T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc., one of the largest and most trusted contractors in Southern California, was chosen to do the structural concrete work for the UCSD North Campus Student Housing project. Turner Construction, general contractor for the $93-million project, made the selection.

In choosing T.B. Penick as the design-assist structural concrete subcontractor, Sr. Project Manager for Turner Construction Sergie Serrano noted that "During the design process the TBP team showed real dedication to quality, service, problem resolution and cost containment. They found ways to reduce their own costs in order to save us money while simultaneously improving the project for the client."

The project design process was not without its challenges. After the initial plans were drawn up, it was found to be necessary to re-engineer the structure while maintaining the building's architectural integrity. In collaboration with Englekirk, the structural engineer, TBP's in-house structural engineering team re-engineered the bridging documents using the most cost effective combination of post tension, rebar, slab/wall/column, and foundation systems. TBP cost effective design solutions, endorsed by Englekirk, yielded a 13% reduction in project costs, representing nearly $1,700,000 in savings on the project.

"When it is completed, the UCSD North Campus Housing project will be a showpiece for the University and for San Diego county," said Serrano. "We intend to deliver a world-class facility that will add value to the UCSD campus and enhance the quality of life for students and faculty."