Starbucks Portfolio

Starbucks Portfolio

LEED Volume, LEED Certifications, Retail

In 2008, Starbucks made the commitment to build all new company owned stores worldwide to LEED certification standards by opting into the pilot versions of LEED for Retail (CI/NC) and Volume Build. As the program’s primary author, John Harrison led his internal team at Starbucks to build a unique LEED Volume certification system based on solutions to individual credit and prerequisite requirements. This approach allowed for certification of stores not based on an exact prototype. Using this method enabled international adaptations to documentation and processes, allowing Starbucks to have the maximum sustainable impact across its portfolio.

 

SIZE: 50 million+ SF globally, 30,000+ stores in over 75 countries, 1,600+ LEED certifications (2.9 million SF)

SUSTAINABILITY: LEED Volume

MARKET SECTOR: Retail

LOCATION: 22 countries/territories — Italy, Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherlands, United States, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, All 50 U.S. States and the District of Columbia

John and his team at Starbucks provided technical support, quality control oversight and status tracking for the hundreds of individuals who designed, built and commissioned stores globally. John’s leadership, together with the contributions of thousands of design and construction industry professionals worldwide, have made the Starbucks LEED for Retail Volume Build program the most successful green building program of its kind in the world. As a result, millions of customers and Starbucks store partners experience a healthier and more inviting space every day, while the company and the global environment benefit from energy and water savings at unprecedented scales.

Every time you order a Starbucks, you cast a vote for the powerful impact the retail environment can have on our efforts to mitigate climate change and improve the quality of life for all of us.

Rick Redrizzi, Chairman, International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)

As the primary author of the Starbucks LEED for Retail Volume Build program, undoubtedly the most successful green building program of its kind in the world, John took an iconic brand and leveraged its recognition to certify over 1,600 stores in 22 countries/U.S. territories across 4 continents and in all 50 US states.

Mahesh Ramanujam, President & CEO, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

Awards

  • 2010 Environmental Leadership A.E.R. – Sustainable Design Awards Starbucks Paris Disney l Paris, France
  • 2010 Global Green Design USA – Sustainable Design Awards Starbucks LEED for Retail Volume Build Program
  • 2011 AIA Seattle – Honor Award, Commendation Starbucks Ohori Park l Fukuoka, Japan
  • 2012 AIA Seattle – Honor Awards, Award of Merit Starbucks Reclamation Drive Thru l Tukwila, WA
  • 2012 Architectural Record – Good Design is Good Business Awards Starbucks Ohori Park l Fukuoka, Japan Starbucks Reclamation Drive Thru l Tukwila, WA
  • 2013 The European Centre for Architecture Art & Design/Chicago Athenaeum – Green Good Design Award for Architecture, European Traveling Exposition Starbucks Ohori Park l Fukuoka, Japan Starbucks Reclamation Drive Thru l Tukwila, WA
  • 2015 Historic Seattle – Best Adaptive Reuse Award Seattle Roastery and Tasting Room l Seattle, WA
  • 2016 The European Centre for Architecture Art & Design/Chicago Athenaeum – Green Good Design Award for Architecture Seattle Roastery and Tasting Room l Seattle, WA
  • 2016 USGBC Los Angeles Chapter – Sustainable Innovation Award Starbucks Highland and Willoughby l Los Angeles, CA
  • 2016 Los Angeles Conservancy – Historic Preservation Award Starbucks Highland and Willoughby l Los Angeles, CA

Portfolio Projects

Photos courtesy of Starbucks

Toyota Distribution Center at Long Beach Harbor

Toyota Distribution Center

Goal LEED Gold, Carbon Neutral, Tri-generation, Fuel Cell, Hydrogen Plant

This innovative 166,500 square foot facility includes three structures dedicated to processing over 200,000 auto imports annually at the Port of Long Beach. The structures will house Toyota’s administrative areas, as well as the Vehicle Distribution Center. This processing facility will also house employee breakrooms, an authorization area, parts receiving center, offices, conference room, nurse station and restrooms. A two-lane car wash will reuse water on-site.

