December, 2005

SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER PARKING FACILITY WINS NATIONAL DESIGN-BUILD AWARD
John Portman & Associates recognized for role in design and delivery

ATLANTA, GA (December 23, 2005) John Portman & Associates, Inc. (PORTMAN) has been awarded the 2005 National Design-Build Award for the San Diego Convention Center Parking Facility. The award was given by the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) at their November 9th Minds and Master Works awards banquet in Las Vegas.

The objective of the awards program is to acknowledge the most outstanding design-build projects in the United States and the world by promoting and recognizing the use and efficacy of design-build as a project delivery method. The National Design-Build Award, the highest presented by the DBIA, is awarded to projects that best exemplify the principles of interdisciplinary teamwork, innovation and problem solving that characterize design-build delivery. Of the nine awards given, the San Diego Convention Center parking facility won in the Developer/Design Build category.

The 2,000-car garage was designed by PORTMAN for the Unified Port of San Diego. Tony Heinrichs, the director of Engineering for the Port, decided to undertake the parking facility as a design-build project to test this delivery mode. The project was completed on time, under budget and has exceeded all expectations. In fact, the Port estimates that the facility opened one year sooner than if it had been a design-bid-build delivery, thereby generating revenue that much sooner. The Port was so pleased with the process, they plan to move forward with other design-build projects.

The facility provides much-needed parking for fans coming to the ballpark, the public visiting the waterfront, as well as business people attending events at the convention center. The $26 million project is part of the Ports Capital Development Program and includes 1,100 spots for the public to use. Approximately 900 spots will be reserved for the future Hilton San Diego Convention Center Hotel, also designed by PORTMAN.

The Port began construction of the parking structure in November 2003 and opened it in early 2005. John Portman & Associates was retained by Hensel Phelps Construction Company as the Design Architect, while Joseph Wong Design Associates was the Architect of Record.

go back to the recent  N e w s index