Scaling Smarter: How San Diego Unified School District Doubled Project Capacity with Bluerithm's Cloud-Based Commissioning Software
Case Study Participants:
Nick Alpers, Alpers Engineering Grp & Commissioning Engineer, SDUSD
John Roeder, AECOM & Commissioning Engineer, SDUSD
Scott Kam, AECOM & Commissioning Engineer, SDUSD
Chris Koerner, Commissioning Engineer, SDUSD
Other SDUSD Cx Team Members:
Ray Stevens, AECOM & Commissioning Engineer, SDUSD
Cynthia Maldonado, Commissioning Engineer, SDUSD
Bob Alpers, Alpers Engineering Grp & Commissioning Engineer, SDUSD
Introduction
Commissioning in the education sector presents a complex blend of technical requirements and stakeholder sensitivities. With 175 schools and an ongoing stream of modernization and new construction projects, the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) faces a scale and complexity that few other public education institutions contend with. Amid these demands, their commissioning team found itself grappling with outdated processes involving binders, spreadsheets, and decentralized data storage.
Enter Bluerithm — a cloud-based commissioning and project management platform that has transformed SDUSD’s workflows, allowing them to scale their capacity, standardize their documentation, and ultimately elevate the quality of deliverables across all phases of construction. This case study outlines how SDUSD successfully implemented Bluerithm, the tangible benefits they’ve seen, and a deep dive into a standout project: Gompers Preparatory Academy.
Gompers Preparatory Academy
About San Diego Unified School District
The San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) is the second-largest school district in California and one of the largest in the United States. Serving more than 100,000 students, SDUSD covers a diverse and expansive geographic area within the city of San Diego. The district is recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, equity, and innovation in education. It offers a variety of programs including dual-language immersion, International Baccalaureate, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM), and career technical education (CTE) pathways. SDUSD emphasizes inclusion and cultural responsiveness, providing support services for English learners, students with disabilities, and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Governed by an elected Board of Education and led by a superintendent, the district works closely with families, community partners, and local organizations to create equitable opportunities for all students. Through strategic initiatives and community engagement, SDUSD strives to ensure every student graduates prepared for college, career, and civic life.
Overseeing 175 schools, with nearly 50 active construction projects and approximately 20 in the design phase at any given time is no small task, and SDUSD’s commissioning team of seven professionals — six commissioning engineers and one design reviewer dedicated to California’s Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards — are ready to manage any project the district gives them. Each team member is responsible for multiple projects, ranging from early design through to post-occupancy warranty support. The team coordinates regularly through bi-weekly meetings, ensuring alignment and accountability in a dynamic and fast-moving environment.
The Challenge: An Overburdened, Manual System
Before adopting Bluerithm, the SDUSD commissioning team relied on a fragmented workflow: email communications, Dropbox file storage, and printed documents in binders that were physically carried to job sites. This system was riddled with inefficiencies. Documents went missing. Binders got misplaced — sometimes taken home or lost entirely. One staff member, in particular, spent all her time simply tracking pre-functional checklists (PFCs) across sites, driving from project to project in a logistical juggling act.
“We were chasing papers around rooftops in the rain,” recalls John Roeder. “Sometimes literally.”
Not only was this system labor-intensive, but it was also unreliable and difficult to scale. When Roeder presented this workflow to the Director of Facilities Planning and Construction (FPC), the reaction was telling: “That sounds kind of embarrassing.” It was clear that a more modern, sustainable solution was necessary.
The Transition to Bluerithm
The pivotal moment came when team member Nick Alpers, who had prior experience with Bluerithm, introduced the software to the SDUSD team. After seeing the limitations of manual documentation firsthand, the team recognized the opportunity to digitize and streamline their entire commissioning process.
- Equipment lists could now be created digitally and linked to real-time data.
- Pre-functional checklists (PFCs) and functional performance tests (FPTs) were standardized using shared templates.
- Issues logs were maintained online, removing the need for hand-written entries or emails.
- Reports — including final commissioning reports and system manuals — could be generated directly from the platform using previously built templates.
The software became not just a tool, but a foundation for best practices.
As Roeder put it:
“It’s our eighth team member.”
Implementation Strategy and Workflow Integration
The SDUSD commissioning team approached implementation methodically:
Template Development
Working collaboratively, the team developed standardized templates for PFCs, FPTs, and final reports. Scott Kam led the effort to format commissioning reports, while another member of the team and Scott also created the Systems Manual template, based on ASHRAE Guideline 1.4.