SIZE: 166,500 SF

SUSTAINABILITY: Goal LEED Gold, Carbon Neutral, Tri-generation, Fuel Cell, Hydrogen Plant

MARKET SECTOR: Industrial & Manufacturing, Corporate, Ports & Harbors

LOCATION: The Port of Long Beach, CA, USA

The 120-plus acre site will also include a FuelCell that will deliver all of the building’s electrical requirements from renewable sources. The FuelCell will also create hydrogen to power both Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell car and short-haul tractor trailer. It will be the world’s first megawatt-scale carbonate fuel cell power generation plant with a hydrogen fueling station.

This Project worked with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to receive clarification and reinforcement that the use of directed biogas is permissible under the Bioenergy Market Adjusting Tariff (BioMAT) program. This is a feed-in tariff program, which allows eligible plants to sell power to one of the state’s three investor-owned utilities at a fixed price, providing for the use of biogas in-state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve overall air quality. The FuelCell Energy Plant will produce electricity, hydrogen and water from directed biogas, part of which will be used to power local operations, fuel a new fleet of hydrogen cars and trucks and rinse off vehicles at the on-site car wash. This impact goes beyond the building and enables the Port of Long Beach to achieve air quality compliance.

California is leading in the way in United States by establishing hydrogen generation and fueling infrastructure. In addition to supporting Toyota’s local operations, the hydrogen produced by our fuel cell will be used to power zero-emission fuel cell trucks and consumer vehicles, paving the way for the replacement of high-emission diesel trucks with hydrogen-powered trucks on a larger scale that will cleanly move products around the world.

Jason Few, President & CEO, FuelCell Energy

Project Photos

Photos courtesy of Lionakis and PS2 Inc.

Retail Design Collaborative (RDC) | Studio One Eleven

Retail Design Collaborative (RDC) | Studio One Eleven

WELL Gold & LEED Platinum

Retail Design Collaborative is an award-winning leader in retail design and a full-service architectural firm dedicated to making everyday places extraordinary and celebrating the retail realm as one of the focal points of human interaction. With more than 37 years of experience designing the retail realm, Retail Design Collaborative is at the forefront of the new era of retail, examining changing trends and drawing upon its experience to be a true retail thought leader.

SIZE: 35,000 SF

SUSTAINABILITY: LEED Platinum, WELL Gold

MARKET SECTOR: Creative Office

LOCATION: Long Beach, CA, USA

Studio One Eleven is an integrated practice of architecture, urbanism and landscape design dedicated to creating vibrant communities. Studio One Eleven finds ways to make cities more environmentally responsible, resilient, prosperous and joyful while addressing livability and equity for all residents. From community planning to streetscape improvements, mixed-use infill developments to small and impactful urban interventions, Studio One Eleven operates at a variety of scales with the ultimate goal of enhancing the urban condition that sustains each project.

Repurposing a former Nordstrom Rack, RDC designed their new office to create an invigorating yet functional environment that befits the firm’s culture. The design removes all but one private office, dedicated to human resources, crafting a space for teams to share a collaborative, creative, open space. Scattered amid the office are break-out rooms that act as collaborative pods for meetings. A mezzanine wraps the perimeter of the interior space, creating a “bridgewalk” overlook with lounges, workspaces and pin-up zones. The entire space is programmed with elements including: hospitality kitchen, open work clusters, idea lounges, flex offices, a community room, material library, shower and lockers, and outdoor patios.

The adaptive-reuse project also highlights RDC’s commitment to environmentally sustainable and responsible design practices. Numerous sustainability strategies have been integrated into the design, such as the innovative use of natural daylight and ventilation, lighting controls for energy conservation, low water consumption, smart material selection and an indoor/outdoor garden. The project is LEED Platinum and WELL Gold certified.

Throughout the process, they have studied the quality of their air, water, acoustics, comfort, and light as a means of ensuring optimal spatial quality. They’ve expanded their Health and Wellness Program to include yoga, meditation, cross training, a running group, strength training, biking and team sports including beach volleyball over the summer and softball in the fall. Their staff receives healthy, low sugar food options daily. Workstations are adjustable to suit the needs of everyone. They’ve also embraced a beautiful new product, Fluidstance, to promote standing, proper posture and eliminate chronic back pain.

The space is unique in that the building is almost entirely surrounded by retail. They floor layout is deep, limiting the amount of opportunity for daylight fenestration. Despite given conditions, the studio is consistently flooded with natural light through 20 new skylights hovering 25’ above the 25,000+ sf footprint.

