WHB Engineers has broad experience with designing and supporting biotech.  Recently, WHB has been serving as the civil design consultant for Healthpeak’s new Vantage life sciences campus in South San Francisco.

Over the past 20 plus years Wilsey Ham has worked closely with PMA, Healthpeak’s trusted local project management advisor, on projects throughout the Peninsula. Vantage is Healthpeak and PMA’s latest biotech project, and it is strikingly gorgeous. Phase 1 features two aggressive research & development buildings that can best be described as ships passing in the night, along with an amenity building, landscaped programmable areas, and surface parking.

Wilsey Ham prepared the grading design for a series of tricky landscape elements, including land bridges over terraced bioretention moats, raised decks, sports fields, and planted berms. We designed a large underground stormwater hydromodification tank that will slow runoff from the site with consideration to sensitive local habitats.

WHB prepared designs for the site water and sewer utilities, parking layout, hardscape grading, and bioretention treatment facilities. As part of the overall Phase 1 effort we also managed the plan preparation for the offsite improvements that include new median turn pockets, lighting, landscaping, and retaining walls for the Rule 20 undergrounded utilities.

Phase 1 construction is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2024. Phases 2 and 3 were recently entitled, adding 1.3 million square feet pf lab space to the campus. WHB is currently preparing designs for Phase 2.”

Services: Construction Management, Project and Program Managememt

WHB Engineers has extensive experience providing Construction Engineering Support.  We routinely are engaged by local agencies to assist in value engineering, bid support, construction submittals, construction staking, contract administration, construction claims and disputes, and project closeouts. 

One example occurred at the 18 acre subdivision in Los Altos Hills, CA.  We worked closely with the developer to assist with contractor selection and contract preparation.  We managed coordination between the Owner, Contractor, and local agency stakeholders (including environmental agencies when a sensitive bird habitat was discovered on site at the onset of construction). 

Prior to construction, WHB reviewed the Contractor’s submittals and shop drawings for conformance with the plans and specifications.  The site and design constraints were incredibly unique and required a custom storm drain hydromodification structure, bioretention facilities, and an equestrian bridge.  These items required detailed shop drawing review.

During construction, we provided field inspection and prepared minor design changes as needed.  We reviewed and responded to Request for Information and assisted the Owner with responses to Contractor’s change orders. 

WHB maintained communications between the Owner, Contractor and Town staff during the two and a half years of construction and represented the Owner at many local agency meetings when the Owner was abroad.  Our responsibilities also included assistance with Tentative Map extensions, Final Map approval, and review of payment requests.

Services: Environmental & Permitting

WHB’s operating company to support Verizon’s general permit compliance. 

WHB supported Verizon in getting City of San Diego and State of California environmental permitting for 14 miles of customer-owned fiber conduit undergrounding in San Diego.

Permit Required Documents (PRDs) were prepared by a WHB Qualified SWPPP Developer and uploaded to the SMARTS database in collaboration with site owners.

The project has since obtained a State of California CGP for the LUP Type-1 project.

Each construction crew was trained by a WHB QSP to implement stormwater BMPs on their sites.

To date, WHB personnel have performed over 40 inspections and prepared and submitted two permit amendments. 

All PRDs are reviewed by the local municipality and the regional water quality control board for approval and permitting. 

WHB also provides ongoing SMARTS database management and quality control to support to Verizon Communication Inc. for this program.