San Diego, CA – May 11, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — C.W. Driver, a premier builder serving the Western U.S. since 1919, furthers its impact in the local construction and real estate arena by debuting a pair of design-build libraries in San Diego. Along with providing cultural gathering points for their respective communities, the Fallbrook Library in Fallbrook, Calif., and the Ramona Library in Ramona, Calif., were built to LEED specifications while highlighting C.W. Driver’s positive impact on San Diego County.
“In addition to the sustainable construction features, a key component for these projects is their positive affect on the San Diego community,” said Joe Grosshart, C.W. Driver’s regional VP of San Diego. “Our goal was to build more than libraries — we wanted to build cultural centers for each community. And it is important for us to continue building for the community and environment by allowing these public buildings to be truly sustainable.”
Grosshart emphasizes the positive impact the design-build method had on both projects: “This delivery model brought the owner, designer and contractor together in an integrated team which resulted in the delivery of the best value for San Diego County on both libraries.”
C.W. Driver outfitted the Fallbrook Library with the latest in sustainable technology. Located at 124 South Mission Road, the 19,000-SF structure achieved LEED Silver certification and features several sustainable facets including a green roof covered in 3,500 SF of plants helping to absorb rainwater and insulate the building. It is comprised of modular trays of native and adaptive plants, which can be easily replaced or moved as needed, on top of a waterproof cover. Sustainable elements used during construction included using recycled materials, water-efficient landscaping, and the installation of water and energy-efficient plumbing and lighting fixtures.
C.W. Driver’s construction on the Fallbrook Library included expanding it to almost twice the size of the original building. Amenities include group meeting rooms and study spaces, new computers, public Wi-Fi, automated checkout and a family homework and tutoring center.
Built to LEED Gold certification, the new 21,000-SF Ramona Library features Tuscan and Southwestern-style building and is now four-times larger than the original library. C.W. Driver’s work included a photovoltaic system covering 5,000 feet and comprised of two types of panels on the roof set to produce approximately 20 percent of the energy the library needs. Inside the building, patrons can track the library’s energy consumption and production on a digital display. To complement the Tuscan-style theme, native plants and colorful species adaptive to the climate were incorporated to reduce the amount of water, fertilizer and maintenance needed to sustain the landscaping.
Built to be a cultural, educational and entertainment hub, amenities of the Ramona Library include an inviting sanctuary with cozy, lounge seating and fireplace, along with a teen area, a children’s space and read-aloud room, community meeting rooms, a homework and tutoring center, and a “Poet’s Patio” for live performances. The library is located at 1275 Main Street.
The libraries join other recently completed C.W. Driver projects in San Diego, including the R. Roger Rowe Elementary & Middle School, which opened last fall in Rancho Santa Fe, and the Multidisciplinary Building at Palomar College, which was finished earlier this year.
About C.W. Driver
C.W. Driver, a premier builder serving the Western U.S. since 1919, specializes in general contracting and construction management services by remaining on the cutting-edge across a broad spectrum of industries including higher education facilities, K-12, healthcare, entertainment, hospitality and military. C.W. Driver has offices in Los Angeles, Irvine, Ontario and San Diego. For more information, please visit www.cwdriver.com
