SAN QUENTIN.

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VANIR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT INC. – SAN QUENTIN STATE PRISON

Vanir Construction Management Inc. will
complete its San Quentin State Prison
project at the end of 2009.

Mixing Old With the New

Vanir Construction Management is the construction manager for San Quentin state prison’s $146 million Central
Health Services Center. The company is incorporating modern architecture with the site’s historic location.

By Fernie Tiflis According to the California Department of Corrections and

C alifornia’s oldest correctional facility is getting a facelift

with the addition of the approximately 135,000-square-
foot Central Health Services Center (CHSC), scheduled
to be completed by the end of 2009 after two years of
construction. Vanir Construction Management Inc. serves as
Rehabilitation (CDCR), the CHSC project is being completed
for two primary reasons. These are:
■ “The federal courts have determined that inmates have

inadequate access to health, mental and dental care and

that an adequate mental facility is needed; and
the construction manager while Colorado-based Hensel ■ “To create a clinical environment where healthcare pro-

Phelps serves as the design/builder and general contrac- fessionals can provide improved medical care.”
tor. HOK Architects is the project’s architect. Subramanian recently spoke with Construction Today
The five-story health services building is being built right about CHSC’s unique factors, challenges and keys to its
in the middle of the historic San Quentin state prison. Once successful completion.
completed, it will house a 50-bed inpatient floor, along with Construction Today: What makes this project unique?
spaces for medical, mental and dental Mani Subramanian: The design is being done to blend
Vanir Construction
Management Inc. – San clinics. with the historic San Quentin, but the building is being
Quentin State Prison It will include a prison receiving and constructed in 2009, so there’s a good blend of modern and
www.vanir.com release function on the ground floor, and old architecture. The preservation of the historic façade is
Project value: $146 million
Location: San Quentin, Calif. the top level will house the medical integrated into the new building.
Scope: Health services center administration, according to Executive CT: How is design/build helping Vanir achieve the con-
Mani Subramanian, executive Vice President and principal-in-charge, struction time frame?
VP and principal-in-charge:
“We recognize that we are Mani Subramanian. The project is valued MS: With a more traditional process, we would have to
partners.” at $146 million. do the full set of documents. Everything has to be fully

222 ■ WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM ■ FEBRUARY 2009