News

JAMA Principal Matt Timmers was a speaker at Advancing Mass Timber Construction 2020, a virtual conference focused on optimization, design and delivery of mass timber structures. Matt spoke on September 29th of the 20-day conference and was joined by architect Sindhu Mahadevan of Perkins + Will. His topic, “Setting up a Collaborative Design-Assist Process With All Project Partners to Optimize Project Delivery” focused on the following: Establishing a collaborative culture and common goal from day one to streamline design development. Understanding the role of the mass timber manufacturer in design and how to effectively integrate them with the wider project team to cover every aspect of design and engineering. Highlighting the decisions that must be made earlier in design development to positively impact project cost and schedule.

JAMA team members are celebrating the completion of the Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park MOB. The facility, one of more than a dozen completed by JAMA, was designed and constructed with an aggressive schedule within the tight site of a fully developed medical campus in Baldwin Park. Restricted to 60,000 square feet because of campus entitlements, initial planning indicated that the project should be 3 stories, but with Orthopedics taking up more than 50% of the buildings function, a separation of their spaces was going to have a detrimental impact on the quality of member care. The team, which included SLAM Collaborative (architects) and Pankow (contractors) focused on developing a solution that could deliver the highest quality of patient experience. Ultimately a 2-story building with a continuous floor dedicated to the Orthopedics department’s needs and accessory functions achieved that goal.

Now, perhaps more than ever, our industry is looking to leaders to guide us through uncertain times ahead. At JAMA we are proud to announce our leadership has been strengthened with the following promotions. Here’s to an amazing group of fearless leaders and their ability to not only help JAMA survive, but thrive. Well done! Matt Timmers, Principal Ben Rogowski, Associate Principal Greg Orozco, Associate Principal Justin Chung, Associate Principal

What began as a competition to explore mass timber in high-rise design in California has blossomed into a fully funded supportive housing development. Located in Skid Row, the Alvidrez is a 14-story tower containing 150 studio apartments and “support spaces” on the ground floor, which will include case management, individual and group counseling, and group activities to improve the health and well-being of residents. A collaboration between JAMA, Michael Maltzan Architecture, and Skid Row Housing Trust, the project is currently in concept design and expected to break ground in mid-2022. The “vertical bundle” massing of this permanent supportive housing development was determined in part by the construction logic of its framing system. A mass timber gravity system is being combined with a traditional lateral system to meet sustainability guidelines, while the units were designed using modular building blocks made of mass timber floor planks, steel or glulam beams, and glulam columns. Th

In spite of work from home protocols, the JAMA team continues to collaborate and innovate in amazing ways. We are proud to announce the following Engineering and BIM promotions, as these staff expand our technical excellence and contribute to our Engineering Excellence. Congratulations! Leonard Kim, Project Manager David Dorier-Sammut, Senior Project Engineer Erik Hilkey, Senior Project Engineer Mario Leon, Senior Project Engineer Parbi Boodaghian, Senior Project Engineer Sabrina Ketel, Senior Project Engineer Weian Liu, Senior Project Engineer Jose Ayala, Senior BIM Coordinator

JAMA engineers and production team members have been busy with a myriad of art/exhibition designs at LACMA. This work, which started about a year ago, comes despite demolition of approximately 50% of the campus to make way for the future expansion designed by Swiss Architect Peter Zumpthor. JAMA’s efforts are conducted in collaboration with LACMA’s Exhibition Design and Production team. Typically the work has involved engineering and permitting for loads expected to safely stand for months on often freestanding partitions as high as 18 feet. Working on the display of priceless art poses very different design and logistic challenges from typical construction projects. Material sizing and procurement is an issue – no heavy steel pieces or welding – as well as considerations for existing building impacts and reuse and dismantling provisions. While some spectacular work is mentioned below, a truly challenging and unique project is currently underway and expected to open this year. Re

Project Manager Hossain Ghaffari along with production Assistant BIM Manager Felix Olmos are working with HKS Architects on the complete renovation of a play area for pediatric cancer patients. Located on the 5th floor of the UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, the existing space will be gutted and reworked to include dozens of new zones and amenities, including new reception and work desks with lockers and TV lounge. A pool table, general storage area, interactive Microsoft Wall, sensory gym and other themed play areas will be supported by art structures and specialty lighting systems. Concept designs are being finalized with hopes that documentation and construction moves forward soon!

JAMA Partner and Oakland office leader Kal Benuska wins the Zoom moment of the month with his participation on an “Impacts of COVID-19 on the AEC Industry” panel discussion. Speaking to Cal Poly College of Architecture & Environmental Design students, Kal and co-panelists Donna Clandening of AC Martin, Ted Boyce of Hathaway Dinwiddie and Alex Smith of Largo Concrete spoke about adjustments to day-to-day operations, implications to internships and general hiring, differentiation for job-seekers, and advice on how students can move forward from this terrible time. Kal represented JAMA (live from Oakland) perfectly.