Construction Superintendent
BCCI Construction Company has recently completed the renovation of the historic 1907 Musto Building at 717 Battery St. in San Francisco, Calif. The 57,000-square-foot building, which is located near the northern edge of the North Beach neighborhood, has been converted into a private club.
The renovation of the existing three-story unreinforced masonry building — designed by early 20th-century architect William Mooser II — required a mandatory seismic upgrade and also included restoration work, basement expansion and the addition of a fourth floor penthouse to the L-shaped building, which for years featured a courtyard and entrance on Pacific Avenue. The new building extends the existing Battery Street façade, and a new façade on Pacific Street creates more of a presence. BCCI reused materials throughout the building, such as columns, beams and joists.
“The incorporation of a seismic strengthening system into the Musto Building’s historic fabric was a challenging process,” said BCCI Division Vice President Don Tiefenbrunn. “It required the complete excavation of the building’s footprint and foundation systems, meticulously removing, modifying and restoring visual elements to retain the original period structure…”
E.C. Gregg | US Builders Review
The advantages of WELLness in the home office
If BCCI Construction wants clients to know how the WELL Building Standard can improve a work environment, all the staff needs to do is give a tour of the headquarters. That’s because, a little more than a year ago, the company designed its new office in accordance with the standard.
“We really did create a showpiece with our new space,” says Michael Scribner, president and CEO of BCCI. “We host a lot of client meetings and functions with the real estate industry including architects, construction managers and real estate brokers so they can see and understand WELL and maybe consider it for their own clients and, in some cases, their own [office] spaces.”
BCCI moved into the new office suite in early summer of 2015, and it was the company’s sustainability team that influenced the firm to consider the WELL Building Standard.
How to build WELL
To earn WELL Certification for its new San Francisco office, BCCI followed guidelines designed to improve the health and comfort of the building occupants.
The requirements are organized into seven categories: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. Similar to LEED certification (the most well-known green building certification system), a WELL space is ranked by the criteria it meets as well the number of additional features, known as optimizations. The number of optimizations dictate the ranking, for instance, BCCI’s office is targeting the silver designation. There are also gold and platinum certifications for the most stringent adherents.
Through a process called Performance Verification, the space is also reviewed by a WELL Assessor who tests that all requirements have been met.
BCCI began planning the new headquarters at the end of 2014 and started renovations in March 2015.The sustainability team at BCCI worked alongside the company’s architecture team to design an open office that makes use of large perimeter windows for plenty of natural light and great views of the adjacent Levi’s Plaza Park.
Focus rooms provide relative silence and the combined lounge and kitchen area has televisions, a pool table and guitars.
The building materials help minimize the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions, and, to further aid in air quality, specialized MERV 13 air filters are installed in the main mechanical units. Stations supplying filtered water are also placed throughout the office.
Since the company moved in 2015, Scribner says his employees are more connected than they were before. “Our leadership team, our project team and the rest of our departments are more engaged with each other,” says Scribner.
“The atmosphere is more conducive to how we work and how we want to operate in the future, not only because the environment is more pleasurable to work in, but because of the collaboration that is happening”
Michael Scribner, President and CEO, BCCI Construction
BCCI Construction was first established in 1986 as a commercial interior contractor based in San Francisco, California. In 2003, it expanded to do ground-up construction as well as structural and historic renovations.
The company typically works on commercial offices and multi-use projects for developers, tech companies, professional service firms, life science companies and education facilities.
In addition to typical contractor services, BCCI provides in-house services that include architecture, construction management, sustainability and permitting and entitlement. As a result, clients don’t hire multiple vendors to determine the best approach to a potential project.
“We have people that came from the real estate services side of the business that understand the client’s needs and how a developer or real estate broker might approach that side of the business to make the best choice,” says Scribner.
These services help BCCI maximize the real estate opportunities for its clients, such as introducing ways a project can become more sustainable.
“I think [WELL] really is the future of sustainability,” says Sustainability Manager, Kena David, who has been a part of the sustainability team for five years. “People are always the ones occupying the building and although LEED does an excellent job of conserving the energy and water while also lowering the overall carbon footprint of a building, it does not address the health and well-being of the people who will live and work in those buildings.”
