Company finishes construction at Soka University

McCarthy Building Companies Inc. of Newport Beach completed construction of a $73-million performing arts center to be opened on the Soka University Campus, in Aliso Viejo, in 2011, officials announced last week.

McCarthy served as general contractor for the project that began in December 2008 and encompasses 1.9 acres of the campus. Construction included a three-level, 47,836-square-foot performing arts center housing a reception lobby, various support spaces and a 1,200 seat auditorium, according to a company press release.

McCarthy also built a 48,974-square-foot academic building next to and providing support for the performing arts center.

The project’s design and construction team is pursuing United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for the buildings.

“Meeting the project’s LEED certification goals required rigorous tracking and monitoring as well as developing innovations to some of the project’s challenges,” Nate Ray, McCarthy project manager, said in the release.

Scheduled to open in October, the new performing arts center is anticipated to become a venue in south Orange County for concerts, theater productions, lectures and assemblies, according to the release.

Sarah Peters