Skip to main content

NEWSLETTERS

The Latest Happenings and Updates

Summer 2020 Newsletter

By Newsletter

READ MORE HERE

 

A WORD FROM OUR CFO

With the novelty of virtual workplaces and zoom meetings wearing off, we are finding new ways to stay active, engaged, and most of all communicative with our clients, staff and colleagues.

Back to the Office: as essential workers begin to return to the office we have seen a wide range of approaches to how and when that happens. . At Latitude 33 we have chosen a phased approach which allows employees a choice. We have seen approximately 20% of our employees return completely, while the remainder are split between half-time in the office and those who are continuing to work completely from home. In our “Company Culture” section of the newsletter you can see how we celebrate successes and keep our team connected even when we can’t be together.

Pursuits Continue: how do you impress a new client and showcase your personality and technical abilities over Zoom? We have all learned the importance of reading body language and how to adapt your approach and delivery based on those non-verbal cues. When we were faced with a virtual project interview with a brand new client we needed to adjust our approach and invest time into getting comfortable with new technology and practicing a new style of presenting. Check out a deeper dive into how we prepared and won the UC Irvine As-Needed contract in the “Project Wins” section of this newsletter.

Networking: for the time being, networking is not like it used to be. In lieu of 200+ BIA and ULI events we are meeting virtually on zoom with small groups of networking partners. We attend webinars and listen in on educational podcasts and interviews. We place high value on our relationships both internally and externally and are happy to put in the extra effort to stay connected. Now more than ever we rely on our strategic partners and friends to stay informed and up to date on what’s happening in our Industry and we strive to be a resource to our partners and clients in return!

Continue to Be Safe and Stay Healthy!


Featured Story


China Lake

On July 4th and 5th, 2019, many of the facilities at Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake were severely damaged by the Ridgecrest Earthquakes. China Lake is the Navy’s key research & development site for major aviation and weapons systems testing and evaluation. Covering 1.2 million acres in the Mojave Desert, China Lake felt the brunt of the significant 6.4 and 7.1 magnitude quakes. The tremors left buildings, roadways, and utility infrastructure impacted, and entire Mission programs without adequate space and facilities to continue their critical work and research.

Latitude 33 is excited to be a part of the recovery efforts at China Lake. As a subconsultant to Jacobs Engineering Group, Latitude 33 recently completed design-build bridging documents for a new weapons research laboratory situated on ~10 acres within NAWSCL Main site. The new laboratory was carefully designed to consolidate several Mission programs into one state-of-the-art facility and included much site planning and engineering. In the early phases of the project, Latitude 33 provided several site layout concepts to maximize building and parking coverage of the available real estate, which ultimately led to the development of the design concept used for the project bridging documents. Documents provided consisted of: basis of design narrative, part 3 engineering systems requirements, concept grading plan, site improvement plan, utility plan, storm water management calculations and report, and overall project consultation and coordination throughout the duration of the project.

One of the many unique challenges faced included the live development of the constantly evolving project program to provide the most comprehensive bidding documents to the satisfaction of the End Users. Another unique engineering challenge included the analysis and design of a solution to re-route an existing major drainage channel bisecting the project site to make space for the laboratory and supporting parking lot and other site features. Latitude 33 is proud and excited to be a part of such a meaningful project and Mission to rehabilitate buildings and systems at China Lake!

 


Groundbreakings


Jefferson, La Mesa

JEFFERSON LA MESA, a 5-acre multi-family development, broke ground in early February. Developed by JPI, JEFFERSON LA MESA is at the intersection of Baltimore Drive and University Avenue and is near the trolley station and downtown dining and entertainment district. This four-story, luxury development will consist of 230 apartment homes that will feature sleek and contemporary finishes, designer kitchens, and SMART Home Technology.

Community amenities will include a two-level fitness center with yoga room and cycling studio, co-working space, resort-style pool with cabanas, high-tech resident lounge, pet park with grooming station, outdoor fire pit, and other design features.

Latitude 33 provided services for not only the onsite grading and improvements, but also extensive improvements to existing El Cajon Boulevard, University Avenue, Baltimore Drive and Nebo Drive for roadway widening, new medians, new bike lanes, traffic signal and upgrades and new sewer and water mains.  The project also included obtaining permits and approvals from several agencies including San Diego County Water Authority, Helix Water District, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, Heartland Fire and City of La Mesa.

JEFFERSON LA MESA is estimated to be completed 2021!

