2022 Design Award Recipient – Archive for AIA California

Atherton Library – Climate Action Award

October 7, 2022| 2022 Climate Action Award, 2022 Design Award Recipient, Specialist| AIA California

2022 AIA CA DESIGN AWARDS

Climate Action Award

Atherton Library

Architect: WRNS Studio

Project Location: Atherton, California

Photographer: Bruce Damonte

Set on the wooded site of Atherton’s recently built Civic Center, the new, light-filled 9,601-sf library is designed as a welcoming hub for community engagement. The healthy, low-carbon, all-electric project nestles into its locale with a modern design that reflects current and future trends, including multi-use spaces which can easily be adapted for patrons’ needs.

“A handsome, well-planned addition with excellent technical performance. The design is a welcome complement to the existing building striking a deft balance of scale, proportion and materials. Commendable performance criteria include:
All-electric
Stormwater management measures
Prepped for future PV
Rammed earth exterior walls
Natural daylight and ventilation techniques
On-site greywater treatment system
Future cistern
Focus on healthy material selection.”
– 2022 Design Awards Jury

Design for Integration

Commitment to sustainability drove the design with daylighting, natural ventilation, highly-efficient building systems and materials, and access to open spaces, reducing the need for artificial lighting, cooling, and heating, all while improving IAQ. With extreme heat and wildfires a threat, rammed earth walls were erected due to their superior thermal mass and temperature control. And with water-shortage a reality, native and drought-tolerant landscaping can preserve the beauty of the site during severe drought, helping people’s well-being while limiting reliance on municipal water.

Design for Equitable Communities

Shaped by the community, the library is a destination for discovery and growth with an expanded collection, range of resources and events, and unmatched technological opportunities.

Design for Ecosystems

With an eye on conservation, the existing redwood dell that borders the western facade was preserved and a storm management approach with bioswales and pervious paving integrated. The trees are both a meaningful symbol for the Town and an ecological resource for migratory birds — the Atherton Coastal Mountain Ridgeline is the only place on the San Francisco Peninsula that connects the coastal wetlands to the ocean.

Moreover, the new library features outdoor decks connected to the building, which lead to treelined walkways and open garden spaces embedded on the larger site. Native and drought-tolerant plantings attract pollinators and further connect visitors to the project’s wooded locale.

Design for Water

Dual-plumbing and water-wise fixtures lessen demand. A storm management approach with bioswales and pervious paving was integrated into the design with rain gardens and landscaping treating and retaining water before it filters into the aquifer. An on-site greywater treatment and disposal system, coupled with the future underground cistern, which will collect rainwater from the roof and be reused for lavatories and irrigation, further reduce municipal reliance.

Design for Economy

The design relies on natural ventilation and sunlight, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling. Constructed of low-carbon rammed earth walls that provide thermal mass, the all-electric building also features a highly-efficient mechanical system that replaces fossil fuel-based systems while maintaining an even, comfortable temperature, even during extreme months.

Multi-use areas are distributed throughout. Pre-assembled bookcases line the walls with seating nooks intermittently carved out to maximize space. Serving dual purpose, dedicated meeting rooms can be used for quiet work or group gatherings. The maker space deck, along with the outdoor decks anchoring each wing, provide indoor-outdoor space, extending the building’s use, while mature redwoods offer additional shaded areas to enjoy.

As an addition to the San Mateo County library system, which is consistently ranked as one of the best libraries in the nation, the project addresses affordability by serving a diverse, county-wide population. As a community hub, the library prides itself on creating an inclusive sense of place, offering resources and programs to foster ongoing learning regardless of income, social status, race, or political affiliation. Library cards are free and all are welcomed! No membership or purchase necessary to enjoy the building and its programs.

Design for Energy

The all-electric, ZNE-ready building is wired for 100-kW PV rooftop array intended to supply 100% of the structure’s energy. The high-efficient building envelope of insulated rammed earth walls, high-performing low-E glazing, and a high solar reflectance index (SRI) roof system that alleviates the heat island effect, work together to reduce modeled-energy. Operable windows allow warm, stale air to be exhausted through the roof while displacement ventilation provided by Underfloor Air Distribution system improves ventilation efficiency, thermal comfort, and IAQ, all while reducing energy use. LED lighting with dimming controls, along with plug load controls, further reduce wattage. A slatted trellis overhang at the entrance, made from FSC-cedar, provides shade while mitigating heat gain. The library has a projected EUI of 28.6 kBtu/sf and is targeting LEED Platinum.

Design for Well-being

As a community hub, health and wellness was a driving factor. An airy design of expansive, operable windows and glazed doors take advantage of the temperate climate and flood the interiors with natural light and fresh air. The building provides over 80% of its regularly occupied spaces with daylight measurable within 25-500 foot candles on the autumnal equinox.

Several spaces have access to outdoor decks — the maker space deck allows little ones to burn off energy and the outdoor decks at each end, allow visitors to be outside under the shade from the sun. Regional, renewable, low and no-VOC materials and FSC-wood contribute to improved IAQ and do double duty, improving acoustics with perforated wood paneling.

The people-centered project is meant to be an inspiring, safe place for the community to gather.

