MEP Engineering | Structural Engineering | 24 Compliance
Project Overview
Located at 12205–12249 14th Street in Yucaipa, California, Crafton Suites Apartments is a new 153-unit multifamily residential development. Spread across five parcels totaling over 5 acres, the project features five 3-story buildings, each designed with a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. The development includes extensive amenities such as a community center, gym, spa pool, barbecue area, leasing office, and multiple trash enclosures and carports.
Our team has been awarded responsibility for the full scope of Structural Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) design, and Title 24 energy code compliance—each tailored to meet California’s latest 2022 Building Code requirements.
Project Challenges & Solutions
- Complex Site Utilization
The site presented a unique blend of residential density, vehicular circulation, fire access lanes, and communal amenity space. To optimize layout functionality, our structural team collaborated closely with the architect to ensure each building footprint aligned with allowable height and setback requirements, while also maintaining a consistent foundation design for constructability and cost control.
- Energy Code Compliance for Multifamily Structures
Meeting California Title 24 2022 Energy Code standards required a high-performance envelope and efficient HVAC and lighting systems. Our energy team conducted envelope and mechanical load analyses early in design, enabling the specification of cost-effective systems that exceed baseline energy efficiency, critical for long-term sustainability and operating cost control.
- Scalable MEP Infrastructure
With 153 units across five buildings, scalable yet independently zoned MEP systems were essential. We designed centralized water heating with individual unit metering, high-efficiency HVAC systems using heat pumps, and LED lighting schemes optimized with daylighting controls. Special attention was given to HVAC duct routing and shaft coordination to maintain ceiling heights and avoid costly structural conflicts.
Technical Highlights
- Structural System: Type V-B construction over slab-on-grade with shear wall lateral system and prefabricated floor trusses for ease of utility integration.
- Fire Access & Life Safety: All buildings comply with 24′ minimum fire access lanes and NFPA 13 full sprinkler systems.
- Energy Efficiency: Designed to exceed Title 24 baseline by over 10%, incorporating high-SEER HVAC units, smart thermostats, and low leakage ducting.
- Site Infrastructure: Coordinated underground utility layouts to service community amenities such as the pool, gym, and leasing office with minimal surface disruption.
- Accessible Design: MEP systems support fully ADA-compliant units and shared spaces per California Building Code (CBC) Section 1109A.5.
Outcome & Value Delivered
Our integrated engineering approach ensured:
- Code-compliant, efficient systems aligned with the City of Yucaipa’s adoption of 2022 CBC, CMC, CPC, CEC, and Green Building Codes.
- Sustainable design practices with improved energy performance and reduced long-term utility costs for tenants.
- Constructability-focused engineering that supports on-time, on-budget delivery and minimizes RFIs during construction.
Crafton Suites Apartments is poised to become a model of high-density residential development with thoughtful infrastructure planning and energy-conscious design in California’s Inland Empire.
