Construction underway at Lemoore High School

TETER-designed projects at Lemoore High School are actively under construction.

 

Originally published on THE SENTINEL on June 14, 2018.

LEMOORE — This summer Lemoore High School has begun work on its bond projects from Measure L in 2016.

Debbie Muro, the Lemoore Union High School superintendent, said the district hopes to have all work in this first set of projects completed in November.

The first bit of work on any of the bond projects began in March. Since then the school has completed five projects of the 10 projects for the year.

Completed projects include installing new cables, painting the main building, installing a new well, repairing roofs and installing a service road for fire and safety.

The projects still being worked on are creating new concessions and restroom buildings for Tiger Stadium and between the baseball diamond and tennis courts, building a press box for the stadium, making a new walkway on the home side of the stadium, remodeling the weight room, transforming an old shop building into an engineering building, building an athletic building with room for cross fit classes and building two classrooms at the ag farm.

Lemoore High School’s new Press Box will be completed in 2018. (Rendering by Arnoldo Espindola, TETER Job Captain)

Measure L from the November 2016 election was passed with around 66 percent. It was a $24 million bond measure.

As of May 2017, the district sold $11 million in bonds funding the current round of projects.

We plan to go out to sell the remainder of the bonds in May of 2019, if our tax base can support it, to complete the remaining projects. Otherwise, we plan to sell Series B Bonds in 2020.” – Mark Howard, director of business services for the district

Muro said that next year the school is hoping to re-plaster the pool and create shade structures. The district originally planned on doing this project this year, but due to a paperwork mishap had to hold off.

With that project, the pool would have been closed for the summer. (Pool project is not designed by TETER.)

Other future projects include a tennis court expansion, a new academic building, a science building remodel, the resurfacing of the stadium parking lot, a library remodel, energy management systems expansion and landscaping improvement projects.

Lemoore High School’s new Academic Building. (Rendering by Arnoldo Espindola).

Lemoore High School’s new Academic Building. (Rendering by Arnoldo Espindola)

 

Some of the other projects on the table will bring improvement to the Jamison High School site — a new administration building, a new multipurpose room and upgraded portable classrooms.

All of the bond work is in addition to the work they already have to do for regular maintenance.” –  Michael Doria, facilities director for the district

Some of their regular maintenance planned projects include new flooring or carpeting in the gym, cafeteria and presentation center.

 

Byron Dietrich Returns To TETER

IT STARTED WITH A VISION

Every Firm Has A Story.

Ours started in a small structural engineering office in Visalia with three principals and a shared vision of providing superior engineering and client service. After many years, Byron Dietrich, one of three founding principals, left to pursue other passions outside of engineering.

We grew, we added ten incredible new principals, and we continued to build a thriving business. We missed Byron, but we are excited to announce that Byron has rejoined TETER and is as committed to our vision as ever.

What Can You Expect?

Byron will be working with our amazing team of over 100 engineers and architects to offer our clients what he does so well.

He will bring his creativity and enthusiasm for structural engineering design and assisting industrial clients. Byron looks forward to assisting our other principals, continuing TETER’s growth, and bridging the firm’s past and future.

TETER’s story has many chapters already and many yet to be written. But we couldn’t be happier that one of the main characters is back to help write the next piece of our legacy.

TETER Makes ENR’s Top 2018 Design Firm List

ENR lists TETER as a California Top Design Firm

Engineering News-Record (ENR) has featured TETER as one of 2018’s “California Top Design Firms” in their May/June magazine. The ENR California Top Design Firms list, ranks the largest U.S.-based design firms, both publicly and privately held, based on design-specific revenue.

TETER Architects and Engineers, the only design firm headquartered in the San Joaquin Valley included on ENR’s list, is honored to be included with prestigious nationally-recognized design firms. Our mission is to “build a better valley”. We strive to help make central California a desirable community to live, work, and play.

TETER Donates $1,000 to College of the Sequoias

$1,000 C.O.S. Architectural Foundation Scholarship

TETER’s Arnoldo Espindola and College of the Sequoia’s Rolando Gonzales present TETER’s $1,000 scholarship to Omar Mangaña, a graduate of the College of Sequoias’ Architectural program.

Mr. Mangaña will use the $1,000 to help pay for his higher education at New School of Architecture in San Diego.

As a former student of COS’ Architecture program, I was honored and proud to present Omar Mangaña with TETER’s Architectural scholarship. I was happy to see my former instructor, Rolando Gonzalez, pushing and encouraging students to participate in the AIASJ’s annual student design competition. Activities like this provide students with the opportunity to unveil their potential and talents as a designer. As a graduate of COS’ Architecture program, I know Omar will have the skill set and work ethic to further his potential & education. This event reminds students and professionals that design matters.” – Arnoldo Espindola, TETER Job Captain

Arnoldo Espindola and Rolando Gonzales get ready to present the $1,000 TETER scholarship. (Photo credit: AIASJ)

Megan Chang is a Rising Star in Structural Engineering!

