Designing and Building a Healing Home?

Adapting an outdated building owned by Riverside County into an inviting, livable residential care facility proved no easy feat. The design-build collaboration between Swinerton and architect Gensler?completely updated the space on a tight, 11-month timeline, bringing the Riverside Franklin Residential Care Facility and Behavioral Health Clinic online to serve the county’s most vulnerable residents.

The 81-bed facility provides housing, care, assistance, supervision, and medication management to individuals who require structured support without the need for 24-hour nursing care. Patients can access short-term recuperative care and outpatient behavioral health services to regain stability and eventually transition toward independent living.

The project will give members “a home they love while in treatment,” says Rhyan Miller, the Deputy Director of Forensics and Substance Abuse Prevention at Riverside University Health System (RUHS) Behavioral Health.

Realizing the Client’s Vision

To bring the County of Riverside’s vision to life, a double-volume interior courtyard became the heart of Swinerton and Gensler’s design. This feature unites the first and second levels, bringing natural daylight deep into the space. Additionally, the project team installed windows in each room to add even more natural lighting. Strategically placed windows at the ends of the main pathways improve spatial orientation and circulation and make the space easier to navigate for the residents.

Given the age of the building, the structure required substantial upgrades to meet current seismic codes, fire and life safety standards, and the client’s desire for a secure and home-like facility. For example, the team reimagined a safer entry-exit system for the building and designated the quieter second floor for private living quarters. The two-person dorm style living spaces incorporate shared restrooms, shower areas, and small living rooms. Throughout the process, the team maintained a modular design approach, repurposing existing structural elements like the loading dock and adding therapeutic aesthetic enhancements like murals and color.

All active program areas are housed on the ground floor, including a living room, dining room, multipurpose room, clinic, several administrative offices, classrooms and even meditation rooms.

An “active circuit” flows through the facility, linking the interior common areas with the exterior community spaces. The circuit was built on trauma-informed design principles, which identify mobility and exercise as key to bolstering both mental and physical health. The outdoor spaces include a half-court basketball area, a community garden, and a walking path with a barbeque patio. These spaces and designs promote safety, agency, comfort, and connection among residents.

Efficient Collaboration for an Accelerated Project Schedule

What was originally scheduled to be a year-long project was accelerated to 11 months to meet the owner’s occupancy goals. This left only six months for active construction. From the final permitting in June 2024 to the turnover date in November, the design-build team worked tirelessly to execute a successful project and exceed expectations. Key elements for hitting the fast-paced timeline included self-performing the schedule-driving trades, consistent client involvement and engagement in design workshops, and facilitating close collaboration with all project partners.

In addition, deploying Swinerton’s own crews on this project improved coordination throughout the entire project lifecycle. Swinerton self-performed several scopes, including demolition and abatement, drywall, metal framing, cleanup, and concrete.

The project team had to overcome several coordination challenges, one of which was an active school bus yard that shared a common driveway with the project site. The design-build team established a truly collaborative relationship with the bus yard, communicating throughout the project to ensure construction activities continued in line with the project schedule without interrupting bus operations.

Swinerton, Gensler, and the owner held weekly design charrettes to maintain a design and estimate that aligned with the tight schedule. The team heavily leveraged modern virtual design and construction tools to collaborate on critical design items and ensure the project was delivered efficiently, on time, and within budget. The design build team used laser scanning technology to capture accurate as-built data, which was then converted into a Building Information Model.

This digital “twin” of the project provided an accurate representation of the environment that served as the foundation for real-time coordination, decision-making, and facility management. The team also used OpenSpace technology to capture 360-degree walkthroughs of the site, which could be easily accessed by all stakeholders.

The OpenSpace project model also benefits the client post-turnover, providing an accurate model for ongoing building maintenance post-construction, as it captures the status of installations and changes over time.

Dr. Matthew Chang, the Director of RUHS Behavioral Health, says that the design build team executed a “successful project that was beyond what the County could ever have imagined.” A testament to the team’s dedication and success, the project went on to win a 2025 National Award of Merit from the Design-Build Institute of America.

