Webcor Concrete Construction Manager Dennis Heimer, who is also master of the Webcor Craft BBQ program, drove the BBQ rig to Southern California for the first time in early September, accompanied by Sr. Superintendent Patrick Haley, Webcor Concrete Project Manager David Bischoff, and Webcor Concrete Construction Manager Ivan Ramos. Their destination: topping out at the UC Irvine Mesa Court project.

Why it matters: The topping out at Webcor's first project at UC Irvine followed extraordinary effort from Webcor Concrete, according to Assistant Superintendent Scott Duclos. "They took on extra scope as part of our One Webcor effort," Scott says.

• That extra scope -- undertaken before Webcor Concrete poured the matt foundation (which carries the entire load of the structure) -- included a sound wall (erected because the project is adjacent to other dorms), two K-rails (barriers used to separate lanes of traffic), a 25-foot engineered wall designed to withstand 80 mph winds, and underground utilities.

"Typically, as a subcontractor, Webcor Concrete would have focused just on concrete," Scott says. "But they helped with MEP, wall location, coordination of underground utilities and MEPS in the mat foundation, and a lot of other work." That effort helped establish a good working relationship with the trade partners that continued through the building, maintaining Concrete's fast-paced schedule, he adds.

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What's next: Webcor Concrete's work is wrapping up. "They have a few parapet walls, curbs, and some other miscellaneous work, like stripping and cleaning," Scott says.

Webcor Drywall has worked on the project since September, just after the topping-off ceremony. "They came prepared and ready to work," Scott says. They've been awesome to work with. They took the same approach Concrete did, helping the core and shell team with interior coordination efforts

• About 100 people enjoyed music at the BBQ, Scott says.

The UCI Mesa Court Community Expansion program will provide up to 400 beds for undergraduate students in quadruple-occupancy rooms.

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