SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 3, 2012) – Sundt Construction, Inc. has begun building a $67.9 million student housing project at University of California, Davis that will add 1,200 beds to the campus, specifically 108 single-occupancy and 537 double-occupancy units.
The Tercero Student Housing Phase III Project will span 330,000 square feet across seven, four-story buildings. Multiple lounges, study areas, computer centers and gathering spaces also will be part of the dormitory complex, which will surround a landscaped courtyard. Completion is planned for fall 2014.
In order to manage the design-build project’s repetitive elements, the general contractor implemented Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology during the preconstruction phase to detect clashes and other constructability issues.
“Using BIM is a huge help with achieving a high level of quality, especially given the aggressive schedule,” said Sundt Project Manager Shawn Marty. “On a project like this, if the doorknob isn’t in the right place, then, guess what? You have more than 600 doorknobs to fix. Using BIM prevents problems like that from happening – problems that are minor until you multiply them several hundred times.”
BIM also adds to the sustainable efforts for the project by eliminating material waste and creating an efficient workplace. The UC Davis student housing project is designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council upon completion and is expected to help the university fulfill sustainability goals that include reducing the campus’ greenhouse gas emissions to year-2000 levels by 2014. One of Sundt’s earlier projects for UC Davis, the Maurice J. Gallagher Jr. Hall (home of the Graduate School of Management and the UC Davis Conference Center), also achieved LEED Platinum certification after it was completed in 2009.
Sundt’s office in Sacramento, Calif., is overseeing construction and estimates the project will sustain or create more than 350 jobs over 24 months. Project partners include EHDD Architects, KPFF, Cunningham, Guttmann & Blaevoet, Lawson Mechanical and Berg Electric.
UC Davis said the construction project will be funded through its Student Housing capital reserves and loan funds; no state or tuition money is being used.
About Sundt
Sundt Construction, Inc. is one of the country’s largest and most respected general contractors. Known nationally for its innovative approach to construction services, the firm is currently ranked the 58th largest construction company in the United States by ENR, the industry’s principal trade magazine. The company is also ranked 17th on ENR‘s list of Top Contractors in California.