WELLness from the ground-up
This approach to WELL is one of the reasons BCCI was enlisted to build the first ground-up WELL Core and Shell Compliant office building in California. The WELL Core and Shell Compliant certification is reserved for ground-up construction that only includes the building structure, envelope, vertical circulation and public spaces.
The property is a five-story, Class A office development in the South of Market neighborhood of San Francisco. The developer, Presidio Bay Ventures, viewed the WELL Building Standard as a way to differentiate the building from others in the area.
“We had an existing relationship with the developer, so when they were looking for a ground-up contractor we were a natural fit because of the depth of our sustainability services and their interest in pursuing WELL,” says David.
Because the property is surrounded by buildings on three sides, and in order to meet WELL Core and Shell Compliant standards, BCCI worked with the design team to add an entire side of windows as well as skylights to bring in as much natural light as possible.
The building also has bicycle storage, showers and changing rooms, a fifth floor terrace, and a 2,300-square-foot roof deck.
Both Scribner and David look forward to working on more WELL projects in the future.
“In the past two years, there has been so much interest and so much traction,” says David. “Our clients want to be on the cutting-edge of sustainability…They want to show that they care about their employees. They want to show their commitment to create a healthy workplace, and I think WELL is one of the best ways to demonstrate that to employees and to the marketplace.”
The WELL Building Standard emphasizes the importance of air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind within the workplace.
News Release | The Registry
San Francisco, United States – BCCI Construction Company (BCCI), the Bay Area’s premier commercial contractor, is pleased to announce that the recent build-out of its headquarters is the first-ever WELL v1Certified project in San Francisco. Awarded by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI™), WELL Certification has been bestowed on 31 projects worldwide. BCCI’s headquarters represents the 18th certified project in the United States, the 6th certified project in California and the first in San Francisco.
Designed to create an inviting and healthy work environment, BCCI’s innovative space supports project collaboration and organic interaction while also creating quiet spaces for focused work. By following the WELL Building Standard, which emphasizes the importance of air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind within the workplace, BCCI’s integrated design and construction team came up with a multitude of creative ways to reflect its company culture and passion for building while addressing WELL’s vital concepts.
“We are thrilled that BCCI has achieved WELL Certification for its San Francisco headquarters in an effort to improve the health and well-being of its employees,” said Rick Fedrizzi, chairman and CEO of IWBI™. “With each new WELL Certified building, we further our goal of showing the world how we can push building projects to new heights of sustainability.”
Inside the San Francisco headquarters, materials and furnishings with low-emitting volatile organic compounds were chosen to ensure healthy air for employees to breathe. Office walls and ceilings were removed to create an open environment with greater ceiling heights that introduce more light and connect workers to the natural environment. Sit-stand desks, ergonomic chairs and carpeting on the floor help create a comfortable work environment. The office also features private focus rooms, phone rooms, a wellness room, a lounge area and a patio to promote mental and emotional well-being.
“Innovative workplace design coupled with ‘tailored fun’ was the guiding focus behind the renovation,” says BCCI President and CEO Michael Scribner. “We approached the design with an eye toward creating a beautiful showcase for clients and a workspace for our team that they could be proud of walking into every day.”
Furthermore, to ensure that employee well-being was of utmost importance, BCCI integrated on demand filtered water stations in the kitchen to encourage employees to drink more water. Local organic fruits and vegetables are provided twice weekly to ensure nutritious foods are regularly available. In addition, the company’s wellness program further promotes a healthy lifestyle with employees incentivized to use public transit through BCCI’s commuter benefits program, or to bicycle to work and use the bicycle rack at the building entrance.
General Contractor: BCCI Construction Company
Architect: BCCI Construction Company
Structural Engineer: Partner Engineering and Science, Inc.
MEP Engineer: Amit Wadhwa & Associates
Commissioning: Glumac
Audio/Visual: Charles M. Salter Associates, Inc.
