JUNE 2009: Sun shines on $198 million Bond Measure Project Ground Breaking
(Silicon Valley , CA Fremont Union High School District is the third ranked High School District in California
The ceremony, which took place on a beautiful, windswept afternoon on the soon to be renovated athletic field at Homestead High School, was the realization of 12 months of hard work by District Staff, following the approval of Measure B last June, to bring these projects to construction as quickly as possible. District Superintendent Polly Bove said, “In today’s serious economic downturn, many people are in need of work. These school projects will provide a significant infusion of employment opportunities to our community.”
General Contractor, Robert A. Bothman, Inc of San Jose , CA will construct the major new athletic facility projects at all five schools beginning with Homestead California
RAB Vice President, James Moore who is leading the pre-construction services portion of the project said, “It was very clear to us from the beginning that the District was looking for a team player to deliver great projects in a collaborative environment. We were extremely happy to be selected out of a pool of well qualified contractors based on our experience and qualifications. Partnering with a progressive Client like Fremont Union and a great designer in Verde Design will guarantee superb results.”
RAB is able to draw of extensive design/build and lease/leaseback project experience which will be of huge importance to the success of these projects as they go forward. RAB Vice President, Brian Bothman commented, “We have 30 months to demolish these sites and reconstruct five, state of the art, high school athletic complexes. Throw in the challenges of keeping as much practice and competition space open as possible and disrupting campus and community life as little as possible and this could be a tough assignment. Thankfully, this is our fourth or fifth multi-site, multi-phase project and this type of work has become a specialty of ours over the years.”
During her speech to a packed audience of students, Board Members, teachers, coaches and community members, Superintendent Bove answered the question – why fields? “Over 3,000 of our students participate in athletics every year and all 10,000 of our students will benefit from the renovations…These fields are classrooms. They provide the venue for our students to learn …as profoundly as their academic classes.”
The other exciting component of the District’s Measure B Plan in which RAB is also heavily involved is the solar installations at four of the five high schools. RAB is working with Regrid Power and Vance Brown to construct the arrays in the school parking lots. These solar projects will generate 3.6 megawatts of power providing nearly 50% of the District’s energy needs. Superintendent Bove said, “Energy is our second largest expenditure after salaries, so this installation will allow us to offset at least $1 million in our annual energy expenses, freeing up dollars for programs and salaries.” Students will also have access to the project as part of a study opportunity focusing on renewable energy.
Robert A. Bothman, Inc is a full service design/build general contractor with specialties in high performance athletic facility construction, education facilities and transportation infrastructure projects. Other recently completed projects include the new $6 million track and field facility at St Mary’s College High School in Albany, CA which featured a three cornered track.
For more information on this story or Robert A. Bothman, Inc services, please contact Brian Bothman at bbothman@bothman.com or 408.279.2277.