March Chapter Meeting – Tour of West Valley College Learning Resource Center

*In an effort to continue to provide quality, well planned programs, we are implementing a $15 registration fee for members who register after Friday at 5pm, the week before a program. We encourage you to take the time to view your calendar in advance and register by the Friday deadline to avoid the late registration fee. Registration for non-members is $25.

If you have registered but are no longer able to attend, please email us at [email protected]  so that we can update our registration list. This will help us maintain an accurate number of attendees for our planning process. Thank you!

March Chapter Meeting and Tour of West Valley Learning Resource Center!

PPE is required, please bring your own if available.  A limited number of extras will be available on site.

This project is a renovation of the West Valley’s Learning Resource Center (LRC) originally constructed in 1972. The LRC is comprised of 59,134 square feet and supports various programs and services, including the Library collections, Digital Media Center, TV/Recording Studio, Writing Center, Tutorial/Assessment Center, multiple technology rich collaborations spaces, a Makerspace, gaming studios, and librarian services / offices.

Panelists:

Lee Salin, FAIA

Lee Salin, FAIA, is ABA’s Managing Principal and the firm’s Educational Practice Lead. Throughout a career spanning over 30 years, he has worked with dozens of clients at all educational grade levels, both public and private, including West Valley-Mission Community College District, CSU East Bay, Ohlone College, and multiple K12 districts. His inclusive approach to leadership has earned him a reputation for truly collaborative team partnerships in which design thinking is balanced by a methodical approach to understanding the fundamental purpose and needs of clients and their user groups. In addition to serving as President of AIA California and AIA Silicon Valley, he was elevated to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows in recognition of his efforts to advance the architectural profession by advocating on behalf of strategic initiatives, building effective coalitions, and enhancing the public’s understanding of architecture.

Jason Hull, AIA

Jason Hull is an Associate Principal and project director with over 25 years of experience working with community and education clients. As a design advocate, he firmly believes that creativity and imagination are possible at any budget level and that everyone deserves to enjoy spaces that are as beautiful and universally accessible as they are sustainable and functional. It is with an ethos of empathy, collaboration, and inclusive partnership that he guides teams in creating built environments that express the perspective of the people who will ultimately use them – demonstrated, for example, in projects such as West Valley College’s Learning Resource Center, Monterey Peninsula College’s Welcome Center, and a new Math & Science Building for Santa Catalina School.

Vidya Vemula

Vidya Vemula is a senior project manager who has spent the majority of her 24-year career working with K12 and community college districts, including West Valley Mission CCD and Monterey Peninsula CCD with ABA.  In her work on projects at all scales, from repairs and modernizations to new buildings, she brings strong technical and construction administration expertise that, combined with her ability to understand projects from the perspective of end users, consistently produces the learning environments educators need to help their students thrive. 

Katherine Rivard

With over 20 years of experience on diverse education and community projects, Associate Principal Katherine Rivard’s work as a planner, programmer, stakeholder engagement facilitator, and project director stems from her ability to connect with diverse people in ways that make them feel genuinely seen, heard, respected, and valued. Her strategic planning, communication and analytical skills have consistently made her an invaluable member of project teams, helping clients such as West Valley-Mission CCD, CSU East Bay, Ohlone College, Santa Clara County, and the City of Salinas achieve the consensus, vision, and clearly articulated needs (e.g. plans, programs) that drive productive design work. 

Ashly Vineyard

A project interior designer with 12 years of experience, Ashly has created spaces to inclusively welcome people with their beauty, functionality, accessibility, and sustainability for many education clients including West Valley-Mission CCD, El Camino College, and Santa Clara University. She has also contributed to many of ABA’s community projects, such as Santa Cruz Public Library’s Aptos Branch and El Gabilan Library in Salinas. Outside ABA, she is an IIDA’s Northern California Chapter board member serving as Director of the Silicon Valley City Center – a professional group dedicated to giving back to communities through design, innovation, technology, and sustainability. She also teaches Introduction to Interior Architecture & Design at San José State University.

