Daily Pacific Builder
May 27, 2009
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San Carlos-based general contractor Gonsalves & Stronck Construction Co., Inc. reports that it has completed construction on the new Marine Mammal Center in the Marin Headlands.

Built on a former NIKE Missile site the four-acre center is comprised of six new buildings housing a retail and educational center, administrative offices, and a mechanical shop and locker, as well as a veterinary hospital that includes a food prep kitchen, a research lab, specimen storage, and a necropsy research room.

Gonsalves & Stronck has worked with the non-profit organization for over four years on the new construction and expansion project.

"From the beginning, we worked closely with the Marine Mammal Center to phase the project in such a way that their ongoing fund raising efforts could stay ahead of construction and inform design and building milestones." says Keith Gonsalves, co-founder and Vice President of Gonsalves & Stronck. Gonsalves also oversaw the construction of the Harbor Seal Hospital 10 years ago, the only existing facility that remains on the site today.

A unique aspect of the construction involved converting two existing missile silo bunkers into operational spaces to contain all of the mechanical infrastructure and the intricate pumping and filtration system for the massive life support system. The system includes 29 water pumps, 13 sand filters, two drum filters, six foam fractionators, six contact/deaeration towers, and a brine making system and serves the 39 outdoor pens and pools for the animal patients.

Reusing these underground silos was just one of many sustainable elements on the project, designed by Noll & Tam Architects in conjunction with Scott Dennis Architect. Other highlights include radiant floor heating, natural daylighting and ventilation, native plantings and vegetation that requires no irrigation, environmentally friendly materials such as FSC-certified lumber, concrete containing fly ash, recycled structural steel, low-consumption fixtures, backwash recovery systems and photovoltaic panels.

Since 1975, the Center has received international attention for their research and treatment of rescued marine animals from the California coastline. Over 12,000 animals such as elephant seals, sea lions, sea otters, harbor seals, fur seals, dolphins and harbor porpoises have been treated at the center. With this new, modernized facility, the visitor experience will be enhanced through the new education classrooms and exhibits, and the improved rehabilitation systems will allow the center to continue with cutting-edge marine animal research and contributions to ocean health and conservation.

The Marine Mammal Center opens to the public on June 15, 2009.