Daily Business Report/Dec. 2, 2016
Airborne San Diego’s new skydiving facility will be completed later this month. (Photos courtesy of Carrier Johnson + CULTURE)
Airborne San Diego’s New Skydiving
Facility a ‘Celebration of Flight’
Airborne San Diego’s new indoor skydiving facility in East Village — scheduled to open later this month — was designed as a “celebration of flight,” says Ray Varela, design principal at Carrier Johnson + CULTURE, the architect for the building.
“We drew inspiration for many of its striking architectural features from the way skydivers maneuver their bodies as they soar, drift and plummet through the air,” says Varella.
Just as important, says Varela, the new facility, located at 1401 Imperial Ave., also draws inspiration from its bayfront location and proximity to Petco Park, creating a dynamic relationship with its tourist-friendly neighborhood.
The design team worked closely with owner-client Airborne America to create a sunny, bright interior with ample views from the street to the cathedral-like space inside, drawing the attention of neighbors and passersby. The facility also features stadium seating, lounge areas, a café and bar, military-style briefing rooms, and practice areas and training rooms.
“We want to provide visitors with a unique, unforgettable experience, says Anna Calisse, general manager of Airborne San Diego. “Everything from the interaction with our staff and instructors to the design and layout of our facility, to the process in which first-time flyers are guided through training, all has been developed with great attention to detail.”
The design team from Carrier Johnson + CULTURE also brought the technical expertise needed to create Airborne San Diego’s unique facade of aerospace-inspired curved metal mesh. The firm also created the architectural setting for its complex infrastructure, including Airborne America’s signature wind tunnels: towering 30 feet high and spanning 14 feet in diameter, the dual flight tunnels are massive, with nearly three stories of floor-to-ceiling glass.
Spectators have a completely unobstructed view of the tunnels from almost any angle, making the facility ideal for indoor skydiving team competitions, corporate events, and private parties.
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Airport Authority President/CEO
Thella F. Bowens to Retire in March
After almost 21 years at the helm of San Diego International Airport, with the last 15 years as president/CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, Thella F. Bowens will retire on March 31, 2017. Bowens was the first and only person to hold the top executive position at the Airport Authority, owner and operator of the airport. Upon retirement, she will return “home” to Texas, where she once worked and where many members of her family reside.
“I have passionately enjoyed my time here, and I am so very proud of our exemplary organization and high-performing team,” said Bowens. “As I move on to the next stage of my life, I do so knowing that the (Airport Authority) board and staff will continue to operate a world-class airport for the 21st century.”
“We are extraordinarily fortunate to have had someone of Thella’s impeccable character and steady hand guide the airport – and the Authority – through so very much,” said Airport Authority Board Chairman April Boling. “From the launch of the Authority in 2003, to a successful pivot after the defeat of the 2006 ballot measure, to the expansion of Terminal 2 and construction of the Rental Car Center, to adding significant new domestic and international nonstop routes, to exemplary financial growth and stewardship, to making the airport a model of sustainability, her accomplishments comprise a stunning legacy.”
SAN is the busiest single-runway airport in the United States and last year served 20 million passengers, a record. Bowens oversaw the airport’s establishment as a true international gateway – today it offers nonstop service to the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada and Mexico, and next year will add nonstop service to Germany and Switzerland.
Under Bowens’ leadership, Authority assets have grown from $473 million to $2.217 billion, and annual operating revenue has increased from $97 million to $234 million. SAN adopted one of the first sustainability policies for a major U.S. airport and was the first to publish a sustainability report based on Global Reporting Initiative standards.
From 1996 to 2003, when the Port of San Diego operated the airport, Bowens was the senior director of aviation. From September 2001 through December 2002, simultaneous with her position at the Port, she served as interim executive director/president of the new Airport Authority and performed the monumental task of planning and implementing the transfer of the airport to its role as an independent entity.
Prior to coming to San Diego, Bowens served as the deputy executive director of Kansas City’s Aviation Department. She previously served as budget administrator for the Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport.
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San Diego Rent Report
In San Diego, rents decreased by 0.5 percent this past month, but prices are now 1.2 percent higher than they were last year, according to Apartment List
One-bedrooms in San Diego have a median rent of $1,500, while two bedrooms cost $2,000.
Report Highlights
- San Diego has the fourth highest rent prices in California. A two-bedroom in San Diego has a median rent of $2,000, while one-bedrooms run $1,500.
- San Francisco is the most expensive city for renters in the state. Median rents in San Francisco are at $4,570 for two-bedrooms, and $3,390 for one-bedrooms.