Learn more at www.jpi.com

 


Juvenile Justice Campus

Groundbreaking for grading officially has begun! One of Latitude 33’s most innovative projects is the Urban Camp at the JUVENILE JUSTICE CAMPUS, Phase 1 of a three-phase redevelopment of the County Juvenile Hall and Probations Center. Located at 2840 Meadowlark Drive in Kearny Mesa, the project is south of the I-805 & SR-163 junction. This development for the County of San Diego is intended to be a model for positive development and reorient the way we approach the rehabilitation of incarcerated youth.

Phase 1 of the JUVENILE JUSTICE CAMPUS project, dubbed the Urban Camp, entails adding approximately 131,000 sq. ft. of new buildings, over 300 parking stalls, and new campus amenities, including a recreation field, ball courts, indoor gymnasium, educational facilities, vocational spaces, and four new housing facilities. The project will provide for their basic physical needs, safety, and security, and support personal growth. The environment will emphasize staff and youth interaction, family connections, positive program participation, and a sense of wellness for both youth and staff. The design emulates a residential campus, such as a private boarding school, with a secure environment and aims to be a place where youth can grow and flourish. The project is designed to achieve Zero Net Energy (ZNE).

The design-build team is being led by Balfour Beatty + DLR Group, along with nine (9) design/engineering partners and 11 trade partners, including Latitude 33.

 


Virtual Win


University of California, Irvine

Latitude 33 has won a 3-year Executive Engineering Contract with University of California, Irvine to provide Civil Engineering services for a multitude of deferred maintenance projects across the campus.

This project was procured during the COVID-19 shelter in place order for California during the months of March and April, meaning the final interview was presented online to the UCI Selection Committee through a Zoom Virtual Meeting.

Presenting in this new environment meant a collaborative effort of Latitude 33 Staff, including Dana Keil (Marketing), Matt Semic (Principal), and Kyle Boyce (Project Manager) to create a presentation that was engaging and precise. Latitude 33 took advantage of the free reign to be creative when developing our power point and took special care and time rehearsing on-line with our Latitude 33 audience critiquing. They even coordinated apparel! Key points made during the online interview included dedicated speakers, engaging examples and illustrations to convey messages presented by the speakers and ensuring committee members felt engaged.

 


Blossoming Partnerships


General Atomics


Latitude 33 is excited to join the General Atomics team!  As a leader in the energy sector and a prominent defense corporation, General Atomics specializes in research and technology development.  Headquartered in San Diego, General Atomics has an impressive campus footprint in both La Jolla and Poway. The recently awarded as-needed contract is intended to assist the Facilities Engineering Services team in efforts including existing conditions reconnaissance, ADA upgrades, storm water assessment, entitlement work and other various engineering related tasks.

 


 

San Diego Unified School District

Latitude 33 has teamed with HPI Architecture to assist on 12 SDUSD school sites.  Heightened security has become a priority at all Public Schools and Latitude 33 is elated to assist the district in achieving their security goals.  The project initially consisted of providing survey work including boundary mapping, topography and as-built research on all twelve (12) campuses.  As the projects evolved, Latitude 33 was tasked to provide assistance on security functions on all the site as wells.  The work entailed coordinating fencing locations with security gates, providing ADA compliant paths of travel to points of entry, designing erosion control plans and providing Water Pollution Control plans as necessary.

 


Awards


Pacific Highlands Ranch Community Park Wins 2020 APWA “Project of the Year

We’re very pleased that the American Public Works Association (APWA) has recognized Pacific Highlands Ranch Community Park with the Project of the Year Award for 2020.

This 13-acre community park offers a diverse and unique blend of recreational amenities for the local community that include an entry garden, discovery playgarden, parkour area, children’s play areas, and picnic areas.

This community park also offers opportunities for athletic and community-based functions with a central gymnasium, separate multi-purpose building, and a large flexible outdoor courtyard in their 17,000-square-foot recreation center along with a full size softball field, a ½ mile loop pathway which connects the field and access to the dog park and pump track.

Latitude 33 proudly provided planning and engineering services for this community park.

Congratulations to the development team: Schmidt Design Group, Architects Hanna Gabriel Wells, and T.B. Penick and Sons, Inc.

 


 

UC San Diego Osler Parking Structure Wins DBIA 2020 Award of Merit

This design-build collaboration is located off Gilman Drive in the School of Medicine. With six-levels and over 1,300 stalls, it replaces two parking lots that served the Heath Sciences West community. This innovative design blends the natural landscape seamlessly and enhances visitors experience, providing connectivity to the surrounding campus including access to the Visitor Center from a pedestrian bridge.

