Sun, sand, and sea – all the makings for a perfect day at the beach.

But when Webcor's Project Accountant/Project Coordinator (PA/PC) group met at Sausalito beach on a Saturday morning, they were on a mission bigger than catching some rays.

Rather, the group partnered with local non-profit Save the Bay to help pick up trash at the Fort Baker Horseshoe Cove in Sausalito, CA. As climate change and pollution threaten the Bay Area, Save the Bay leads initiatives to make the region more sustainable for future generations.

With all social-distancing measures in place, Webcorians were eager to reconnect in-person after a year of remote work. For Project Coordinator Leslie Mejia, it was the first time she had met many of her teammates face-to-face.

"I was hired last summer during the pandemic. I haven't had many opportunities to meet others in-person, so it was a great way to meet some of my fellow Webcorians," she says.

Many brought along family members and friends to help out, including Project Coordinator Brittany Gilbert, who was joined by her partner and 2-year-old twins.

"The kids enjoyed putting on their gloves, using the trash grabbers, and seeing some of the interesting things that washed up on the shore," she recalls.

Together, the group spent hours picking up trash, collecting cigarette butts, plastic, Styrofoam, disposable masks, shoes and even a toilet brush. The sheer amount of waste collected was eye-opening for the volunteers.

"Living, working, and building in close proximity to the bay, I think it's important to understand how our everyday behaviors affect water resources and ocean life," notes Jan Yi, field administrative manager.

"It's shocking to think that you could come back the very next day and have just as much trash, if not more than what we collected that day," adds Staff Accountant Cynthia Zolezzi.

The team had a rewarding volunteer outing and was able to fulfill their Earth Day Planet pledge – all while reconnecting with one another. If you are interested in organizing a volunteer day in Northern California, make sure to check out alloneocean.org for family-friendly volunteer opportunities.

After all, every day should be Earth Day.

Between a pandemic, protests, and a continuously evolving building design – the team at Jardine has not had it easy.

But on April 7, they had every reason to celebrate. The project officially earned its temporary certificate for occupancy (TCO), marking the significant completion of the 250,000-square-foot residential building in the heart of Los Angeles.

Webcor has been fully involved with the project from the start, working closely with the project's developer Kilroy in the early planning and preconstruction stages. The urban village development, On Vine, includes a residential building, commercial buildings, restaurants and retail spaces. Ultimately, Webcor was awarded construction of Jardine – a luxury residential building that boasts a residential roof deck, door-to-door valet service, and a subterranean parking garage.

Rendering by Kilroy

The Power of Partnership

When Jardine broke ground in December 2018, the team was immersed in challenges surrounding design and cost.

"Kilroy has an in-house design team along with an out-of-state Architect (GBD Architects), so juggling their expectations with the on-the-ground reality proved to be a bit challenging," explains Project Director Ahmad Tahir.

Thankfully, Webcor had worked with Kilroy before on the Columbia Square project and was able to draw on past experiences and lessons learned.

The team's expert interpersonal skills also came in handy when coordinating with Hathaway Dinwiddie, the contractor responsible for the construction of the commercial portion of the development. Due to the close proximity of the projects, the teams were always in communication with each other to ensure their schedules were aligned. When COVID-19 struck and widespread protests impacted their central jobsite, having another general contractor to bounce things off of proved to be very helpful.

"Suddenly, there were a host of other safety regulations we had to abide by. We were able to exchange advice and best practices with Hathaway," notes Ahmad. "At the end of the day, both of our goals were to keep everyone safe and to keep the projects running."

Teamwork and Resilience

In spite of the challenges encountered along the way, the project team remained resilient.

"There were a lot of staff members who left Webcor or were transferred to other projects," recalls Sr. Project Manager Graciela Santillan. "It was challenging to learn the history of the project after they left, but we worked through it together as a team."

The project's success is a true testament to the power of One Webcor, with the team self-performing concrete and carpentry. Together, they provided a united front and consistently delivered high-quality work.

"Kilroy always commented they could never tell who was who," Ahmad laughs. "Everyone was eager to step up to the plate and do whatever it takes."

Looking Forward

When the project is fully handed over in May, the team leaves behind not only a new addition to the Los Angeles skyline, but a lasting impression with an important client.

"We certainly hope that we exceeded expectations with Kilroy. They have a very collaborative way of working, and we fit right into that culture," notes Ahmad. "It was an important project for a client we would love to work with again."

As COVID-19 cases surge across California, Webcorians partnered with Rebuilding Together Oakland | Eastbay to help some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Department Support Manager Diane Oliver, Sr. Executive Assistant Darlene O'Donnell, and Executive Assistant Jackie Myron helped deliver PPE goodie-bags filled with masks and hand sanitizers (generously donated by the Common Humanity Collective) to low-income seniors in Oakland.

Having worked on nearly 25 projects for Rebuilding Together during her 30-year tenure at Webcor, Darlene jumped at the opportunity to help out.

"My favorite part of the day was seeing the seniors' curious gazes turn into bright smiles and waves as they opened their doors to find the surprise packages," she said.

Throughout the day, the team travelled by foot and car to make the deliveries around the neighborhood.

"I was on a mission to deliver all the PPE supplies and get them all done before my shift ended," said Jackie. "It gave me a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction knowing these supplies would help keep the seniors safe!"

Together, the team successfully delivered over 200 bags throughout the course of the day!