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Tours

1. 2022 Municipal Green Building Awards Tour

   Check out this virtual tour of the 2022 MyGBCE awarded projects. Every year, USGBC-LA recognizes local government investments in sustainable building

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   1. College of Extended Learning CSUSB

      The College of Extended Learning at the Cal State University San Bernardino achieved LEED Platinum Certification with 48% improvement on baseline building performance rating. Self-shading overhangs, access to natural daylight and an Energy Star cool roof help reduce energy consumption, while a 160kw photovoltaic array offsets 50 percent of the building’s energy use. One hundred percent of stormwater is collected and polished via bioswales. Other sustainability highlights include: 50% FSC-certified wood products; 75% diversion of construction and demolition debris; and 40% reduction in baseline indoor water use.

   2. Patton State Hospital - Central Kitchen

      The Department of State Hospitals-Patton New Main Kitchen is a 36,144-square-foot project located in San Bernardino, CA. The scope included a new central kitchen building for the DSH-Patton. The project achieved LEED v2 Gold certification, exceeding DGS’ original goal of Silver certification. The project received a 2020 CMAA Southern California Chapter Achievement Award in the Healthcare Market. Verdical Group completed the LEED Project Management (NC v2.2 Gold Certified) scope on this exciting project. 

       

      The project focused on creating a sustainable site, conserving water, installing environmentally preferable products, and creating healthy indoor environmental air quality. Providing alternative forms of low-emission transportation was important to the project and was achieved by installing bicycle storage and EV parking stalls. Heat Island Effect was mitigated by highly reflective paving and roof materials, earning an exemplary performance point. Quality stormwater was managed onsite by removing Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and low flow interior plumbing fixtures reduced the demand for water, therefore preserving the limited natural resource of freshwater. The project earned an exemplary performance point for water use reduction. A rigorous fundamental and enhanced commissioning process ensured that the building systems were installed and functioning properly as intended by the design team and meeting the owner project requirements. The construction team excelled by diverting 95% of the construction and demolition waste away from the landfill, thereby reducing methane and carbon emissions. The design team focused on specifying environmentally preferable products and the construction team followed through with verifying that they were procured and installed. The permanently installed products are composed of 25% recycled content, 40% are locally sourced, and 80% of the new wood-based building materials are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Indoor Environmental Air Quality was important to preserve during the construction phase as well as prepare for the end occupants. A Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan was followed and products with low/no-VOCs were specified and installed. Fresh air (30% ventilation above the minimum rates) and natural daylight was important to the project team as it enhances productivity, health and well-being. 75% of the regularly occupied spaces have access to natural and quality daylight, which also reduces the electrical lighting demand. The LEED Gold Kitchen created a sustainable and healthy environment for the staff providing meals for patients.

      
      http://www.gbig.org/activities/leed-10100411/dashboard
      
      3012 East Highland Avenue, Patton, CA, USA

   3. VA Loma Linda New Eye Clinic

      The new 14,000-SF single-story Eye Clinic is located on the northeast corner of the VA Loma Linda Medical Center campus. The Eye Clinic is one of the most visited clinics and prior to the upgrade, it was operating within a 2,100 SF space. The new Eye Clinic Building consists of 20 eye exam rooms, 2 laser rooms, 1 procedure room, 4 specialty exam rooms, teaching wet lab, eyeglass display and fitting area, and support spaces.

      Our sustainable strategies aimed to achieve high performance in health outcomes, provide comfort to the occupants, and improve building performance. Public and staff areas were placed with access to outside views, allowing for maximum daylight. Workspaces were designed to allow occupant control over lighting and thermal comfort, and finally, a flexible building layout will easily allow for future conversion of spaces into additional exam and treatment rooms. 

      The following are the Eye Clinic’s main sustainable features: 

      • Diverted 97.8% of waste construction from landfill

      • Utilized 67.49 % sustainable sourced materials

      • Reduced the energy cost up to 48% with the high performance building envelope and allocation of 235kw of renewable energy generated from existing PV arrays on the campus

      
      

   4. Water Quality Laboratory

      The Water Quality Laboratory provides sampling and analytical support to the Agency’s five regional water recycling plants, its ground water recharge program for process operations, as well as compliance monitoring per the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and the Department of Health Services. The laboratory also provides analytical support to the Agency’s Pre-Treatment/Source Control Department to monitor industrial wastewater and the cities’ domestic wastewater. This facility has been awarded LEED Gold Certification due to its emphasis on recycling, use of healthy materials, minimal use of water, energy efficiency, and sustainability. The lab, built with materials that are at least 20% recycled content, is approximately 17,000 square feet and features a visitor center to facilitate public tours, and a 70 kilowatt solar system installed on its roof. The site’s overall efficiency includes a 41% savings in energy costs and 85% reduction in potable water used for sewers. Utilizing recycled water for the landscape irrigation, along with an efficient design allows for a 20% reduction in landscape water use and 100% reduction in potable water for landscaping. Approximately 90% of the site’s water is treated for pollution prior to entering the storm drain by using permeable paving, a wastewater retention pond and water clarifiers. The facility also supports alternative transportation by providing vehicle charging and bicycle accommodations.

