Award of Merit, Sports/Entertainment: The Bolt – Los Angeles Chargers Headquarters and Training Facility

The Bolt – Los Angeles Chargers Headquarters and Training Facility

Segundo, Calif.

Award of Merit

Submitted by PCL Construction

Owner Continental Development Corp.

Lead Design Firm Gensler

General Contractor PCL Construction

Civil Engineer KPFF Consulting Engineers

Structural Engineer Walter P Moore

MEP Engineer Henderson Engineers

Code Consultant Howe Engineers

Low Voltage Engineer Salas O’Brien

Located in El Segundo, this facility consolidates team operations, player development, multimedia production and community outreach into a single state-of-the-art headquarters on 14 acres.

A 143,500-sq-ft main building houses team offices, a media center, production studios, an esports gaming studio, training and rehab areas and a full-service kitchen. Direct access pathways connect these interiors to football fields, a two-lane lap pool and an elevated outdoor training terrace.

Building three full-size natural grass football fields introduced complex technical and scheduling challenges. To meet NFL performance standards and avoid delays from the impending historic rain season, the team strategically sequenced grading and drainage work, partnered with a turf specialist and secured custom-grown sod from the California desert.

A major utility corridor ran beneath the site, requiring precise excavation and compaction control to protect critical infrastructure. More than 2,000 linear ft of retaining wall went up to accommodate the facility’s elevated site design and maintain a flat playing surface on the fields.

At the edge of the campus, one corner of the football field was located directly adjacent to the elevated Metro K-Line. Working within feet of an active light rail required specialized safety training for field crews and continuous coordination with Metro officials. All three fields and the rest of the facility were completed on time and within budget in June 2024.