Civic
San Diego County Women’s Detention Facility Receives AAJ Justice Facilities Review Award
May 16th, 2013
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced its 2013 Justice Facilities Review (JFR) citation winners and published projects. The projects were judged on best practices in planning and design for justice architecture, as well as how the design positively influenced its occupants. This year, four projects showcasing exemplary design strategies stood out above the rest and received citations, including the San Diego County Women’s Detention Facility (SDCWDF), which is being completed by the design-build team of Balfour Beatty Construction, KMD Architects and HMC Architects.
San Diego County developed an innovative approach to the care and custody of women that has the potential to establish a national adult incarceration model based on normative operations and facility design. The SDCWDF includes 1,216 beds on a 45-acre campus modeled on a community college and will facilitate a program intensive-management culture intended to proactively reduce recidivism. This distinctly transformative philosophy inspired the design team to explore principles of choice, change and accountability in the development of an environment that would support rehabilitative opportunities and the safety and security of staff and inmates.
The design is based on what are known to be predictable psychological and physiological responses people have to their environment. Studies show that women socialize differently; multi-custody living environments are clustered around exterior courtyards that integrally connect the interior to the exterior spaces to create intimate or group interaction. The program buildings are located in the heart of the “campus core,” which will buzz with activity during the day and evenings. The project is targeting LEED Gold certification.
The jurors commented, “The SDCWDF is exemplary in incorporating not only evidence-based programs but also evidence-based design to support those programs. There is a growing body of research supporting the notion that an environment that provides natural light, views of nature, and opportunities for positive interaction and communication can reduce stress and have encourage rehabilitation. This jail provides a college campus-type atmosphere with programs that will promote behavior change through rewards geared toward women—and will prepare them for re-entry into society. Through all these gestures, the project takes the concept of a normalized environment to the next level, setting up clear behavioral expectations for “normal” behavior.
As a jury we also appreciated how the open dorms provide a degree of privacy consistent with security (research shows that this encourages positive communications). We like how the campus provides numerous outdoor spaces for inmate and staff activities; landscaping throughout is carefully designed to provide these places while not blocking views needed for supervision.”
The project will be published in the 2013 Justice Facilities Review and honored at the AIA’s Academy of Architecture for Justice (AAJ) fall conference in Portland, Oregon.
The 2013 Justice Facilities Review jury members consisted of:
– Jay Farbstein, FAIA, Chair, JFA, Pacific Palisades, California
– Earl Cook, Alexandria Police, Washington, DC
– Duane B. Delaney, District of Columbia Court System, Washington, DC
– Tom Donaghy, AIA, Kishimoto.Gordon. Dalaya, Phoenix
– Tom Faust, District of Columbia Department of Corrections, Washington, DC
– Maynard Feist, AIA, Lionakis, Sacramento
– Jim McClaren, AIA, McClaren, Wilson, Lawrie, Phoenix
Complete list of winning projects //
Correctional News article on the winning projects //
VIDEO: Los Banos Community Center
May 8th, 2013
By Byron Bronston
It’s one thing to design a building and move on, and it’s another to witness the vision of a community come to life. Watch the video below to see how we collaborated with Los Banos to create a community center that connects with the community and helps revitalize downtown Los Banos.
Posted in Civic
Beverly Prior Makes Sense of Sustainable Design in Corrections
February 13th, 2013
Correctional News recently asked HMC Architects’ Beverly Prior a series of questions in order to understand how green design has been implemented in the correctional market and the overall benefits of sustainable design in the industry.
The first question Correctional News asked was: “how has she seen sustainability and energy-efficient design concepts grow in the correctional market?”
Beverly answered, “I’ve seen sustainability concepts grow from two perspectives — the political and the operations perspective. Politically, the funding agency, whether a state or county often have standards that projects must meet a LEED or other green standard. It also can help with achieving community buy in: “At least it’s green!” Achieving a LEED status is a source of pride and positive public relations: “We’re doing the right thing!” Operationally, the focus is minimizing the ongoing use of resources. Correctional facilities make large demands on water and power, so if those year after year costs can be reduced, then agencies have more options with where to put their resources. With the support of state grant programs, Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail is now poised to save $100,000 per year with their new solar grid.”
Read Beverly Prior’s Full Interview
Alameda County's Juvenile Justice Center provides services for 360 youths and was the first juvenile justice facility in the nation to achieve LEED Gold certification.
Posted in Articles & Publications,Civic,Justice
United States Courthouse Design-Build Competition Finalist
December 19th, 2012
McCarthy, HMC Architects and Brooks + Scarpa joined forces to participate in the design-build, design competition for the new United States courthouse in Los Angeles. As a shortlisted finalist, the contractor-led design-build team was selected to compete thru the General Services Administration two-stage Design Excellence program. The approximately 550,000-SF high-rise building located at 1st and Hill Street is designed to accommodate a future 175,000-SF federal office building. The proposed 320-foot tall structure is designed to be certified LEED Platinum and will save nearly two million gallons of water per year.
Inspired by the interweaving of a grand natural arch embedded with a memory of the scales of Lady Justice, the proposed design concept symbolizes the strength, dignity and balanced fairness of the Federal Court. As the visitor approaches they will discover that the acanthus leaf pattern ornaments both the precast and the glazing, creating a connection to the iconic Corinthian columns at the entry to the U.S. Supreme Court — an interpretation in modern materials that connects to the best traditions of American justice.
The design delivers functional efficiency, security and accessibility for the Court, the U.S. Marshal Service, and the other tenants and users. The design-build team’s collaborative effort resulted in a project that exceeds the GSA’s sustainability and energy conservation goals with proven, durable, low-maintenance strategies to deliver a LEED Platinum courthouse.
