b'FACILITIESSJC25services. In 2023, the 18,000-square-foot building received the Design Build Institute of Americas National Award of Merit in the aviation category for saving public resources and supporting faster response for both the airport and its neighbors. Once Overaa was selected, the one request I made immediately was for the same project manager and superintendent with whom I worked on the ARFF project, Ruffo relates, emphasizing his strong belief that reassembling the Station 20 team would be essential to meeting the next projects tight timeline while remaining on budget. Overaa Senior Superintendent Chris Shoemaker likewise knew his firms familiarity with SJC would be buildings via new construction, the airWith the design vision set, determiningadvantageous onceCHRIS SHOEMAKERcarriers also called for work to be finishedhow to get the buildings done on timework began.before the close of the 2023/24 fiscaltook center stage.The team element and trust factors year to comply with a negotiated rateswere there, Shoemaker says. We knew and charges agreement. As the projectGolden Opportunity the personalities in the room already. In entered its Request for Proposals phase,One early advantage that helped expediteturn, that confidence allowed Overaa to that 400-day deadline was explicitly notedprogress was the buildings new location:implement what Shoemaker terms an in the pre-bid documents. an approximately 11-acre plot on theunconventional approach to construction Plans called for sufficient room to housesouthern tip on the airfield informallyof the Facilities Administrative building. close to 70 staff members plus their gearknown as SJCs Golden Triangle. TheBuildings typically start from the ground and work vehicles, with space to welcomeairport had recently completed the firstup, but Overaa and its subcontractors others as airport traffic grows. Theof three projects on the site, so gradingfound a creative way to work on two two-story Administrative Building wouldwas complete and utility connectionslevels simultaneously. First, iron supports have offices on its upper level adornedwere already in place before the primewere placed and covered with concrete with floor-to-ceiling picture windowscontractor was chosen for the locationsthat was sprayed on using compressed overlooking the airfield. The lower floorsecond phase of development.aira process known as shotcreting.would include separate workshops forIn late 2022, the Facilities AdministrativeStructural steel beams then followed to metal craftworkers, painters, electricians,and Fleet Maintenance buildings contractframe the second floor and roof. With locksmiths and woodworkers. The Fleetwas awarded through a competitivethose elements set, crews proceeded to Maintenance buildings service bays wouldbidding process that weighed firmsbuild out the upper level before a concrete enable SJC to store and fix vehicles thatrespective qualifications, interviewslab foundation was fully poured below.previously had to be taken across townresponses and projected costs. SJC for repairs.management was pleased when OveraaIt saved us time and allowed different Construction was selected as generaltrades to get onsite sooner, Shoemaker Its been aexplains. With Overaa self-performing necessity for ourcontractor. Thats because the California- the foundation and form work for the division to finallybased builder had successfully developedshotcrete walls, we were able to control have a place we canthe first Golden Triangle project: San Josour own destiny a little bit right out of the call home and isFire Department Station 20.gate to drive the schedule.representative of theThat nearly $25 million facility broke hard work our teamsground in late 2020 and took less thanOther time-saving steps included do day in and dayGENE FRAZIER two years to complete. Station 20 isinvolving Overaa superintendents in out, says Gene Frazier, SJCs Deputythe first West Coast facility to collocatethe design stages so the contractors Director of Facilities and Engineering. OurAircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF)crews would be more familiar with the old spaces were too cramped. facilities with traditional neighborhood fireproject before anyone picked up a tool. AirportImprovement.comMarch | April 2025'