Living for the Experience
From indoor skydiving to movie theaters, retailers are proving consumers desire what experiential concepts have to offer
Carly Hagedon | VMSD
OPENING THE DOOR
When a liquor store with a seedy reputation ended its lease on a prominent corner of San Francisco’s Tenderloin District, 826 Valencia (San Francisco) took over the spot, much to the neighborhood’s delight.
According to Jonas Kellner, a San Francisco-based architect, the brand had identified the neighborhood as being among the most financially neglected in the city, and also one with “the greatest number of children, per capita, of any community in the city,” he says. “There was a great alignment of need, from both the students and the opportunity for this area.”
Gensler’s San Francisco office, along with several other design firms, worked cooperatively on the concept.
Catering mostly to youngsters and curious passersby, the space functions as both a retail store and a tutoring/writing lab for underprivileged students. Unusual graphics on the façade draw people in, where they’re met with a series of visual moments: a trap door that releases a spray of bubbles, for example, and a light fixture that appears to have been dredged out of the sea, says Janice Cavaliere, design director, Gensler.
826 Valencia’s founders also have an original pirate-themed location, while this locale focuses on the narrative of a globetrotting pufferfish named “King Carl.”
Offering everything from books to quirky toys like “ogre dental floss,” the store is the gateway to the writing lab, which is accessible through a wall of doors. The wall is made up of about 70 unusually shaped doors, 40 of which are functional. “We took clients there recently, and adults were crawling through the bunny-shaped door and loving every minute of it,” says Cavaliere.
The writing lab is a calming, nature-inspired space, with a tree house and cozy nooks and crannies for reading and writing. Beyond the obvious structural challenges in creating a wall of doors, the safety of the tree house was also a concern, and a playground consultant was called in to assess its construction, according to Kellner.
While the retail component of 826 Valencia may be small compared to its main offerings, the experiences work in tandem to help recruit additional volunteers and solicit donations, as well as provide a safe, exciting place for children to learn.
The 100 Biggest Influencers In Construction
LetsBuild
Who are the influencers in the Construction Industry?
At LetsBuild we have created a list of the biggest influencers in construction, but what is an influencer? According to Forbes, it’s someone who has a large base of followers and who is able to impact these.
In the construction industry, we are seeing influencers from both companies and individual people. Influencers who are the tip of the spear when it comes to trends and overall pulse of the industry. These are the folks in charge of designing, building or manufacturing the future building projects around the world.
See the full list here.
News Brief | Daily Pacific Builder
San Francisco-based BCCI Construction Company (BCCI) announced this week the expansion of its South Bay leadership team. As part of a deep commitment to the South Bay region, and in anticipation of continued market growth, BCCI has selected experienced individuals from within the organization and with distinct areas of expertise to complement the company’s key functional teams.
The leadership team has welcomed Shane Heller, LEED AP, Armond Balaian, LEED AP, Sean Hansen, Andrew Nelson, and Kharlo Barcenas, whose combined expertise reflects deep knowledge in preconstruction, project management and operations.
Given the steady growth of our office since it was launched 10 years ago, it was essential to grow our leadership team to meet the ever-changing needs of our South Bay clientele.
Debbie Fleser, Vice President, BCCI Construction
As director of preconstruction, Shane Heller, LEEP AP, produces accurate cost estimates and directs preconstruction management for the South Bay office. With over 29 years of construction experience, Heller evaluates material and systems costs, leads procurement strategy, reviews design documentation, and advises on constructability and value analysis.
As Director of Project Management, Armond Balaian, LEED AP, leads and mentors BCCI South Bay’s project management team. With his in-depth knowledge of construction techniques in all facets of commercial construction, Balaian has the expertise to guide teams with the planning and management of complex projects so that all stakeholders have the tools they need to make informed decisions throughout every phase of a project.
As field operations manager, Sean Hansen coordinates onsite operations and supports BCCI’s superintendent staff with scheduling, site logistics, subcontractor relationships, risk mitigation, quality control, and safety planning for all projects located in the South Bay.