From a community perspective, the staff gets out, a lot! Of course, it helps that downtown Long Beach boasts a Walkscore of 97, and now that the studio offers employees annual Long Beach Bike Share memberships, staff now have access to explore even more of what Long Beach has to offer, with 150 minutes of ride time per day, per person!

One of the most exciting new extensions of the new space is the in-house Living Lab. The Sustainability Department continuously examines and communicates the quality of the building’s air, water, light, acoustics, comfort, utility consumption, and alternative transportation initiatives.

This process is providing tools to architects in order to help them take design to a whole new level, one that goes beyond function and aesthetics, and forces the company to look deep into the quality of the space too often overlooked. This process forces the team to quantify the qualitative benefits defined by the space, inevitably contributing to productivity, talent retention and brand recognition.

Awards

  • 2018 IDA Silver Design Award, Renovation
  • 2018 IDA Gold Design Award, Urban Design
  • 2018 IES International Award of Merit “Interior Lighting Design”
  • 2018 Gold Nugget Merit Award “Best Interior Renovation”
  • 2018 Downtown Long Beach Spirit of Downton Award
  • 2018 48th Annual Los Angeles Business Council Architectural Awards, Interior Design
  • 2018 Architizer A+ Award Finalist, Co-working Space
  • 2018 Architizer A+ Award Finalist, Commercial Office Interiors
  • 2018 Architizer MasterPrize Honorable Mention
  • 2018 FRAME Design Awards, Honoree- Co-working Space of The Year
  • 2018 SCDF, Interior Architecture Design Award
  • 2018 German Design Council Award – Interior Renovation
  • 2018 IIDA Calibre Interior Design Award, Medium Office
  • 2017 USGBC-LA Chapter Sustainable Innovation Awards Health & Wellness
  • 2017 USGBC-LA Chapter Sustainable Innovation Awards Project of the Year
  • 2017 Honoree “Firm’s Own Office” Interior Design Magazine, Best of the Year Awards
  • 2017- Honorable Mention, Architects Newspaper Best of Design Awards ‘Workplace- Interior’
  • 2017 AIA Long Beach/South Bay Design Award

Project Photos

Cal State LA BioSpace Innovation Center

Cal State Los Angeles BioSpace Innovation Center

LEED Gold

The 20,750 S.F., two-story steel-framed facility located at the southern gateway of the University will house up to 25 startup firms and houses up to 8 modules of 4-5 (wet or dry) laboratories each, and shared autoclave and freezer storage, conference, collaboration, office, kitchen facilities, coworking space, multi-use classrooms and other lab options to accommodate needs ranging from desks to single lab benches to secured and walled off lab suites. The incubator is unique because it’s located at a primarily undergraduate and Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and supports a community of underserved emerging entrepreneurs and ventures lacking access to costly equipment, resources and professional networks.

SIZE: 20,750 SF 

SUSTAINABILITY: LEED Gold

MARKET SECTOR: Higher Education, Research & Development (R&D), Public Laboratory

LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA, USA

Each laboratory provides all basic biomedical research utilities and equipment within an open, flexible, and secure space to conduct significant research in an urban university setting close to biomedical firms and talent. Spaces will be for lease and will be focused on bioscience innovation, development, and ultimately job creation. The two overarching goals are to provide critical laboratory space and help emerging entrepreneurs turn their scientific discoveries into job-creating businesses.

The Cal State LA BioSpace initiative was created to foster a culture of inclusive entrepreneurship and promote the bioscience industry in the heart of Los Angeles. The initiative aligns with the University’s mission of engagement and service for the public good. Cal State LA BioSpace is providing training, laboratory space and resources for emerging entrepreneurs and their startup companies. Initiatives to create a bioscience ecosystem in Los Angeles date back to the mid-1970s. Those efforts were stymied by weak relational infrastructure and outdated organizational practices, resulting in a drain of human capital to places such as the Bay Area. To address this disparity, leaders in government, academia, private industry and the nonprofit sector began working together to build bioscience hubs, or clusters, to spur bioscience entrepreneurship and job creation across the Los Angeles region. The incubator is being developed with investment from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and philanthropic support.