Leadership Team:
John McRitchie: Principal-In-Charge, McCarthy Building Companies
Kate Diamond, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C: Co-Lead Designer, HMC Architects
Lawrence Scarpa, FAIA: Co-Lead Designer, Brooks + Scarpa
Project Team:
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. (Prime/General Contractor)
HMC Architects (Architect)
Brooks + Scarpa (Architect)
The Olin Partnership (Landscape Architect)
Psomas (Civil)
Thornton Tomasetti (Structural + Blast + Curtainwall)
Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc. (Fire, Life Safety)
WSP Flack + Kurtz (MEP)
WSP Built Ecology (LEED/Sustainability)
Waveguide (Acoustics/Low Voltage/Media/Security)
The Schachinger Group (Vertical Transportation/Loading)
Schuff Steel (Subcontractor)
Clark Pacific Precast (Subcontractor)
Enclos Corp (Subcontractor)
Pan Pacific Plumbing (Subcontractor)
Control Air Conditioning (Subcontractor)
Angeles National Forest’s New Supervisor’s Office Celebrates Dedication
December 17th, 2012
On December 11, nearly 150 people joined the United States Forest Service as they celebrated the dedication of the Angeles National Forest’s new Supervisor’s Office in Arcadia, CA. Attending the dedication on behalf of HMC + Beverly Prior Architects were Steve Parker and Byron Bronston.
The 24,000-square-foot project includes a replacement headquarters facility housing management and special services in a single building for more than 80 personnel and a large number of visitors. An existing historic warehouse was renovated as a conference and training center. Public and private entity functions include meetings, indoor and outdoor fire training for federal, county and city fire departments, public open houses related to specific special projects or issues and public events such as recruitment and outreach. During times of emergency, the facility will be active 24 hours per day to support public safety operations.
“This new facility has really special features and conforms to green construction standards such as using smaller amounts of energy and water than used by the previous building,” said Thomas Contreras, supervisor for the Angeles National Forest.
The project is designed to achieve LEED Gold certification and provides a comfortable and energy-efficient working environment through the use of daylighting, ventilation, recycled and renewable materials, energy-efficient lighting and building systems and water saving fixtures. Landscaping features include a “fire-safe” demonstration garden and cultivation of over 80 plants selected from the forest itself. Natural and native stone and other rocks are used as barriers and site control.
And in case you would like to see the project, it is visible right off the 210 Freeway at the N. Santa Anita Ave. interchange.
Gallery of images from the opening dedication >>
Posted in Civic
Beverly Prior Joins Correctional News Editorial Board
December 12th, 2012
Beverly Prior, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP has joined Correctional News’ editorial advisory board. Founded in 1994, Correctional News is the only news magazine specifically dedicated to correctional facility construction, maintenance, and operations. Widely read by facility operators and managers as well as architects, contractors and suppliers, Correctional News has become a must read business news publication in this unique market.
The ten-person editorial advisory board will regularly discuss the latest news and opinion trends that face the correctional industry. As a board member, Beverly will also have the opportunity to contribute to the publication by authoring an article.
Torrey Sims, editor of the publication, said she was impressed with Beverly’s knowledge and insight into the industry, and also her warm personality. She thinks Beverly will be a perfect addition to the publication’s editorial board and will strengthen the content in Correctional News.
Posted in Articles & Publications,Civic,Justice
HMC Welcomes Danielle De Silva
November 5th, 2012
HMC welcomes Danielle De Silva, AIA, LEED AP BD+C as a Senior Project Manager to the firm’s civic and justice practice. With more than 12 years of creative problem-solving experience, she is a dedicated and innovative project manager with a proven track record for efficiently managing multiple projects. Danielle is a strong leader in the development of the project team through effective and motivating mentoring strategies.
“Danielle brings a remarkable passion for justice facilities and is a tremendous addition to our team,” said Beverly Prior, FAIA, LEED BD+C, Civic and Justice Practice Leader at HMC Architects. “She has a unique balance of detailed technical knowledge, larger scale planning, and a deep understanding of owners’ interests. Danielle’s skill sets truly complement HMC’s design strength and her proven background in the coordination and management of these complex projects will be an asset to our firm and justice practice.”
Prior to HMC, Danielle was a Project Manager at Colliers-International where she was responsible for the facility management of CalPERS properties, and was a Project Manager for Kitchell where she worked closely with California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Posted in Civic,Justice,News Releases
East County Magazine: County Awards Contract for Replacement Women’s Jail
September 15th, 2011
The County has awarded a contract for a modern women’s jail on the site of the existing Las Colinas Detention Facility in Santee. The County’s contract with Balfour Beatty/Barnhart to design and build the approximately 478,000-square-foot facility was signed Thursday. The $221.5 million contract includes architecture and engineering services, construction, offsite improvements and infrastructure, and demolition of the existing jail. Read the full article from East County Magazine.
Posted in Articles & Publications,Civic
The Value of Cultural Regionalism
September 8th, 2011
By Byron Bronston
Recently, two clients have asked us the same question: how will we make a building where everybody will feel welcome? And by everybody, they meant EVERYBODY—all ages, cultural backgrounds, levels of ability and disability, sociability and individuality. Both projects were focused on community: one was for the City of Los Banos Community Center, the other for Woodland Community College’s Colusa County Outreach Facility.
Los Banos Community Center – Henry Miller Plaza
Continue Reading…
Posted in Civic,Higher Education
Design Concept: Hemet Courthouse
August 17th, 2011
The conceptual design presented for the Hemet Courthouse competition resulted in a justice facility that expresses the community’s unique history and culture. By integrating a modernist approach with the surrounding environment, the design envisions architecture as civic art for the profound purpose of sustaining social justice. Watch the video that captures the team’s design concept.
