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November 2018

A Season to Give Thanks

By Newsletter

A Season to Give Thanks

Fall is officially in full swing, and many of us are reflecting on all that we have to be grateful for during this season. This year, Latitude 33 and our leadership team are especially grateful for the last 25 years of working with dedicated staff and inspiring clients, and consulting on phenomenal projects that have changed the landscape of San Diego. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our past successes, and to all of those with whom we will continue to collaborate for years to come. This season, we are grateful for you!

Sincerely,
Latitude 33 Leadership Team


Featured Story



All three projects featured in this quarter’s newsletter were completed using the design-build method. The design-build project delivery method creates a culture of collaboration because the designer and contractor work together from the very beginning under a single contract with the owner. According to the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), design-build projects are completed 12 percent faster and save 6.1 percent in cost. What used to be an alternative method of delivery, is now used for nearly half of all the nation’s projects. Please enjoy learning about a few of Latitude 33’s recent design-build projects!

Ten Years in Planning and Construction: San Diego County Operations Center Demonstrates Latitude 33’s City-Making Ability

The $600 million County of San Diego’s Operations Center.

One of San Diego County’s largest projects is also one of Latitude 33’s signature projects: the County of San Diego’s Operations Center. This $600 million project developed over the past 10 years not only demonstrates Latitude 33’s scope and capabilities, it perfectly exemplifies the firm’s commitment to excellence, being proactive, and anticipating their client’s needs—keys to developing long-term relationships.

The Place-Making Partner
Latitude 33 played a key role in helping bring this project to fruition. As a $600 million project with a 10-year timeline, Latitude 33 had numerous opportunities to utilize its capabilities for this complex project. Overall, the project scope included demolishing over 20 buildings totaling 623,600 square feet, and building 1,288,000 square feet of new construction with nearly 3,500 parking stalls. The construction was completed in numerous phases in order to not disrupt the ongoing county-wide security and communications operations on-site.

Latitude 33’s engineering efforts included extensive offsite traffic mitigation measures including three phases for Caltrans’ freeway ramps and City of San Diego intersection improvements. Additionally, Latitude 33’s onsite engineering efforts included design and phasing coordination of over 5,000 lineal feet of storm drain, water, sewer, chilled water, joint trenching, and gas mains. The firm also developed an intricate utility identification plan to locate existing undocumented infrastructure.

The County, developer Lowe Enterprises, and Project Management Associates (PMA) continued to return to Latitude 33 for engineering services due to the firm’s commitment to excellence and its ability to forge long-term relationships. Led by Principal Matt Semic, PE, Latitude 33 worked diligently to go above and beyond every step of the way. Deemed by Semic as the “ten year puzzle,” the project required that the staff be proactive, anticipate their clients’ needs, produce progressive solutions, and do more than just their jobs.

Moving Forward
Located on the campus now are the Campus Center, Medical Examiner & Forensic Center, and the Registrar of Voters Headquarters. The Crime Lab recently had its ribbon cutting and is in the process of being occupied, and the Sheriff’s Technology & Information Center recently finished demolition and has broken ground. Latitude 33 continues to provide engineering services for various elements of this complex project and continues to build on a decade-long relationship with the County of San Diego.

For more information, visit latitude33.com.


Projects


Ribbon Cutting for UCSD Osler Parking Structure and Visitor Center

The August 31, 2018 Ribbon Cutting for the UCSD Osler Parking Structure and Visitor Center. Chancellor Pradeep Khosla is 5th from left.

The Latitude 33 team attended the Ribbon Cutting for the UCSD Osler Parking Structure and Visitor Center on August 31, 2018. This six-story parking structure has over 1,300 stalls, including ADA parking stalls and electric vehicle parking stalls. The structure also contains space for facilities and maintenance, a bicycle enclosure, stair and elevator cores in three corners of the building, and space for future photovoltaic equipment. This design-build collaboration serves as a gateway to the campus, with an onsite visitor center and an innovative design that blends seamlessly into the natural landscape.

Services provided by Latitude 33 included:

  • Grading and site design, including excavation quantities and precise grading to support ADA path of travel requirements
     
  • Leading coordination efforts with a broad spectrum of sub-consultants
     
  • Design of storm water treatment best management practices for water quality
     
  • Strategic thinking and collaboration with UCSD during utility and site layout to best address the future needs of the school, and
     
  • Value engineering and construction support efforts
     

At the event, the design-build team members, including Swinerton, Gensler, Watry Design, Inc., Spurlock Landscape Architects, and Latitude 33 were commended by the Vice Chancellor for their innovative design and collaborative team work. Congratulations team!


