Relocation of Historical Homes and Construction of Audubon House & Duck Club

Butier Engineering, Inc. provided field inspection services for the relocation of three (3) historical homes located within the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine, CA. The project also consisted of building the Sea & Sage Audubon House & Duck Club. The Audubon House offers public tours of the marsh, educational programs, materials and displays, and a reference library for birders, students, and nature lovers. Programs and activities are designed to increase public appreciation and awareness of the beauty and diversity of wildlife in the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Utilities constructed included new water, sewer, storm drains, and plumbing for the three homes and the Audubon House.

In June 2005, the Board approved a conceptual Master Plan for facilities at the San Joaquin Marsh Campus and Wildlife Sanctuary. The objective of this plan was to optimize the use of the current facilities without altering the character and feel of the campus. The proposed Master Plan developed by RJM Design Group (RJM) reaffirmed the rustic natural setting while at the same time realigning the current facilities into a campus area with interconnecting pathways and a more effective use of the buildings and surrounding open space. The Interim Parking Improvements (Phase I) and the expansion of the Duck Club (Phase II) have been completed.

In November 2006, the Board approved the selection of RJM for the development of construction plans for the Main Campus Improvements (Phase III). The Phase III scope consists of the following three tasks:

• Relocation of the three historical houses,
• Construction of a new multi-purpose classroom/meeting building, and
• Development of access, utility, and landscape improvements for the main campus site.