By Dean Petersen

Spring is in full swing and the Hughes Marino Construction Management team is busier than ever. Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to.

Projects in Progress

We’re working with several life science companies on projects in Torrey Pines. Senior Project Manager Nik Bandak recently completed Phase I of Receptos’ new HQ, and is getting ready to kick off Phase II. The Receptos team moved into its new digs in January and is loving the new space. The design for Phase II is packed with high-end conference rooms with state-of-the-art audiovisual capabilities, wood-wrapped columns that extend into benches, an open-structure ceiling, and a break room that offers Receptos team members the chance to unwind and collaborate in a comfortable environment.

Senior Vice President Dave Bates is leading two life science projects – Oncosec and The Medicines Company (MDCO). OncoSec is consolidating their three current locations into a single 34,000 square foot corporate headquarters in Sorrento Mesa. The new facility will have state of the art lab space, office and conference space, a comfortable employee break/lunch area, and a fitness room.

MDCO will be moving into the Spectrum 2 building, which will complete the campus renovations to Alexandria Real Estate’s Spectrum property on Science Park Road. Tenant improvements are still in the initial design stage, but will provide for unique and dramatic spaces that take cues from the adjacent canyon, with an outdoor seating area to take advantage of those gorgeous canyon views.

Further south, we’re honored to be working on our third project for Family Health Centers of San Diego: a new clinic on Federal Boulevard, which broke ground in January after more than a year of design and permitting. Led by HMCM Division President Dean Petersen and Project Manager Matt Renault, the HITEC Center project is one of the few concrete tilt-up buildings to be constructed in San Diego County in recent history. General contractor Bycor Construction managed to pour the foundation and building slab, and stand the wall panels all in less than two months – an impressive feat. Once complete, the Center will include a training facility, office space, and medical clinic.

Last but not least, we’re excited to be working with the City downtown on the new Fire Station No. 2, just a few blocks from our office in Little Italy. The team at Rob Wellington Quigley FAIA has done an amazing job blending the fire department’s safety requirements with aesthetically pleasing details to match the surrounding architecture. In addition to the living quarters and kitchen, the four-story, 15,000 square foot building will include underground parking, an apparatus bay for the fire trucks, a cantilevered staircase, and a green roof adjacent to the rooftop photovoltaic panels. This is definitely a project Hughes Marino and the rest of the project team will be proud to complete for the City of San Diego and Civic San Diego.

Spotted Around Town

Speaking of downtown, you may have noticed the tower cranes near State and C Streets and wondered what’s up – or what’s going up – so to speak. Our friends at Rudolph & Sletten are making progress on the new San Diego Central Courthouse designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, which will consolidate several area courthouses including the facility across the street, which is nearly 50 years old.

After completing a monumental concrete pour for the building’s foundation in December, the structural steel is already underway and reaching several stories in the air. (If you’ve got a few minutes, watch this engrossing timelapse video of the concrete pour, or check out additional renderings of the finished building here.) The building will eventually top out at 22 stories and contain 71 courtrooms. Construction is scheduled to be complete in 2016.

And if you haven’t seen the new Sempra headquarters currently under construction in the East Village, it’s a real showstopper. At 19 stories, the sleek, glass building designed by Carrier Johnson + Culture will be a notable addition to the ballpark area. The project, which is being developed by Cisterra Development and built by Turner Construction, is scheduled to be complete in early June. The use of raised floors and demountable office walls will ensure long-term flexibility for Sempra. The project will also be seeking LEED Gold certification.

Advice for Tenants

The economy is driving lots of new construction, and prices are starting to rise. Many of our clients have been feeling the sticker shock lately. This is in part due to new Title 24 energy requirements, which have been in effect since July 1 of last year, and have raised the cost of tenant improvements by as much as $10-12 per square foot. New lighting control and dimmable light fixture requirements are making reuse of existing lighting almost impossible. So, if you’re planning a remodel in the near future, or especially if you’re in the process of negotiating a lease, be sure to read up on Title 24 and its impacts first so you can budget accordingly.