The CMAA award program is designed to recognize and promote professionalism, innovation and excellence in the management of the construction process. Awards are given to the projects that best reflect this mission. The criteria for evaluating Program Management Merit Award nominations focused on the a variety of management efforts and project outcomes, including overall management, quality management, cost and schedule management, complexity, innovation and creativity, customer service and satisfaction, and safety results.

“We are very pleased that CMAA Southern California Chapter selected the AECOM program management team as the 2015 Program Management Merit Award recipient,” said Terri Mestas, program director for the construction program. “It recognizes the tremendous efforts of our entire team to bring enhanced accountability and efficiency to the program, and it’s a great way to start 2015.”

AECOM is the principal administrator for the bond program and has oversight over construction and renovation activities at all nine LACCD colleges. In less than 24 months, AECOM, under a new management structure, created the Program Management Office (PMO), balancing the needs of a centralized management system while continuing to respect the history, culture and needs of each college.

Through its comprehensive and methodical approach, the AECOM PMO has been able to achieve over $50 million in cost savings and program efficiencies. Each college now has a strategic execution plan that lays out the schedule for completing its projects on time and on budget.

“We’re taking this program from good to world class,” said Mestas.  “This award is an acknowledgement of the team approach that we have instituted as we build schools for tomorrow’s leaders.”

About AECOM

With nearly 100,000 employees — including architects, engineers, designers, planners, scientists and management and construction services professionals — serving clients in more than 150 countries around the world following the acquisition of URS, AECOM is a premier, fully integrated infrastructure and support services firm.  AECOM is ranked as the #1 engineering design firm by revenue in Engineering News-Record magazine’s annual industry rankings.  The company is a leader in all of the key markets that it serves, including transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, oil and gas, water, high-rise buildings and government.  AECOM provides a blend of global reach, local knowledge, innovation and technical excellence in delivering solutions that create, enhance and sustain the world’s built, natural and social environments.  A Fortune 500 company, AECOM companies, including URS Corporation and Hunt Construction Group, had revenue of approximately $19.5 billion during the 12 months ended Sept. 30, 2014.  More information on AECOM and its services can be found at aecom.com/taiwan.

About the Los Angeles Community College District

The Los Angeles Community College District, the nation’s largest community college district, serves one-quarter million students a year in more than 36 cities in Los Angeles County at its nine colleges. The District covers nearly 900 square miles and has educated and trained the region’s diverse workforce since 1969.

About the LACCD Building Program

LACCD’s Building Program is a 14-year, $6.1 billion program funded mostly by taxpayer-approved bonds, supplemented by additional funding from the state of California. With approximately $4 billion spent so far, the LACCD’s nine colleges are benefiting from brand new and renovated academic buildings, sports facilities, arts complexes, administrative buildings, child development centers, and parking structures. The Buildin…