A contractor known as a leader in sustainable building and an architect with deep experience in school design are completing plans for a new multiuse facility at San Jose City College. The collaboration known as design-build is not typically used in the public education sector.
The college chose design-build for the new facility because the process saves money. The total cost of the building was set at $28 million. The project is funded with Measure G bond money approved by voters in 2004.
Blach Construction Co. of Santa Clara and San Jose-based AEDIS Architecture and Planning were chosen in October for the Math and Visual and Performing Arts Center from a field of seven design-build teams.
This final design for the 45,000-square-foot facility as well as the budget will go before the Evergreen/San Jose City College board in July. AEDIS Senior Principal Thang N. Do said the design is 95 percent complete, and the firm is finalizing cost estimates for the schematics.
Design-build — in which an architect and contractor team is chosen before the design — is new to the public education sector, Do said. Public contract codes require all bids be done competitively, yet price is only one factor considered in a design-build scenario.
The process works well because it limits traditional bickering that can occur between an architect and contractor, Do said.
“We have a good partner in Blach, and the client has been very understanding and cooperative in the process,” he said.
Design-build “gets you a building you can afford and that can be built and meets all of your program criteria,” said Michael Burke, San Jose City College president. “It’s a new process for us, but it’s helpful to have the architect and contractor there, advising us on design ideas and how it impacts the budget.”
The new facility will replace an antiquated fine art complex, which will be demolished as part of the process.
Blach project executive Ken Schroeder said the company has worked on numerous projects with AEDIS and finds the collaborative dynamic works well for both firms. In the past three years, Blach has become familiar with 3-D computer modeling, which allows it to help architects find design challenges before they become design problems.
“That’s brought our comfort level up substantially in doing design-build,” Schroeder said. “We’re able to more efficiently provide a design, and there are no surprises during construction.”
The college will seek LEED silver certification, and the building will contain sustainable features such as maxim exposure to daylight and a living roof. Because of budget constraints, the photovoltaic system will be installed at a later date.