      
      http://www.gbig.org/activities/leed-1000009721/dashboard
      
      6075 Kimball Ave, Chino, CA, USA

   5. Kaiser New School of Medicine

      As one of the leading healthcare providers in the country, Kaiser Permanente created a new School of Medicine to train the next generation of leaders in medicine. The school is both unfettered by traditional pedagogy and detached from typical campus amenities, pushing the design team to reimagine the typology entirely.

       

      The resulting design is an entire campus within a building. The 80,000 SF, LEED Gold building houses simulation, flex classrooms, cafeteria, lecture hall, computer center, small group learning, collaboration zones, and outdoor recreation areas to create "the school of medicine as a laboratory"

       

      Fueling the LEED Gold building are numerous sustainable design strategies including a transparent building facade that minimizes solar heat gains, lessens the energy demand for cooling the building, and serves as the main source of daylight into public circulation spaces while also offering exciting views to the outdoors. Additionally, a high-tech control system allows more than 98% of the building's energy and water use to be monitored for top-tier efficiency. HVAC and plumbing designs in the building all deploy high-efficiency and low-water consumption controls. These sustainability design applications also empower greater mental and physical health for users. Conference and Expo has selected the Kaiser New School of Medicine to be recognized for this year's awards for your LEED Gold Certification and more!

   6. Caltech Hameetman Center

      The Caltech Hameetman Center has reinvigorated campus life by transforming a once underused area into a central social hub for the Caltech community.  The LEED Gold certified center provides a bookstore, café and lounge, multi-purpose lecture hall, music rehearsal hall, club rooms, and a large outdoor patio which engages and connects the center of campus radially.  

      This climate responsive project has an energy usage intensity (EUI) of 5.26 kilowatt hours per square foot each year, which is 86% better than national average for a higher education university building. To achieve this highly efficient design, numerous sustainability components related to energy efficiency, daylighting, and passive design were taken into consideration. Lastly, salvaging and adaptively re-using the original student center basement helped to conserve resources and lower the total embodied carbon of the project. 

      
      Sustainability Highlights:

      
      Passive Design

      • Shadow-box windows reduce solar heat-gain

      • Light-tone walls and roof reduce heat-island effect

      • Shade fins installed on the west elevation

      Active Design

      • 238 solar panels, rated at 88 kW-DC saves the equivalent of 61.5 cubic metric tons of CO2 per year

      • All electric building, no gas

      Conservation

      • The project was planned strategically to minimize the area of site redevelopment, reaching only a few feet beyond the building footprint

      • The entire basement of the original student center was salvaged and adaptively re-used

      • Stormwater run-off successfully managed and treated through a dry-well system at the south end of the site

      Well-Being

      • The building provides ample shaded area for respite from the harsh California sun

      • Full height glazing on the first and second floors provide abundant natural light; an open stairwell allows suffusion of daylight in the basement

      • Openings on the second floor provide framed views of rich campus landscape and mountains to the north

      The high-performing center is now fully integrated into the campus as a space for gathering and exchange.  Institute leadership have proclaimed it as "the building that should have always been there".

      http://www.gbig.org/activities/leed-1000087936/dashboard
      
      1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA, USA

   7. Water Replenishment District - WRD AWTF A+LC Building

      WRD AWTF A+LC Building in Pico Rivera is a 21,825 square feet building that ranks in the top 5% of projects in LEED for New Construction 2009 rating system.
      Why It's Green:
      48% improvement on baseline building performance rating
      13% onsite renewable energy
      35% green power purchase
      20% recycled content building materials
      20% regionally extracted, harvested, recovered, or manufactured materials
      75% diversion of construction and demolition debris
      100% reduction in potable landscape water use
      40% reduction in baseline indoor water use
      50% reduction in wastewater generation
      
      http://www.gbig.org/activities/leed-1000059577/dashboard
      
      4324 San Gabriel River Parkway, Pico Rivera, CA, USA

   8. ELAC - Physics & Earth Sciences Building

      ELAC - Physics & Earth Sciences Building in Monterey Park is a Higher Ed building with 24,943 square feet with LEED-New Construction v2009 with a ranking in the top 13% of projects in this rating system version.
      Why It's Green:
      40% improvement on baseline building performance rating
      13% onsite renewable energy
      20% recycled content building materials
      20% regionally extracted, harvested, recovered, or manufactured materials
      50% diversion of construction and demolition debris
      50% reduction in potable landscape water use
      40% reduction in baseline indoor water use
      
      http://www.gbig.org/activities/leed-1000070737/dashboard
      
      1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park, CA, USA

   9. Terasaki Budokan

      The Terasaki Budokan, a community project of Little Tokyo Service Center, has been certified LEED Gold for new construction. Budokan’s design exemplifies the tenet and practice of incorporating sustainable strategies throughout all phases of the project; from the design phase through construction and maintenance and operations. Some of the green features at Budokan include stormwater capture planters, drip irrigation, drought-resistant landscaping, energy-efficient LED lights and HVAC system, renewable energy solar panels, regionally-sourced construction materials, and EV chargers in the parking garage.

