McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., one of Southern California’s foremost construction companies in educational facilities, recently completed construction of a new $96.7 million high school for Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Located at 6100 South Central Avenue in Los Angeles, the new South Region High School No. 2 opened for instruction on September 7, 2011.
Built to relieve overcrowding at nearby John C. Fremont Senior High School, the new South Region High School No. 2 is a part of LAUSD’s $19.5 billion new school construction and modernization program to provide a safe and healthy neighborhood school on a traditional, two-semester calendar for every student.
“McCarthy’s ability to successfully address all changes and unforeseen challenges while adhering to the schedule was key to the project’s success,” said Moty Eisenberg, senior project manager, contract professional for LAUSD. “As a result of a collaborative effort by the entire project team, our new high school opened on schedule and is now providing the community with a state-of-the-art educational facility while relieving overcrowded conditions at other nearby schools.”
McCarthy served as general contractor for the project which entailed construction of a 220,000-sf high school on a 16.1 acre site with capacity for up to 2,000 students. The new school consists of eight two-and three-level buildings with 75 classrooms, an administrative office, performing arts/multi-purpose/practice gym, cafeteria and food services area, media center/library, a gym and locker rooms. McCarthy also built an outdoor lunch shelter as well as athletic facilities including football and softball fields and a track and field venue with a new rubberized synthetic track surface.
Designed by Leo A Daly of Los Angeles, the nine buildings are strategically positioned to provide a rectangular perimeter barrier around a centrally located courtyard/student gathering area. The high school is sectioned into four small learning communities.
Paul Buckely, principle for Leo A Daly said that each learning community is self-contained with classrooms and laboratory facilities in each building. The athletic, library and performing arts facilities are shared among the four communities. Each classroom has state-of-the-art A/V equipment and the ADA compliant science labs feature built-in casework, fume hoods, chemical resistant countertops, sinks, gas, power and high speed data connections. All buildings are type II steel construction with the exterior skin comprised of plaster, CMU veneer and metal panels.
Certified by the Collaborative for High Performing Schools (CHPS), the new South Regional High School boasts numerous environmentally friendly elements. Some of the project’s sustainable features include: energy efficient direct/indirect lighting with automatic lighting controls; low flow lavatories; low VOC paint; high energy efficient air conditioning; operable windows; a white roof to reflect unwanted energy and reduce the amount of energy consumed and drought tolerant landscaping. Construction waste was also recycled.
BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology was used to assist in the building process for the new high school. Xcel Mechanical Systems, the project’s mechanical contractor, used AutoDesk NavisWorks project review software to create 3D models of the high school’s mechanical systems before construction began. The use of 3D modeling proved highly successful in helping visualize and resolve systems clashes in the areas that required extensive detailing such as the central plant, the underground utilities, small mechanical closets and restrooms.
“LAUSD, Leo A Daly and McCarthy worked extremely well together,” said Senior Project Manager Andrew Raufi. “This close team collaboration allowed the project to stay ahead of schedule and complete nearly two months early despite several weeks of rain delays as well as scope additions for underground utilities, off-site street improvements and a new synthetic track and field toward the end of the project.”
Consultants for the new high school include civil engineer KPFF Consulting Engineers; electrical and mechanical engineer Donald F. Dickerson Associates; landscape architect Mia Lehrer & Associates and kitchen consultant Commercial Kitchen Design, Inc. BD+C
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Nov 22, 2022
10 compelling multifamily developments debut in 2022
A smart home tech-focused apartment complex in North Phoenix, Ariz., and a factory conversion to lofts in St. Louis highlight the notable multifamily developments to debut recently.
Digital Twin | Nov 21, 2022
An inside look at the airport industry's plan to develop a digital twin guidebook
Zoë Fisher, AIA explores how design strategies are changing the way we deliver and design projects in the post-pandemic world.
Healthcare Facilities | Nov 17, 2022
Repetitive, hotel-like design gives wings to rehab hospital chain’s rapid growth
The prototype design for Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals had to be universal enough so it could be replicated to accommodate Everest’s expansion strategy.
Industrial Facilities | Nov 16, 2022
Industrial building sector construction, while healthy, might also be flattening
For all the hoopla about the ecommerce boom and “last mile” order fulfillment driving demand for more warehouse and manufacturing space, construction of industrial buildings actually declined over the past five years, albeit marginally by 2.1% to $27.3 billion in 2022, according to estimates by IBIS World. Still, construction in this sector remains buzzy.
Wood | Nov 16, 2022
5 steps to using mass timber in multifamily housing
A design-assist approach can provide the most effective delivery method for multifamily housing projects using mass timber as the primary building element.
Giants 400 | Nov 14, 2022
Top 55 Airport Terminal Architecture + AE Firms for 2022
Gensler, PGAL, Corgan, and HOK top the ranking of the nation's largest airport terminal architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Nov 14, 2022
4 emerging trends from BD+C's 2022 Giants 400 Report
Regenerative design, cognitive health, and jobsite robotics highlight the top trends from the 519 design and construction firms that participated in BD+C's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Green | Nov 13, 2022
NREL report: Using photovoltaic modules with longer lifetimes is a better option than recycling
A new report from the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) says PV module lifetime extensions should be prioritized over closed-loop recycling to reduce demand for new materials.
Green | Nov 13, 2022
Global building emissions reached record levels in 2021
Carbon-dioxide emissions from building construction and operations hit an all-time high in 2021, according to the most recent data compiled by the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction.
University Buildings | Nov 13, 2022
University of Washington opens mass timber business school building
Founders Hall at the University of Washington Foster School of Business, the first mass timber building at Seattle campus of Univ. of Washington, was recently completed. The 84,800-sf building creates a new hub for community, entrepreneurship, and innovation, according the project’s design architect LMN Architects.