COSTA MESA, CA—Sundt Construction, Inc. recently completed construction of the new Interdisciplinary Complex at Coast Community College District's Orange Coast College.

The $38 million project provides students and staff with a 200-station open computer lab, 11 mixed-use computer teaching labs, lecture classrooms for the business and math departments, administrative offices, meeting rooms, a workroom, lounge and study areas.

Totaling 78,000 square feet, the three-story facility designed by LPA Architects features an intricate exterior skin comprising architectural concrete, exposed structural steel, plaster, metal panels, and curtain wall. To successfully integrate the various skin materials, Sundt's team required many of the prime contractors to use Building Information Modeling (BIM) to coordinate their work.

“We required the framers, steel contractors and glazers to provide BIM models. It was a requirement that was written into their contracts,” said Sundt project manager Conrad Benitez. “Having this range of trade contractors provide BIM is pretty innovative. Usually it's just the MEP trades who do it, but we continue to engage the other trades as they become more sophisticated in the use of modeling technology. In the end, our efforts paid off; the quality of workmanship is fantastic.”

Sundt's work on Orange Coast College further strengthens the Arizona contractor's presence in Southern California as a leader in constructing education facilities. Other notable Sundt community college construction projects include the Student Services Center at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, Ohlone Community College Academic Core in Fremont and San Diego CCD Miramar College Library/Learning Resource Center in San Diego.