In his role as service manager, Andrew Nelson evaluates and manages service contracts and directs support services for BCCI’s South Bay project portfolio. To ensure seamless coordination, he oversees all aspects of small and fast-track special projects and capital improvements from preconstruction through post-project completion.
As business development manager, Kharlo Barcenas identifies new project opportunities and forges lasting relationships with clients and industry partners to drive sustainable business growth and increase market share. He
is focused on cultivating new business and developing partnership opportunities while also delivering unmatched client service.
Forbes Media Expands San Francisco Presence With Move to New Office
Laura Daunis | Forbes
NEW YORK (July 13, 2017) – Forbes Media announced today that it has moved its West Coast employees to a larger office space located at 101 Mission Street in San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood. Forbes will occupy the entire 12th Floor with 11,000 square feet.
The office has high ceilings, an open-style seating plan, five state-of-the-art multi-media meeting rooms, several collaborative work spaces and fantastic views of the city and Bay Bridge. Its open space design concept, furniture and color scheme replicates the look and feel of Forbes Media’s New Jersey headquarters…
Daily Pacific Builder
BCCI Construction Company (BCCI) announced this week 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. 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.”
Rick Fedrizzi, Chairman and CEO, International WELL Building Institute
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. 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.”
Michael Scribner, President and CEO, BCCI Construction
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.
BCCI Construction Company served as general contractor and architect on the project. Other members of the project team included Partner Engineering and Science, Inc – structural engineer; Amit Wadhwa & Associates – MEP engineer; Glumac – commissioning; Charles M. Salter Associates, Inc – audio/visual; Illuminate Lighting Design – lighting; and Two Furnish, Vanguard Concept Offices – furniture.
BCCI Construction Company Promotes Mallory Wall to Vice President, Director Project Management
People on the Move | The Registry
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (AUGUST 17, 2017) – BCCI Construction Company (BCCI) is pleased to announce the promotion of Mallory Wall to Vice President, Director Project Management. Mallory is a third generation construction professional following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather. Her focus since first joining her father’s general contracting company Cramer Associates, over 30 years ago has been to elevate women in the field of construction and eventually take on the roles of highly specialized, industry experts.
Since joining BCCI in August 1997, Mallory has been an outward champion for BCCI’s clients, passionately embracing challenges and ensuring that both real estate and project specific goals are met through collaborative solutions. Specializing in managing large, complex tenant improvement projects throughout the Bay Area, her reputation for exceptional client service and seamless project delivery is unparalleled. A few of the highlights from her career include project leadership for such clients as Blue Shield of California, Credit Suisse, Expedia, Google, McKinsey & Company, Square, and Wharton San Francisco.
“Her unwavering support for advancing the careers of others at BCCI is truly commendable.”
Dominic Sarica, COO, BCCI Construction
Beyond her commitments to her clients is her passion for her colleagues, mentoring the project management team and working cross-functionally to develop the next generation of leaders at BCCI. “Her unwavering support for advancing the careers of others at BCCI is truly commendable,” says BCCI COO Dominic Sarica. Furthermore, Mallory believes women bring a unique skill set to the construction industry, including a collaborative management style, empathy, focus and intuition, which is essential in building relationships with subcontractors, brokers and clients.
“I am extremely proud of the work we do here at BCCI and the future we are building for the next generation of employees. Every day we are committed to producing quality construction, supporting diversity in the workplace and building top notch relationships with our clients. But, most importantly, we have fun doing what we do, which is the true marker of success.”
Mallory Wall, Vice President, BCCI Construction
BCCI Construction Company Offices – San Francisco
Office Snapshots
BCCI Construction Company has designed their new headquarters located in San Francisco, California.
When BCCI moved its headquarters, a shift was made from traditional office space to an open work environment that supports the form and function of the organization. Playing off the concept of “tailored fun,” the office has a feeling of hospitality. A crisp, clean aesthetic with a palate of white, gray and black brightens the space while accents of butter yellow provide added interest.
