On June 16, Gilbane Building Company joined representatives from California Institute of the Arts and HGA Architects to celebrate the beginning of construction at CalArts' A-Block. The 25,000-square-foot renovation will restore a major section of the institution, housing its well-known School of Film/Video.

A year prior, on June 5, 2021, an older cooling tower on the fifth floor of the CalArts A-Block overflowed. A portion of the building suffered significant water damage to walls, ceilings and floors as well as cubicles, classrooms, equipment and computers. The Character and Experimental Animation (Film/Video) area and the Gamelan Room (Music) were affected. CalArts had the damaged areas demolished and began planning for restoration.

CalArts is taking the opportunity to not only rebuild what they lost, but to expand as well. HGA is designing the space with multiple improvements, including upgrading mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, as well as expanding the footprint of the building on the first floor. Accessibility concerns will also be addressed with a new ramp and elevator. Gilbane is serving as construction manager at-risk for the project.

"Gilbane Building Company is proud to be renovating such an iconic and forward-looking Los Angeles institution," said Raul Rosales, Area Manager at Gilbane Building Company. "We've enjoyed a great relationship with CalArts so far and look forward to our continued partnership."

CalArts was founded by Walt Disney and his brother Roy in 1961. Since then, CalArts has become artistically influential in Los Angeles and beyond.

The project is expected to be completed in early 2023.