For this project, Latitude 33 provided 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; Storm water treatment BMP design for water quality; Strategic thinking and collaboration with UCSD during utility and site layout to best address the future needs of the school; Value engineering and construction support efforts.

Congratulations to our design team: UC San Diego, Gensler, Watry Design, Inc., Swinerton, tk1sc, and Spurlock Landscape Architects

 


Community & Culture


Latitude 33’s Newest Project Manager

Rory Linehan, P. E. has joined Latitude 33 Planning & Engineering as a Project Manager. He brings nearly two decades of experience as a naval officer and a civil engineer. For the past 14 years, he has worked in the construction and engineering fields, managing projects, coordinating contractors, and ensuring projects complied with engineering and architectural plans. Additionally, Mr. Linehan serves in the Navy Reserves. During his active duty, he served as a Construction Manager and an Engineering Division Officer, among other roles. For Latitude 33, Mr. Linehan will manage projects ranging from infill mixed-use developments to life science and hospitality projects.

“Looking forward to contributing to the dynamic Latitude 33 team across a diverse variety of projects and being a part of helping shape the beautiful San Diego region”


 

Latitude 33’s Newest Design Engineer

Aubrey Kramer has just joined Latitude 33 Planning & Engineering as a Design Engineer and has recently graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Ms. Kramer truly has a passion for others as she volunteers in her spare time and also enjoys baking and traveling.

Welcome to the Latitude team!

“Civil Engineering gives me the opportunity to help others within this industry such as providing housing and helping solve water resource issues”

 


Did You Know


 

We are actively seeking talented individuals for the following positions:

Project Manager

Senior Design Engineer

Design Engineer

Project Engineer

Apply Online at www.latitude33.com

 


Celebration


Celebrating a prosperous quarter

Whether it’s virtual, in person or a hybrid of both, Latitude 33 always finds a way to stay connected and to simply celebrate! Latitude 33 has been pushing the creativity when it comes to company culture with Halloween themed happy hours (in June!) and trivia nights with the crew.

 

On June 24th our team in the office and virtually from home met at Cutwater Spirits to celebrate a prosperous second quarter and to cheers to exciting new opportunities.

 

Thank you for being a part of our planning and engineering family. From the entire Latitude 33 team, stay healthy and enjoy your summer!

Latitude 33 Adapts to Virtual Workplace

By Newsletter

Latitude 33 Adapts to Virtual Workplace

Dear Clients, Colleagues & Friends,

Week two in the virtual workplace has proven that humans still thrive on facial interaction. Zoom meetings were not new to any of us, but how often did people actually have their cameras on? I know I was guilty of having it off, usually so no one could see me multi-task! Within 48 hours of our entire industry being virtual, in all my meetings, everyone had their cameras on. People I had never met had their cameras on. By the end of the week the real human side set in. We didn’t dive right into work or have anxious small talk as we rushed from meeting to meeting and felt behind on our day. Real conversations began occurring. People are now letting us into their houses virtually. We are meeting kids, spouses, and pets, and people are showing personality with creative Zoom wall papers.

ENR featured Latitude 33 in a recent article about how our industry is adapting to the California lockdown (click here to read the article). We can likely all say we will never forget this spring season. The situation around us is evolving by the minute. The range of emotions we are all experiencing is on this same roller coaster, but one thing we all strive for in times like this is to have normalcy. With that, we bring you the first quarterly newsletter of the year!

Be Safe, Stay Healthy!

Matt & the entire Latitude Planning & Engineering Team


Featured Story


 

The New Urban Camp at the Juvenile Justice Campus Prepares to Break Ground

The Urban Camp at the Juvenile Justice Campus will break ground next quarter.

One of Latitude 33’s most innovative projects is the Urban Camp at the Juvenile Justice Campus, Phase 1 of a three-phase redevelopment of the County Juvenile Hall and Probations Center. Located at 2840 Meadowlark Drive in Kearny Mesa, the project is south of the I-805 & SR-163 junction. This development for the County of San Diego is intended to be a model for positive development, and reorient the way we approach the rehabilitation of incarcerated youth.

