Foothill High School Expansion Project

Located in the affluent neighborhood of Tustin, California, Foothill High School is home to a student body of approximately 2,500.  With projections indicating class size to increase, the Tustin Unified School District set in motion a complete expansion of the school’s Science Center.  Pierre Sprinkler & Landscape worked with Barnhart Balfour Beatty on the 26,000 square foot project.

Barnhart Balfour Beatty originally slated the project to be finished within an 18 month period, a tight deadline by any standards.  This gave Pierre Sprinkler & Landscape approximately 5 months to finish the landscaping scope.  However, since landscape is typically one of the last sub-trades on the job, the schedule was accelerated to 3 months due to unforeseen circumstances.  Time became even scarcer when the district changed part of the landscaping plans at the eleventh hour.  Pierre jumped right in to assist in developing a modified plan that would still keep the project on schedule for the 2009 fall opening.  According to Barnhart Balfour Beatty project manager, Jim Mullanix, Pierre “helped us work with the owner and architect on design changes.” 

Last minute changes from the Tustin Unified School District consisted of expanding planter sizes along the building’s edge as well as increasing the tree sizes. Pierre’s assistance helped validate the practical application of the changes the District requested.  After conferring with the landscape architect, Robert J. Clark Associates, changes were approved and the project moved forward.  Even with these alterations, “Pierre responded beautifully and there was never a problem.  They were very cooperative with requests by the client” according to landscape architect Robert Clark.

The landscaping scope required Pierre to mobilize two separate times: once for the parking lot and a second time for the landscape surrounding the Science Center.  In order to meet Barnhart Balfour Beatty’s tight deadline, Pierre’s man power ranged from 2-12 guys depending on the installation project.  According to Rigo Sanchez, Construction Manager for Pierre Sprinkler & Landscape, a large percentage of the project “required hand labor because of raised planters and walls.  This was a challenge on our schedule constraints because use of time-saving equipment was limited, but was a necessary protective measure for all the decorative and ornamental site scope”  This was particularly felt during the courtyard installation where space to mobilize large scale equipment was almost nonexistent. 

As part of an expansion project, Pierre crews had to repair existing irrigation done by other sub-trades.  Expansion projects also require the new irrigation be tied into existing zones and controllers.  This proved to be somewhat of a challenge due to the far off location of the controllers that were positioned along a slope across the street from the Science Center building.  Other expansion details included relocating existing palms.

In coordination with other sub-trades and to keep in line with the tight schedule, the Pierre crew started the first mobilization on the Science Center, beginning on the southwest corner and working counterclockwise around the building finishing inside the courtyard.  The parking lot and slope along the driveway was finished in the second mobilization.  Besides traditional hand labor, the crews utilized reach lifts, trenchers and mini excavators to install the landscape and irrigation.  In total, Pierre crews installed 25 irrigation zones with 20 heads per zone.  Hunter spray heads were used and a smart controller was installed to help conserve water usage while allowing for easy monitoring. 

The high profile nature and size of the job demanded a large quantity of plant material.  Pierre strategically unloaded, placed and planted thirty-three large palm trees throughout the landscape.  Of the palms on scope, 7 called for 30” box Parlor Palms- a tree that proved difficult to locate as they are traditionally indoor palms.  The other 26 were Queen Palms of varying sizes.  Many of the Queen Palms flanked the main entry way along the parking lot but the Parlor and remaining Queen Palms were hauled to the courtyard area where their dramatic height could play against the buildings’ sculptural detail.  However, delays were encountered when palms were rejected for failing Pierre’s internal quality control.  This proved to be well worth the wait as the landscape architect, Clark, commented that “all plant materials were delivered on time and was of excellent size.”

Another major design element was the 4,040 shrubs installed in the raised planters around the building, within the courtyard, and along the slope.  Seventeen different species in varying sizes were called for bringing color and texture to the project.  Lavender, Blue Nile, and Indian Hawthorn were the most common shrubs used.  Because of the lack of sun in the courtyard shade thriving plants, such as the Silver Evergreen, were planted.

Post installation, Pierre implemented a 90-day maintenance plan to ensure proper plant establishment.  Maintenance crews would visit on a weekly basis to test the irrigation to verify that water conservation was maximized.  They also trimmed necessary trees and plants as well as cleaned all landscaping.  After the 90-day maintenance period, no more than a couple plants were replaced.  In total, repairs to Pierre’s installation work represented less than 1% of the total job value.

Despite the challenges, the Foothill High School Science Center finished in a timely fashion to everyone’s relief.  Pierre’s experience working with local school districts was instrumental to the project’s completion.  The client, Barnhart Balfour Beatty, was thoroughly impressed with Pierre’s hands-on approach to the situation harping that Pierre “bent over backwards on this project.”  Even Robert Clark, the landscape architect, was “pleased with the personal attitude the Pierre crew took with the project.  When they do the work they take a personal interest in it.  That is very important to me.”  All in all, coordination with Barnhart Belfour Beatty, Robert J. Clark Associates, the District and the other sub-trades, such as concrete and graders, worked hand in hand with Pierre Sprinkler & Landscape to finish the job on time.  The project completed without any safety incidents despite the close proximity to current students- a testament to their safety standards.