Two Projects Recognized by the NCMA

We're proud to announce that two of our projects have been recognized by the National Concrete Masonry Association and Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (NCMA/ICPI) 2011 Design Awards.

Award of Excellence - Sustainability
State of California, Department of General Services, Central Utility Plant
Sacramento, CA
Department of General Services Central Plant Renovation

Judges Honorable Mention
Sacramento Zoo - Giraffe Barn Replacement and Viewing Deck
Sacramento, CA
Giraffe Barn Replacement and Observation Deck

A third project, the North Natomas Public Library, won the Merit Award for Sustainability with the Concrete Masonry Institute of California and Nevada in September. Great job, team!

DGS Central Plant Rated LEED Platinum

The DGS Central Plant Renovation Project has achieved LEED Platinum Certification! Located in downtown Sacramento, the Central Plant is a key state asset that provides heating and cooling for 20,000 employees across 23 state-owned buildings in the Capitol Area.

DGS produced a great short video about the CUP's environmental design and LEED Platium certification:

Office Blood Drive

The Nacht & Lewis family came together for a good cause this June by holding our first office blood drive. The BloodSource "Bloodmobile" pulled up to our front door at 600 Q and received donations from 40 volunteers. That's over 5 gallons of life-saving blood! Special thanks goes to Megan McCleery for putting the event together. Great job!

DGS Central Utility Plant Awards

The DGS Central Utility Plant has received the following recognitions:

•DBIA Western Pacific Region Excellence Achievement Award for a Civic Building
•Design + Construction Magazine's 2011 Building Team Awards - Bronze Award

The Central Utility Plant provides heating and cooling for more than 20,000 state workers across 23 existing State owned buildings in the Capitol Area. The 78,000 square foot plant is the largest district plant in the western United States. Currently, the project is tracking to be LEED Gold certified.

North Natomas Library Wins Sustainability Award

We're proud to announce that the North Natomas Public Library has received a Merit Award for Sustainable Design by the Concrete Masonry Association of California and Nevada (CMACN). Located in the Natomas area of Sacramento, this joint-use facility is shared by Natomas High School, Los Rios Community College, and the Sacramento Public Library. Its many sustainable features include: an efficient irrigation system, use of recycled construction materials, and an innovative, energy-saving roof design that provides abundant daylighting to the library space below. To see what the judges had to say about the project, click here.

Grid Neutral Award for Riverbend Elementary School

Riverbend Elementary School, a Nacht & Lewis Architects designed elementary school, has been awarded top honor among public schools in California as the first Grid Neutral Distinguished Campus. Steven Plaxco, Director of Facilities and Maintenance for Yuba City Unified School District received the award from the former California State Architect, David Thorman for its "outstanding integration of energy demand reduction and peak-energy saving strategies; use of energy efficient heating/cooling/lighting systems; and renewable power generation." More information(PDF)

 

David Grant Medical Center

We're rapidly approaching completion of the installation of a new 3T MRI at the David Grant Medical Center on Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, CA. The remodel includes renovation of the existing clinic space and the installation of a new 3T MRI Scanner. This project is a turn-key collaboration with Colin Construction.

UC Davis Medical Center - Interventional Radiology Remodel Update

We've begun a new phase in a multi-phase remodel of the existing Interventional Radiology Lab at UC Davis Medical Center. Work so far has included the removal of existing imaging equipment, modifications to the mechanical and electrical systems, and will include the installation of a new Siemens Zeego single plane robotic C-Arm and a revised Bi-Plane room for interventional purposes. We are expecting to wrap-up the remodel in March of 2012.

Sonoma Valley Hospital

Work continues at Sonoma Valley Hospital, where we are in the midst of a complete replacement of the existing Emergency Department / Operating Room (ED/OR) in the form of a new freestanding 16,000 square foot, two-story structure. The project also includes replacement of the existing central utility plant, reconfiguration of the main loading dock, and an overhaul of information services infrastructure along with a few, smaller remodeled areas. We expect construction to be completed in December of 2012.

 

Promotions

Megan McCleery has been promoted to Marketing Assistant, where she will be using her talents to assist our marketing department.

Peggy Plutchak has joined Nacht & Lewis as our new receptionist. Welcome to the firm, Peggy!

 

Welcome Home Students of St. Francis

At the end of the 2009-2010 academic school year, the St. Francis of Assisi Elementary School was condemned and the students forced to evacuate the building by the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento. Following an extensive structural evaluation, the building was determined to be unsafe to house the students any longer and the school had to find an alternative space for the 2010-2011 school year. Faced with the prospect of not having a school facility in the future, Nacht & Lewis volunteered our assistance. In conjunction with our structural engineering partners at Buehler & Buehler Structural Engineers, Nacht & Lewis worked to develop and implement a budget-conscious mitigation plan to address the most critical structural issues. Working directly with the school and the St. Francis Catholic Church, the team designed a seismic upgrade project, solicited contractors and oversaw the construction of the work over a 3 month period with limited fiscal burden to the school or parish. Through the hard work of the entire team, the school reopened and the students welcomed back with a celebratory mass on August 24, 2011.

Laura Wood Serving as Technical Chair for CSI

Laura Wood will be joining the Board of Directors of the Sacramento chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) as Chair of the Technical Committee. Laura will be bringing her technical background in virtual design and construction to the group and will be addressing new opportunities for education and activities within the Sacramento chapter.

 

DGS CUP and Giraffe Barn Featured in SacTown Magazine

We have not just one but two projects featured in Sactown Magazine's "Best of the City" issue! The DGS Central Utility Plant's and the Sacramento Zoo's new Giraffe Barn and Viewing Platform each received a feature. The "BoTC" issue is out now, go and check us out!

Sacramento Business Journal - Best Utility Project Recognition

The DGS Central Utility Plant has also been recognized as "Best Utility Project" by the Sacramento Business Journal.

Plumas-Sierra Superior Courthouse to be Published JFR.

We're honored that the Plumas Sierra Superior Courthouse (project link) will be featured in the next Justice Facilities Review (JFR). The JFR is published by the American Institute of Architects and highlights the latest trends in the design and construction of justice facilities in the U.S.