   10. Rancho Los Amigos - SSB

       Rancho Los Amigos - SSB in Downey is a Health Care building with 38,800 square feet with LEED-Commercial Interiors v2009 with a ranking in the top 21% of projects in this rating system version.
       Why It's Green:
       35% reduction in lighting power density
       90% Energy Star Qualified Equipment
       75% diversion of construction and demolition debris
       10% recycled content building material
       40% reduction in indoor potable water use
       
       http://www.gbig.org/activities/leed-1000076532/dashboard
       
       7601 Imperial Highway, Downey, CA, USA

   11. UCLA Pritzker Hall

       UCLA Pritzker Hall achieved LEED Platinum certification in 2021. Pritzker Hall is an eight-story building for students and staff involved in the psychology program. Project highlights include 90% Energy Star Qualified Equipment; 75% diversion of construction and demolition debris; 10% recycled content building materials and 30% reduction in indoor potable water use.
       
       http://www.gbig.org/activities/leed-1000080200 

   12. CCSM Office Improvements

       CCSM Office Improvements in Santa Monica is a Office building with 5,115 square feet. The Community Corporation of Santa Monica, a LEED Gold certified office, has been renovated for the purpose of maximizing spatial efficiency of the small space, and creating an office environment that it accessible, inviting and environmentally sustainable. Some of the sustainability features include: operable windows for fresh air flow, ceiling fans, energy efficient lighting, water-efficient fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom. LEED certification outcomes include: 35% reduction in lighting power density; 90% Energy Star Qualified Equipment; and 40% reduction in indoor potable water use.
       
       http://www.gbig.org/activities/leed-1000088496/dashboard
       
       1423 2nd Street, Santa Monica, CA, USA

   13. City of Santa Monica

       The City of Santa Monica achieved LEED Platinum certification last year. LEED for Cities evaluated the City of Santa Monica’s performance on energy, water, waste, transportation, education, health, safety, prosperity, and equitability outcomes. Santa Monica is the very first city to achieve Platinum level certification in LEED for Cities Version 4.1 by achieving more than 80 points. Sustainability highlights include: reducing emissions 60% below 1990 levels by providing 100% renewable energy to 94 percent of properties in the city; adopting transportation programs to allow residents’ access to transit, and the overall distribution of public amenities and outstanding outcomes associated with education attainment, civic participation, and community engagement.

       
       

       
       Santa Monica, a world renowned eco-friendly City, host to the world's first solar-powered Ferris wheel is a true Southern California landmark which soars 130 feet above the majestic Pacific Ocean. A few steps from the Aquarium, Carousel and shops along 3rd Street Promenade, the city boasts countless eco-friendly restaurants, hotels, attractions and transportation alternatives that allows visitors to go Green without sacrificing luxury.
       
       Pier's History: In the early 20th century the City of Santa Monica was faced with a problem, How and where to dispose of their sewage. Originally built to maintain a sewage system for the City of Santa Monica, after a few disasters, the iconic pier morphed into an entertainment mecca for locals & tourist. Designated a historical landmark in 1976
       
       

   14. Vista Canyon Regional Transit Center

       Vista Canyon Regional Transit Center in the City of Santa Clarita awarded Envision Verified for Sustainable Infrastructure. The sustainable aspects of the project include: Improving community mobility and access and encouraging sustainable transportation; stimulating the local economy by serving as a transit hub for the community; enhancing views and local character by being designed to preserve the physical and natural beauty of the area; and waste diversion rate of 64% during operations. This project will provide the community with a sustainable, safe and efficient transit center that encourages the use of multiple modes of transportation, including bus, bike, and rail.
       
       The Vista Canyon Regional Transit Center involves designing and constructing a new seven-bay bus transfer station as part of the larger Vista Canyon development in the City of Santa Clarita, California. The Vista Canyon Regional Transit Center is strategically located to make it easy for people to get around Santa Clarita, the Valley, and other destinations. This project will provide the community with a sustainable, safe and efficient transit center that encourages the use of many modes of transportation, including bus, bike, and rail, making Vista Canyon one of Southern California’s most well-connected, transit-friendly communities.
       
       More details: https://sustainableinfrastructure.org/project-awards/vista-canyon-regional-transit-center/