Projects by Category

The engineers at Schneider & Associates apply their depth of experience to a wide range of projects including numerous earth-friendly LEED-certified structures, industrial clean rooms, hotels, high rises, hospitals, fire and police stations, military facilities, schools and historic restorations. Our cost-effective design solutions incorporate new technologies to meet our clients’ needs and budgets.

Here are highlights of some of our recent projects. If you would more information about our expertise in a specific project category, please contact Ron Schneider at 520 512-8183 or .

Apartments / Condos

E Street Commons

Anchorage, Alaska Architect: Dean Architects The strong architectural character of E Street Commons required an innovative seismic load-resisting system. The three-story seven-unit structure with lower-level parking features curved column-free decks, an exterior glass elevator tower and angled exterior load-bearing walls. < view image >

Discovery Park Condominiums – Anchorage, Alaska

Architect: Dean Architects
2007 Golden Hammer Award, Anchorage Home Builders Association

$20 million complex includes three 30-unit buildings and one 26-unit building. All are three stories, with full basement parking garages and first-floor structural steel framing. Wood-framed upper floors allowed prefabrication and rapid construction.

INDIGOmodern Architecture Community – Tucson, Arizona

Architect: Rob Paulus Architect

2008 Merit Build Award, Western Mountain Region, American Institute of Architects
Earth-friendly urban reclamation project includes 22 loft-style residences. The units are highly insulated and skinned with durable materials, pre-wired for photo-voltaic power and pre-plumbed for solar water heat.

Indigo Pointe Apartment Homes – Phoenix, Arizona

Architect: L.R. Niemiec Architects

72-unit affordably priced apartment complex includes a 12-unit design repeated six times, plus a 2,000-square-foot single-story clubhouse, wood framed with post-tensioned slabs.

The Stylish Scottsdale Townhomes – Scottsdale, Arizona

Architect: L.R. Niemiec Archtects

12,250-square-foot urban residential wood-framed five-plex includes four three-story units and one two-story unit, each with a two-car garage.

Education

Northern Arizona University Applied Research & Development

Flagstaff, Arizona Architect: Burns Wald-Hopkins Shambach LEED Platinum, U.S. Green Building Council 2009 International Award, the Royal Institute of British Architects 2008 Design Award, Education / Health Care, Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute This project is ranked in the top one percent of all green buildings in the United States. Three-story $19 million 70,000-square-foot facility incorporates numerous earth-friendly design innovations, including fly ash in the concrete mix, which reduced the carbon footprint of the structure by 40 percent. < view project profile >

Miramar Community College Fieldhouse – San Diego, California

Architect: Carrier Johnson

$20 million 57,680-square-foot structure with a two-story component including gymnasium with rigid steel moment frames and offices with cold-formed steel framing.

Federal / Military

Elmendorf Air Force Base Fitness Center Addition

Elmendorf AFB, Alaska Architect: McCool Carlson Green 2007 Pacific Air Force Design Award The design of the Fitness Center Addition at Elmendorf Air Force Base suggests elements of flight in the angled roofline and entry canopy. This $17 million 52,000 square-foot two-story structure features entry canopy, angled roof line, super-elevated turns of running track and exposed structural elements. Seismic separation from adjacent structure was required. < view image >

Fire Stations

Northwest Fire District Station 33

Tucson, Arizona Architect: WSM Architects Designed to meet LEED specifications, this fire station is a striking example of collaboration and innovation. Architects, the fire district, engineers and neighbors were engaged in the design process. Autoclaved aerated concrete walls insulate and sound proof the living quarters, interfacing with traditional CMU for apparatus bays. < view project profile >

Rincon Fire District Station 22 – Tucson, Arizona

Architect: WSM Architects
LEED Gold Certification, U.S. Green Building Council

$2.3 million 15,335-square-foot fire station and battalion headquarters achieved all 10 LEED Optimize Energy Performance credits. Facility includes 12-bed dormitory, living, dining and fitness areas, two offices and eight drive-through apparatus bays. 76 percent of construction waste was diverted from the landfill.