2018 Rising Stars in Civil + Structural Engineering

The seventh annual Rising Stars in Civil and Structural Engineering recognizes 26 professionals, 40 years old or younger working in the U.S., who have shown exceptional technical capability, leadership ability, effective teaching or research, or public service benefiting the civil and and structural engineering professions, their employers, project owners, and society. Zweig Group editors selected TETER’s Megan Chang, PE as a 2018 Rising Star in Structural Engineering. Below is a brief excerpt of Ms. Chang’s accomplishments, projects and activities to date.

Megan Chang, P.E., (age 33) TETER, LLP, Visalia, Calif., was the project manager and structural project engineer for the award-winning Kern County-Bakersfield Hall of Records Renovation project. The Hall of Records, a historic, single-story government building constructed in 1910, suffered severe concrete deterioration, corrosion of reinforcement, and structural defects. Chang worked closely with the materials science and geotechnical engineer to determine the cause of corrosion and deterioration and designed a repair compatible with the historic, carbonated concrete. As project manager and structural project engineer for the Department of Veteran Affairs – New Information Technology and Engineering Building, Chang pioneered the progressive collapse and blast resistive design, a first for the Central California VA Health Care System. She is one of the few engineers in California’s San Joaquin Valley who possess expert knowledge about the new federal requirement, Physical Security Design for VA Facilities. Chang also is the dean of leadership for TETER University, establishing its core curriculum, identifying its vision and priorities, and securing instructors. For the last three years, Chang has taught structural engineering to eighth grade girls at summer STEM camps.” – Civil + Structural ENGINEER Magazine, a Zweig Group Product

Jenn Pike-Owens, TETER’s Chief Operations Officer and Partner, has this to say about Megan Chang and her selection:

Megan truly exemplifies what it means to be E.P.I.C! Megan is: Exceptional in her relentless pursuit of maintaining the highest professional standards, a consummate and talented ProfessionalInspirational to her peers and future generations of engineering design professionals, and Connected to her A+E Team, the community in which she lives and works, and to our clients.”

TETER Sponsors Noche de Oro Masquerade Gala

Noche de Oro event benefits Orosi High School Students

April 20th marked the Cutler-Orosi Kiwanis Club’s inaugural Noche de Oro Masquerade Gala. TETER’s Gold-level sponsorship of this event will help fund job shadowing and internship opportunities for students in Career Academics and/or Pathway Programs at Orosi High School. These programs help students gain hands-on experiences, employment skills, professional networking opportunities, and workforce introductions.

It was wonderful to be part of the widespread support of this inaugural event – which was also backed by neighboring communities, other school districts, and local businesses. It was great to see so many people concerned about the future of Orosi High School students and wanting to help.” – Robert Thornton

(Left to Right) Alisa Brimhall Gubler, City of Visalia Mayor Warren Gubler, Robert Thornton (TETER Partner).

(Left to Right) Ralph Willamsen (Architect in TETER ‘s Bakersfield office), Robert Thornton (TETER Partner) and Toni Sherman.

(Left to right) Mr. Camaquin (Principal of Palm E.S. in Cutler-Orosi Jt. USD), his guest, Beth Mount (Marketing Production Coordinator at TETER), Robert Thornton, Ralph Williamsen and Toni Sherman.

Community Food Bank Design Competition

TETER Designing Central California Community Food Bank’s Donor Wall and Lobby

The Central California Community Food Bank sought an innovative design for a donor wall and lobby at their new facility. TETER fulfilled their vision for a unique, fresh design by facilitating an internal design competition among staff.

Kym Dildine, Chief Administrative Officer, and Denise O’Canto, Corporate Relations and Community Engagement Manager, judged the first round of design concepts at TETER. The top creative concepts will be presented to the Community Food Bank’s board and staff for a final selection.

We are so grateful for the support and the amazing designs the TETER teams provided us. We are so excited to see this dream come to life!” – Kym Dildine

TETER is honored to support the Community Food Bank’s mission to end hunger in the central valley with our pro bono design services for their donor wall and lobby.

Job Shadow Day at TETER

Academy of Architecture & Engineering students spend a day job shadowing TETER’s architects and engineers.

Redwood High School students in Visalia Unified School District’s Academy of Architecture and Engineering program learned the importance of college planning, community involvement, real-world internships, and professional communications from architects, engineers, and design professionals at TETER’s Visalia office.