Reaching Riverside With Impact

Community impact is at the core of every Swinerton project, and the Riverside Franklin facility is no different. Since its opening this past February, the facility has provided a comprehensive range of housing and health support for populations recovering from substance abuse and facing behavioral health issues. Just as the old building had new life breathed into it via renovation, so too can the occupants begin afresh.

“Many who come here have faced significant challenges,” says Dr. Chang, “but Franklin offers them a fresh start. With the right support, people can heal, regain stability, and work toward a future filled with hope.”

A Strategic Partnership for Landmark Projects

As one of Southern California’s fastest growing communities, the City of Rialto has faced several challenges that come with expansion. One of the most pressing difficulties has been fitting the City’s expanded police force and staff into a police station built when the population was a quarter of what it is today. Therefore, when the City sought to modernize and expand the police station, it looked to partner with a team who could best meet its goals of expanding the station’s capacity, encompassing multiple functions, and doing so on a timeline that could meet needs now and for years to come.

The brand-new City of Rialto Police Station will completely replace the outdated 50-year-old facility thanks to the financing, development, and construction capabilities of partner Griffin Swinerton, which taps the development management strength of Griffin Structures combined with the premier construction expertise and capabilities of Swinerton Builders. During construction, the existing police facility will continue operating as normal and will be demolished after the new buildings are completed in mid-2026.

Streamlining Delivery for Civic Clients

The project is being delivered through a public-private partnership (P3) model, where public entity City of Rialto partners with private entity Griffin Swinerton to finance, construct, operate, and maintain a public facility. Working with Griffin Swinerton means that the City is less exposed to project risks such as design conflicts, cost overruns, or delayed schedules. The financing through sales of bonds also streamlines the project, as the capital is more readily available—enabling the project to be delivered faster than with other financing methods.

Architect partner LPA has also worked alongside Griffin Swinerton to design this facility. Rather than outsourcing each step of the process, this P3 project integrates all parties involved in a close partnership for development and construction.

Assistant Project Manager Jennifer Calderon explains that the P3 model “fosters a truly collaborative, one-team approach between Griffin, Swinerton, and LPA.”

The Swinerton Ecosystem is providing additional benefits to the client through the streamlined procurement of the project’s finishing touches. NBS, a national project partner of Swinerton focusing on complete furnish and install packages, will be procuring specialties for the City of Rialto’s new police facilities.

Accounting for the Future, Now

When the Rialto Police Department first opened in 1973, fewer than 50 police force employees served the city’s 30,000 residents. Now, with around 200 employees and over 100,000 residents, the older facility has been unable to accommodate the needs of a more robust public safety team. With limited lockers, no conference or meeting rooms, overcrowded dispatch centers, and a lack of training rooms, the station was due for an upgrade to not only meet logistical needs, but quality-of-life needs for the occupants.

The new facility incorporates features that prioritize community impact and efficiency. The main 50,800-square-foot building will include a 911 dispatch center, traffic and patrol centers, a center for investigations, records and IT departments, short-term holding facilities, and an Office of the Chief. In addition, a community space will be open to the public for hosting events. New headquarters will advance the police department’s operational needs, staff development, and community engagement by providing a modern space for the department to expand and interact with the community it serves.

The primary two-story station will also incorporate the latest features to improve occupant wellness and building longevity. For example, the composite structure uses tilt-up concrete panels supported by structural steel, which improves fire resistance while being durable, efficient, and cost-effective.

A secondary 11,400-square-foot support building will be used for additional functions like training and fitness spaces. The support building will house specialized training facilities for officers, including an eight-lane tactical firing range, bicycle patrol and storage, quartermaster, and animal control. Both buildings accommodate training and detention.

Delivering on Client Needs

In consideration of the city’s financial goals, Griffin Swinerton reviewed contract drawing revisions and provided constructability feedback on the most cost-effective solutions throughout the course of the project. The facility is also pursuing LEED Gold? certification with features such as enhanced energy management, water efficiency, and environmentally conscious building materials. Swinerton’s efforts to support certification for Rialto Police Station demonstrate the firm’s continued commitment to building a sustainable future for our communities.

The City of Rialto and the Swinerton building team maintained a highly collaborative and supportive relationship throughout the building process.

“Managing this job has been rewarding due to the constant love and support we’ve received from the police department and the Rialto community,” said Jennifer Calderon. In fact, “the team’s favorite memory was the topping out ceremony, where all the police officials and members of the community came to the site to share a special moment in Rialto history.”