We’re a place where innovation thrives and where the seeds of prosperity are sown by providing emerging entrepreneurs with the training and knowledge they need to launch successful startups.

Jose A. Gomez, Chair of Cal State LA BioSpace & University Executive Vice President

Project Photos

SoCal Gas Base + CNG Fueling Station

SoCal Gas Base, Training Facility, & Compressed National Gas (CNG) Fueling Station

Goal: LEED & WELL Gold, Net Zero, CNG

Southern California Gas Co.’s (SoCalGas) new net-zero energy building in Bakersfield will serve as its regional base. The building has a goal of Gold under the International WELL Building Institute’s (IWBI) WELL Building Standard (WELL). It is also seeking Gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its environmental benefits, which include a photovoltaic solar energy system, storm water management, drought resistant and climate-appropriate landscaping, the use of natural lighting for the wellness of employees and a super energy efficient air conditioning system power by natural gas instead of electricity.

SIZE: 31,000 SF

SUSTAINABILITY: Goal: LEED & WELL Gold, Net Zero, Compressed National Gas (CNG)

MARKET SECTOR: Corporate Office, Training, Fueling Station

LOCATION: Bakersfield, CA, USA

The 31,000 square-foot concrete tilt-up building includes an employee training facility and customer demonstration center, plus a separate storage building, garage, photovoltaic solar energy system and compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station for company and public use. This new LEED-certified and WELL-certified building is designed to be net-zero energy, meaning the total energy used by the building will be roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site from its photovoltaic energy system. In addition, the new facility’s Customer Demonstration Center will exhibit some of the many emerging gas technologies, created with SoCalGas support, that deliver meaningful greenhouse gas emissions reductions. SoCalGas employees housed at the new facility will serve more than 100,000 homes and businesses across a region of more than 7,500 square miles and maintain more than 1,700 miles of natural gas pipeline.

The new fueling station is open to the public and will exclusively offer renewable natural gas (RNG), a clean, sustainable fuel made from methane that would otherwise be emitted from landfills, dairy farms, and other waste sources. The new RNG station extends the network of clean natural gas stations across a key regional goods movement corridor in the San Joaquin Valley, which experiences the worst particulate matter pollution in the state, according to the California Air Resources Board (CARB). In any given day, over twenty thousand trucks pass through Highway 99 in Bakersfield, emitting roughly eighty-five tons of smog-causing nitrogen-oxide emissions. Near-Zero emissions natural gas trucks fueled with RNG can virtually eliminate smog forming pollutants and reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change by as much as 80 percent.

Renewable natural gas (RNG) is not a fossil fuel. It is a renewable form of energy produced from the methane emissions at dairy farms, wastewater treatment plants, landfills, and other waste streams. Depending on its source, RNG can be low-carbon or in some cases, even carbon neutral or negative. Capturing the methane from these waste sources and converting it into RNG keeps greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere and contributing to climate change and reduces the use of fossil fuels.

In California, vehicles account for more than 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and 80 percent of smog-forming pollution in the state, with heavy duty trucks among the largest polluters. In the San Joaquin Valley, car and truck emissions make up about half of all measured airborne particulate matter, according to CARB. Over the last five years, RNG use as a transportation fuel for heavy duty trucks and buses has increased almost 600 percent, helping displace over seven million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. That’s equal to the emissions from more than a million homes’ electricity use for one year. In California alone, there are currently 30 operational dairy RNG projects, with approximately 50 more in various stages of development. SoCalGas began directly injecting RNG into its pipelines for the first time in 2018 when the company began accepting RNG produced at a waste hauling company’s anaerobic digestion facility in Pixley, California. In 2019, RNG produced at a dairy digester facility in California also utilized SoCalGas’ pipelines for delivery. This facility is expected to eventually collect RNG from anaerobic digesters at 12 dairies, which would prevent about 130,000 tons of GHGs from entering the atmosphere each year. Scientists at the University of California, Davis estimate that California’s existing organic waste could produce enough RNG to meet the needs of 2.3 million homes.

In addition to being used to fuel trucks and buses, RNG can also be delivered to customers to generate clean electricity and to heat homes and businesses. Nationally, a just-released study by ICF estimates that enough renewable natural gas will be available by 2040, to replace about 90 percent of the nation’s current residential natural gas consumption.