Design for Resources

Innovative materials were key to reducing the project’s embodied and operational carbon. The structural system is specifically designed to last 75+ years. While site and soil conditions required significant concrete pile foundations, the team carefully designed low-carbon concrete mixes for all concrete applications. Strategies for reducing cement content included 56-day cure times and up to 70% cement replacement with fly ash and slag. Additionally, the team incorporated rammed earth walls as a carbon-saving measure and as a way to use local resources.

Interior material selection focused on human health and adhered to CDPH, EPD and HPD, including no-VOC carpets and wall coverings, and the recycled kiln-tiled wall coverings in the maker space. Garapa hardwood, naturally resistant to rot, decay and insect attack, was selected for the expansive outdoor decks. Felled redwoods were spliced in half and provide outdoor bench seating. The exposed grain acts in harmony with the cobblestone pathways and the fine-grained timber decking of the outdoor terraces.

Furthermore, the library uses existing infrastructure — the Historic Town Hall — as a multipurpose space for events, reducing the environmental impacts of building anew while creating a synergistic civic center campus design.

Combined, the strategies resulted in the library’s whole life-cycle embodied carbon footprint of approximately 26.5 kg CO2e/sf.

Design for Change

The library is designed as a modern, light-filled community hub to accommodate the Town of Atherton’s current needs and long-term growth.

Exterior materials have a minimum 75-year lifespan with outstanding thermal and emissivity values. The decision to use low-carbon, rammed earth for the walls aligned with the town’s sustainability goals while ensuring resiliency against extreme heat and the threat of wildfires, which the area is prone to.

During construction, a wall of rammed earth was mocked-up to test its design, constructibility and thermal mass. Coupled with the entrance’s slatted wood trellis and high-performance glazing, the envelope mitigates heat gain and is much less susceptible to future temperature swings. Using environmentally-sound, long-lasting materials not only reduces embodied and operational carbon today, but also future-proofs the planet for tomorrow.

Climate change also dictated the landscaping. Mature redwoods and native and drought-tolerant plantings create a wooded, parklike setting. When water is really scarce, the grounds can still provide a pleasing place of respite.

Moreover, the adaptable floor plan can accommodate changing town needs and unforeseen hazards such as Covid. Spacious open areas work well with social distance requirements. Decking, prominently placed, offers direct access to outside air and sunlight. Operable windows and skylights better circulate interior air. From a psychological perspective, the design delivers a sense of comfort, important during stressful times.

With an eye on the future, the project committed to building electrification, with no on-site combustion. To eliminate reliance on natural gas while improving indoor air quality, a highly-efficient underfloor air distribution and displacement ventilation system (UFAD) was installed. The modular UFAD components make it convenient and less expensive to reconfigure space should the project be renovated. Plus, the system allows for the lower costs associated with churn rates if the building needs to be reconfigured, relocated, or the interiors changed.

Additionally, the proximity of the library to the other buildings on the site, one which shares outdoor decking space and will house a cafe, make it ripe to accommodate growth and changing community needs, as well as adapt to other uses down the road, such as an event space, retreat center, or educational building.

And with torrid heat, raging wildfires and prolonged drought an ongoing environmental threat, the building is at increased risk of power outages. To address California’s electric grid demand, the building is wired for 100kW PV rooftop solar array, intended to supply 100% of library’s energy.

Design for Discovery

This project leveraged community input and the town’s commitment to a healthy, low-carbon, welcoming design.

One part reading center (quiet spaces offer solitude), one part learning space (the library has an expansive collection, offers a range of resources, and hosts educational and community events for all ages) and one part maker space (the maker space and digital lab feature 3d printers, laser cutting and sewing machines, among other hands-on experiences) — the library is designed as a place for discovering.

As the town’s “front porch” — a central gathering hub for all ages — the design process involved the entire community. The collaborative effort entailed a feedback loop on design aesthetics, sustainability aspirations, and construction, with the Town of Atherton providing public updates each step of the way.

This communal strategy is personified in the building design which is meant to flex with changing community needs. Curved interior walls invite visitors to explore the various areas. Oval-shaped skylights delight as they cast soft circles of light. Different seating clusters distributed throughout offer spaces of solitude to discover what’s within, gathering areas to socialize, and tables and computer workstations to learn together or alone. The maker space invites hands-on discovery meant to enage and inspire. The outdoor areas encourage mobility and are strategically placed, providing equitable opportunity to wander out and about.

A project that has spanned approximately eight years, the design process inherently fostered a long-term relationship between the designers, the users, and the operators, who all shared the same vision — create a community heart, capture the town spirit, and be mindful of the environment.

Being environmentally-sensitive was of utmost importance. However, the upfront costs of building sustainably and what each stakeholder wanted to integrate into their sustainable program varied. While the project couldn’t embed all the suggested sustainable strategies due to budgets, the dialogue led to designing with future integrations in mind.

The collaborative process of designing for what is right leads to many paths which require research and sharing with the town leadership and community. These paths include the pursuit of highly-efficient building systems, thermal and electrical energy storage, and the elimination of the use of fossil fuels in the design. They also include renewable energy sourcing, when budget permits. While not all pursued paths will lead to a place within the project’s budget or scope, their pursuit forges a clearer path for all as we move toward cleaner and more efficient energy-use.

In the future, to guide more constructive conversations, we recommend to develop a “sustainable expectations” document that can be shared with Bidders prior to Bid Award. This will provide insight into intent, and could help certain systems like rammed earth construction.