Phase 1 of the Juvenile Justice Campus project, dubbed the Urban Camp, entails adding approximately 131,000 sq. ft. of new buildings, over 300 parking stalls, and new campus amenities, including a recreation field, ball courts, indoor gymnasium, educational facilities, vocational spaces, and four new housing facilities. The project will provide for their basic physical needs, safety, and security, and support personal growth. The environment will emphasize staff and youth interaction, family connections, positive program participation, and a sense of wellness for both youth and staff. The design emulates a residential campus, such as a private boarding school, with a secure environment and aims to be a place where youth can grow and flourish. The project is designed to achieve Zero Net Energy (ZNE).

The design-build team is being led by Balfour Beatty + DLR Group, along with nine (9) design/engineering partners and 11 trade partners, including Latitude 33. The project is preparing to break ground in the second quarter of 2020.


Groundbreakings


Construction Begins on MERGE 56, Landmark Project in Rancho Peñasquitos


Merge 56 broke ground in early February, 2020.

MERGE 56, a 40-acre mixed-use development in Torrey Highlands, broke ground in early February. Developed by Sea Breeze Properties, MERGE 56 is adjacent to State Route 56 at Camino Del Sur, and will include approximately 450,000 square-feet of Class A office and retail space, a boutique hotel, and 242 residential homes. Of those, 47 homes are slated to be affordable units for residents earning less than 65 percent of the area median income.

MERGE 56 has been touted as a model for suburban development, providing one of the few walkable mixed-use environments in Central San Diego. Parking is provided in partly subterranean structures, rather than surface lots. Residents and visitors will also have direct access to the miles of hiking and biking trails in the adjacent open space of Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve.

The development will also complete the traffic grid for the Rancho Peñasquitos community, including extending Carmel Mountain Road, and extending Camino Del Sur to Park Village Road. This will help relieve traffic congestion on Black Mountain Road by giving approximately 2,000 more homes direct freeway access.

Sea Breeze Properties acquired the land in 2013, with a pedestrian-centric, mixed-use environment in mind. Latitude 33 helped to obtain the necessary engineering, grading, and entitlement permits for the development of the master plan. The project received unanimous approval from the Rancho Peñasquitos Community Planning Group, City of San Diego Planning Commission, and the San Diego City Council.

To learn more about MERGE 56, check out this recent article from the San Diego Business Journal.


Edencrest in Escondido Breaks Ground


Construction is underway on the 74-acre Edencrest community in Escondido. Image courtesy Trumark Homes

Homebuilder Trumark Homes is officially underway on 95 new homes in its newest community, Edencrest. The 74-acre community in Escondido is the former home of historic Henry Ranch avocado farm. As a nod to its roots, the community will include two neighborhoods named Arbors and Groves. Arbors will be a neighborhood for move-down buyers consisting of 57 single-story homes from 2,496 to 3,399 square feet. Groves will be a more family-focused neighborhood consisting of 38 one- and two-story homes, ranging from 3,100 to 4,043 square feet.

Latitude 33’s services for this project included civil engineering and surveying services for Substantial Conformance plans, Grading and Improvement plans, water quality and drainage studies, offsite improvement plans to upgrade the regional storm water system, and existing street improvements.


Construction Underway on Aperture Del Mar


Aperture Del Mar will consist of five, Class A office and life science buildings.

Located within Pacific Highlands Ranch, Aperture Del Mar will be a vibrant office campus five miles from Torrey Pines Beach. Developed by Lincoln Property Company, the development broke ground in September of last year. The campus blends highly amenitized spaces, cutting- edge design by Gensler, and prime Class A office space for life science and technology companies spaces ranging from 100,000 to 650,000 square feet. Designed to bring the outdoors in, each building and floor connects to the outdoor environment. Campus amenities include an organic bistro, boutique coffee roaster, event lawn, an amphitheater, bocce court, half basketball court, sand volleyball court, dog park, jogging trail, outdoor lounges, reading nooks, an organic community garden, and indoor and outdoor fitness facilities.

Latitude 33’s planning department assisted in securing the necessary approvals for this project. Phase one is expected to be complete by the second quarter of 2021.

To learn more about Aperture, check out this recent article from the San Diego Business Journal.


Construction Continues on Pacific Village


Pacific Village consists of a mix of single-family homes, triplex homes, townhomes, and apartments.

