Prestigious Construction Industry Award goes to UC Irvine’s Engineering Hall

Project is hailed for successful application of design-build approach

The team behind construction of UC Irvine’s Engineering Hall has won the esteemed 2011 Design-Build Institute of America award for design excellence in educational facilities, which honors projects in which all services are provided under one contract with a single point of responsibility.

“This was truly a team effort,” said campus architect Rebekah Gladson, associate vice chancellor for design & construction services. “UCI took the lead in the strategic vision and architectural utilization of the plan from inception to completion. The design-build concept brought huge savings in both cost and energy usage."

Engineering Hall, in combination with the campus's energy efficient infrastructure, outperforms California's energy code standards by 55 percent.

“DBIA doesn’t give this award for projects that just meet expectations,” she added. “They have to exceed expectations in every way.”

Her department worked with HOK Architects, BFL Owen, Hensel Phelps and Carrier Johnson on the $52 million, 122,000-square-foot facility. A stunning anchor to Ring Mall, it houses wet and dry labs for five engineering departments, a faculty office wing and a 340-seat lecture hall.



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