The library opened this summer. There are plans for post-occupancy evaluation. Also, as the project pursues the rigors of LEED Platinum certification, performance and energy data will be reviewed and shared so that the library performs as designed and with the hopes of improving the functionality and performance over the life of the building.

The Harvey B. Milk Terminal 1 – Climate Action Award

October 6, 2022| 2022 Climate Action Award, 2022 Design Award Recipient, Specialist| AIA California

2022 AIA CA DESIGN AWARDS

Climate Action Award

The Harvey B. Milk Terminal 1

Architect: Woods Bagot / ED2 International / HKS / KYA / Gensler / Kuth Ranieri / Hamilton + Aitken Architects

Project Location: San Francisco, California

Photographer: Joe Fletcher and Jason O’Rear

Harvey Milk Terminal 1 is one of SFO’s largest projects to date, designed to accommodate a 70% increase in passenger capacity while achieving a 60% reduction in energy use from current operations. Terminal 1 sets a new benchmark for world-class air travel while reflecting Bay Area values. The design embodies a philosophy that induces a “quiet wow,” fostering a sense of discovery and delight, leaving a lasting impression of SFO that celebrates the joy of travel.

“A beautiful, high-performing project from top to bottom, earning high scores in all areas of sustainability – we hope airport designers around the country and world will take note of the innovations in San Francisco. Commendable performance criteria include:
Low energy people movers and baggage handling equipment
Active facade systems to control solar gains
FitWel certified airport
PEUI was reduced by 66%
Reduced embodied carbon by 16% through the careful selection of materials”
– 2022 Design Awards Jury

Design for Integration

Core to the project’s concept is embodying the characteristics of Bay Area Naturalism throughout the design as a means to encourage users’ wellbeing and sense of place, but the appreciation of the community and planet goes much deeper. In fact, the project team’s dedication to designing a sustainable and future-proof project that benefits today’s users and those to come yielded the world’s first-ever LEED v4 Platinum-certified airport terminal and a new template for sustainable design.

Design for Equitable Communities

Inspired by the legacy of Harvey Milk, the Terminal embodies the values of the San Francisco Bay Area, welcoming all. A variety of seating accommodates different activities and abilities. In addition to 2 play areas, and lactation rooms, each gate lounge has a family friendly area with child sized furniture. The first all gender restrooms at the airport provide equitable choice for all. Animal companions have pet restrooms and amenities too. T1 has convenient access to public transit, a safe pedestrian infrastructure, and access to free water supplies. It was designed to reduce stress through clear wayfinding and better lighting.

Design for Ecosystems

The Terminal is part of a larger airport campus that highly values the surrounding environment and ecology of the Bay Area. The airport is home to three federally protected species: The San Francisco garter snake, the California red-legged frog and the Ridgway’s rail and actively restores their habitat. Additionally the project supports these efforts by reducing the energy and carbon impacts through design to lessen the operating environmental impact over the decades that it will be in operation. Passengers are exposed to these efforts through a robust sustainability messaging program implemented in the terminal.

Design for Water

SFO is committed not just to water conservation, but also leading water stewardship. The T1 project is dual plumbed to utilize the upcoming on-site tertiary treated industrial wastewater for landscape and restroom flush fixtures. Low-flow, hands-free bathroom fixtures and faucets are projected to reduce water demands 33% below LEED baseline. Chilled water is provided from SFO’s Central Utility Plant whose Cooling Towers are operated in accordance with the LEED Cooling Tower Water Use credit, achieving at least 10 cooling tower cycles without exceeding maximum concentration parameters.

Design for Economy

To place the project in context, construction was executed in a high construction cost region and in the middle of an active airport and, despite the pandemic, the original schedule was maintained. The planning and design of the concourse allow for significant operational flexibility, providing excellent value for money for the owner. The gates are all capable of being used by any airline and aircraft, in any combination of international and domestic arrivals and departures; direct boarding from airline clubs is also possible. The Client has declared that this project is their new benchmark for future terminal improvements.

Design for Energy

Energy conservation and GHG reduction measures were prioritized at every project stage, resulting in a tremendous 59% EUI reduction and LEED Platinum accreditation. The project is poised to meet carbon zero emissions with the upcoming Central Utility Plant modernization. Highlights include: designing for an all-electric future; dynamic glazed windows to reduce peak solar loads and improve comfort; optimized glazing to harness daylight; tote-based baggage system that uses 50% less energy; Go-Slow escalators and moving walkways; energy regenerative elevators; radiant heating and cooling to complement displacement ventilation; and, 2.5 MW PV system that provides over 14% of the project’s energy use.

Design for Well-being

T1 is the first airport terminal in the world to achieve Fitwel certification. Daylighting through dramatic oculus skylights, clerestories in circulation ,aid in wayfinding and provide a sense of comfort and delight. Occupied spaces have expansive windows with views, dynamic (electrochromic) glazing providing high quality light while reducing glare. Human health was prioritized in material selection by utilizing the Precautionary Principle and Health Product Declarations (HPDs), low or no-VOC emitting products, and avoidance of pvc and flame retardants. Indoor air quality testing ventilation and air filtration systems are optimized for human health.