I enjoy mentoring students and showing them what I do. I believe in paying it forward. I hope these students will take advantage of all of the opportunities that are given them, then turn around and help others to have even more opportunities. Living in the Central Valley you understand what a small world it can be at times. I hope I can show students how we’re currently working to build a better valley and how they can start building as well!” – Megan Chang, Professional Engineer, TETER’s Visalia office

“We  are grateful to have members of the community like TETER who open their doors to allow our students to do job shadowing. Kids these days don’t know what they want. So when they can shadow professionals like TETER, they have an idea if engineering is the direction they want to go in their higher education. The Work Based Learning Coordinator of Visalia Unified formed a bond with TETER. It’s been a good partnership.” – Russ Brown, Digital Engineering Instructor, Redwood High School

Today was great. My favorite part was learning about the details that go into a building.  There are so many different people involved with making a building.” – Miguel M., Student, Redwood High School

Foundation for Clovis Schools’ Students of Promise

TETER proudly supports the Student of Promise program.

Each spring, TETER attends the Foundation for Clovis Schools’ Student of Promise scholarship and awards gala, which recognizes high school juniors who succeed in school and overcome extreme obstacles despite challenging personal situations. Students are rewarded for persevering though difficult circumstances with a $2,000 post-secondary educational scholarship. TETER partners and staff were deeply affected by the students’ stories as they honored and celebrated these Students of Promise.

As a former CUSD student, it makes me proud to have been part of a district who honors these students not just for their academics, but more importantly, for the incredible young people they are. These students face trials most of us will never endure, and they do it with a positive inner strength. Seeing some of my former teachers continue to pour their hearts to help their students, recognize their potential, and encourage them along their journeys was equally inspiring. Nights like these remind me who I am really working for, and inspire me to do whatever I can to help these deserving students and teachers through our designs.” – Megan Armendariz, PE

CSU, Bakersfield students approve $37M Student Union expansion and new aquatics facility

CSUB’s new Student Union, conceptual designs by TETER, is featured on The Bakersfield Californian.

CSUB just keeps on growing.

Students at the ever-expanding university have approved a $37 million expansion of the Student Union and a companion aquatic center, voting 61.4 percent to 38.6 percent in a two-day referendum that ended Friday. The tabulated results were announced Monday.

Cal State Bakersfield will now move ahead with plans to more than triple the size of the Student Union and build a nearby aquatics facility. The announcement came from the university’s Associated Students Inc., which facilitated the vote.

A total of 1,768 students voted on the referendum, with 1,086 voting “yes” and 682 students voting “no.”

The expansion “will encourage student development, improve student life, provide exceptional services and advance the CSUB community,” ASI President Mariela Gomez said in a statement.
The campaign, she added, gave “students the power to leave a legacy and ultimately impact the future of our university.”

The 80,000-square-foot expansion will include about 40,000 for the two-story Student Union expansion and 40,000 for the new aquatics facility.

The existing 17,000-square-foot Student Union was originally built in May 1987 when the campus population was about 5,100. Since then, CSUB has grown to about 11,000 students.

The $37 million price tag includes $27 million for the Student Union and $10 million for the aquatics center. It will be funded through a combination of sources, including a $40-per-semester increase in student fees, tiering up after the first year to $160 per semester over a four-year period. Fees for the aquatic facility will be roughly $20 per semester and will not increase.

“We currently have the reputation of being a commuter campus, but I see it becoming more of a metropolitan campus,” Gomez said. “We’re really thinking about the future.

“I personally am thinking about the future, especially my own family. I have a younger sister who is graduating high school in two years and I have two nephews in middle school, and they’re already actually talking about attending CSUB. To me, that’s so exciting.”

ASI leaders plan to meet soon with campus administrators to decide when the fee collection will begin. Students who currently receive financial aid will have all fees covered without any out-of-pocket expenses.

University officials say it’ll take three years of fee collection before construction of the Student Union expansion can begin. Planning for the construction of the aquatic facility, which will be located on the dirt lot on Kroll Way across the street from parking lot K2 and next to the soccer field, will begin immediately. The timeline for completion is not yet set.

The projects will create 80 to 100 jobs. CSUB says the Student Union expansion will include:

– A flexible and large event space in the form of a ballroom that will be able to accommodate a capacity of 1,450 in theatre/lecture format and 800 in banquet;

– 12 conference rooms with a capacity of up to 100 in a theatre/lecture format and 50 in a meeting format;

– A game room large enough to include gaming consoles, computer gaming and pool tables;

– The CSUB Food Pantry, which will be moved from its current location near the student union;

– A food prep area to include multiple microwaves;

– Multiple lounge space with soft seating for students to use between classrooms or events;

– A hallway lined with small study rooms/cubicles for studying, meeting preparation, and/or storage;

– Club work space with a media room to collaborate on projects, presentations and events;

– A loft feature lounge overlooking the first-floor lounge.

Originally published in THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN on February 26, 2018.