C.W. Driver Companies recently completed the $58.5 million library renovation of the Davidson Library at University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). The project included the addition of a 62,000-square-foot, three-story building to the north of the library, which houses the Special Research Collections, a collection of rare artifacts and unique materials available for use by UCSB students, faculty and the scholarly community, in addition to various renovations throughout additional portions of the facility. The upgraded library is designed to enhance teaching, learning and research at UCSB and meet the needs of the campus' growing student body.

C.W. Driver Companies is a premier builder serving California since 1919. As a leader in general contracting and construction management services, C.W. Driver Companies are on the cutting edge across a broad spectrum of industries, including education, technology, and many other areas. The company has the ability to build a variety of projects, from large tenant improvements to small renovations and specialized projects through its affiliates: Driver SPG, Driver URBAN and Good & Roberts.

"C.W. Driver is proud to contribute to a campus that is putting student collaboration and research at the forefront," said Brett Curry, Vice President of Operations at C.W. Driver. "Our extensive experience with similar higher education projects allowed us to streamline the process and complete the project four months ahead of schedule."

C.W. Driver's scope of work included Fire and Life Safety upgrades, seismic retrofits and various renovations to bring the existing library up to code and add a range of collaboration spaces, a café and numerous open-air study areas. In addition, C.W. Driver completed the buildout of the three-story, museum-like Special Research Collections facility. Despite labor shortages throughout the duration of the project in the region, UCSB's Davidson Library was completed on-budget, four months ahead of schedule.

Creating Collaboration Space

The project team utilized a "big room" concept on-site, with a space large enough to accommodate approximately 40 people in a collaboration area. This effort was utilized to ensure all project team members and stakeholders were present and available to interact in the planning and decision-making process. Additionally, UCSB's Davidson Library was one of the first Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) projects - a delivery method where the construction manager is committed to delivering the project within a guaranteed maximum price - to be utilized within the University of California (UC) system.

C.W. Driver worked closely with the University and library staff throughout the entire project to lessen the impact of construction to students and staff. As such, the team worked night shifts and around the University's school schedule to minimize impact.

The new addition to the library is a cast-in-place structure that includes a range of faculty and student collaboration spaces. UCSB's Special Research Collections contains numerous priceless items including, a Gutenberg Bible and an original casting of President Lincoln's face. The special collections are housed in a concrete section of the building which has no windows and limited access points. Because of the historic contents, the entire space requires very tight humidity and temperature controls which are regulated by dedicated HVAC units and a large desiccant wheel dehumidifier. A cold room, designed to imitate a walk-in refrigerator, and a vault area were installed for the most sensitive and valuable items.

Increasing Energy Efficiency

UCSB's Davidson Library achieved LEED Gold certification and joins the approximately 24 LEED-certified buildings already at UCSB. To achieve this distinction, C.W. Driver incorporated a number of aspects into the project to optimize energy efficiency, improve indoor environmental quality and maximize the use and reuse of sustainable and local resources in order to enhance sustainability of the building.

For example, "chilled beams" were incorporated as a major part of the HVAC system to provide temperature control while reducing energy usage, 55 percent more efficient than standard. Indoor water fixtures (such as waterless urinals and low-flow toilets) use 38 percent less water than standard fixtures, 70 percent of the landscaping is irrigated with recycled water and 88 percent of construction waste was recycled.

C.W. Driver implemented an Erosion & Sedimentation Control (ESC) Plan and Whole Building Energy Simulation, meaning the project conformed to the local and more stringent standard codes and offset 15 percent of the total energy costs through renewable energy generated on the project site.  

Other features of the building include a grand glass-walled, three-story paseo consisting of structural steel frame with a combination of architectural concrete, plaster, glass and ornamental metal façade that was built to act as a gateway, connecting all parts of the library to the rest of campus.

"The UCSB library, from its beginning, was meant to be the physical and geographical center of UCSB," Head Librarian Denise Stephens said. "[It has] bright inspiring resource galleries which provide spaces to study and think, and a LEED certified building which addresses the environmental focus of our campus and of our time."

In addition to Curry, the C.W. Driver team also includes Sam Huleis, Senior Project Manager; Jeff Marshall, Project Manager, Megan Morrissey, Assistant Project Manager; Rich Sadowski, Senior Superintendent and Tom Zaczyk, Director of Project Planning. Pfeiffer Partners worked as the architect on the project.

UCSB's Davidson Library joins a number of C.W. Driver-built LEED certified education projects in the California State University (CSU) and UC systems, including the Alumni Center at UC Irvine, Student Health & Counseling Building at CSU San Marcos, Valley Performing Arts Center at CSU Northridge and the student recreation centers at Cal Poly Pomona, CSU Fullerton, CSU Northridge, CSU Long Beach and UC Riverside.