and locators. Designed by Austin Veum Robbins Partners, the 30,500 s.f. facility incorporates the latest technology while providing specialized classrooms to meet the needs of the instructors and students. The facility also has lunchroom and conference facilities along with the ability to act as an emergency operation center if needed.

The concrete masonry and structural steel building including landscaping and hardscape was completed in seven months. The masonry consisted of six different type of blocks arranged in several different patterns. The structural steel is incorporated to provide a purposeful industrial look to the building. After the relocation from the old facility to the new, the existing facility was remodeled. This all was accomplished without interruption of the 2003 or 2004 class schedule. The project was completed in November 2004. The facility was awarded a 2004 Gold Nugget Merit Award as well as a merit award from the Concrete Masonry Association.

The Reno Team consisted of: Eric Gradyan – Project Manager/Superintendent, Barratt Stauffacher – Project Engineer.

Torrey Pines Bank – La Mesa
This La Mesa project is the second for Torrey Pines Bank by Reno Contracting. A 6,214 s.f. branch bank, designed by Howard Sneed Architects is located in the Grossmont area of La Mesa. The structure is a steel and wood frame one story building with an exterior of stucco, stone and glass with metal accents. A colored metal roof and clerestory windows accentuate the exterior.

The interior flooring is carpet in the general areas, with limestone from the Middle East in the high traffic areas. The transaction countertops at the teller line are slab material of the same limestone. The interior office walls are glass and aluminum storefront.

The Reno Team consisted of Dan Schwartzer – Project Manager, Bill McFarland - Superintendent, Wade Richardson – Project Engineer.

Redhawk Business Park
Started in November 2003, Redhawk Business Park was completed in June 2004. Developed by Redhawk Commercial Park, LLC, the project consisted of two tilt-up concrete buildings located in Temecula. Building 3 included four individual suites totaling 24,725 s.f. core and shell only. Building 2 – three individual suites totaling 16, 050 s.f. Building 2, Unit A was a 2-story TI with 5475 s.f. for the 1st floor and 4985 s.f. for the second floor. Units B&C were core and shell only.

Interior features include stainless steel handrail, interior architectural woodwork, lobby stone flooring, parabolic light fixtures, Sandrift Tegular Acoustical Ceiling Tile. Exterior features include EIFS trim and ornamental iron at entries.

The Reno Team consisted of: Dan Schwartzer - Project Manager, Steve Honn - Project Superintendent, Bryan McCarthy - Project Engineer, and Terri Ehret - Project Administrator.


Reno Annual Golf Tournament Raises $35,000 For "Homefront San Diego"
On May 9th, Reno Contracting held their 8th Annual Charity Tournament at StoneRidge Country Club in Poway. 108 golfers... architects, developers and contractors... articipated in the 18-hole event. The first place foursome included John and Kurt Gilliland (Irving Hughes), Ralph Linder (AVRP) and Gene Walsh (Walsh Engineers). Reno's own Craig Hueners won "Closest to the Pin."

Since Reno underwrote all of the tournament costs we were able to donate the entire proceeds, (over $35,000) to "Homefront San Diego". This program provides emergency support to wounded military personnel and families of deployed service members. The Navy League Council's Executive Director, Pat Stengel and K.C. Robinson, the volunteer Chair of Homefront San Diego, were guests at the luncheon and accepted the cash donation. Joining us for golf were two Marines who had recently served in Iraq. Gunnery Sergeant, Matt Laggit and 1st Sergeant Mark O'Loughlin were introduced at the Luncheon and received a standing ovation.

On behalf of the Reno Contracting Team, we would like to thank all of the tournament players for their participation and generous contribution to "Homefront San Diego".