Historic Hotels Honored

California Buildings • Q4 2022 Industry News

The two historic boutique hotels San Francisco Historic Hotels in the Presidio of San Francisco, Were Honored Inn at the Presidio and Lodge at the Presidio, were honored with the 2022 Historic Hotels of America Sustainability Champion Award. Granted by Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the award is presented to a hotel that best implements and practices innovative green initiatives and programs, demonstrating historic preservation is the ultimate green. Inn at the Presidio also earned this award in 2017. “We’re honored to accept this award from our peers, as a recognition of our commitment to innovative green initiatives and historic preservation,” Director of Presidio Lodging Terry Haney said. “We do this because it’s simply the right thing to do for our planet. It’s inspiring to see the positive response from our guests and the growing demand for sustainable travel as people become more aware of their individual environmental impact.” Originally a former bachelor officer’s quarters built by the Army in 1903, the 22-room Inn at the Presidio underwent an environmentally sensitive restoration that transformed the historic structure into the park’s first public lodging in 2012. The building was certified LEED Gold® by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2012. The 42-room Lodge at the Presidio, opened in 2018, was certified LEED Gold® in 2021. The stately red brick building on the Presidio’s Main Parade Lawn was built in 1897 and formerly housed enlisted Army soldiers. Both were rehabilitated under the principles of ‘adaptive reuse,’ minimizing waste by reuse while taking care to preserve both the natural and historical aspects that make the properties so extraordinary.

Top photo: Exterior of the Lodge at the Presidio. Photo credit: Ben Davidson. Lower photo: Lobby of the Inn at the Presidio. Photo credit: Paul Dyer.

California Ranks #1 in Recycling

According a study conducted by educational research firm and scholarship website engine Scholaroo, the East and West Coast states have the best green policies in the country. The study is based on the analysis of 7 metrics: Aluminum Cans Recycling, Clean Energy Policies, CO2 Reduction Target, Packaging Material Recycling, PET Bottles Recycling, Plastic Recycling, and Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban. Following California in the ranking was Oregon, Maine, New York and Vermont. The states ranked at the bottom were: Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alaska and West Virginia.

California Buildings • Q4 2022

California Facilities Get Top National Design-Build

Awards from Design-Build Institute of America

The Design-Build Institute of America has awarded a number of California firms for excellence. “Each year, we’re setting new goals and reaching new heights in designbuild. With recent market analysis projecting design-build to account for nearly half of all construction spending by 2025, it’s clear that design-build is changing the way America builds. DBIA is leading the way in advancing Design-Build Done Right™, and we’re proud to recognize the industry leaders helping to drive change, innovation and collaboration. This year’s award winners exemplify excellence and are among the best of the best in the industry,” says DBIA Executive Director/CEO Lisa Washington.

New Natural Resources HQ. Photo credit: Lawrence Anderson.

California recipients were:

w Design-Build Project of the Year New Natural Resources Headquarters (NNRH) – Sacramento w Educational Facilities Category University of California, Riverside Student Success Center – Riverside w Federal/State/County/Municipal Category New Natural Resources Headquarters (NNRH) – Sacramento w Office/Commercial Buildings Category Clifford L. Allenby Building – Sacramento w Transportation Category I-15 Express Lanes Design Build – Riverside County Special Recognitions w Best in Design – Architecture Clifford L. Allenby Building – Sacramento (shown above right) w Best in Design – Engineering Department of General Services California Air Resources Board – Mary D. Nichols Campus – Riverside w Best in Use of BIM/VDC Department of General Services California Air Resources Board – Mary D. Nichols Campus – Riverside

Clifford L. Allenby Building. Photo credit: Connie Zhou.

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California Buildings • Q4 2022

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California Buildings • Q4 2022

Livable Downtowns (Continued from page 8)

modifying, increasing or retrofitting the number of plumbing fixtures and required noise attenuation between dwelling units.

“Regarding the city's zoning regulations—in Downtown San Diego in 2021, we cleared the way for officeto-housing conversions. As we began to recover from the challenges of the pandemic, the City of San Diego Urban Division brought a Municipal Code amendment to the Downtown Employment Overlay Zone to allow conversions to occur if certain conditions were met, including the provision of onsite affordable housing. Since the new regulations have been in effect, we have already seen a flurry of interest, including several preliminary proposals.”

Architects Tierney and Long, who are very focused on this issue, say, “This technique presents some challenges since residential buildings must meet a different set of requirements. For one, California residential units require access to daylight, especially in bedrooms and living rooms. As a result, converting commercial spaces to residential use requires that a number of factors be taken into account.

“The usable square footage of floors in a building (floor plate dimensions) is an issue. The need for daylight imposes a perimeter of about 30 ft. around the exterior wall where units can be established. To satisfy this, the building must be in the range of 60 ft. wide to allow for a ‘double-loaded corridor’ arrangement; this width is sometimes seen in office buildings constructed in the 1950s.

“But for buildings constructed in the 1960s to 1980s, the floor plates are generally bigger and deeper. One option: once the 30-ft. perimeter zone is established, and if service core locations allow and there is sufficient depth and the building is not too tall, the center of the building could be removed to create a courtyard lined by units.