Located off of Carmel Mountain Road, Pacific Village is a planned community featuring 601 new homes. Pacific Village features 99 single-family homes, 105 triplex homes, and 120 townhomes developed by Lennar Homes, and 277 apartments developed by Atlantic & Pacific Companies. The community has four neighborhoods: The Commons, The Pavilion, The Promenade, and The Courtyards. The 41-acre community also features park and picnic areas, walking trails, an event lawn, fitness facilities, swimming pool and spa, and even showcase spaces for local artists. Located just west of I-15, Pacific Village is also adjacent to Black Mountain and its open spaces. Model homes are now open for interested homebuyers, and the for-rent apartments are anticipated to be open as early as late 2020.

Services provided by Latitude 33 include planning and civil engineering for entitlements and final engineering.


Awards


County of San Diego Sheriff’s Department Crime Laboratory Recognized with Regional DBIA Award


The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Crime Laboratory. Image courtesy SmithGroup.

We’re very pleased that the Design Build Institute of America (DBIA) Western Pacific Region recognized the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Crime Laboratory with a Merit Award for 2019. This four-story crime lab features office space, laboratories, conference areas, training and interview rooms, two holding cells, a ballistics lab, and 60,000 sq. ft. of evidence storage in the waterproof basement. The project has achieved LEED Gold Certification for its numerous sustainable elements, including extensive daylighting, low-flow indoor plumbing, native plants with high-efficiency irrigation, and a photovoltaic solar array.

Congratulations to the development team: Lowe Enterprises, DPR Construction, SmithGroup, Lastras de Gertler Landscape Architects Inc., Dynalectric, AMC Mechanical, Degenkolb Engineers, Project Management Advisors Inc., Schuff Steel Co., and Latitude 33’s outstanding team of civil engineers and planners!


UC San Diego Mesa Nueva Graduate and Professional Student Housing Wins Regional and National DBIA Awards


UC San Diego’s Mesa Nueva Graduate and Professional Student Housing has won both regional and national awards.

One of Latitude 33’s recent, highly lauded projects is the $188 million UC San Diego Mesa Nueva Graduate and Professional Student Housing. Last year, the project was recognized by the DBIA Western Pacific Region with a “Distinction Award,” and went on to earn two (2) national DBIA awards: a “National Award of Merit” in the Education Facilities Category, and a “Best of Award” for Best in Teaming.

With 1,350 new beds, the residential community is one of the largest graduate and professional student housing facilities in the country. The 10-acre Mesa Nueva development features furnished units in studio, 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom designs in five (5) side-by-side residential buildings. The new units surround a grassy open space where students can gather or relax. Mesa Nueva also includes a 900-space parking structure and a bike rack for every resident. The development was designed to meet the need for housing and provide students with a greater sense of community. Shared amenities include a social pool with spas and splash zones, a brew pub, outdoor lounge, a small grocery store, and more.

For this project, Latitude 33 provided guidance to the team for an optimum site design solution that addressed all environmental, water quality, and retention concerns. Congrats to UC San Diego, Hensel Phelps, Mithun, MA Engineers, Helix Electric, and of course, the Latitude 33 team for these well-deserved awards!


Community and Culture


Latitude 33 Celebrates Holidays in Style


The Latitude 33 celebrates the holidays at Carté Hotel in downtown San Diego. A karate demonstration was one of the highlights of this year’s talent show.

Latitude 33 celebrated the holidays, the close of a successful year, and its outstanding projects, with a holiday party at the recently completed Carté Hotel in downtown San Diego. The Carté Hotel united Tucker Sadler Architects, davisREED Construction, and Latitude 33 for this new Curio Collection hotel by Hilton.

Every year, the holiday party includes a talent show. All employees showcase their talents, from comedy to singing. This year, we had a special karate performance, including gravity- defying stunts and powerful kicks by Dustin Daneri, Matt McGuirk, Jacob Schaniel, and Sean Drake. Latitude 33 never ceases to have a great time! It was such a treat to celebrate our team, our clients, our projects, and our successful year in this stylish new hotel!


Latitude 33 Strikes Again!


The Latitude 33 team at URGE in San Marcos.

On February 21, Latitude 33 enjoyed a day of bowling at URGE in San Marcos. Sea Breeze Properties, developer of the North City community where URGE is located, is also the developer MERGE 56, one of Latitude 33’s signature projects. This evening of food and fun was the perfect way to unwind and bond over some burgers, beer, and bowling. It was also a great way to celebrate all of our “strikes” in recent months. Way to go, team!


Thank you for being a part of our planning and engineering family. From the entire Latitude 33 team, stay healthy and enjoy spring!