Design for Resources

Sustainable resource thinking was woven throughout the project’s design and construction process. Early whole building LCA informed opportunities for the use of low carbon concrete, steel, flooring and wallboard, leading to a 16% reduction in the project’s embodied carbon footprint. With the owner’s Zero Waste to Landfill goal, considerable attention was paid to the design of recycling, food scrap and waste receptacles and placement and construction waste management (achieving over 90% diversion). Embracing circular thinking, material selection prioritized materials designed for disassembly, with high recycled content and extended producer responsibility programs, including flooring, ceiling products, and furniture.

Design for Change

In addition to the robust sustainability goals established at the onset of the project, being at the nexus of innovation in San Francisco informed how the project team conceived of a forward-looking and adaptable terminal that would efficiently accommodate future needs and technological advances. Beyond the tech-enhanced wayfinding system that will adapt to new messaging needs over time, the design of the concourse and associated gates anticipate fluctuations in air travel now and in the future by being able to adjust to the needs of any airline and a diverse range of aircrafts for both domestic and international travel. Furthermore, the building’s net-zero net energy (ZNE) consumption plan and LEED v4 Platinum accreditation lay the groundwork for ongoing sustainability integrations to an already highly environmentally conscious design.

Design for Discovery

Inspired by the design of California’s picturesque landscapes, the new Harvey Milk Terminal 1 is choreographed as an episodic journey, shaped by themes of Bay Area Naturalism and the beauty of its regional environment. As a very large project made from many small, interconnected experiences, the terminal promotes discovery and delight through the design and crafting of its journey moments heightened by the intuitiveness of the architecture, integration of wayfinding, and crafting of local materials to guide the guests from landside to airside. At the onset of the design process our visionary client asked us to “dream big,” and we did. Both the Terminal 1 Center and Boarding Area B integrated design / build teams met regularly throughout the concept, schematic, and design development phases to vet ideas and refine directions. It was a rich process that harkened back to the academic design studio. The design process for the new Terminal 1 was facilitated by the unprecedented creation of the SFO Big Room, a 200-seat, 30,000 SF temporary office building that housed the design/build teams awarded the Terminal 1 project. This stand-alone enabling project built within a commercial airplane hangar encouraged cross-disciplinary collaboration between all disciplines working on the terminal. The space set the stage for real-time exchange that fostered long-term trusted relationships between the client, designers, and operators. In hindsight, this process led to a remarkably thoughtful series of interconnected design solutions; however, we feel the process could have been streamlined by introducing the role of a “design liaison” earlier in the process to expedite the stakeholders’ decision-making process. The lessons learned during the process are not surprising though, as the workplace model we invented to fit our needs was original and did not have an existing template for success, but this is what likely created the environment for innovation in which we all thrived. In addition to being our dynamic workplace, the Big Room also served as a think-tank and lab to test ideas through the construction of full-scale mockups as well as furniture and equipment pilots to ensure design intentions were realized and built outcomes would optimize access and delight for the users long-term.

The Prow – Climate Action Award

October 6, 2022| 2022 Climate Action Award, 2022 Design Award Recipient, Specialist| AIA California

2022 AIA CA DESIGN AWARDS

Climate Action Award

The Prow

Architect: Aidlin Darling Design

Project Location: Seattle, Washington

Photographer: Adam Rouse

Located on Expedia Group’s new 40-acre corporate campus bordering Seattle’s coastline, the Prow is a biophilic retreat for the company’s staff and executives. The design creates a soulful sanctuary that is integrated with the surrounding environment and away from the day-to-day offices, allowing employees to clear their mind and thus spurring innovation. The resulting concept was driven by two primary influences: form and function.

“An extraordinary project that is uplifting and transformative. Use of local/regional materials, vegetated roof, passive cooling strategies, and biophilia all contributed to its success.” – 2022 Design Awards Jury

Design for Integration

The building gesture is born from a series of cascading plateaus descending from the offices down to Elliot Bay. The walls are crafted from the same stone as the riprap along the Elliott Bay shoreline. As the building emerges from these biodiverse terraces, its planted roof plane restores native vegetation to the site, previously covered in a water-dependent manicured lawn. In short, The Prow is a living part of the landscape design itself.

Design for Equitable Communities

The Prow was specifically designed with an extensive exterior deck and interior meeting space to allow for a range of Expedia Group’s needs including programmed events for local and visiting employees.

Design for Ecosystems

If any design aspect of The Prow resonates most clearly, it is its intrinsic and inextricable connection to place – the Pacific Northwest and more acutely the Seattle waterfront and Elliot Bay. The building gesture is born from a series of cascading plateaus descending from the office buildings of the new campus down to Elliot Bay, who’s edges are defined by canted stone rip rap walls – the same stone as the rip rap found along the adjacent waterfront shoreline protecting the land from the fluctuating tidal bay. As the building emerges from these biodiverse terraces, the planted roof plane of The Prow returns native vegetation to the footprint the building now occupies, which was previously covered in a water dependent manicured lawn from the previous campus grounds. As the newly restored landscape on the roof of the building matures, the flora will sponsor a return of the fauna indigenous to the area – mosses and lichens on the rip rap walls, insects that pollenate flowers, birds that feed on the insects, and so on.

