Nov 29, 2017 --  McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. (McCarthy), along with collaborative design-build partners Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture and Sacramento State, recently celebrated a major milestone in the expansion and renovation of Sacramento State’s University Union. Located at the heart of campus, the Union sees an excess of 20,000 visitors each day to meet, study, eat and socialize as part of their campus experience. Construction workers, architects, engineers, students, faculty and members of the larger campus community gathered to commemorate the occasion by signing the final steel beam, marking the symbolic completion of the structural phase on the over 70,000 square-foot addition to the 183,000 square-foot existing building.

“Major renovations of an existing structure are always difficult – and even more so in the middle of a vibrant college campus when the building must remain open to students, faculty, and staff,” says Justin Reginato, associate vice president for Facilities Management. “We appreciate the collaboration, flexibility, and project leadership demonstrated by McCarthy Building Companies and Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture in meeting key milestones under these challenging circumstances.”

Serving as the campus “living room,” the University Union will see the addition of three stories, built to LEED Gold standards, as well as the upgrade and remodel of areas throughout the existing building to give students more room to study and socialize. New spaces include three meeting rooms of various sizes, including a “board room” for more formal meetings, a study lounge, a Starbucks coffee bar/cafe with outdoor seating and retail space for the campus’ outdoor recreation program. The existing University Union building will receive an upgraded HVAC, fire sprinklers throughout along with fire alarm and lighting-control system upgrades.

“Leading the Progressive Design-Build methodology really puts the focus on designing and delivering the highest quality product while ensuring that exceptional fiscal accountability is accomplished,” said McCarthy’s project director Tim Albiani. “Through this delivery model - which mandates a high level of cooperation and integration between all team members - we learn to encourage partnership and goals of shared success. The University Union has shown that by planning and clear execution, a project can achieve each milestone while delivering on its promises and goals.”

The expansion/renovation of the University Union is part of a $250 million building boom underway at Sacramento State. Other projects recently completed, or underway, on the campus include the Science Complex, Parking Structure V, the University WELL Expansion and the recently opened Riverview Hall student residence. Funding for the University Union came from student fees, generated revenue and reserves from Union WELL Inc. No state funds can or will be used in the construction of this project.

“We are committed to delivering Sacramento State students an innovative, sustainable, and exceptionally functional project that will serve both the students of today, as well as those in the coming decades,” added Albiani.

Construction is expected to be completed during the Fall 2018 semester.

About McCarthy

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is the oldest privately held national construction company in the country – with more than 150 years spent collaborating with partners to solve complex building challenges on behalf of its clients. With an unrelenting focus on safety and a comprehensive quality program that spans all phases of every project, McCarthy utilizes industry-leading design phase and construction techniques combined with advanced technology to maximize outcomes. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work and Healthiest Employer, McCarthy is ranked the 16th largest domestic general builder (Engineering News-Record, May 2016).  With approximately 1,850 salaried employees, the firm has offices in St. Louis; Atlanta; Collinsville, Ill.; Portage, Ind.; Kansas City, Kan.; Phoenix; Las Vegas; Denver; Dallas, Houston; Albuquerque; San Diego, Newport Beach, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento, Calif. McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com or by following the company on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Google+.