Sacramento—The Department of General Services (DGS) today announced it has been honored with a national award from the Design-Build Institute of America for the construction of three new State office buildings using the design-build project delivery method, which saves time and money.

 

DGS Real Estate Services Division Acting Deputy Director Mike Courtney accepted a Special Recognition Public Owner Award in the Design-Build Institute’s "Distinguished Leadership Awards" year 2000 competition.

 

"The judges recognized the role Mike and DGS played in pioneering Legislation that authorized three major design-build State construction projects," said DGS Director Barry D. Keene. "Through the design-build process, DGS recruited architects and contractors to work together as a team. This saved time in the construction process, which in turn saved California taxpayers money."

 

The design-build project delivery method was used in the renovation of the historic Los Angeles Broadway Building and the new San Francisco Civic Center Complex, which when combined contain more than 2.3 million square feet and are home to more than 5,500 state employees. The design-build method is also being employed at the Capitol Area East End Complex in Sacramento. When completed in 2003, the East End Complex will be the largest civic office project in California history with approximately 1.5 million square feet of office space and housing nearly 6,300 state workers.

 

"This award is for all the people who have helped make these building projects models for other States to replicate," said Mike Courtney, DGS Acting Deputy Director for Real Estate Services. "Building buildings in the most efficient manner possible is all I’ve ever wanted to do. I’m proud that California is a recognized leader in public construction."

 

The Design-Build Institute of America also named the DGS-managed San Francisco Civic Center project as its design-build "Building of the Year." The San Francisco Complex was completed in 1998 on time, and under budget. The awards, presented October 5th in San Diego, were developed to recognize individuals, firms, agencies and institutions that have demonstrated leadership in the advancement of design-build and design-build best practices.