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Empowering Education: Con J. Franke Electric's Contribution to the Manteca Unified School District Auto Shop Building

August 29, 2024

At Con J. Franke Electric, we take pride in being the premier electrical contractor in Northern California. Our latest project, the Manteca Unified School District Auto Shop Building, showcases our commitment to excellence, innovation, and community enhancement.

The Manteca Unified School District Auto Shop Building project is taking place in Manteca, California. Under the guidance of Assistant Project Manager Antonio Zuniga and Foreman Chris Albert, our involvement spans from March 2024 to September 2024.

With a project value of $420,500, this initiative involves constructing a single, dedicated, state-of-the-art facility for automotive shop activities, enhancing the educational infrastructure with hands-on learning for students focused on automotive technology.

Work Scope and Team Members

Our scope of work for this project includes:

  • Installation of three electrical panels – setting up and connecting the panels to distribute power efficiently throughout the building.
  • Installation of transformers – ensuring the electrical systems have the correct voltage levels required for various equipment and tools in the auto shop.
  • Installation of lighting systems – implementing both general and task-specific lighting to ensure a well-lit and safe working environment for students and staff.

Approximately ten Con J. Franke Electric team members are involved from the bid/estimating process to the close-out stage. During the project we are collaborating with two sub-contractor teams, Structure Net, and Point One.

Structure Net is responsible for the installation of the cabling system, including data and communication lines, clocks, and speaker systems to ensure the building is fully equipped with modern communication and time-keeping technology. Point One is handling the fire alarm system, ensuring that the building meets all safety regulations and has a reliable fire detection and alarm system in place.

Challenges and Solutions

The most significant project challenge to date has been coordinating with multiple stakeholders to ensure all safety and compliance standards are met without causing significant delays, particularly while trenching while students are in school. This requires meticulous planning and proactive communication.

We faced challenges in finding a solution for the lighting controls to ensure compatibility with the existing system. However, our team successfully overcame this by implementing innovative prefab conduit racks, panels, and fixtures for a more efficient and elegant finish.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this project was coming up with innovative solutions to address challenges and ensure a smooth, efficient workflow. Our efforts have significantly enhanced the educational infrastructure at the Manteca Unified School District, providing students with a top-tier facility for automotive technology training.

Another Great Asset that Benefits Our Community

It is always rewarding to build new infrastructures that will help students in their education, providing them with the resources they need to succeed and thrive in their chosen fields. At Con J. Franke Electric, we are proud to have played a crucial role in this project with the auto shop building, contributing to the future success of many students.


Con J. Franke Electric continues to deliver superior commercial electrical contracting services, ensuring community projects like these succeed. Our innovative problem-solving and high standards of workmanship make us a trusted partner for educational infrastructure projects across Northern California.