Last year, SoCalGas committed to delivering 20 percent of the natural gas it buys for homes and businesses from renewable sources by 2030. To kickstart the plan, SoCalGas is pursuing regulatory authority to implement a broad renewable natural gas procurement program. The company has also filed a request with the California Public Utilities Commission to allow current natural gas customers to sign up to purchase renewable natural gas for their homes. A similar, voluntary program was launched in Philadelphia earlier in January 2020.

Several utilities and commercial fleets have committed to increasing the use of RNG as part of their sustainability efforts. For example:

In addition, SoCal Gas has worked with fleet owners to secure millions of dollars in incentive funding for the replacement of diesel trucks with cleaner, new near-zero emissions natural gas trucks. Each new natural gas truck that replaces a traditional diesel truck is the equivalent of taking 57 passenger cars off the road. SoCalGas’ commitment to increase the use of RNG both in transportation and in buildings is part of a broad, inclusive and integrated plan to help California reach its ambitious climate goals. 

Renewable natural gas use in trucking and public transit has grown tremendously in recent years since it offers drivers an affordable way to reduce emissions and delivers the power they need to get the job done. We are excited to offer drivers who travel through Bakersfield an environmentally friendly fueling option that can immediately improve air quality in the region.

Cedric Williams, Vice President of Construction, SoCal Gas

Bakersfield serves as the center of a major movement corridor. As one of the most important food and dairy producing hubs, having this CNG fueling station in Bakersfield will help us reduce our carbon footprint as we transport needed goods across the country. We thank our partners at SoCalGas for bringing this valuable resource to our community.

Karen K. Goh, Mayor of Bakersfield, CA

Project Photos

Photos Courtesy of JTC Architects

Step Up On Vine

Step Up on Vine

LEED Platinum Permanent Homeless Housing

Step Up on Second Street’s Step Up on Vine located in Hollywood, CA is a historic retrofit and rehabilitation of a 1925 concrete hotel into an affordable housing project. The project totals 20,718 square feet throughout one structure with three levels above grade. It includes 34 affordable housing units.

The facility is intended for the psychosocial rehabilitation and support of the homeless affected by severe and persistent mental illness. The ground floor features community spaces including a computer lab, restrooms, cafe and commercial kitchen to be used by residents and to serve the public. The second and third floors consist of living quarters and a laundry facility. Each 285 square foot unit includes built-ins, a kitchenette and a bathroom. The rooftop includes an outdoor respite for tenants with an aeroponic garden where tenants can grow their own herbs and vegetables.

SIZE: 20,718 SF 

SUSTAINABILITY: LEED Platinum, Human Focus

MARKET SECTOR: Residential, Affordable Housing, Homeless Housing

LOCATION: Hollywood, CA

The project received a notable LEED Platinum Certification. Sustainable features include ENERGY STAR Rated appliances and fixtures, high-efficiency variable refrigerant flow system for heating and cooling, the addition of a cool roof including a 50 kW solar array on roof deck, exterior green screens, daylighting strategies, use of a grey water/irrigation system and new efficient electrical and mechanical systems. The rehabilitation improved the building’s existing energy efficiency by at least 20%.

The facility is owned and operated by Step Up on Vine, LP and HCHC, both 501(c)3 organizations. With initial funding from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and a private contribution by Aileen Getty, Shangri-La Construction facilitated Step Up on Second’s initiative, “Step Up in Hollywood: Sustainably Ending Homelessness”. This commitment is to create 200 units of permanent housing with supportive services in Hollywood using multiple green technologies by 2014.

Founded in 1984 and based in Santa Monica, Step Up on Second provides the help, hope and home that lead to recovery for individuals and communities affected by serious mental illness and chronic homelessness in the Los Angeles area. Step Up on Second is dedicated to long-term support of people in recovery and their families, offering quality housing, educational, social and work experience. Step Up is committed to increasing public understanding of mental illness. HCHC is a nonprofit developer of over 700 units of affordable housing in Hollywood, serving low-income individuals and families, people with disabilities and the chronically homeless.

