Sustainability Around the Bay

The 2014 AIA SF Design Awards Gala last month honored San Francisco Bay Area architecture firms for their work in creativity and bringing positive impact to the built environment. Four projects winning in the Energy + Sustainability Category represent a strong testament to our industry’s commitment in making progress towards building net zero energy buildings. Two other projects, while winning in other categories, also showcase that green building strategies can be applied to all building types across the board. Congratulations to my fellow colleagues!

Marianne O'Brien, the President of AIA San Francisco’s Board of Directors presents the Energy + Sustainability Honor Award to architects Marc L'Italien and Rick Feldman representing EHDD. (Photo courtesy AIA SF) — Marianne O’Brien, the President of AIA San Francisco’s Board of Directors presents the Energy + Sustainability Honor Award to architects Marc L’Italien and Rick Feldman representing EHDD. (Photo courtesy AIA SF)

Energy + Sustainability Honor Award: Exploratorium at Pier 15

Architecture Firm: EHDD

San Francisco’s Exploratorium at Pier 15 is housed in a historic structure that has been preserved and upgraded to meet today’s building codes, adaptively re-used as a museum dedicated to science and education, and has become the largest net zero energy museum in the United States. The building takes advantage of the original pier building’s natural lighting and the water of the Bay for cooling, and uses materials that are both sustainable and durable enough to withstand a harsh maritime climate in the San Francisco Bay.

The San Francisco skyline serves as a backdrop for the new Exploratorium located in a historic pier building and designed by EHDD. (Photo by Bruce Damonte)

The façade of the historic Pier 15 building was carefully restored during its renovation and upgrade to house the new Exploratorium. (Photo by Bruce Damonte)

An aerial view of the net zero energy Exploratorium shows the extent of the solar photovoltaic system that sits atop the historic building and yet remains unnoticeable when viewed from the ground level. (Photo by Bruce Damonte)

The historic clerestory windows provide plenty of natural daylighting and helps reduce the electrical load required for lighting at the Exploratorium. (Photo by Bruce Damonte)

Energy + Sustainability Merit Award: Jess S. Jackson Sustainable Winery Building

Architecture Firm: Siegel & Strain Architects

The Jess Jackson Sustainable Winery Building is a research and process facility designed to serve the adjacent Research Winery and August A. Busch III Brewery and Food Science Laboratory (BWF) at the University of California, Davis. The building houses equipment and renewable energy systems to help the BWF achieve its goals for net zero energy and net zero water usage. Nine of the ten 20’ x 30’ structural bays are “plug-and-play” spaces to house experimental equipment and systems that will reduce energy and water use in the winemaking process.

The Jess Jackson Sustainable Winery Building designed by Siegel & Strain Architects is part of the Research Winery and August A. Busch III Brewery and Food Science Laboratory (BWF) at the University of California, Davis. (Photo by Jasper Sanidad)

The design strategies for the JSWB are simple: employ building orientation, building form and a super-insulated envelope to minimize heat gain, then use thermal mass to help cool the building throughout the day and natural ventilation to flush the building at night. (Photo by Jasper Sanidad)

Energy + Sustainability Citation Award: Sweetwater Spectrum Community

Architecture Firm: Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects

Sweetwater Spectrum is a new and replicable national model for high quality, supportive housing for adults with autism, offering life with purpose and dignity. Created to address a growing national housing crisis for adults with autism, this community for sixteen residents in Sonoma, California integrates autism spectrum-specific design, Universal Design and Sustainable Design strategies. The community is designed to be net zero energy (a pilot project for PG&E’s Net Zero Energy Pilot Program) and features environmentally friendly finishes in the residences as well as the community center.

The Sweetwater Spectrum Community located in Sonoma, California is dedicated to adults with autism and designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects. (Photo by Tim Griffith)

The Sweetwater Spectrum Community located in Sonoma, California is designed to be net zero energy as well as sensitively appropriate for adults with autism. (Photo by Tim Griffith)

The spaciousness and elegance of the community room at Sweetwater Spectrum Community provides a calming and toxin-free environment for its residents. (Photo by Tim Griffith)

Energy + Sustainability Citation Award: Sacred Heart Schools Net Zero Stevens Library

Architecture Firm: WRNS Studio

Designed to meet LEED Platinum certification and the Living Building Challenge, the Stevens Library at Sacred Heart Schools is the academic and social heart of this 21st century K–8 campus located in Atherton, California. The two key green strategies for the library design include a solar photovoltaic system that produces 53,000 kWh of energy annually to help achieve net zero energy usage. The rainwater harvesting system and greywater system are critical components to help the building and its occupants achieve net zero water usage.

The Stevens Library at Sacred Heart Schools located in Atherton, California is designed by San Francisco- and Honolulu-based WRNS Studio and features a solar photovoltaic system that will help achieve net zero energy usage. (Photo by Bruce Damonte)

WRNS Studio architects cleverly designed the plumbing room housing the rainwater harvesting and greywater systems to serve as a visual and accessible classroom at the Stevens Library at Sacred Heart Schools. (Photo by Bruce Damonte)

The net zero energy Stevens Library at Sacred Heart Schools is currently undergoing the Living Building Challenge. (Photo by Bruce Damonte)

Historic Preservation Honor Award: The Maritime Center

Architecture Firms: Hamilton + Aitken Architects with Siegel & Strain Architects as Historic Preservation Consultant

During World War II, the Maritime Center was built to provide childcare for the shipyard workers in Richmond, California. The Maritime’s rehabilitation included the adaptive reuse of various spaces into offices for the Richmond Community Foundation, a K-1 charter school, Richmond College Prep Schools, and a National Parks Service Interpretive Center. The Maritime Center is included in the National Register of Historic Places, and its rehabilitation recently received the City of Richmond’s Historic Preservation Award. Design strategies for its LEED Gold certification included: re-use of 75% of the original structural frame including walls, floors, and roof; restoration of the building’s original glazed classroom walls for daylighting; addition of skylights; and a 22% energy savings.

Historic preservation and sustainability efforts win the Maritime Center a 2014 AIASF Historic Preservation Honor Award for Hamilton + Aitken Architects. (Photo by Eric Chiu)

The Maritime Center’s National Park Service Interpretive Center is furnished with child-sized tables and chairs, art easels, wooden toys and other artifacts from the WWII Richmond childcare centers. (Photo by Eric Chiu)

Architecture Citation Award: East Oakland Sports Center

Architecture Firm: ELS Architecture and Urban Design

As part of efforts to revitalize the Brookfield neighborhood of East Oakland, California, ELS collaborated with the City of Oakland to design a new community sports, recreation, and aquatics center. The building’s transparent walls allow passing auto and pedestrian traffic to view activity inside the building, thus serving as a “living advertisement” beckoning the community to visit and participate. Phase I of the center features a LEED Silver certified natatorium with an indoor leisure and lap pool, a dance and aerobics studio, a fitness center, learning/ media center, and a space for community gatherings. Phase II will include a 25 yard x 25 meter competition pool, a two-court gymnasium with suspended running track, and an adjacent sports park with soccer and baseball fields.