With the entire Bay Area on a building spree, top construction firm C.W. Driver is enjoying the ride. We chatted with newly promoted VP of NorCal Andy Kirby, who tells us four reasons the future looks bright for the builder.
1. Mixed-Use Surge
Andy (second from right) says the company is working on a 43k SF mixed-use development project in downtown Mountain View from MPM Corporation Castro Street, which will include eight high-end townhome-style condos up to 2,200 SF, four floors of retail and office space, and two levels of subterranean parking when it wraps up in April. Quora is moving from across the street into 30k SF, subletting out its current digs. TIs will start in May and the office will debut in September.
2. Multifamily Demand
The team just inked a deal this week to start a $54M multifamily project in May, which will bring 154 units to the market, which seems to have endless demand (the Mountain View project is near the mixed-use on Castro). Andy says engaging with subcontractors early on is key, as the biggest problem in SV is not materials—it's labor driving up pricing for these types of projects. C.W. also has a 200-unit project in Milpitas finishing up in May.
3. Education Is King
About 40% to 50% of C.W. Driver's business these days is in education, and the team is gearing up to start four projects this year. That includes the $69M SFSU Student Recreation and Wellness Center. The 112k SF indoor activity facility, which will start in June, has been delayed because its location was switched around a couple of times. Now it's where Lake Merced intersects with the park. The company also is working on the Foothill-De Anza Community College District’s Educational Center: a 55k SF facility with classrooms, conference rooms, administrative offices and a food service area.
4. Retail Is On Fire
In Milpitas and Fremont he's expanding retail services, as a lot of the malls are doing remodels. C.W. just completed a three-story, 120k SF Bloomingdale’s in the Stanford Shopping Center. The 30-person firm's new two-story office in San Jose is 20% bigger than the last, and Andy has some moving advice: C.W. took advantage of the dark period between Christmas and New Year's Eve. Here's the team before the three-mile Muck Fest run last year.
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