Design for Water

The Prow uses low flow plumbing fixtures with sensor operation on faucets and filtered water equipment. All rain water that falls on the roof is either absorbed by the vegetated roof plantings, or naturally makes its way to the bioswale integrated into the landscape at the tail end of the building. All potable water used for irrigation, at the Prow and on the entire site, is highly efficient in it’s systems as part of the Gold Certification for the SITES v2.

Design for Economy

The Prow is inherently a multi-use space, that can host a variety of functions – small brainstorming sessions to large thinktanks, lectures, events, gatherings, et al. As such, the economic advantage of the space for Expedia Group is that the Prow is truly a multi-dimensional, multi-usable space that can be emptied of furniture and reprogrammed within a day’s notice, and re-imagined in the future when it’s use could be modified to accommodate changing demands.

Design for Energy

The envelope of the building strived to meet the dualling demands of the stringent SEC’s efficient energy consumption requirements, and the ample natural daylight and fresh air access concerns of a healthy, well-balanced building. By maximizing the glazing area allowed by code, natural daylight is used for the illumination of the interior spaces for a large percentage of its day use. In parallel to this, the building uses high performance, thermally broken aluminum storefront and sliding door systems with high efficiency IGUs to meet energy efficiency requirements, along with undergoing rigorous air tight testing required for SEC compliance.

Design for Well-being

The Prow was designed as a biophilic retreat within the unfolding landscape of the urban campus’s design. It’s roof gesture and interior spatial orientation were generated to maximize illumination of the spaces with natural daylight for the majority of its day use. A large panel of sliding glass doors opens on to an exterior deck to blend interior and exterior activities, providing each with ample fresh air. Fresh air dampers also allow for clean interior air circulation when external weather conditions do not allow the doors to be open. All materials also meet the strict Salmon Safe Toxicity Guidelines.

Design for Resources

The Prow was designed to gracefully age with its natural surroundings. As the majority of the exposed monolithic walls were created from rip-rap quarry spalled stone, the presence of patina over time will add to its character, and will require zero maintenance. The overall material palette is defined by indigenous Pacific Northwest materials, expressed by the warm wooden floors and ceiling composed of locally sourced Douglas Fir, and dark stained rough sawn cedar siding used on the interior cabinetry. What metal finishes are exposed use durable powder coat marine grade finishes to reduce or eliminate the need for future refinishing.

Design for Change

The Prow has been specifically designed as a multi-functional space that is able to meet the fluctuating needs of the client, as well as its engagement with the community. With the shifting and / or removal of interior furnishings, the space can be transformed into an event space, a lecture hall, a small or large scaled casual gathering space, or any host of other programs that could be accommodated through its open design.

Design for Discovery

Approaching the Prow from within the campus, one is met by two black portals elegantly positioned within a single-story stone wall—representing the threshold between the everyday and the aspirational. The larger of the two is flanked by sidelights that quietly reveal a wooden interior and Elliott Bay in the distance. Once inside, the occupant is surrounded by a singular room crafted from natural materials. The northern and eastern walls are solid, while the southern and western walls are glazed—dramatically framing a panoramic yet intimate view of Mount Rainier and Elliott Bay. The south facing glazing retracts and opens to a floating deck covered by a 50-foot cantilevered, rising roof plane. In its current configuration, a heroic Nakashima table with seating for twenty people that facilitates meetings with satellite offices around the world anchors the northern end of the main space. Centered on the expansive view, a casual seating area for individual and collective brainstorming is situated which overlaps in to outdoor furniture on the exterior deck. As a user moves to the most southern tip of the floating deck, an intimate gathering of seating around a fireplace is found – the fire being the original vehicle for transcendent thought.

11 NOHO – Honor

October 6, 2022| 2022 Design Award Recipient, 2022 Honor Award, Specialist| AIA California

2022 AIA CA DESIGN AWARDS

Honor award

11 NOHO

Architect: Brooks + Scarpa

Project Location: North Hollywood, California

Photographer: Courtesy of Brooks + Scarpa | Photos by Tara Wujcik and Jeff Durkin

11 NOHO is a new model of mixed-use housing that includes both affordable low-income and market-rate housing together in a single project. Located on the edge of the very popular and trendy NOHO Arts District, the project affords access to important community amenities to an extremely popular and pedestrian friendly neighborhood. Because it is “Inclusionary Housing”, the project affords equal access for very low income who would otherwise not be able to afford to live in this community.

“A strong, holistic consideration of building performance wrapped into an architecturally interesting design that promotes social equity. (The opening) is successful in connecting you back to the City – a major move to breakdown the monolithic box. The jury was particularly impressed with the following performance criteria:
Stormwater management strategy
Community service via affordable housing.”
– 2022 Design Awards Jury

Design for Integration

Offering shelter and comfort, 11NOHO eschews the typical neighborhood defensive apartment buildings with solid walls and fences in favor of a carved-out cube, a beacon in the neighborhood that celebrates social space by de-emphasizing private space. Strategically placed windows, purposeful exterior circulation and units that wrap the outer-most edges, orient the 60 apartments to social spaces that are spatially apart, yet visually connected to each other and the street below.