Rincon Valley Fire District Station 2 – Vail, Arizona

Architect: David E. Shambach Architect

$4 million 16,230-square-foot one-story fire station designed to meet LEED Silver requirements. Structural systems include SIP panel roof, wood trusses, steel joists at apparatus bays, ICR and masonry walls and conventional foundations.

Tucson Fire Department Fire Central – Tucson Arizona

Architect: WSM Architects

$28 million 140,153-square-foot project designed with two stories above ground, two parking levels below. Challenges include a long narrow site with dedicated green space, large underground sewage main and soft alluvial sand requiring slipform caissons and drilled piers to support the structure.

Hospitals / Medical

St. Elias Specialty Hospital

Anchorage, Alaska Architect: Kumin Associates This $19 million 67,300-square-foot structure accommodates architectural function and conceals the seismic load-resisting bracing system. A 3-D computer model for engineering analysis provided steel weights for several framing options for this long-term acute-care hospital. < view image >

Southwest Ambulatory Care Center – Komatke, Arizona

Architect: Johnson Smitthipong & Rosamond Associates

$1.2 million 75,000-square-foot outpatient health center for Gila River Indian Community included primary care, vision and dental services, diagnostic imaging, laboratory, pharmacy, physical therapy and support services.

Hotels / Resorts

Holiday Inn Phoenix

Phoenix, Arizona Architect: GKI Architects When construction costs soared, Schneider & Associates re-engineered the five-story 78,852-square-foot Holiday Inn Phoenix, combining cast-in-place concrete first floor with wood-frame and masonry upper floors. This innovation cut millions from the formerly over-budget project. < view project profile >

Miraval Life in Balance – Tucson, Arizona

Architect: Mithun

Expansion of adobe and rammed-earth health resort included renovation and additions to signature spa, fitness center and admin/support building, plus new wellness, yoga and meditation buildings, guest rooms and other lodging.

Industrial / Cleanroom

Ventana Medical Systems

Oro Valley, Arizona Original Architect: HDR Architecture Expansion Architect: Advantech Facility Design 2003 Tilt-Up Achievement Award, Best in Class, Industrial/Manufacturing, Tilt-Up Concrete Association This project combined cutting-edge design, including 15-degree tilt walls, with quick and economic construction. The largest panel weighed 134,000 pounds. This 182,400-square-foot biotech corporate headquarters includes research labs, manufacturing and warehouse space. The shell was completed in just 90 days. Expansion added three buildings totaling 116,000 square feet – two featuring concrete-tilt-panel walls and wood-framed roofs, one with concrete-over-steel deck floor mezzanine. Optical-steel-framed covered walkway connects all buildings with elevator tower at each end. < view image >

ANEWCO – Tucson, Arizona

Architect: Paragon Architects

$6 million 91,800-square-foot manufacturing facility features hybrid panelized roof framing, steel-braced frames, tilt-up concrete walls and steel deck floor.

LEED / Sustainable

Northern Arizona University Applied Research & Development

Flagstaff, Arizona Architect: Burns Wald-Hopkins Shambach LEED Platinum, U.S. Green Building Council 2009 International Award, the Royal Institute of British Architects 2008 Design Award, Education / Health Care, Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute This project is ranked in the top one percent of all green buildings in the United States. Three-story $19 million 70,000-square-foot facility incorporates numerous earth-friendly design innovations, including fly ash in the concrete mix, which reduced the carbon footprint of the structure by 40 percent. < view project profile >

Alaska Railroad Freight Shed – Anchorage, Alaska

Architect: ECI/Hyer Architects

1940s heavy-timber freight shed transforms from warehouse to office use, following National Park Service preservation guidelines and meeting LEED standards. Modern engineering and old-school carpentry retain timber-and-truss character while adding thermal insulation and other energy efficiencies. < view project profile >

Martha Cooper Branch Library and Learning Center – Tucson, Arizona

Architect: Burns Wald-Hopkins Shambach

$1.2 million innovative prototype is a neighborhood-centered child-focused facility. The 7,700-square-foot structure features exposed steel and natural daylight, energy-efficient heating and cooling and other “green” strategies.

MLK Depot Plaza, Tower, Garage – Tucson, Arizona

Architect: Nelsen Partners

$20 million City of Tucson downtown revitalization project includes a seven-story tower with 100 residential units, grade-level retail space and below-grade garage. Designed for LEED certification, project totals 186,320 square feet. < view image >

Northwest Fire District Station 33 – Tucson, Arizona

Architect: WSM Architects

Designed to meet LEED specifications, this is one of the first buildings in Tucson to use autoclaved aerated concrete walls, soundproofing and insulating the 13-bedroom residential section. This technology was integrated with conventional CMU for the four-bay apparatus area. < view project profile >

Pima County Wireless Integrated Network – Tucson, Arizona

Architect: Durrant and SmithGroup

$12 million project entailed renovating and upgrading a 50,000-square-foot former bank headquarters into a LEED-qualified emergency communications center.

Rincon Fire District Station 22 – Tucson, Arizona

Architect: WSM Architects
LEED Gold Certification, U.S. Green Building Council

$2.3 million 15,335-square-foot fire station and battalion headquarters achieved all 10 LEED Optimize Energy Performance credits. Facility includes 12-bed dormitory, living, dining and fitness areas, two offices and eight drive-through apparatus bays. 76 percent of construction waste was diverted from the landfill.

Rincon Valley Fire District Station 2 – Vail, Arizona

Architect: David E. Shambach Architect

$4 million 16,230-square-foot one-story fire station designed to meet LEED Silver requirements. Structural systems include SIP panel roof, wood trusses, steel joists at apparatus bays, ICR and masonry walls and conventional foundations.

Mixed Use

MLK Depot Plaza, Tower, Garage

Tucson, Arizona Architect: Nelsen Partners This $20 million “green” urban revitalization project for the City of Tucson includes a six-story tower with 100 residential units, grade-level commercial space and courtyard, plus a two-level below-grade garage – all engineered to meet LEED specificiations. < view image >

One North Fifth – Tucson Arizona

Architect: Rob Paulus Architect

1969 building once slated for demolition was renovated and modernized. Innovative urban renewal project includes 9,000 square feet of retail and commercial space at street level plus 57,000 square feet of apartments with energy efficiencies and sustainable amenities.

Municipal / Justice

Clark County Detention Center

Las Vegas, Nevada Architect: Durrant The $81 million Clark County Detention Center includes three buildings totaling 251,000 square feet. Use of pre-cast concrete reduced cost and expedited timeline. A detailed 3-D model of the project used the latest BIM technology. < view image >

Anchorage Airport Operations Center – Anchorage, Alaska

Architect: ECI/Heyer

First facility in Anchorage designed with buckling-restrained braced-frame technology to withstand massive earthquake and continue to function as an emergency operations center for airport, fire and police.

Coolidge Transit Facility – Coolidge, Arizona

Architect: Associated Architects

Cantilevered masonry, steel columns and drag struts were combined to meet lateral load requirements and achieve desired look for this 4,200-square-foot structure with a curved sloped roof.

Martha Cooper Branch Library and Learning Center – Tucson, Arizona

Architect: Burns Wald-Hopkins Shambach

$1.2 million innovative prototype is a neighborhood-centered child-focused facility. The 7,700-square-foot structure features exposed steel and natural daylight, energy-efficient heating and cooling and other “green” strategies.

MLK Depot Plaza, Tower, Garage – Tucson, Arizona

Architect: Nelsen Partners

$20 million City of Tucson downtown revitalization project includes a seven-story tower with 100 residential units, grade-level retail space and below-grade garage. Designed for LEED certification, project totals 186,320 square feet. < view image >

Pima County Wireless Integrated Network – Tucson, Arizona

Architect: Durrant and SmithGroup

$12 million project entailed renovating and upgrading 50,000-square-foot former bank headquarters into a LEED-qualified emergency communications center.

Westside Police Station – Tucson, Arizona

Architect: WSM Architects

Steel-column steel-framed renovation to convert 128,268-square-foot former K-Mart into urban police station. Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) strengthened roof purlins and beams. < view image >

Office Buildings

Phoenix San Man

Phoenix Arizona Architect: Associated Architects Two-story 9,702-square-foot corporate headquarters and warehouse includes varying roof elevations, large circular portico and curving walls. Cost-effective combination of steel, wood and masonry achieved the architect’s desired aesthetics within budget. < view image >

La Frontera Center – Tucson, Arizona

Architect: Albanese-Brooks Associates

Cantilevered two-story 16,500-square-foot behavioral health center office has concrete masonry walls, steel with concrete deck floor and wood-framed roof.

Million Air – Tucson, Arizona

Architect: Seaver Franks Archtiects

Two-story 19,800-square-foot office building incorporates pre-engineered metal building framing with conventional steel-framed architectural feature framing. Adjacent 20,000-square-foot hanger clear spans 98 feet.

MISYS – Tucson, Arizona

Architect: SBBL Architects

$11 million four-story 120,000-square-foot shell building includes elevated 168-vehicle pre-cast concrete parking structure. Steel-framed building with radiused walls and parapets was designed for economical and flexible tenant buildouts.

Religious Facilities

St. Andrews Presbyterian Church

Tucson, Arizona Architect: Gresham and Beach Architects St. Andrews Presbyterian Church is a 29,000-square-foot two-story sanctuary and education building with exceptional acoustics. The steel-framed structure incorporates wood-timber columns and supports as well as large expanses of glass that provide abundant natural light. < view image >

Retail / Restaurants

North Restaurant

Tucson, Arizona Architect: Seaver Franks Architects Structural design is an integral part of dining at the 5,000-square-foot North Restaurant – with its curved façade, soaring exposed-steel ceiling and broad expanse of uninterrupted glass to achieve sweeping city views. The structure incorporates multiple cantilevers and exposed natural materials. Light-gauge metal framing for the vertical support system created a column-free dining room while keeping costs down. < view image >

Anthem Ranch Recreation Center – Broomfield, Colorado

Architect: Carrier Johnson

$5 million project required ribbed and reinforced post-tensioned mat foundation system. Center includes two-story 30,750-square-foot recreation building and single-story 1,372-square-foot pool facility.

Bridge Restaurant – Anchorage, Alaska

Architect: Dean Architects

$3 million single-story wood-framed structure spans Ship Creek and retains character of original bridge. Structural system and architecture are interwoven. < view image >

Clean Freak Car Wash – Phoenix, Arizona

$1 million free-standing 5,760-square-foot automatic car wash with canopy sail instead of a roof. A series of trusses and X-braces created the roof diaphragm. Steel tube frames were redesigned to be manufactured locally, saving time and expense. < view image >

Hilton Head Theater – Hilton Head, South Carolina

Architect: BMG

$3.8 million one-story 15,500-square-foot theater features steel joist roof, steel frame with concentric braced frames and cold-formed steel curtain walls.

Retrofit / Restoration

McKinley Tower

Anchorage, Alaska Architect: Faulkenberry Architects 2006 Award of Excellence, International Concrete Repair Institute Schneider & Associates value-engineered the seismic retrofit of the 14-story McKinley Tower, damaged in the largest recorded earthquake in North America. Ultra-thin polymers that can attain twice the strength of steel were introduced as an affordable alternative to obtrusive concrete shear walls. This economical alternative also preserved the historic profile of a downtown landmark. < view project profile >

Alaska Railroad Freight Shed – Anchorage, Alaska

Architect: ECI/Hyer

1940s heavy-timber freight shed transforms from warehouse to office use, following National Park Service preservation guidelines and meeting LEED standards. Modern engineering and old-school carpentry retain timber-and-truss character while adding thermal insulation and other energy efficiencies. < view project profile >

One North Fifth – Tucson Arizona

Architect: Rob Paulus Architect

Renovate and modernize a 1969 building once slated for demolition. Innovative urban renewal project includes 9,000 square feet of retail and commercial space at street level plus 57,000 square feet of apartments with energy efficiencies and sustainable amenities.