Experience
COMMERCIAL
Directors Place
NOVA performed a geotechnical investigation and provided special inspection and materials testing during the design and construction of a ground-up 149,747 sf, five-story warm-shell, Class A research and laboratory building with a nearly 50/50 split between life science research labs and office space. The $123 million project features a 90,000 sf three-story subterranean parking garage and surface parking for a total of 467 vehicles.
Other features include retaining walls, underground utilities, and landscaping. A 14,034 sf tenant improvement includes the lobby, restrooms, storage, and training rooms. The project is targeted for LEED Silver Certification.
DSA & HIGHER EDUCATION
UC San Diego Nuevo East and West Graduate Student Housing
NOVA performed special inspection and materials testing for two design-build neighborhoods which have achieved LEED Gold certification. The 720,857 sf Nuevo East mixed-use project consists of five residential buildings ranging from 5- to 12-stories with 1,373 student beds. Residential areas are anchored by a sixth building, the Exchange, which is a student resource center with multi-purpose amenity and gathering spaces, administrative offices, and support programs. The $220 million project was designed with an east-west orientation to maximize exposure to westerly winds, maximize natural daylight indoors, and reduce unwanted solar gain in the summer.
Nuevo West is a 441,800 sf, six-acre mixed-use project with a 12-story residential building, a 7-story residential building, a low-rise building featuring a Street Corner Urban Market, and a 1,200-space parking structure with EV charging stations. The $151 million project includes 800 graduate student beds and 42 rooms for the La Jolla Family House, where cancer/bone marrow transplants families stay while their loved ones undergo treatment at UC San Diego Health. The project is designed to facilitate pedestrian flow and connect to other University neighborhoods to encourage residential interaction.
Both projects feature a fitness center, study lounges, game and music rooms, cafes, community gardens and kitchens, pools, bike storage, public plazas, and Zip Car facilities.
Sustainable design features include energy efficient equipment in the buildings, all LED lighting, high-performance building envelopes, low-flow fixtures, and native and drought-resistant plants. The project diverted more than 75% of construction and demolition debris to recycling and reuse facilities. All these features allowed the project to perform 30% better than the ASHRAE 90.1 Energy Standard. The University was also the first in the United States to install a road with asphalt that utilizes recycled plastic instead of petroleum-based bitumen as a binder.
Nuevo West won several awards from the Design-Build Institute of American (DBIA) Western Pacific Region including the National Award of Merit for Educations Facilities and the National Best Use of BIM/VDC Award and Nuevo East won a Distinction Award and a National Award of Merit from DBIA.
HEALTHCARE
Veterans Home of California Skilled Nursing and Memory Care Facility
Yountville, CA
NOVA performed a geotechnical investigation and quality assurance during the design and construction of the facility. The design build project consists of a 300,000 sf, five-story skilled nursing and memory care facility on 11 acres of the existing Veterans Home of California - Yountville Campus, which is a recognized historic district.
The $269 million project features 240-beds, living areas, support areas, a visitor’s welcome area, physical therapy facilities, administrative facilities, kitchen/dining areas, a pharmacy, dialysis treatment center, maintenance facilities, a warehouse, parking, storage and loading areas, and a central plant. Site improvements include roads, stormwater management, and landscaping. The project is OSHPD compliant and designed to achieve LEED Gold certification.
HOTEL & RECREATION
Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
NOVA performed a geotechnical investigation and provided testing and inspection for the design and construction of a $85 million permanent year-round outdoor performance and event venue on Port of San Diego property. The 3.5-acre project, located in the Embarcadero Marina Park South, features a 13,000 sf acoustically engineered stage with a concert shell and back-of-house facilities.
Other features include a sloped lawn with temporary/removable seating for appropriately 3,100 people with flexibility to accommodate 10,000 as well as restrooms, a dining and retail pavilion, a widened public promenade around the venue, a visual public art element, and replacement of existing public amenities including benches, basketball courts, exercise equipment, a gazebo, and lighting.
MULTIFAMILY
Viveluxe, San Diego
NOVA performed a geotechnical investigation as well as special inspection and materials testing during the design and construction of a seven-story apartment building with 442 units. The project includes a two-story parking structure with 785 parking stalls, bike racks, and motorcycle parking. Amenities included storage spaces, a leasing office, mail room, pool, club room, a dog spa, wine lounge, a fitness center, and an ocean lounge on the top floor.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
First Point, Santa Ana, CA
Geotechnical investigation and earthwork observation and testing for a pair of mixed-use, affordable buildings on 6.6 acres. The five-story Type III buildings are comprised of 690 units over one-level on-grade raised podium parking. Other features include 8,000 sf of luxurious amenities and 10,000 sf of retail space. The project has received a Gold Nugget Merit Award - Best On-the-Boards Affordable Housing Community. The community is one of the largest affordable housing projects in the state of California.
PUBLIC WORKS
LA Metro Interstate 605 South Street Improvements
NOVA is providing special inspection and materials testing during the $33 million project, which is a joint effort by Caltrans and LA Metro to ease congestion, enhance mobility, improve public safety, and improve regional traffic flow. The project includes a right turn lane and improves the safety of South Street with a standard deceleration distance off-ramp to the intersection. Other project features include a 1,570-foot retaining wall, ADA compliant curb ramps, high visibility crosswalks with safety lighting, pavement striping that conforms to current Caltrans standards, and new traffic signs and signals to accommodate the new configuration. The signals will be optimized to improve traffic circulation for both the off-ramp and South Street.
The project is part of the I-605 Hot Spots Interchanges Program and is funded through the Highway Infrastructure Program (HIP) and a Metro local funds match from Measure R. All testing and sampling is performed in accordance with Caltrans Testing Methods.
AIRPORTS
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)
NOVA provided materials testing and special inspections for the high-profile modernization of Terminals 2 and 3 at LAX. The four-level reconstruction and expansion of Terminal 3 included new gates, increased passenger seating, and upgraded retail and dining options. NOVA’s scope ensured construction quality across all structural and materials aspects of this transformative aviation project. Key features of the project included:
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Two vertical circulation cores with elevators and escalators
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Direct pedestrian walkways connecting to the APM (Automated People Mover)
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A new Delta Sky Club featuring indoor/outdoor bars, a Sky Deck, and private showers
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Upgraded restrooms
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Dual taxi lanes for improved airfield efficiency
A secure elevated pedestrian bridge linking T3 to Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), allowing seamless transfer without re-screening
PARKING STRUCTURES
San Diego Airport Terminal 1 Parking Plaza
NOVA performed a geotechnical investigation, earthtwork observation, and provided testing and inspection for the design and construction of the new ground-up parking plaza as part of the $3.4 billion SAN Terminal 1 airport redevelopment project. The five-story parking structure consists of six structurally independent facilities and was constructed in two phases. The project included the installation of over 2,500 auger cast-in-place piles and covers approximately 2 million square feet, accommodating 5,221 parking spaces.
NOVA Certs & Designations
SLBE
CITY OF SAN DIEGO
SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
(SLBE)
DISABLED VETERAN
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
(DVBE)
SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN OWNED SMALL BUSINESS
(SDVOSB)
CALTRANS
CERTIFIED LABS & PERSONNEL