Design for Equitable Communities

11 NOHO is located within 1/2 mile of 14 basic community resources, on a previous single story office building and parking lot as urban infill. The majority of the tenants do not own cars and daily errands do not require one. A large bike room on the ground floor provides permanent long-term bike parking. Short-term bike parking is provided in the front yard for guests. Vehicular parking has been reduced (19 are provided, a 63% reduction) and include one electric vehicle stall. The rear alley is narrow (substandard width) and the reduction in vehicle trips through the alley alleviates vehicular congestion for the community at-large.The innovative design balances privacy with opportunities to connect with the community.

Because 11 NOHO includes 10% affordable units set aside for very low income tenants they have the same access to the pedestrian and resource rich community amenities that would otherwise not be available to them because of the high cost of housing in the area.

Design for Ecosystems

The project’s location is urban and the previous site was one large 100% impermeable surface lot with a small single story office building. ‘Flow-through’ planters which act like swales. It incorporates more planting than most urban buildings. Drought tolerant plants and gravel provide storm water retention and habitats for animals. All impermeable surfaces are directed to the ‘flow-through’ infiltration planters and all exterior lights are shielded.

Los Angeles County lies along the Pacific Flyway, a major north-south route for migratory birds in America. In spring and fall, the region plays host to millions of birds coming through Southern California on their way back to breeding grounds in the north or wintering grounds in the south. The planting is important because birds play a key role in L.A.’s ecosystem. This region has a huge abundance of biodiversity of birds and this building is close to MacArthur Park, which is an urban park with a lake fed by natural springs- providing a key link in this ecosystem.

36% site area designed to support vegetation
0% site area designed to support vegetation before project began
90% of landscaped areas covered by native or climate-appropriate plants supporting native or migratory animals

Design for Water

A Stormwater Management Plan was implemented to promote infiltration, capture and treat stormwater runoff from 90% of the average annual rainfall, using best management practices. 11 NOHO has been designed such that over 30% of the site consists of vegetative landscaping or permeable surfaces. Impermeable surfaces (such as the roof and second floor deck) are directed to on-site infiltration planters, which retain and clean storm water. This results in a site in which over 95% of the surfaces capture storm water in some way. Water savings of approx. 30% above average due to low flow fixtures equates to substantial cost savings for both utility domestic and sewer water rates and payback time is less than 1 year due to the low cost of these fixtures. passive design, low water fixtures and storm water capture all combine to reduce the need for mechanical and electrical loads. This translates into lower utility costs, a burden that can be placed on tenants of affordable housing.

No invasive plants were used. Predicted Indoor annual water use 2,000,000 gal/120 = 16,666 gal/person, (46 gal/day) (+/- 35-40% better than standard per EPA Watersense). 1.2 gallons/sf of landscaped area during month of peak demand

Design for Economy

We prioritized both first and long-term costs for our non-profit client due to the tight budgets of housing and the need to have no or low maintenance costs for the future of the building. Units are small studios, which allow for a very high density and the building envelope utilizes low-cost passive strategies to reduce energy use including increased insulation in the walls/roof, natural cross ventilation and a white roof. The mild, sunny California climate and low solar panel costs results in a short pay-back for the hot water rooftop solar panel array.

Framing efficiencies were utilized: prefab detailed cut list and lumber order, open-web floor/roof trusses spaced more than 16″ and panelized construction. Floor plates, building volumes and shear walls stack vertically, reducing cost and construction waste. The ground floor parking garage is naturally ventilated, saving energy and substantial cost. All of the exterior materials were chosen for their low maintenance qualities. Hot water panel solar system cost has a payback time of less than 5 years.

Design for Energy

Building design must incorporate passive principals first….which require daylight and natural ventilation. Views are equally as important. Percentage of floor area or percentage of occupant work stations with direct views of the outdoors: 95%. Percentage of floor area or percentage of occupant work stations within 30’ of operable windows: 95%.

Passively designed around a large open courtyard, most of the units have cross ventilation and abundant natural light. Upgraded wall and roof insulation, a light-colored roof and roof-top planting mitigate heat gain and reduce energy load. The ground floor garage was specifically designed to be naturally ventilated, reducing energy load. The elevator is intentionally ‘tucked away’ to encourage tenants to circulate through the building using the stairs, which also saves energy and improves health.

This residential building type uses more hot water than other building types, therefore an efficient common boiler was utilized, commissioned and connected to roof-top solar hot water panels, which further reduce fossil fuel use. All of the unit heating and cooling is via a very efficient combination ‘multi-unit’ variable refrigerant flow system. All of the appliances are energy star rated and all of the light fixtures are high-efficacy.

Design for Well-being

This neighborhood is a ‘walker’s paradise’ with a 96 Walk Score and is near excellent transit and bike lanes. Most of the affordable and other tenants that live here do not own cars and can accomplish their daily activities easily without one. A large bike room on the ground floor provides permanent long-term bike parking. Short-term bike parking is provided in the front yard for guests. Vehicular parking has been reduced (19 are provided, a 63% reduction) and 11 NOHO has been designed to encourage walking and socializing. Both exterior stairs have been designed to be special, not standard, and the elevator was tucked out of the way in favor of a more open pathway, which provides tenants with more options for socializing. The design incorporates recommendations from an Acoustical Report that determined street noise was substantially reduced by orienting the units towards the courtyard.

Design for Resources

During construction, 93% of construction waste was diverted from the landfill. Materials were selected for their modest first cost and also their no or low-maintenance qualities.