Lighting: Illuminate Lighting Design
Furniture: Two Furnish, Vanguard Concept Offices
The space emphasizes WELL’s vital concepts of air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind within the workplace.
David Malone | Building Design + Construction
The new build-out of the BCCI Construction Company’s headquarters in San Francisco, Calif., is the 31st WELL v1 Certified project in the world, the 18th certified project in the U.S., the sixth in California, and the first in San Francisco.
The headquarters space, which was designed and constructed by BCCI Construction Company, supports project collaboration and interaction while also incorporating quiet spaces for focused work…
Visionary builder aligns his values with his trade
Perspectives | Vistage
When Michael Scribner was a child, he took careful note of his father’s experiences in the construction business. “I watched my dad come up through the industry back in the ’70s when construction wasn’t the most professional business and just didn’t treat its people well,” he says. “Seeing that mentality, I always said, ‘When I own my own business, I want it to be different.’”
Not just different — better.
Beyond just building complex structures and stunning interiors, the president and CEO of BCCI Construction has made a conscious effort to exceed standard industry practices. Over the years, BCCI has become an industry leader in sustainable building practices, completing more than 60 LEED-certified projects and three WELL-certified projects, a building standard that takes into account the importance of air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind.
More than just treating employees well, Scribner has created a high-performing work environment, with BCCI ranked on the San Francisco Business Times list of Best Places to Work in the Bay Area.
And more than just building business success, Scribner is building connections in the community…
California construction firm earns WELL Silver
The Construction Specifier
BCCI Construction Company (BCCI), a commercial contractor in California, has earned the WELL v1 Silver Certification for its South Bay office in Mountain View from the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).
The WELL standard focuses on enhancing people’s health and wellness through the buildings. BCCI’s South Bay office represents the eighth WELL-certified project in California and the third in Mountain View.
By following WELL’s core concepts of health, organized in the categories of air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind, BCCI’s integrated design-build team worked together to incorporate its company culture and passion for building, while also addressing WELL’s vital concepts.
“We are thrilled BCCI has achieved WELL certification for our South Bay office, in addition to our San Francisco headquarters. It not only showcases our values as a company, it also demonstrates our commitment to improving the health and well-being of our employees.”
Debbie Fleser, Vice President, BCCI Construction
Inside the new 929-m2 (10,000-sf) South Bay office, the company sought to be as healthy and healthful as possible. Some of the key WELL features include:
- BCCI minimized the introduction of air pollutants, such as dust, chemical vapors and other debris, during construction by following a specialized indoor air quality (IAQ) management plan and placing importance on jobsite housekeeping;
- specialized air filters in the mechanical system and a robust quarterly maintenance plan ensure healthy filtration and keep out outdoor pollutants from contaminating the space;
- building finishes, such as paints, coatings, primers, finishes, and floor coatings were vetted to limit off-gassing and buildup of volatile organic compounds (VOC) that negatively impact IAQ;
- more than 75 percent of regularly occupied spaces are within 7.6 m (25 ft) of windows so employees have ample access to natural light;
- light fixtures were selected to support occupant’s circadian rhythms; and
- all workstations are outfitted with adjustable height sit-stand desks.
ELEVATE Awards | The Registry, CREW East Bay, CREW Silicon Valley, and CREW San Francisco
An awards gala honoring diversity & women’s leadership in commercial real estate
Three outstanding BCCI women, Kena David, Director, Sustainability, Mallory Wall, Vice President, Michelle Puckett, Studio Director, were recognized as Inspirator Nominees. The Inspirator Award acknowledges the exceptional efforts of a woman in the real estate industry who supports, inspires, coaches and mentors people in their profession.
