HGA-Designed Government Towers Surpass LEED Certification Goal
Sacramento, CA – April 21, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — California State Office Buildings 8 and 9, a pair of iconic towers along Sacramento’s downtown skyline part of a recent renovation led by HGA Architects and Engineers, have been awarded LEED Gold status due to HGA’s commitment to sustainable design. The twin 20-story towers, intended to house approximately 1,700 State of California employees, exceeded its original goal of LEED Silver, pegging an extra notch in the internationally recognized green building certification system. The towers’ renovation was completed last fall when Building 9 opened up to government employees.
“Design excellence rooted in sustainable practice is a cornerstone of HGA’s work, and this project exemplifies the efforts made to that end,” said HGA Project Manager Greg Bucher, AIA, LEED AP. “The design foundation for these government facilities works in concert with the State’s emphasis on sustainable design. And for those efforts to surpass our original goal of LEED Silver, to have accomplished more than we all set out to achieve, is something everyone can take tremendous pride in.”
The State Office Building 8 & 9 towers have been a fixture in Downtown Sacramento since the late 1960s. The two 310,000-SF structures, occupying a full city block at 744 P Street, are owned by the State Department of General Services. The overall project, designed by HGA, is part of the State’s Excellence in Public Building program which includes an emphasis on sustainable architectural design. The entire $157 million renovation project, after many years in planning and design, took four years to complete.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a planning and report system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, prescribes many different ways that the built environment can meet sustainable goals. With this project, HGA made every effort to preserve the original building structure and exterior skin. Energy-efficient mechanical and electrical systems were installed, including state-of-the-art lighting controls, and water-saving plumbing fixtures. New building materials were selected based on other environmental factors, like paint low in VOC, and carpet and tile made substantially of recycled material. Additionally, the towers were seismically reinforced through upgrades of the existing steel and concrete structure. Large, liquid-filled dampers now act as shock absorbers for the tower’s framework.
A new, two-story 7,800-SF lobby now links the two towers providing a single, secure point of entry, as well as a new focal point for the complex. Office Building 8, completed in 2008, quickly demonstrated the impact of designing green: Reports indicate approximately 20% less energy use and 40% less water use.
HGA’s project team includes Steve Fiskum, principal, Greg Bucher, project manager, Angela Falla, technical support, Doris Rolfshus and Laurie Rother, interior design, and Joe Tarlizzo, cost estimating and LEED coordinator. S.J. Amoroso Construction served as the general contractor.
About HGA Architects and Engineers
HGA is an integrated architecture, engineering and planning firm that helps prepare its clients for the future. With offices in Minneapolis and Rochester, Minnesota; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento, California; and Washington, DC, the nationally recognized firm has developed expertise in the healthcare, corporate, arts, community, higher education, and science/technology industries since 1953. HGA’s culture for interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge sharing and design investiga¬tion enables its clients to achieve success with responsive, innovative and sustainable design. Visit www.HGA.com.
