MAKING MOVES


Kitchell Appoints Geoff Bachanas President of Kitchell CEM Kitchell, a leading U.S. construction and real estate development company, announced the appointment of Geoff Bachanas as the new


president of Kitchell CEM, one of the corporation’s four operating companies. Bachanas, who began his journey with Kitchell as an intern in 2001, brings over 20 years of leadership across diverse mar- kets and expertise in every stage of capital improvement planning and execution. “As the construction industry contin- ues to evolve with increasing demands for innovation and efficiency, having a leader like Geoff who understands the intricacies of every phase of capital improvement is in- valuable,” said Wendy Cohen, CEO of Kitchell. “Geoff has consistently demonstrated an ability to navigate the complexities of major capital program delivery, drive collaboration across teams, and maintain a client-focused approach.” Bachanas’ tenure at Kitchell has been


instrumental to the company’s growth. Troughout his career, he has led high-per- forming teams, fostered strong client rela- tionships, and successfully delivered complex programs and projects across key market sectors, including education, healthcare, civic and justice. During the past year, Bachanas has led


Kitchell CEM’s operations company-wide, most recently as vice president of operations. He has directly overseen projects exceeding $5 billion while holding positions such as project manager, program manager, oper- ations manager, and Southern California regional executive. In his new role as president, he will lead


Kitchell CEM in advancing innovative solu- tions for complex capital improvement projects, while cultivating a vibrant and sup- portive work culture for all team members.


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CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTOR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024


Ribbon cutting for Milpitas Unified School District Innovation Campus. Photo courtesy of MUSD.


Blach Completes Second Phase of MUSD Innovation Campus Blach Construction and Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) along with the Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD) and community partners and supporters recently celebrated the completion of Phase Two of the MUSD Innovation Campus. A first-of-its-kind education and workforce development center, the Campus is providing future-ready learners with a variety of ed- ucational and training opportunities that translate into sustainable careers. Erected using Folia, a flexible, durable, prefabricated classroom building solution exclusive only to Blach, QKA and GPLA Structural Engineers and Builders, this phase of the MUSD Innovation Campus included the construction of two new, L-shaped classroom buildings surrounding a central courtyard. These will serve as a permanent home to Calaveras Hills High School, en- abling the alternative school to expand its program offerings. Additionally, an existing building was modernized to provide Career Technical Education (CTE) lab space for robotics and advanced manufacturing courses. “Completing the second phase of the MUSD Innovation Campus is an- other important step in enhancing public education in our community – the gateway to Silicon Valley,” said MUSD Superintendent Cheryl Jordan. “Not only have Blach and QKA been a pleasure to work with on a day-to-day basis, their Folia solution has more than met our requirements by providing a wide range of flexible learning environments that can evolve over time as needed. They have helped turn this unique concept into reality.” Phase Two’s new and modernized buildings come on the heels of the first


four Folia buildings that were delivered in Phase One of the project, which have been fully operational since August 2023. Based on the efficiencies and enhanced safety inherent to the prefabricated


Folia solution, both phases of the MUSD Innovation Campus were delivered seamlessly on the occupied campus in just two years, despite record rainfall and supply chain issues. Folia also supports the project’s sustainability goals, which include Collaborative for High Performance Schools certification and renewable power supplied by MUSD’s existing photovoltaic system.


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