Last month, the City of Millbrae was honored alongside partners Blach Construction (Blach), ELS Architecture and Urban Design (ELS) and Swinerton Management & Consulting (SMC) with three Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) awards for its Millbrae Recreation Center (MRC) project. Presented at the 2024 Design-Build Conference & Expo in Dallas, the project was initially bestowed the National Award of Merit in the Civic/Assembly category and went on to also receive the National Award of Excellence in the Civic/Assembly category and Best in Teaming at the ceremony.
“It is always an honor to be recognized for our work, particularly by an organization as prestigious as the DBIA,” said Blach President Dan Rogers. “Design-Build is a highly collaborative delivery method. The early team integration it allows ensures greater efficiencies and improved control over project budgets, schedules and quality. Our Millbrae Recreation Center project epitomizes the benefits of Design-Build, as these awards clearly attest.”
After the devastating loss of its original recreation center to arson in 2016, the City of Millbrae embarked on an ambitious journey to rebuild a central hub for the community. Construction of the new 24,000-square-foot MRC commenced and was completed during the global pandemic. Thanks to the nature of Design-Build delivery, it exceeded expectations with its cutting-edge sustainable design and enhanced community-focused amenities, while remaining on both budget and schedule.
“Delivering a Design-Build project with long-time partners Blach and SMC always produces a highly collaborative and successful outcome. Add a visionary client that includes the Millbrae City Council and City Manager, Tom Williams, and the results are this exciting, new multigenerational resource for the richly diverse and vibrant Millbrae community,” said ELS President Clarence D. Mamuyac, Jr., FAIA, LEED AP BD+C. “It was an honor to participate on such an important community endeavor.”
The long-awaited MRC is a flexible, vibrant two-story community resource that was delivered ahead of schedule during the global pandemic using an innovative, efficient structural hybrid of cross-laminated timber and steel. It features copious space for recreation/fitness, cultural and educational activities, senior events, a licensed pre-school with secure outdoor play area, and an expansive community room, called the Great Hall, complete with commercial grade kitchen, independent access and ample parking. It is bordered by a large terrace with outdoor seating, a fire pit and pathways that connect to Millbrae’s Central Park. With great emphasis on occupant wellness and reducing carbon footprint, the all-electric MRC is highly sustainable and designed to meet net-zero emissions standards.
“Our teams were welcomed and supported by the community of Millbrae throughout the course of this project. We were regularly greeted by neighbors gathered outside the fence line, holding handmade signs of welcome and thanks for building their new community center, remembers Linda Rizzoli, CCM, DBIA, LEED AP, senior project manager at SMC. “We took great pride in this project, knowing how much the community would welcome and enjoy their new MRC.”
An exemplary Design-Build project, the MRC project team adds these three national DBIA Awards to the 2023 Distinction Award presented by the Design Build Institute of America, Western Pacific Region.
“The Millbrae Recreation Center stands as a symbol of resilience and innovation,” said Mayor Anders Fung. “We are honored to receive these accolades, which reflect the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in bringing this project to life.”
About the City of Millbrae
Centrally located on the San Francisco Peninsula in San Mateo County, Millbrae has approximately 23,000 people and is the Transportation Hub of the Bay Area. Connected through San Francisco International Airport, BART, SamTrans, and Caltrain providing easy and direct access to the region as well as foreign and domestic destinations. The Millbrae Station Area has two approved transit-orient developments designed to include retail, office, hotel and market-rate and affordable residential housing to further compliment the area and provide additional housing, shopping, dining, and entertainment options. The strong pedestrian scale connections and vibrant sidewalk activity areas will make these mixed-use high-density developments a great place for residents, workers, visitors, and commuters to live, work, shop, and play.
About Design-Build Institute of America
The Design-Build Institute of America is the nation’s expert on design-build project delivery. Members –– including architects, engineers, Owners, contractors, manufacturers and more –– are shaping the future, one successful collaboration at a time by practicing Design-Build Done Right®.
Collaborative builders committed to quality, innovation and customer satisfaction since 1970.