Project Setup
For each new project, the team enters critical details into Bluerithm — project location, HVAC and plumbing schedules, and equipment lists — setting the groundwork for tracking and testing activities throughout the project lifecycle.
Process Automation
From documentation to reporting, Bluerithm’s automation capabilities turned hours of administrative work into minutes. What once took days of scanning, formatting, and compiling is now reduced to a few clicks within the report builder.
Collaboration & Uniformity
With team members often working remotely, the cloud-based nature of Bluerithm ensures that everyone can access the same documents, track progress in real time, and maintain a consistent output — regardless of who’s managing a particular project.
Why Commissioning for Schools is Unique
Commissioning in the K–12 space involves multiple layers of accountability and diverse stakeholder groups. Unlike private or commercial buildings, school facilities must satisfy the needs of educators, students, parents, and facilities maintenance teams, in addition to meeting rigorous design and construction standards.
Each SDUSD project includes:
- Close coordination with Facilities Planning and Construction (FPC)
- Post-construction handoff to Physical Plant Operations (PPO) for ongoing maintenance
- Engagement with teachers and administrators who occupy the buildings
- Long-term involvement through two-year warranties, which includes addressing issues such as HVAC failures or plumbing malfunctions.
Chris Koerner highlighted the contrast from his previous experience building data centers:
“There are way more checks and balances in school construction. Every single step has to be validated — not just by us, but by the contractors, the district, and more.”
Key Benefits of Bluerithm for SDUSD
Improved Stakeholder Confidence
As SDUSD’s commissioning presence became more efficient and visible, project managers and contractors began to request their involvement proactively.
“We went from being an afterthought to being essential.” – John Roeder
Scalability
Where team members used to max out at 2–3 concurrent projects, they now routinely handle 5–12 each.
“I would say we’re condensing five days’ worth of work into maybe two, if that, depending on the project.” – Scott Kam
Standardization
Uniform report formats, shared templates, and centralized documentation mean the commissioning team presents a consistent and professional face to internal stakeholders and external contractors alike.
“The client knows exactly what to expect now.” – John Roeder
Efficiency Gains
- Real-time issue tracking
- Automated report generation
- Elimination of manual data entry
- Integrated collaboration tools
“We used to spend too much unnecessary time writing final reports — blowing through our budgets. Now, that effort is drastically reduced and our time is used elsewhere more productively.” – Nick Alpers
Project Spotlight
Gompers Prepartory Academy
One of the team’s most successful examples of Bluerithm implementation is Gompers Preparatory Academy, a charter school undergoing a multi-phase modernization effort.
Key Details:
GMP1: Construction of a new classroom building and demolition of temporary structures.
GMP2: Addition of another building and lecture hall (currently underway).
GMP3: Planned construction of tennis courts.
The commissioning team used Bluerithm from project inception, creating a fully integrated digital workflow. Scott’s final commissioning report template was fully leveraged, and all documentation — from pre-functional checklists to the systems manual — was managed within Bluerithm.
“It was the smoothest project we’ve done, and Bluerithm played a big part in that.” – John Roeder
Gompers Preparatory Academy, Bldg. 20
Beyond Efficiency: Building a Culture of Excellence
Perhaps the most impressive transformation lies not just in efficiency, but in culture. The SDUSD commissioning team is deeply passionate about their work — a sentiment that was clear throughout their interviews. They philosophize about process improvements, share insights freely, and constantly seek ways to elevate the value they bring to the district. Bluerithm, in this context, is not just a software tool — it’s a strategic partner.
As Alpers put it, “We love our jobs. We think about this stuff deeply. Bluerithm lets us do our jobs more completely.”
Even contractors are taking notice. Many now ask upfront which software the commissioning team uses, demonstrating growing industry awareness and expectation for digital platforms.
Conclusion: Bluerithm as the Digital Backbone of SDUSD Commissioning
The San Diego Unified School District’s commissioning team has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from scattered paper documentation and inefficiencies to a streamlined, scalable, and standardized operation. With Bluerithm as their backbone, they’ve not only improved internal workflows but elevated their role in the broader construction process.
Whether it’s tracking issues in real-time, generating reports with a click, or empowering team members to manage more projects with confidence, Bluerithm has become more than software — it’s the invisible team member driving consistency, quality, and success. As SDUSD looks ahead to future modernization efforts, the commissioning team is well-positioned — empowered by a digital platform that reflects their commitment to excellence and innovation.
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