Designed and constructed by BCCI, the new office was built to meet LEED v4 requirements and the WELL Building Standard which has performance requirements relevant to occupant health for air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. Wellness and comfort are emphasized through features such as healthy building materials and furnishings with low-emitting volatile organic compounds, air filtration systems, filtered water stations, ergonomic furniture, natural light, and elements of nature throughout the space.
Walls and ceilings were removed to enhance spaciousness, reinforce transparency, and create greater sightlines throughout the space. For acoustical comfort, cellulose insulation was sprayed on the ceilings and carpet was chosen as the dominant floor covering in work areas for sound masking. Interior lighting was carefully selected to resemble the color and quality of natural light. At reception a “carpet” of sculptural lights creates a dramatic affect while in the main office space, linear light fixtures hang from the ceiling and provide balanced illumination.
A “boulevard” bookended by butter yellow high top tables for impromptu meetings connects the work space. Workstations and layout space for drawings and submittals were configured near windows to provide all employees with ample access to daylight and views of the outdoors. Furniture was selected to support flexible work and individual comfort, such as sit-stand desks and ergonomic chairs.
The office features a number of community spaces to gather, connect, and celebrate. In the entry, a glass dining table and coffee bar greets guests while also bridging the main conference spaces – a training room with a movable partition and furniture, a more formal boardroom, and an intimate meeting room with a custom round wood table. The kitchen/lounge space features a bar and pool table for employee enjoyment and for company events as well as a connection to the outdoors with access to a private patio and views of the adjacent Levi’s Plaza Park.
Private spaces for refuge and reflection include focus rooms, phone rooms and a wellness room. Wall coverings with leaf and birch tree prints in these spaces support biophilia, further continuing the connection to the natural environment.
In addition to promoting a healthy lifestyle through BCCI’s wellness program and twice-weekly delivery of nutritious foods, employees are encouraged to use public transit through the company’s commuter benefits program or ride their bicycle to work and use the indoor bike rack.
BCCI’s San Francisco headquarters was awarded LEED v4 Silver certification and is also WELL Certified™ Silver by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI™). The tenant improvements represent the 18th certified WELL project in the United States, the sixth certified project in California, and the first in San Francisco.
Designer: BCCI Construction Company
Contractor: BCCI Construction Company
Photography: Blake Marvin
The La Cocina Municipal Food Hall features seven different food businesses, a bar, and more
Ellen Fort | Eater SF
It’s been over two years since La Cocina broke ground on its ambitious food hall in the Tenderloin, and almost five years since the project was announced. Now, it’s preparing to open its doors to the dining public on April 5, just weeks after San Francisco has allowed indoor dining at a higher capacity. It’s been a long wait for vendors and would-be diners: construction was almost completed when the lockdowns began in March 2020.
La Cocina is one of San Francisco’s most prolific and loved nonprofit incubators, helping women of color develop and launch their food businesses. Superstars like Reem’s California, El Buen Comer, Nyum Bai, and Alicia’s Tamales Los Mayas have all passed through its kitchen in the Mission, with dozens more opening brick-and-mortar restaurants around the Bay Area. Its new 7,000-square-foot marketplace has taken over the vacant post office, previously owned by the Federal government, at 101 Hyde Street, on a block that former Supervisor Jane Kim has called “one of the toughest intersections in the Tenderloin.” For the next four years, it will operate in the space in an interim capacity before a planned low-income housing development breaks ground…
Insights and wisdom from our 2021 Bay Area Best Places to Work
Julia Cooper | San Francisco Business Times
Out of the challenges and changes of the last year, valuable lessons have been learned. We share some of the hard-earned nuggets of wisdom that companies on our Best Places to Work Lists will be taking with them as they move forward…
What changes are you hoping persist after the pandemic?
“We definitely have a better appreciation for remote work options with cloud-based communication, collaboration, and productivity tools. Given the pre-pandemic challenges with Bay Area traffic, we see ways to incorporate a remote workforce moving forward.”
Dominic Sarica, COO, BCCI Construction