The structural design of Grossmont College Performing and Visual Arts Complex will go on to be considered in the Structural Engineers Association of California’s state-wide awards this fall.
For the fourth year running, LPA structural engineers won the Structural Engineering Excellence (SEE) award from the Structural Engineers Association of San Diego (SEAOSD). The award-winning project, Grossmont College’s Performing and Visual Arts Complex, will now compete at the state level for a Structural Engineers Association of California SEE award.
LPA’s design for the $36 million, 38,680-square-foot facility blends performance and educational functions in a flexible complex that creates a new “front door” for Grossmont College. With one of the largest stages in the county and an array of rehearsal studios and an art gallery, the state-of-the-art complex is a new link between the school’s growing arts program and the East San Diego County community.
The complex was designed through LPA’s integrated process, with architects and engineers working together from the start.
LPA Wins Award of Excellence from Structural Engineers Association of San Diego for Fourth Year in a Row
The LPA team accepts the award.
“Through meticulous coordination and inventive detailing of complex systems, the structural engineering team has not only ensured safety and functionality but also elevated the facility as a welcoming beacon for the broader East County community,” wrote the SEAOSD jurors.
The complex’s large, transparent lobby, performance spaces and iconic soaring roof form created a variety of challenges. Working in LPA’s integrated design process, structural engineers worked closely with California’s Division of State Architects to develop a safe and efficient system to address seismic codes and meet the college’s programming requirements.
“Grossmont PVAC is an example of the best kind of structural engineering excellence because every element was done to advance the college’s primary mission to service the surrounding community’s diverse population,” says LPA Director of Structural Engineering Bryan Seamer.
The theater rigging in the Grossmont College Performing and Visual Arts Complex.
The integrated design team prioritized sustainability and functionality on the project, with a roof designed to collect and distribute rainwater, and sunshades protect the interiors of the building by diffusing sunlight. The stage is scaffolded by catwalks, grids, and stage-expansion capabilities, allowing students to learn the technical aspects of production. Adjustable stage curtains and other technical elements allow it to accommodate wide-ranging acoustical needs.
“The Grossmont PVAC is a great example of structural engineers working within an integrated design process to achieve results,” said LPA Managing Director Harshda Prasad, who also serves as president of the SEAOSD. “Engineers went to great lengths to marry educational goals with the requirements of a state-of-the-art performance space.”
Other LPA projects that received Excellence Awards from SEAOSD include York Hall at University of California, San Diego, Palomar College Learning Resource Center and 9625 Towne Center Drive.