Tonight Kobe and I joined former President Clinton as we celebrated the grand opening of Step Up on Vine, a permanent supportive housing project in Hollywood as a part of our commitment to end youth homelessness through the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation. It means so much to Kobe and I to be able to see how Step Up on Vine will directly impact young people by not only providing food, clothes and shelter but by offering vital services addressing their overall health and life skills. The building is amazing and has a Platinum LEED Certification. So happy to see this vision come to life! For more info please visit KVBFF.org #KVBFF

Vanessa Bryant

So take advantage of it, build it, support what Kobe and Vanessa are doing, support what Step Up is doing, and stay at this until there is nobody wandering the streets alone just because their friends and neighbors didn’t realize they were also their brothers and sisters.

President Bill Clinton

President Clinton’s full speech can be viewed here.

Awards

  • USGBC-LA Chapter, Sustainable Innovation Award 2014, Innovation & Design
  • USGBC-LA Chapter, Sustainable Innovation Award 2014, Energy & Atmosphere (Honorable Mention)
  • Los Angeles Business Journal, Commercial Real Estate Awards 2014, Best Sustainable Project
  • Los Angeles Business Council’s 44th Annual Los Angeles Architectural Awards 2014, Green Building category winner

Project Photos

Citadel Environmental Inc.

Citadel Environmental Inc.

LEED Platinum

Citadel Environmental Services, Inc. is the remodel of an 8,000 sq. ft. 1973 building to become Citadel’s LEED Platinum and Net Zero Energy Corporate Offices. Citadel’s remodel project is a case study proving that sustainable remodels can be accomplished at the budget of a “traditional” (i.e., non-green) remodel–with the right team in place and a keen understanding of all the potential green building incentives, both nationally and locally.

The team worked closely to accomplish a long list of green-building improvements.

SIZE: 8,000 SF 

SUSTAINABILITY: LEED Platinum, Net Zero Energy, Human Focus

MARKET SECTOR: Commercial Office

LOCATION: Glendale, CA

Highlights include:

  • Maximum use of natural light: skylights installed, primary dependence on daylight vs. lights, and every seat in office has access to outside view
  • New energy efficient double-paned exterior windows and storefronts;
  • New packaged air handling systems (SER-14 units), which are 37% more efficient
  • New water-efficient interior plumbing and bathroom fixtures reduce usage by 62%
  • Green Seal certified furniture systems (contains high amount of recycled content)
  • 120 solar panels provide 45,000 khw per year, enough to power the entire building (Citadel and tenant), and net meter additional energy back to the City of Glendale;
  • Native, drought-tolerant landscaping with temporary drip irrigation system;
  • New energy-efficient lighting design requires 38.5% less power aesthetic; and
  • Focus on a 500-mile radius for sourcing over 20% of its materials.
  • Citadel even managed to salvage a historic mural of the Three Stooges that existed from the prior building tenant, the licensing arm of that well-known comedy team. It now resides as a wall in the kitchen/break room.

In addition to a LEED® Platinum certified workplace, Citadel integrates sustainability and well-being principles and practices across many facets of the daily operation for their employees: reducing paper consumption and utilizing electronic communications, purchasing and utilizing “green” products, placing recycling stations in offices, offering telecommuting as an option for employees, promoting healthy lifestyle choices, encouraging use of mass transit as well as fuel efficient and alternative energy vehicles, making use of teleconferencing and video-conferencing to reduce travel, choosing vendors that support the company’s sustainability goals, and maintaining an interactive intranet site to share sustainability information, news and best practices.

 

Citadel Environmental Services Inc.’s LEED® Platinum certification is a prime example that sustainability is scalable and makes sound economic sense.

Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council

Awards

  • The first LEED® CI project to receive Platinum certification in the Tri-City area of Glendale, Pasadena & Burbank; 1 of 10 in the state of California; and 1 of 89 in the country.
  • The second LEED® project to receive Platinum certification in the Tri-City area of Glendale, Pasadena & Burbank, second only to Shangri-La Construction’s Hangar 25 in Burbank, CA; and 1 of 60 in California.
  • One of 6188 certified projects in the country as of certification.
  • Citadel Environmental Services, Inc., also has received the Climate Leader Award from CoolCalifornia.org on May 3rd, for being proactive in reducing their climate impacts. CoolCalifornia recognizes small business owners in California who have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), incorporated climate-friendly activities, and used the tools at CoolCalifornia.org.
  • Ranked by the LA Business Journal as a “Best Place to Work” in 2013, 2014, 2016-2018

