LEAP Sandcastle

For more than 10 years, Forell | Elsesser has co-sponsored the LEAP Sandcastle Contest. The event will be held on Saturday, October 20th at Ocean Beach and the theme is “Things that Jump.” Our co-sponsors are RMW Architecture + Interiors and Dome Construction.

This fundraiser supports LEAP’s Arts in Education programs serving 8,000+ students in over 40 schools. This contest is unique in that engineers, architects, designers, contractors, and corporations team up with local elementary school students to build huge sandcastles. In addition to the day of sandcastle building, months of preparation was required to develop the concept with the students and figure the best way to execute the 20-foot by 20-foot design using only sand and water. This year, 26 teams are competing for numerous awards.

Admission to the community is free so come on Saturday and check out all the amazing jumping designs! Sandcastle building will be approximately from 10AM – 2PM and judging/viewing from 2PM – 4PM.

Check out our brief article from last year’s contest and an article about this year from SF Gate.

City College of San Francisco Chinatown/North Beach Campus

Our City College of San Francisco Chinatown/North Beach Grand Opening took place on Friday, September 21st. Forell | Elsesser’s team included: Project Principal, Grace Kang; Project Manager, Allen Nudel and Project Engineer, Lindsey Maclise.

Please refer to EHDD’s website for information on EHDD’s design process.

See EHDD’s article on CCSF’s benefits to the community.

Senior Project Principal, David Friedman

The unveiling of UC Berkeley’s seismically retrofitted California Memorial Stadium, completed almost a week before the Opening Game, has hit news across the country.

Forell | Elsesser’s Senior Principal on the project, David Friedman, was interviewed by Rivals.com and takes you on the California Memorial Stadium Seismic Upgrade Tour.

Other coverage:

LA Splash: Berkeley’s Renovated Memorial Stadium Review – A Spectacular Engineering and Architectural Achievement

Mercury News: Refurbished Memorial Stadium is Cal’s crown jewel

Washington Post: California excited to show off remodeled stadium in season opener vs. Nevada

Mercury News: Cal football preview: With Memorial Stadium reopening comes higher expectations

UC Berkeley California Memorial Stadium

Yahoo! Sports: California opens stadium, season vs. Nevada

SF Gate: Cal fans adjust to new Memorial Stadium

Contra Costa Times: Cal’s new Memorial Stadium passes muster

Mercury News: Where They Play, What it Cost

SF Gate: Cal stadium funding a long-term project

KGO Radio: Cal Football Making New Memories at Modernized Memorial Stadium

ABC7 KGO TV: Cal’s new Memorial Stadium ready for first game

KTVU: Game Day Ready

NBC Bay Area: Memorial Stadium Ready for Close Up

CBS Sports: Video: Time lapse of Cal’s Memorial Stadium renovations

Opening Game at California Memorial Stadium

Berkeley Patch: UC Officials Show Off Renovated Cal Stadium

Examiner.com: A peek inside the renovated Cal Memorial Stadium

UC Berkeley News Center: ‘Great day’ as campus leaders cheer reopening of Memorial Stadium

Bay Citizen: Video: Go on a tour of UC Berkeley’s revamped stadium

Pac 12 Sports Watch: Cal football looks for fresh start in newly renovated Memorial Stadium

The World: Revamped stadium excites Cal players

The Bear Insider: Memorial Stadium Video Tour 8/24

The Bear Insider: Memorial Stadium in Photos

BearTalk: Football: Memorial Stadium one week from liftoff and the word you’re looking for: Wow!

SFJAZZ Center

Forell | Elsesser’s $60 million, 700-seat SFJAZZ Center project will be completed January 2013. The new center is currently under construction at the corner of Franklin and Fell streets in the Hayes Valley neighborhood.

Check out SFJAZZ for more information or the recent SF Business Times for recent construction photos. Live updates are available on the webcam.

9/11/12 Update: SFJAZZ is loving the new 40-foot long staircase we structural engineered for them! Check out the SFJAZZ blog.

9/17/12 Update: Check out this Architizer article with an interview with project architect, Mark Cavagnero.

UC Berkeley Maximino Martinez Commons

Forell | Elsesser’s Maximino Martinez Commons residential hall project is open for the Fall 2012 Semester. The uniquely configured residence hall project will house 416 students in 1- and 2-story apartments and dormitory-style housing. Check out the SF Business Times, The Daily Californian and SF Gate for additional information.

UC Berkeley California Memorial Stadium

California Memorial Stadium 2 Weeks Later

As opening day fast approaches, 100,000 sf of state-of-the-art turf is being installed at UC Berkeley’s California Memorial Stadium. This story has been featured on Cal’s site and on SF Gate. Forell | Elsesser’s UC Berkeley Simpson Student-Athlete High Performance Center is also referenced.