Santa Monica city planners decided it needed to get on the map for something other than golden beaches and a sultry Pacific Ocean coastline, urban walkways and sandy terrain, gourmet cuisine and world-class dining, and first-rate couture and upscale boutiques. This six-story, 882-space structure at the Civic Center is just one of several buildings in Santa Monica that have gained LEED certification. The structure features photovoltaic roof panels, a storm drain water treatment system, recycled construction materials and energy efficient mechanical systems.
The structure’s photovoltaic panels -- which cost $1.5 million -- will pay for themselves in 17 years by generating $90,000 a year in electricity,” said Craig Perkins, director of Environmental and Public Works Management for the City.
The building was designed by International Parking Design, Inc with Moore, Ruble, Yudell.
The City of Santa Monica is getting serious about encouraging green building practices by passing an ordinance that will allow expedited plan checks for LEED registered projects and offering a grant program to encourage construction of LEED certified buildings and implementation of Innovative Green Building Technologies.
Santa Monica leads the world in LEED certified building per capita.
This low income single-occupancy housing project will be one of the first urban buildings of its type in the US that is 100% energy independent, using solar energy and natural gas powered microturbines.
The Public Safety combines police and fire department headquarters in a 117,000 square foot building. The building performs 36% better than California Title 24 energy efficiency regulations. It is the first City building designed to qualify for USGBC's LEED Silver certification.
The Santa Monica main library was designed to integrate many energy efficiency, water efficiency, and indoor environmental quality features. It is was expected to be LEED Silver certified, but in the end achieved the higher Gold Level certification.
The Natural Resource Defense Council completed their West Coast Headquarters in the downtown area of Santa Monica. It is designed to qualify for the Platinum rating under the LEED certification program which is extremely difficult to attain. The building includes daylighting, solar photovoltaics, and an onsite greywater treatment and reuse facility.
Civic Center Parking Structure (pictured above)
The Civic Center Parking Structure is the first building of its kind to be LEED-Certified. The building combines needed parking capacity with retail space in a structure that will serve as an aesthetic entryway to the City from the I-10 freeway. Some notable features are the photovoltaic panels on the roof and the public art incorporated into the design of the building.
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