- Anaheim shows the fastest-growing rents in California, at a 4.4 percent increase year-over-year. Two-bedrooms in Anaheim cost $1,700 and one-bedrooms rent for $1,410.
- Los Angeles the second most expensive city for renters in the state. Two-bedrooms in Los Angeles run $2,600, and one-bedrooms have a median rent of $1,900.
Renter Satisfaction Survey
Apartment List has released results for San Diego from the second annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. The survey, which drew on responses from over 30,000 renters, provides insight into what states and cities must do to meet the needs of the 105 million American renters nationwide.
“San Diego renters are generally satisfied with their city overall” says Andrew Woo, Director of Data Science at Apartment List. “Most categories received average or above average ratings, with some exceptions.”
Key findings in San Diego include the following:
- San Diego renters gave their city an A- overall in satisfaction.
- The highest-rated categories for San Diego were weather (A), access to
- major roadways and freeways (A-), and pet friendliness of the city (A-).
- Renters seem to be generally satisfied with things like safety (B+), quality
- of local schools (B+), and access to public transit (B+).
- The biggest source for dissatisfaction here is affordability/cost of living
- (D). Local jobs and career opportunities are also causing some
- dissatisfaction, with a rating of C+.
- Millennials seem to be slightly more satisfied with the city than renters
- who are parents, giving San Diego an A overall, compared to a B+ from
- renters who are parents.
- San Diego is one of California’s top cities in terms of renter satisfaction.
- Also with an A- satisfaction rating is San Francisco, while other cities like
- Los Angeles (C), Sacramento (C), and San Jose (C-) seem to be less
- satisfactory for renters.
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Chamber Adds Leadership
Development Manager
Hannah Castillo has joined the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce as leadership development manager — a new position.
Castillo will oversee and grow the chamber’s three leadership programs: San Diego Young Leaders, Public Leadership Institute, and a new program for women’s professional development to be launched in early 2017.
“We are continually looking for ways to support our region’s next generation of leaders,” said Jerry Sanders, chamber resident and CEO. “By dedicating a full-time staff member to this role we will grow these programs and develop with them the business-minded leaders needed to keep San Diego moving forward.”
Castillo has an extensive background in civic service, and most recently worked as manager of the Ray Ellis 2016 City Council campaign. Before that, Castillo served as deputy director of Hispanic initiatives at the Republican National Committee.
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Officials Unveil City of San Diego’s
First Official Gender-Neutral Restroom
City officials and local community leaders on Thursday designated the first official gender-neutral restroom inside a city-owned public facility — the University Heights Public Library.
Councilman Todd Gloria joined Human Relations Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez, Transgender Services Coordinator for the San Diego LGBT Center Connor Maddocks, and young transgender community activist Lily Rubenstein in the presentation.
The restroom is the city of San Diego’s official compliance with California State Assembly Bill 1732 which calls for all single-user public toilet facilities to be labeled as “all-gendered” beginning March 1, 2017. The unveiling occured well in advance of that date, serving as a strong representation of the city’s support for its LGBT community.
“Now more than ever, I am proud that the city of San Diego continues to be a leader and a champion for equality and inclusion,” said Gloria. “Today’s designation of gender-neutral restrooms demonstrates our city’s unwavering commitment to the basic rights, respect, and dignity of all people. More importantly, from this day forward, all of our public single-user restroom facilities will be more safe and accessible for all people.”
Just last month, the city was also recognized for its progressive policies and services that have advanced inclusion and equality when the Human Rights Campaign awarded a perfect score of 100 points as part of their Municipal Equality Index.
At Thursday’s press conference held at the University Heights Public Library, city staff installed the official California Title 24 restroom signs, as articulated in the California Building Standards Code, which designate the library’s restroom facilities as gender-neutral.
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Lucigen Inks Deal to Take Over Sale of
Research Products from Illumina Subsidiary
Lucigen has signed a licensing agreement to take over the manufacture and sale of a portfolio of transposomics, microarray analysis, and transcriptomics products from Illumina subsidiary Epicentre, GenomeWeb has learned.
The exclusive agreement covers a variety of research products including ones from Epicentre’s AmpliScribe, CopyControl, MaxPlax, and TransforMax lines. According to Lucigen, the products complement its suite of synthetic biology, next-generation sequencing, genetic amplification, and protein expression tools.
Lucigen said that it will begin offering the products directly to its customers and through its worldwide distribution network beginning on Jan. 1, 2017.
Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are excited to expand and enrich our product offering to serve scientists worldwide with unique tools that will deliver innovative and meaningful breakthroughs in life sciences,” Lucigen CEO Ralph Kauten said in a statement.