Ellen Leuenberger

Since joining the firm in 2013, Ellen Leuenberger has worked on a wide range of projects, with her most significant contributions focused on academic and civic buildings. Her prior experience includes residential, high-rise, and boutique sectors. She brings an energetic yet practical perspective to all her projects, striving to unite the client’s goals with thoughtful, well-detailed design. She is adept at managing large stakeholder groups, particularly process-focused organizations like universities and city governments. As an Associate of the firm, she contributed to the completion of the West Valley College Visual Arts Building, Saint Mary’s College Student Chapel, and Moscone Center Expansion, and is currently leading the West Valley College Learning Resources Center and SF Water Department Headquarters projects.

Paul Rodler, SE

As Forell | Elsesser’s COO, Paul developed the company’s information technology systems to support the firm’s advanced BIM capabilities and continued work at the leading edge of technical advancements within the industry. He also advocates for Integrated Project Delivery techniques to enable the efficiency and fast pace of design-build projects. Through his embrace of advancements in project design and delivery methods, Paul has made valued contributions to the success of numerous civic, education, museums, high-tech, and laboratory facilities, including complex seismic retrofit and historic rehabilitation projects. Paul is a licensed structural engineer in California and Missouri. He has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Stanford University.

Tony Mirenda, PER

Tony Mirenda, a seasoned third generation Construction Executive with over 43 years of experience in the Bay Area, has been instrumental in leading and growing businesses across multiple market sectors, including historical renovation, mixed-use TODs, affordable and market rate multifamily residential, and TK-16 education. He holds California Licenses as both a Registered Professional Engineer (retired) and General Contractor. His leadership has resulted in the successful completion of numerous high-profile projects such as the Gateway to Millbrae Station, Casa del Pueblo, and Agilent Technologies World Headquarters. Mirenda’s extensive expertise spans all phases of contract delivery, and he has been a key player in public education construction for over 28 years. Throughout his career, Tony has built a robust network of relationships, serving on various industry and nonprofit boards, including chairing the San Jose Chamber of Commerce. 

William Simons, CCM, DBIA, CMQ-C, LEED AP

William Simons, CCM, DBIA, CMQ-C, LEED AP, is a seasoned Construction Manager with over 19 years of experience in general contracting, specializing in higher education, K-12, criminal justice, civic/municipal, and healthcare projects. Currently serving as Sr. Project Manager at Kitchell, he leads complex construction efforts, including the renovation of West Valley College’s library and multiple facilities at Foothill College. William’s career spans roles from Superintendent to Project Engineer, with notable achievements such as managing multimillion-dollar commercial buildings and pioneering innovative estimating systems.

His expertise includes MEP coordination, scheduling, constructability review, and quality assurance/quality control. A licensed General Contractor, William thrives on challenging projects, leveraging his diverse experience to deliver projects on time, within budget, and to the highest standards. He holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Communication from San Jose State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Business from California State University, Monterey Bay.

Lauren Volden

Lauren Volden is an Assistant Superintendent at Swinerton. So far, her project portfolio primarily includes education and public works, on ground-up builds. She started as an intern at Swinerton in 2018 and has continued her career with Swinerton after receiving her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from San Jose State University. Lauren has been interested in the technical side of construction since the first week of her internship, quickly choosing a path in the field under the mentorship of a Superintendent. She has been active in the Women in Construction Operations (WiOps) Northern California chapter, speaking on a panel and sharing her experience and advice with women looking to enter the construction industry.

Alexson Lim, DBIA, LEED AP BD+C

Alexson Lim is a Project Manager at Swinerton with over 12 years of experience building K-14 education, high-rise office, tenant improvements, retail, and food service projects in Southern and Northern California, Nevada, and Texas. He specializes in delivering complex projects on operating campuses and facilities utilizing a variety of project delivery methods. Since relocating to the Bay Area in 2019, Alexson has successfully delivered public education projects throughout the South Bay as a construction manager and general contractor. He has a bachelor’s degree in construction management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and is an ACE Bay Area mentor for high school students in the East Bay.

Thank you to our generous sponsors: