DPR Receives Rave Reviews for PDI/DreamWorks Project

A thank you letter to project team members from Jeffrey Katzenberg, David K. Mannix and Terry Press signified the completion of a job well done, according to DPR’s Hans Milberger, project manager of the 98,000-sq.-ft., interior buildout for PDI/DreamWorks’ new animation studios in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Wrapping up on schedule and within budget, the four-month construction production featured a 2,830-sq.-ft. data center, 70-seat screening room with adjoining projection booth, multi-purpose room, full-service cafeteria/commissary, and three floors of office space that include hardwood floors, floating ceilings, wainscoting, and special lighting required for creating digital animation. DPR combined its technical building expertise with its creative, collaborative approach to deliver “flawless” construction in time for an end of October 2002 occupancy.

“Being brought on board early—even before the architect—to ensure that design moved forward, while discussing budget and constructibility issues, played a key part in the project’s success,” said Milberger.

“For example, Jeffery Katzenberg and Terry Press had a lot of influence on the design, and during the initial design process, they decided they wanted a Cape Cod look, which called for millwork, recycled wood floors and wainscoting,” he added. “It just so happened that DPR’s Project Engineer Matt Slayen enjoyed wood work as a hobby, and he was able to quickly produce samples of the wainscoting and wood floor for the owner that really expedited the decision-making process.”

DPR also helped further compress the schedule by working closely with the plumbing subcontractor, KDS Plumbing, and structural engineer, DES, to redirect the underground kitchen drainage/ wastelines from the original design, mitigating the need to run lines through the building’s floating structural slab directly under one of the screening rooms.

“Teamwork and attention to even the smallest details were particularly critical to the successful completion of this project,” said Milberger. “Naturally, when working with one of the world’s premier filmmakers, where visual effects are imperative, there was a strong emphasis on design and appearance. In fact, the owners often scrutinized the details as much as the architect.”