By 2035, police staffing is projected to reach over 250 sworn officers and civilian staff. The Rialto Police Station site improvements will transform interactions between police divisions, improve recruitment, and accommodate future expansion.

“It has been the dream of the Rialto City Council to have a police station that represents the hard work of the dedicated men and women of the department and their service to the community,” said Ed Scott, Rialto City Councilmember. “This is something we’re all very proud of.”

Swinerton has promoted Brian McCarthy to Senior Vice President, where he will lead the firm’s strategic growth in California’s education, healthcare and parking structures markets.

In this role, McCarthy will oversee initiatives that strengthen collaboration across Swinerton’s national geographical operations, enhance client delivery, and support the company’s goal of becoming the preferred builder in these markets. His leadership will play a key role in advancing Swinerton’s long-term strategy for market diversification and sustainable growth.

With over 25 years of construction expertise, most of it with Swinerton, McCarthy has led projects from early conception to project completion. In his previous role as Vice President in Southern California, he established standards for performance and client experience, elevating project delivery, quality and client satisfaction.

“Brian has a proven ability to lead complex projects and diverse teams with integrity,” said Ray Haj, Swinerton COO. “His expertise with our clients’ unique priorities and needs ensures we will continue delivering outstanding results across California.”

ENR West

There are multiple strategies that have bolstered Concord, Calif.-based Swinerton’s regional performance over the last several years, helping its regional revenue climb nearly $1 billion year over year to reach $3.8 billion in 2024. Among them are maintaining a diverse project portfolio and offering specialized market expertise, which all combined to send the firm to the No. 1 spot on the annual Top Contractors list for the six-state West region.

The efforts and success have earned Swinerton ENR West Southern California Contractor of the Year honors.

“Construction is a lagging industry, so the jobs that we put in place in 2024 we would have won in 2022 or 2023. But really it’s been a strategy of diversity in markets,” says David Cramp, Swinerton’s director of SoCal education markets. “So when one market does slow down, we’re not trying to get into some new market, we’re already there, and we’re ready to capitalize on any markets that are expanding, such as the public works projects that are happening now.”

In recent years, the contractor has been focused on public works projects along the West Coast and building its corral of market experts in each geographic division to boost its presence in key sectors such as education, aviation and health care.

A focus on building and maintaining strong relationships has paid off as well, with about 75% of its work coming from repeat clients.

“Since interest rates were higher over the last couple of years, the private markets slowed down, so you’re not seeing as many high-rises, but the public market has picked up significantly,” Cramp says. “So, airports, libraries, civic projects and schools. There were a lot of bonds passed in California in the last November election—I think $40 billion just in California for K-12.”

With the 2028 Olympics fast approaching, many of the region’s airports are on the upgrade path, as are the state’s hospitals, which are racing to meet new earthquake requirements by mid-2026.

“Our teams have done a tremendous job of securing notable and fully funded projects in the aviation, education, health care, public, civic and interiors market sectors,” adds Lia Tatevosian, senior vice president and region manager for Southern California and Hawaii.

Some recent major Southern California completed projects include the County of Orange Civic Center, County Administration North, a 416,664-sq-ft, three-story project delivered under a P3 model, and the $225-million Compton High School, a 223,650-sq-ft campus that features a 36,000-sq-ft gym building and a 41,000-sq-ft performing arts center.

“I’m proud of all our wins, but especially excited about our intentional efforts to secure and deliver collaborative design-build projects such as San Diego State University Evolve Student Housing, Long Beach City College Liberal Arts Campus Student Housing and Chaffey College Library Learning Commons,” Tatevosian adds.

Among those projects wrapping up in 2025 were the Long Beach Airport Terminal Renovations and County of Riverside, Riverside Franklin Adult Residential Facility, on which Dr. Matthew Chang, director of Riverside University Health System-Behavioral Health, noted Swinerton’s commitment to fundamental design principles, flexibility and solutions-driven collaboration.

“The entire team operated with trust, transparency and exceptional communication, even when the county of Riverside requested to accelerate the timeline,” Chang recalls. “The team accommodated our needs and moved the project timeline up by one month, allowing us to meet our occupancy goals. For this, we are very grateful.”

Swinerton’s regional upswing has also coincided with its recent investments into mass timber, among other sustainable innovation initiatives such as electric vehicle programs, Tatevosian says. The firm is helping clients leverage mass timber to deliver projects faster and at a lower cost and environmental impact compared with traditional concrete and steel through its investment in full-service mass timber design, fabrication and construction affiliate Timberlab. That has allowed Swinerton to expand the supply chain for mass timber both regionally and nationally—and it’s continuing to expand those offerings.

The Orange County Sanitation District Headquarters, recently named Best Government/Public Building in ENR

West’s 2025 Best Projects contest, is the largest mass timber project Swinerton has completed in Southern California to date. This three-story, 109,000-sq-ft office building is designed to achieve both LEED Gold and net-zero energy certification.

Another differentiator is Swinerton’s self-perform workforce, which executes various trades from concrete to drywall, millwork, doors, frames, hardware specialties and demolition.

To keep these ranks full, the company regularly recruits from local community colleges to encourage young people to come into the trades as early as possible. The firm is also developing its workforce through the trades with a dedicated training program that is funneling foremen into management, Cramp says.

“We have a very large outreach program for interns too. In Southern California, we had 70 interns alone, which is great,” he adds. “Getting people to know Swinerton and getting us to know the internship population is really helpful. It’s very competitive, but that helps a lot.”

Cramp believes Swinerton’s biggest key to success is its 100% employee ownership.

“We’ve been like that for more than 30 years, and it really motivates people to take ownership in the company and in the work that they do, and so ultimately it comes down to people,” he says. “We’re a service organization, and there’s a lot that can be said [about that], but we have a great culture that values both our employees and our clients.”

Swinerton Builders (Swinerton) is proud to announce the completion of the new Compton High School, a $232-million, 31-acre campus that marks a historic milestone for the Compton Unified School District and the greater Los Angeles area. Completed in May 2025, the campus will welcome 1,800 students this upcoming school year. The project represents a transformational commitment to educational opportunities, community connection and future generations of Compton students.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was a lively celebration attended by district leaders, students, alums, community members and special guest Dr. Dre (Andre Romelle Young), who generously donated $10 million toward the new performing arts center. The new Andre “Dr. Dre” Young Performing Arts Center is one of many state-of-the-art facilities designed to empower students to explore their academic, artistic and athletic potential.

Swinerton served as the general contractor for the campus, which was designed by DLR Group and managed by Cumming Group.

“This project is more than just a school; it’s a symbol of transformation,” said Brian McCarthy, Senior Vice President and Region Manager at Swinerton. “We are honored to have helped bring this vision to life and to support a community that is investing in its future through education.”

The new Compton High School features:

• A 140,639-square-foot Academic Building
• A 40,868-square-foot Performing Arts Center
• A 36,534-square-foot Gymnasium
• A digital-first library with no physical books
• Expansive athletic facilities, a football stadium, baseball, softball, and soccer fields, tennis and basketball courts, and a half-sized Olympic swimming pool
• Covered outdoor spaces and California-native landscaping
• High-tech, collaborative learning environments designed to prepare students for college and careers

Construction began in 2019 with the demolition of the original 126-year-old campus. Since then, the site has been transformed into a modern educational hub, with nearly 200 workers on-site daily. The project was funded by Measure S, a bond measure passed by Compton voters in 2015 and is part of the district’s “Built by Compton” initiative, which prioritizes local hiring and small business participation.

ENR

ENR West is pleased to announce the winners for the 2025 Regional Best Projects competition in the Northern California and Southern California subregions!

After several weeks of hard work, an independent group of AEC experts reviewed 145 projects from across California, Nevada and Hawaii and selected 30 Best Projects and 36 Awards of Merit. The Northern California subregion includes northern Nevada and Hawaii while the Southern California subregion includes southern Nevada.

An Outstanding Collection of Achievements

Swinerton’s projects were highlighted among the best, securing awards in both the Best Healtchare and Best Renovation/Restoration categories. Here is a look at the honors we received:

Best Healthcare: UCSF Health Peninsula Outpatient Center, Burlingame, CA

Best Government/Public Building: Orange County Sanitation District Headquarters, Fountain Valley, CA

Best Interior/Tenant Improvement: A&J El Monte Training Facility Tenant Improvement, El Monte, CA

Best Office/Retail/Mixed-Use: 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego, CA

Best Renovation/Restoration: Hotel Del Coronado Victorian Building Renovation, Coronado, CA

UC Davis Veterinary Medicine

Susan has made the contributions with the intention of supporting many years of veterinary students. “I do not have children of my own,” she said. “This is my way of helping the next generations, to make a lasting contribution.”

Susan has always had cats in her life, including as a child growing up in Aberdeen, Scotland. Currently, she cares for three cats – a Siamese/Snowshoe mix named Maggie who was rescued from a dump in Tijuana, a long-haired tabby named Keisha who was rescued as a kitten from Northern California, and Gigi a Cymric who was found along a river in Tijuana with major injuries.

Susan has also contributed to the new?Janice K. Hobbs UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center,?outlining her intent to provide funds to build “cat condominiums” for the feline-only section of the new center. The center’s compassionate care extends to a special area where cats can be comfortable while they are waiting for treatments or appointments.

The center, which is under construction and set to open in 2026, is being designed by architects Safdie Rabines and built by Swinerton, a firm with offices across the country. Susan worked with Swinerton, in her years managing facilities for an investment firm in San Diego, and was happy to learn that they would be working on the center. She is excited for the opening, and for the center’s support of animals across Southern California.

Susan is hopeful that her philanthropy will inspire others. “I truly think if you love animals as much as I do, it should be something that is worth considering – our animals deserve it.”

California Construction News

The following projects were recognized in the top 10:

Orange County Sanitation District Headquarters?combines green building practices with community engagement, featuring a Net Zero Energy system powered by rooftop solar arrays and a unique system that captures excess hot water to supply 60% of the building’s energy. With expected LEED Gold certification and a focus on biophilic design, this headquarters sets a new standard for civic buildings in Southern California.

Labath Landing Development includes housing for 60 unhoused individuals. Opened ahead of schedule and just before winter, this development reflects the dedication of the Swinerton crew and their commitment to addressing California’s unhoused crisis through rapid, thoughtful construction.

Los Angeles Business Journal

A new $215 million tower has finally opened at one of oldest hospitals in Los Angeles – more than four years after the?original target date.

On Jan. 7,?Dignity Health?– California Hospital Medical Center in downtown opened a four-story, 140,000-square-foot tower that more than doubles the space for emergency facilities, greatly expands the hospital’s trauma center and features a new neonatal intensive care unit.

“The Grand Tower represents a significant investment in the health and well-being of our community,” said?Jill Welton, market president for Dignity Health Southern California.

“This thoughtfully designed facility significantly expands CHMC’s emergency, trauma, and maternal care services, providing families with advanced care close to home, addresses critical health care gaps, and reinforces our mission to improve health equity for the 85,000 residents and 500,000 workers of downtown Los Angeles,” Welton added.

New tower for old hospital

California Hospital Medical Center was founded in 1887, making it one of the oldest hospitals in Los Angeles County. In the ensuing decades, the hospital moved to its current downtown location in the South Park district just east of the Los Angeles Convention Center and grew to its current size of 318 beds. In 2004, Catholic Healthcare West acquired the hospital. Then, in 2012, Catholic Healthcare West changed its name to Dignity Health.

Soon after, Dignity Health executives saw that the main acute care tower that was built in 1964 was stretched beyond capacity and in need of an extensive retrofit to comply with state seismic safety standards.

Rather than work with that old tower, in March 2018, Dignity Health executives unveiled a $215 million makeover for the California Hospital Medical Center campus, with a $205 million new hospital tower as the centerpiece. The old tower was to be turned into an outpatient facility.

The project was initially slated for completion in 2020, with Scottsdale, Arizona-based?Devenney Group?as the design firm San Francisco-based?Swinerton Builders?as the construction contractor.

But then the pandemic intervened, and hospital staff had to pivot to respond. As the pandemic receded, the tower construction project faced supply chain issues, like most projects at that time.

As for funding for the $215 million project, Dignity Health provided $165 million, with the remaining $50 million coming from a fundraising campaign by the hospital.