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Alex Presley, Marketing Coordinator 
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Los Angeles-area, CA, August 30, 2021  —

Two Structural Focus projects received recognition at the 2021 Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards. The Overlook at Rise Park in Irvine received the Award of Merit in the Special-Use Structures category, and The Lot Studios – Courtyard Building in West Hollywood received the Certificate of Merit in the New Construction category. We would like to acknowledge Kori Krichko and Andrew Martinez for their work on The Overlook at Rise Park, as well as Jonathan Lehmer for his work on The Lot Studios – Courtyard Building. Wayne Chang served as Principal and Project Manager on both projects. We are proud of the insight, diligence, and creativity they each contributed to these two structures.

Structural Focus worked with Studio One Eleven and Consolidated Contracting on The Overlook at Rise Park. The Overlook is a large, elevated terrace located in Rise Park. The green space is a part of the Orange County Great Park (OCGP) development in Irvine, California, and is designed to connect the community while celebrating the natural landscape. Inspired by nature, Studio One Eleven designed the terrace to rise from clusters of splayed columns resting in large planters. A triangular deck was thoughtfully oriented to face the sunset in one direction and Santiago Peak in the opposite. As the structural team on the project, Structural Focus’s mission was to bring the architect’s unique vision to life while meeting structural demands.

“Working on an out-of-the-ordinary project like The Overlook at Rise Park can be challenging. Fortunately, we were working with Studio One Eleven on this project, who are creative and daring with their designs — but also have a great respect for the engineering process required to execute those designs. It is the mutual respect and understanding between the engineer and the architect that lays the groundwork for a successful and interesting project like this one,” Andrew Martinez said.

The Lot Studios – Courtyard Building is a new, 98,000 square foot creative office building in West Hollywood, CA. Structural Focus worked with Studio One Eleven/Retail Design Collaborative and Tectonics Construction on the project, and the project is owned by CIM Group. It was envisioned as a six-story open floor plan building with one subterranean parking level and a unique twisted stacking aesthetic. A major challenge presented on the project was developing a complex sloping mat foundation system to resolve the waterproofing constructability (due to the high-water table), while minimizing the required excavation depth and remaining cost-effective.

Overall, the project showcased the benefits of close coordination and cooperation between the design and construction teams to deliver a project on budget and on time while meeting the developer’s vision. Expert engineering and time-saving options were implemented and resulted in the completion of a successful project.

For more information on the 2021 SEAOSC EiSE Awards and for a complete list of winners, click here.