Kena David, LEED AP ID+C, WELL AP, WELL Faculty, Director, Sustainability | BCCI Construction
Social Media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kena-david-00a4a163/
Twitter: @BCCIbuilders
Professional Background:
With expertise in sustainability, green building, and chemistry, Kena David leads the Sustainability Department at BCCI, working with project teams to support client sustainability goals as well as growing and shaping departmental initiatives. Kena has completed dozens of sustainable projects under the LEED Rating System, including the world’s first LEED v4 for Commercial Interiors Platinum Certified project. Additionally, she has successfully managed over half a dozen WELL projects, a leading tool for advancing health and well-being in buildings globally, including the first WELLv1 CertifiedTM Interior at the Silver level in San Francisco, the first WELL Ground Up in Northern California, and the first WELL CertifiedTM project in Texas. Her experience includes sustainable design strategy/cost analysis and LEED and WELL project management. Kena also provides educational training on the successful implementation of LEED and workshops on various sustainability frameworks. Kena is a LEED AP (Accredited Professional) in Interior Design and Construction, a WELL AP, and a WELL Faculty member serving in an elite group of professionals participating in education on the WELL Building Standard and contributing to continual program development. Kena has also been recognized for her leadership receiving the 2017 ELEVATE Rising Rock Star Award and the Northern California Women of Real Estate Rising Star Award.
CREW SF Background:
My highlight experience with CREW SF was back in 2014 when we began brainstorming how to get the next generation of CRE leaders involved in the organization. I was the founding chair of the Rising Leaders committee for two years focusing on growing CREW’s recruitment of new members and sustaining veteran members. was After being active with Rising Leaders , I transitioned to the Governance committee. As a member of the Governance committee, I learned a lot about the chapter’s makeup and participated in selecting the incoming board and president. Following governance, I became the Vice-Chair of Sponsorship and have been actively involved for over a year on that committee. This year, the Sponsorship committee has worked hard to revamp the annual chapter sponsorship structure to minimize the amount of outreach for events during the year and maximize the networking and learning for committee members. I am also a part of the 2019 Leadership Certificate cohort and have had a glimpse into the amazing reach of CREW Network.
Q&A:
How did you move up in your career at and what advice do you have for women who wish to advance in their jobs?
During my nine years in the industry, I have worked for BCCI and advanced from a part-time Sustainability Intern to the Director of Sustainability. Early on, I came from a purely science and sustainability background and had much to learn about the CRE industry. When my work was light, I asked to help out in any way I could and worked with the estimating department filing paperwork, the permit team to help out with the Department of Building Inspection (DBI), project management as an assistant project manager, and filled in at reception when needed. When I got involved in CREW, it gave me the opportunity to learn more about the CRE industry beyond the general contracting world.
My advice to women who wish to advance their careers is to stay engaged and always be learning. Don’t be afraid to take on something new; it can give you a more well-rounded understanding of your organization and how your desired role can help the company. Throughout my advancement, I have also stayed up to date with the ever-changing green building trends and provided education to both BCCI and our clients on the latest and greatest in the sustainability world. BCCI’s offers a full-service consultative approach to sustainability to add more value for our clients.
What do you like most about your job and/or industry?
At the heart of my job is my passion for sustainability and building better for people and the environment. The world is always going to need real estate, and if I can help them build more sustainably, that is a win!
What advice do you want to give a new CREW SF member?
Get involved! I have made some amazing connections at CREW and learned a lot from different people in other facets of the CRE industry. Committee work provides leadership opportunities and group work not only forges business connections, but also friendships.
What has been the highlight during your membership with CREW SF?
The highlight of my CREW experience would have to be the 2017 ELEVATE awards where I won Rising Rock Star. Being recognized amongst the three CREW Bay Area chapters and The Registry was an exciting and humbling moment for me.
How has CREW SF benefitted you personally and/or professionally?
Professionally, CREW SF has been a place for me to learn other parts of the CRE industry. It has also provided me with both business and personal connections that I will carry wherever my career and life take me.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I love getting outside, especially in Tahoe. Snowboarding in the winter and hiking when the ski season is over. I also try to get back east to Massachusetts to visit my family whenever I can, always try to catch a Sox game, and eat a few lobstah rolls while I’m there.
What’s a fun fact that you’d like to share about yourself? In high school, I was a cheerleader and voted “Most Spirited” in my senior year superlatives.
Located in the historic Jackson Square neighborhood this 3,500 square foot office space is the first to be occupied by 01 Advisors — a new, boutique, venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California.