Project Photos

302 E Carson

302 E Carson

LEED Gold Historic Renovation

Located in downtown Las Vegas with the famous Fremont Street experience and Federal Courthouse a few blocks away, 302 E. Carson, a retrofitted Class A historical office building, is the first retrofit in Nevada to be awarded LEED Gold certification for Core & Shell. The formerly obsolete 1960s vintage, energy-inefficient building stands as a beacon for sustainable redevelopment in the downtown Las Vegas revitalization zone. In a city where buildings are imploded and replaced, the design team reused 95 percent of the existing building in a retrofit – an unheard of achievement in Las Vegas.

SIZE: 162,211 SF

SUSTAINABILITY: LEED Gold

MARKET SECTOR: Commercial Office

LOCATION: Las Vegas, NV, USA

The team recognized the opportunity to transform a functionally archaic, energy-wasting Class C building, with a unique open floor plate into a state-of-the-art LEED-certified facility and high-performing investment. Originally designed for the First National Bank of Nevada in 1965, 302 E. Carson is ideally positioned for government and professional tenants that desire to be close to the downtown courthouses and have strategic mandates for LEED-certified office space. The design intent for 302 E. Carson was to achieve a clean, pure form while preserving the building’s 1960s architecture – a modern spin on a classic.

Efficiency upgrades incorporated as part of the retrofit from the foundation to the roof, across eleven floors and 162,211 rentable square feet are projected to decrease building energy use by more than 30 percent and water consumption by 48 percent. Window replacement, installation of a cool roof, chiller replacement and extensive HVAC efficiency upgrades were some of the impressive achievements on this adaptive reuse and expected to save in excess of $50,000 per year in electricity costs.

In large cities, buildings can account for up to 70% of carbon emissions, and older buildings waste massive amounts of energy. Through energy-saving retrofits to existing buildings, my Foundation’s climate work and projects like 302 Carson are proving that reducing carbon emissions isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good economics. Urban planning that integrates improvements to existing office and government buildings can yield tremendous savings on utility bills, create new jobs, and lift local economies.

President Bill Clinton

Awards

  • BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association TOBY (The Outstanding Building of the Year) Award

Project Photos

SOM Los Angeles Office at Wells Fargo Center

SOM Los Angeles Office at Wells Fargo Center

LEED Gold & WELL Gold

Registered for WELL certification in 2016, the SOM Los Angeles Office at the Wells Fargo Center was an early adopter of the International WELL Building Institute’s (IWBI) WELL Building Standard (WELL) v1. In 2017, SOM completed a new office space to accommodate the growth of its Los Angeles studio. Located downtown, at the Wells Fargo Center—a complex designed by SOM and completed in 1983—the office provides a flexible workspace with room for expansion. The 16,000-square-foot office includes four conference rooms, two pantries, an architectural materials library, a model shop, critique areas for design reviews, and common spaces.

SIZE: 16,000 SF

SUSTAINABILITY: LEED Gold & WELL Gold

MARKET SECTOR: Commercial Office

LOCATION: Downtown Los Angeles, CA, USA

The interior design encourages collaboration and teamwork—qualities central to how SOM works. The existing 36th-floor space was completely renovated to create an open plan, with no private offices. In this non-hierarchical environment, sit-stand workstations for various architecture and design discipline groups are integrated with studio leadership. Pin-up walls provide areas for teams to collaborate on designs, while white surfaces and an exposed industrial ceiling contribute to an untraditional “laboratory” office environment. Technology is integrated throughout the workspace and includes virtual reality systems. In the reception area, interactive touch screens allow visitors to explore the firm’s current projects and history.

The Los Angeles office received LEED Gold for Interiors Design + Construction under the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED v3. The Project has also achieved WELL Gold certification under IWBI’s WELL v1. Features that contribute to LEED & WELL Gold certifications include natural light and views, automated sit-stand desks, workstations located near filtered water sources, LED lighting, acoustic design, and indoor air quality, among other considerations. The office will be tested for WELL re-certification every three years.

Project Photos

Photos courtesy of SOM