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Benchmark/Morley team pitches 'Avalon Landing' design, says tight budget is manageable with progressive design‑build
Summary
Benchmark Contractors (Morley) and Rios presented the 'Avalon Landing' design for the Cabrillo Mole, emphasizing a 75‑year durable canopy, prefabrication to reduce over‑water work and a progressive design‑build process; the team warned foundations and geotech remain the biggest cost drivers.
Jen Connolly, project executive for Benchmark Contractors (Morley), told the Avalon City Council that her team can meet the city's schedule and budget goals if the council allows a progressive design‑build approach. "You're not committing to stage 2 costs right now," Connolly said, describing Stage 1 as the phase to develop a guaranteed maximum price through open‑book costing and collaborative design.
Mark Motanaga, managing partner of Rios, and design director Simone LaPenta presented the team's concept — which LaPenta called "Avalon Landing" — as a lightweight canopy that complements the casino's terracotta character while remaining buildable and durable. "We imagine the building to be a beautiful, effortless canopy floating from the mountains to the water," LaPenta said, explaining that the canopy would create a civic piazza at the terminal's center and keep sightlines to the casino and mountains.
The team emphasized constructability and island logistics in their proposal. Dave Loomis, the superintendent who would be on‑site during construction, explained steps to preserve ferry operations and limit visitor disruption: temporary canopies, fenced work zones, off‑hour heavy lifts and prefabrication on the mainland where possible. "We will provide weekly updates at a minimum," Loomis said, describing coordination plans for materials, crane operations and environmental protections.
On costs and schedule, the team said that early procurement of long‑lead items and repeated modular elements would help keep prices down, but they warned that foundation design and geotechnical uncertainty are significant cost drivers. Connolly estimated peak site crews at 30–40 workers and proposed daily ferrying as a likely staffing solution to reduce pressure on island lodging. The presentation closed with the team's offer to work collaboratively through Stage 1 to refine cost, risk and schedule so the council could make an informed Stage 2 decision.
