Sony: Teams That Play Together Stay Together
by DPR Construction, Inc.
From cutting-edge sound control and motion capture studios to loft-style offices to spacious conference rooms, DPR puts finishing touches on projects for Sony Computer Entertainment America. Some say work and play don't mix. But in the case of DPR's Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. teams, work equals play — especially after several years on the job building and renovating offices, studios and conference centers up and down the state for the innovative PlayStation creator.
DPR - San Francisco — Wrapping up Phase 22, DPR's San Francisco office has played a leading role in the 25-plus-member team responsible for the ongoing renovation spread throughout the 3 floors in each of the 4-story buildings and 3 floors in the Metro Tower in Foster City, CA. The team, which includes owner representatives, DES Architects, electric and cabling subcontractors, building security, and property management, has met on a weekly basis throughout the course of the project to discuss schedules, address potential issues and plan for next steps.
"We've put together a really great construction group," said Christine Ramacciotti, Director of Facilities for Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Everyone brings a ton to the table in terms of training and professionalism — working together to get the job done. It's amazing to see the progress we've made and how much we've grown over the last several years." Sony Computer Entertainment America's Metro Tower offices have expanded from 18,000 sq. ft. to 150,000 sq. ft. since construction commenced nearly five years ago, said Ramacciotti.
The various project phases include the addition of 14,500 sq. ft. of offices and conference rooms for the marketing division, a 4,000-sq.-ft. remodel for the legal department, and a new 3,000-sq.-ft. conference center fully equipped with a moveable wall and state-of-the-art audio/visual systems.Architectural highlights consist of wall cut outs, custom patterned carpets, a fiberglass wall in the main conference room and unique speckled rubber-mat column covers throughout the space, as well as a framed art wall featuring drawings from children who participate in Sony Computer Entertainment America's annual "Kid's Day."
"We like to push the envelope. Our mindset of continuously wanting something different often causes us to run into challenges, especially with mechanical and electrical systems," said Ramacciotti. "For example, when we decided to rip out the ceiling of some of the offices, it exposed wiring that needed to be incorporated into the overall design. Luckily, we have an incredible team. We just tell them what we want and they tell us what we need to do to get what we want - making our job painless."
DPR - San Diego — The strength of the relationship built by DPR and Sony Computer Entertainment America in Foster City extended to Southern California. DPR's San Diego office was asked to provide services for two projects for the PlayStation Groups in San Diego and Santa Monica.The first project featured 9,000 sq. ft. of sound control and motion capture studios, located in the PlayStation Group's San Diego Tech Center facility. These state-of-the-art, soundproof rooms are designed to capture and record the sounds and movements of people, including professional athletes, that are then downloaded into a computer and used for the development of PlayStation interactive games.
Requiring noise control levels well below industry standards (normal noise level is 45 decibels; whereas, Sony Computer Entertainment America rooms required below 15), the studios include layers of sound control walls, fiberglass ceilings and fabric interiors to absorb sound. DPR worked closely with mechanical and electrical engineers, as well as acoustic consultants to test and validate each room.
Shortly following the completion of the studio project, Sony Computer Entertainment America approached DPR's San Diego office to build one of Sony Computer Entertainment America's most difficult projects — 19,000 sq. ft. of loft-style offices for 989 Studios, a division of Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc., in Santa Monica. "Right from the start, the project presented challenges," said Ramacciotti. "City permits pushed us back three weeks, but we still needed to complete the project on schedule. The San Diego team stepped up and worked with whomever they needed to in order to meet the deadline. And, they did it not only with a cool and level head, while we were frantic, but on budget as well."
Completing the project in 10 weeks, DPR, along with Los Angeles architectural firm Pizzulli & Associates, transformed the former retrofitted warehouse into custom, loft-style offices with 26-ft.-high ceilings that now house new artists and designers. According to DPR Project Manager Ken Worthen, DPR self-performed a majority of the work, including concrete, drywall, framing, doors and cabinet work, to ensure a smooth quality finish. Ramacciotti added, "DPR has great superintendents and employees who are willing to go the extra mile. Some have even been a part of the Sony Computer Entertainment America team for the full four years of our ongoing relationship, which can be rare in the construction industry. We've now worked with two different DPR teams in three different cities and received the same end result - a great build out."