Strategies were developed to address durability issues, indoor air quality issues and moisture control. Hard flooring is used throughout the unit interiors (no carpet). Where concrete was used it was left exposed and unpainted, with the exception of the recreation room, where the flooring is cork for acoustical reasons.

Framing efficiencies were utilized, such as precut framing packages, joist spacing greater than 16″ o.c., composite wood structural members and open-web wood trusses.

Materials were procured with a recycled content (such as concrete with flyash content and gypsum board with recycled content) and all of the aggregate for the concrete foundations was procured locally. Materials were chosen with integral colors to eliminate the need for any future painting or refinishing, such as the window frames and the integral-colored stucco throughout project.

Major materials have HPD certifications, all materials meet the City of Los Angeles Green Building Code, the California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s criteria.

Design for Change

11 NOHO incorporates passive survive-ability. It minimizes vehicular space in favor of living space and provides multiple transportation options: vehicular, pedestrian, bicycle and electric vehicle. Bicycle space is lockable and incorporates a work space, to make it easy for tenants to use alternative modes of transportation. The building location near existing bus lines allows tenants to use mass transportation in lieu of private vehicles. The building location near a park and other amenities allow tenants to walk to services.

The on-grade garage, with a flat floor, can easily be adapted for another use in the future when vehicles become scarce. Vehicular spaces were reduced by over 60% (from current code) by utilizing incentives from the state for affordable housing. There are 19 spaces for 52 units and 4 on-site employees.

The roof is designed to be ‘solar-ready’ and can accommodate a future photovoltaic solar panel array. The mechanical and plumbing systems are ‘common’ (shared by multiple units) which mitigates the frequency of mechanical failure and boosts efficiency. The solar hot water panels will keep water warm without utility power.

It is designed to last a minimum of 60 years, which runs with the affordability covenants that are required.

Design for Discovery

We keep a detailed spreadsheet of the cost of our projects and the cost of the energy-efficiency measures and have found, in the past 20 years, a substantial decrease in the cost of the energy-efficiency measures and improvement in our ability to meet more stringent requirements due to improved codes, more efficient equipment and lenders that are requiring at least 30% better efficiencies than our state code.

We give tours of our completed buildings to professional organizations (such as the AIA), students, lenders and other interested people and we take pride in the fact that a large majority of our clients are repeat clients. We believe in educating others as to our own ‘lessons learned’ and have also reached out to the Los Angeles Dept of Building & Safety with recommendations to improve the permitting process. A team of Planners from the City of LA has visited the site to discuss the ‘unintended’ consequences of their restrictive interpretation on rear setbacks, first brought up by us during plan check on the project.

Desert Palisades – Honor

October 6, 2022| 2022 Design Award Recipient, 2022 Honor Award, Specialist| AIA California

2022 AIA CA DESIGN AWARDS

Honor award

Desert Palisades

Architect: Woods + Dangaran

Project Location: Palm Springs, California

Photographer: Joe Fletcher

This residence is deeply connected to the desert environment and its context in the hills above Palm Springs. Surrounded by boulders and spanning a natural arroyo, the home is lifted above existing site features while maintaining its connection with the earth. The design celebrates the hallmarks of classic desert modernism—horizontal lines, the use of natural materials, and expansive glazing. The open, shared areas and intimate enclosures allow individuals to experience several spatial environments.

“The building siting, organic natural materials both indoors and out, and expansive glazing strongly ground it into its surroundings and integrates it in a responsible, environmentally sensitive way. Noteworthy performance features include:
Meets 2030 target goal
Use of FSC certified wood
Abundant access to natural daylight
Use of natural ventilation and +L5 thermal mass”
– 2022 Design Awards Jury

Design for Integration

Set in Palm Springs, this home emphasizes natural materials, and visual and physical linkages between indoors and out. Spanning a natural arroyo, the home is lifted above existing site features, preserving natural waterflows and original boulders. Burnished CMU blocks flank the ends of the main pavilion, grounding the home to the site. The home is clad in unfinished patinaed brass that will naturally weather over the years. Sliding glass doors provide natural ventilation.

Design for Equitable Communities

When designing this home, we wanted to consider the delicate surrounding landscape native to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Being one of the first homes in this environment we wanted to set the standard of design quality and care. The materials and tone are consistent with the native landscape. Identifying natural boulders and two arroyos helped us to site the building without disturbing the native terrain and to maintain original drainage channels. The residence is a new classic Palm Springs vacation home, while still being extremely of its place.

Design for Ecosystems

The landscape design uses a wide variety of 100% native plantings including cacti, shrubs, perennial desert flowers, and trees (where strategic shading is most needed). Boulders native to the site have been repositioned to flow seamlessly into the home’s design and in some cases act as architectural features all their own. These actions preserve the micro-climate of the site, and the home becomes an inhabitant of the site rather than an interloper.

Design for Water

The home spans over the sloping site, floating over two natural arroyos. By carefully forming the building around the site, we were able to preserve the functionality of the arroyos and leave the natural watershed undisturbed, preserving the delicate balance that is crucial to this region. Low flow water fixtures are also utilized in the home, minimizing the overall water usage of the residence. The landscape is designed to be extremely drought tolerant and appropriate to the climate. This was achieved with the use of various native plants including barrel cactus, desert spoon, and Mojave yucca.

