New San Diego County Operations Center Earns Kudos for Energy Efficiency, Sustainability
RJC Architects Designs New Facility to Boost Energy, Water Efficiency and Preservation of Natural Resources.
- San Diego, CA (1888PressRelease) June 23, 2011 - The new County of San Diego Operations Center now under construction in Kearny Mesa has received a trio of honors - the "Outstanding Governmental Building of the Year" by the California Center for Sustainable Energy, the "2011 Energy Champion for New Construction" by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council - all of which underscore a strong commitment to sustainability by project architect RJC Architects.
According to Dan Stewart, RJC Architects' project manager, the first phase (phase 1A) of this massive project, consisting of two, 150,000-square-foot, four-story office buildings and a parking structure, is now complete, and was recently awarded the troika of accolades - proof positive that it was carefully designed to boost energy savings, water efficiency and the stewardship of natural resources.
In a collaborative effort with general contractor Lowe Enterprises and Suffolk-Roel Construction Company, RJC -- a San Diego-based full service architectural, planning and interior design firm -- incorporated the very latest in sustainable design practices into the project, significantly reducing negative environmental effects as well as daily operations costs. Airy glass-walled private offices allow abundant natural light and are strategically clustered around the center, while the floor plans create a pedestrian oriented layout.
"Outdoor spaces are defined by the buildings as outdoor rooms, with buildings laid out to provide shade," Stewart explains. Energy efficient roofing, glazing systems to reduce heat gain and a landscape irrigation system which reduces water usage all solidify the project's status as a cutting-edge example of sound green building practices.
Phase 1B of the $531 million project - consisting of two administrative buildings totaling 300,000-square-feet and a 20,000-square-foot conference center -- is slated for completion in October 2012. According to Stewart, the conference center is designed to be LEED Platinum, the highest rating given by the U.S. Building Council.
"This will be one of the few buildings in San Diego designated platinum," Stewart said. "Buildings that attain this rigorous level are among the greenest in the world."
With an eye on the future, RJC designed the entire six-building, 920,000-square-foot facility to be functional, sustainable -- and timeless. "The center's existing buildings have been there for almost 50 years," says Stewart. "We've designed the new ones to be here for at least that long."
About RJC Architects
Headquartered in the Bankers Hill neighborhood of San Diego, RJC has worked on properties with an aggregate construction value exceeding $1.5 billion. The firm specializes in office, industrial, civic and educational, with current and recently completed projects including Coronado's City Hall and Community Center, a new headquarters for the U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Command, a new residential community for Marines at Camp Pendleton and the West City Campus of San Diego Community College District. For more information, visit www.rjcarch.com.
CONTACT: Sydnie Moore (619) 823-8448 Moore2com ( @ ) gmail dot com
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