“The layout of windows along the exterior (fenestration) directly impacts the efficiency and efficacy of a conversion. If it consists entirely of glass, it will be easy to ensure daylighting in every room. However, if it consists of punched openings, the cadence becomes a factor. A standard-efficiency apartment is approximately 25 feet, wall to wall, and how the windows line up with this will significantly impact the layout and dimensions of individual units.”

Reinvigorating Urban Areas Tierney and Long say in their detailed analysis for California Buildings, “The benefits of adaptive reuse are considerable. Labor and construction costs are very high in California's major cities (i.e., San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, and Los Angeles). That makes tear-downs and rebuilding much more expensive than conversions. “Second, many of the unused and under-utilized Class B office buildings are located downtown close to infrastructure (public transit, shops, utilities, hospitals, and clinics). They are also close to Class A buildings, meaning that residents could walk, bike, or take the bus to work, reducing their reliance on cars and potentially relieving them of the financial burdens of high Converting under-utilized Class B office space can be a cheaper and more sustainable path for both additional housing and revitalizing downtown areas, architects say. gas prices and car insurance. An influx of renters and buyers into downtown areas impacted by the pandemic will have the added effect of reinvigorating them economically. “The proximity to services like grocery stores, daycare, and even schools are essential for residents, and these services are less-commonly-found downtown. So, in some situations these services can be considered for groundfloor retail mixed-use options. “As we transition from a state where COVID is pandemic to endemic, the hybrid work model is changing the shape of our downtowns and commercial real estate. Converting under-utilized Class B office space can be a cheaper and more sustainable path for both additional housing and revitalizing downtown areas.” n

California Buildings • Q4 2022

Landscape Architects Announce Climate Action Plan

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), which met in San Francisco in November, announced it has set new goals for the profession. Together the ASLA Climate Action Plan and the Climate Action Field Guide for ASLA Members chart a pathway for landscape architects to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions in their projects and operations and increase carbon sequestration by 2040. The Climate Action Plan was developed by a high-profile Task Force of five landscape architects chaired by Pamela Conrad, ASLA, founder of Climate Positive Design, and a 17-member Advisory Group. It outlines a bold vision for 2040 and a set of 71 actions to be taken by 2025. By 2040, all landscape architecture projects will simultaneously: u Achieve zero embodied and operational emissions and increase carbon sequestration u Provide significant economic benefits in the form of measurable ecosystem services, health co-benefits, sequestration, and green jobs u Address climate injustices, empower communities, and increase equitable distribution of climate investments u Restore ecosystems and increase and protect biodiversity

“Landscape architects are already helping communities achieve this vision. As we increasingly experience the impacts of the climate and biodiversity crises, we know we need to act faster. We are the only design professionals who bring all the pieces together to plan and design what communities need to prepare themselves for a changing world,” said ASLA President Eugenia Martin. “ASLA has developed its first Climate Action Plan in the spirit of great optimism. We envision communities becoming healthier and economically stronger because they have committed to drawing down carbon, restoring ecosystems and increasing biodiversity, and reducing reliance on vehicles — all while ensuring everyone in their community has equitable access to these benefits,” said ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen.

Greenbuild Conference in SF Showcased Sustainable Strategies

The Greenbuild International Conference + Expo in San Francisco, the largest sustainable building event in the U.S., saw a 72% increase in attendance over last year. The conference statement following it said, “gave the industry a whole new perspective on what it means to be green.”

Attendees got to see some of San Francisco’s most sustainable spaces including Google’s Bay View Campus and Microsoft’s Silicon Valley Campus (See page 12 for more). Attendees heard an inspirational keynote from Dr. Jean Rogers, Global Head of ESG at Blackstone, who shared tactical information on the most cutting edge trends in accredited education sessions. Jane Fonda, one of the keynote speakers, riveted the audience with stories of her own climate change activism, urging the audience to continue the work they’re doing to confront the climate crisis and make the built environment resilient. “We have a moral obligation to be persistent, resilient and hopeful for the future of the built environment,” she told the packed house.

During a keynote, GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Dr. Philip Fine, and the Department of Transportation’s Heather Holsinger each spoke about the impact that the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act is having on their respective agencies, and programs that they are implementing to meet the Biden Administration’s aggressive goals.

In addition, Greenbuild featured nearly 200 educational sessions, and over 400 industry speakers. Topics covered included ESG, sustainable finance, federal, state and local policy, decarbonization, equity and much more.

Attendees also got a taste of interactive venues in San Francisco with a VIP Party at SPIN and Greenbuild’s 20th Anniversary Event, with record attendance at the LEED Platinum Exploratorium.

During the day, participants took advantage of various networking opportunities and wellness activities including morning run/walks, yoga, a wellness room, and the USGBC’s annual Women in Green Luncheon, speed networking, roundtable discussions, birds-of-a-feather groups, the Greenbuild Book Club, and more.

On-demand access to Greenbuild content is available through December 31, 2022 at www.greenbuildexpo.com.