Groundbreaking for County of San Diego Assessor, Recorder, County Clerk (ARCC) East County Branch Office

The Latitude 33 team at the Groundbreaking for County of San Diego ARCC East County Branch Office

On October 24, 2018, the Latitude 33 team was proud to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the County of San Diego Assessor, Recorder, County Clerk (ARCC) East County Branch Office. This design-build project is a unique collaboration with the County of San Diego and the City of Santee.

The ARCC East County Branch office will be a 25,000-square-foot, LEED Gold (possibly LEED Platinum) building located on a 3.65-acre site situated along Mission Gorge Road in Santee. This new ARCC branch was designed to achieve net-zero energy consumption, utilizing the natural features of the site, including light and ventilation. A venue for civil ceremonies will be at the rear of the building utilizing bio-filtration basins, landscape dunes, and planting consistent with the area as a natural backdrop for the “Wedding Arbor.”

This project requires constant and intensive collaboration with the project teams, including The Miller Hull Partnership and CW Driver, in a design-build effort to obtain multiple permits with various jurisdictions. Latitude 33’s design efforts include site design from concept to final, drainage and water quality design, utility design, fire access, and infrastructure permitted through the County of San Diego, City of Santee, and Santee Fire Department.



Community and Culture


Melissa Krause Named Finalist for San Diego Magazine Celebrating Women Awards

Melissa Krause, Principal at Latitude 33 Planning & Engineering, recognized by San Diego Magazine.

San Diego Magazine held its 13th annual Celebrating Women event on September 25, 2018, recognizing women who have excelled in their respective fields of accomplishment. More than 300 women were nominated and only half qualified as finalists.

Latitude 33’s Melissa Krause was recognized in the Industry Leader category as a dynamic and passionate leader who has a positive influence on others and works tirelessly for causes which are important to her. A few of her achievements include:

    • In Latitude 33’s 25-year history, the firm has a 100 percent success rate for seeking entitlements, in part due to Melissa and her efforts.

    • Melissa has helped steer Latitude 33 and contributed to its strategic planning for the future. The firm is growing its services and it serves a more diverse client base than ever before.

  • Melissa is involved in numerous volunteer activities, allowing her to share her industry expertise with a younger generation of leaders.

In addition to her invaluable contributions at Latitude 33, Melissa has been a member of the Building Industry Association for nearly 20 years, where she serves on the North County Legislative Committee. She has also served as a BIA mentor for four years to younger generation (yGEN) members, and has lectured for the yGEN speaker series. Melissa also recently joined NAIOP, and is active on its Legislative Committee. In 2018, she was appointed to the Advisory Board for the Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate at SDSU. Congratulations, Melissa, for this well-deserved honor!


Katie Yee Helps CREW Convention Come to San Diego

Katie Yee (6th from Left) with the rest of the 2018 CREW San Diego Convention Planning Committee.


From October 17-19, 2018, the 2018 CREW Network Convention and Marketplace was held in San Diego. Over 1,300 commercial real estate professionals came from all over the world to network, be inspired, and hear the latest on what’s happening in commercial real estate. Congratulations to Latitude 33’s Katie Yee, who served as a member of the 2018 CREW San Diego Convention Planning Committee. Great job on putting together a stellar lineup of speakers and an outstanding event!


Latitude 33 Celebrates its 25-Year Anniversary

Latitude 33 Team members, friends, and family

On September 22, 2018, the Latitude 33 team celebrated 25 years as a firm by heading over to Hilltop Community Park for a picnic and an afternoon of relaxing together with friends and family. Thank you to all of our staff, clients, and partners for being a part of our journey!


A Halloween Fitting For a 25-Year Anniversary

Latitude 33’s annual costume contest and pumpkin decorating event on Halloween, 2018

Latitude 33 celebrated Halloween this year with pumpkin decorating and our annual costume contest. Our 25th Anniversary wasn’t forgotten as Kyle Boyce, Jason Gordon, Justin Listar and Christopher Eardensohn paid tribute to an iconic photo of the firm’s founding partners (bottom center photo above).


Thank you for being a part of our planning and engineering family.
From the entire Latitude 33 team, Happy Fall!