By Dean Petersen and Steven Gorup

Spring has sprung, and our construction management workload is teeming with projects around Southern California. Here is an inside look into what we’ve been working on for the past few months, and a preview into projects coming this summer.

Nik Bandak is leading an exciting new project for BioLegend in Miramar. Phase 1 of the biotech company’s new corporate headquarters campus is underway with architect Delawie and general contractor Wieland completing tenant improvements on an existing 40,000 square foot building. The two-story facility will house a combination of lab and office space, and is set to be completed in October. Seven additional phases are planned over the next three years, which will completely transform the 7.6 acre site on Terman Court. We are ecstatic to be part of such a visionary project!

After 10 years of dreaming, planning and fundraising, the foundation is being dug for Ocean Discovery Institute’s Living Lab in City Heights led by Dean Petersen, with shoring nearing completion and foundation work starting up soon. Designed by architect Rob Wellington Quigley, FAIA, the 22,000 square foot complex will serve as a place for underserved youth to explore different fields of science during and after school. The Ocean Discovery Institute will be partnering with San Diego Unified School District to provide students with more than 70,000 hours per year of science education – an important cause that will make a positive impact in the community for years to come.

Construction on the Bayside Fire Station in Little Italy kicked off last month with a groundbreaking ceremony led by San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. The project team couldn’t be more excited to get started. With Dave Bates and Zane Keith leading the project alongside Civic San Diego’s Gretchen Sorenson, the 25,000 square foot, three-story “green” complex is expected to be one of a kind, and will serve as an important community landmark. Located across from the County Administration Center on the corner of Pacific Highway and Cedar Street, this project will be a fun one to watch over the coming year!

CPC Strategy, one of San Diego’s fastest growing, privately held digital marketing companies, made a big change at the end of March, moving from 7,300 square feet in a Mission Valley low rise to 18,000 square feet spread across the two top floors of a Downtown high rise. This project, managed by Zane Keith, was completed in just 4 1/2 months from start to finish. CPC Strategy is a young and energetic business, and a perfect fit for the Downtown atmosphere. Hughes Marino is thrilled to be a part of their current and future growth.

Up in Torrey Pines, Hughes Marino client Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) recently moved into its beautiful new 32,000 square foot space. A big leap from CCL’s traditional floor plans, the new campus features an abundance of collaborative open office space filled with bright colors that draw a connection to the unique outdoor areas of San Diego. The most notable design aspect of the new space is an open-air patio located on CCL’s third floor. The patio faces west and offers gorgeous views of Torrey Pines Golf Course, the Pacific Ocean, and the Torrey Pines Glider Port, making it the perfect spot for CCL clients and employees to relax and reflect.

Another exciting project, lead by Matt Renault and Steven Gorup, was completed up in Orange County this spring for MobilityWare, the mobile gaming company behind Solitaire, Blackjack, and other hit games. The 30,000 square foot tenant improvement project for the company’s corporate headquarters in Irvine is complete with scrum rooms, an impressive game room, and a snack bar. We can safely say that their new corporate headquarters will be as amazing and fun as the games they create!

Spotted Around Town

Construction on the new San Diego Central Courthouse topped out this month at the intersection of Union and C Street Downtown. The 22-story glass and limestone-faced tower will consolidate San Diego County’s criminal trial, family and civil courts under one roof. Our team had the unique opportunity to tour the construction site this month with the Rudolph and Sletten team that is leading this multi-million dollar project. The courthouse is set to be completed in Q4 of 2016, and will be a beautiful architectural addition to the San Diego skyline.

That’s all for now. Check back again next quarter for more updates from the Hughes Marino Construction Management Team.