Design for Economy

The architecture emphasizes horizontal lines, natural materials, and visual and physical linkages between indoors and out. The materials palette is tonal to the landscape, won’t fight the harsh climate, but was selected to weather well with over time. Exterior walls of brass panels float over concrete masonry units that are carefully selected to match the color of the sand on site. Floors inside and out are an unfilled travertine. Teak detailing is found throughout the home, wrapped in brass panels, they will naturally patina over time.

Design for Energy

Several passive energy cooling techniques are utilized. Trellises overhang every western exposure and offer shading to much of the outdoor living space. High performance, thermally broken doors and windows provide thorough insulation. An abundance of glazing throughout the home eliminates the need for artificial lighting during the day. A VRF mechanical system zones the temperature control of the home, ensuring that energy is not spent to cool unused spaces. The residence takes additional advantage of the harsh desert environment and utilized onsite renewable photovoltaic panels to power the home. Low-flow plumbing fixtures and fittings are used throughout the home.

Design for Well-being

Users can interact and connect to the habitat from nearly every space in the home. Floor-to-ceiling windows on each side of the great room provide natural daylight and ventilation. A glass atrium formed by the bridge connecting the two wings of the home provides a moment of transition and calm as one enters the main pavilion of the home. This space is unencumbered by fences or border walls, so swimmers can engage directly with the environment beyond. The master suite also offers sweeping views, as the secondary master contains a private deck, to provide its own moment of quiet connection.

Design for Resources

As a practice we aim to provide the most efficient designs while reducing the need for excess material. The materials chosen for the home will wear well and age over time as it adapts to its surrounding environment, including the brass paneling that will patina over time and CMU blocks that will never need replacement. These are high investment cost materials but will provide a long lifetime of use.

Design for Change

The biggest threat to this site is drought and materials of the structure becoming brittle. The materials we selected are not synthetic will patina over time rather than deteriorate. Flash flooding is also of concern – the home is lifted above the site and natural water channels are well managed. The floor-to-ceiling window/door fixtures provide ample access to light and natural ventilation. This makes the home very survivable in the short term of natural events.

Design for Discovery

The process of completing this project provided many opportunities to learn and adapt to designing in a delicate landscape. This home is very contextual. We learned lessons regarding scale, adjacencies, and function when designing the home to be part of nature rather than fighting against it. Lessons learned from the project have been shared with our team. We reference the scale, floor plans, photographs, construction submittals, etc. to build upon our portfolio and continue to influence better and better practice for each new project we take on. Additionally, the homeowner has opened up the residence to architectural tours to share our learnings with the public.

High Desert Retreat – Honor

October 6, 2022| 2022 Design Award Recipient, 2022 Honor Award, Specialist| AIA California

2022 AIA CA DESIGN AWARDS

Honor award

High Desert Retreat

Architect: Aidlin Darling Design

Project Location: Palm Springs, California

Photographer: Joe Fletcher, Adam Rouse

Sited on a rocky desert plateau outside of Palm Desert, this home is tightly nestled within a constellation of boulders overlooking the Coachella Valley and the San Jacinto Mountain Range. The residence performs as a simple framing device for the occupant to observe the dynamic surrounding terrain. The home’s diagram is a triptych of elements: a floating roof plane, a collection of wooden volumes, and two concrete anchor walls.

“An impressive zero net energy residential project with broad overhangs in dialogue with the vastness of the high desert; a well executed design and a stunning home. Noteworthy performance criteria include:
Water reuse system
Energy savings
Consideration of well-being
Construction material use.”
– 2022 Design Awards Jury

Design for Integration

The residence was initiated to be as energy efficient as possible, by necessity of its remote location. Power outages and water interruptions necessitated an off-the-grid approach. A 15kW solar array was split into three sections, two on the main roof, and one on the detached garage. A battery array in the garage incorporates solar energy storage. Two 5k-gallon water tanks were discreetly installed on the property, allowing for an ample potable water supply. An on-site septic system and low-flow plumbing fixtures keep all waste contained and managed on-site.

Design for Equitable Communities

Design for Ecosystems

The project was designed to be an integral part of its natural environment, with the least amount of disruption as possible to the existing ecosystems and wildlife patterns on site. In addition to keeping all ancient pinyon trees and rock formations in the design, the pool and courtyard water feature, in addition to providing evaporating cooling for the clients, also serendipitously serve as watering holes for location wildlife. The wild site, a large percentage of which was untouched, directly meets the constructed site and become one moment.

Design for Water

Two 5k-gallon water tanks were installed discreetly on the property to allow for an ample potable water supply in the case of utilities going out of service for an extended period of time. An on-site septic system, along with low flow plumbing fixtures, truly keep all waste contained and managed on the site.

Design for Economy

Shared common spaces in the main structure are used by the client when only they are occupying the space, leaving the guest wing dormant until needed for guests, helping reduce energy needs when only the two clients occupy the home.

Design for Energy

The residence was initiated to be efficient in concept, by necessity of its remote location, while providing livable shelter in a diurnal harsh environment. The goal was to use the least amount of power as possible from the municipal grid. Frequent power outages and water interruptions necessitated an off-the-grid approach. A 15kW solar array was split into three sections with two on the main roof and one on the detached garage roof. A battery array in the garage stores solar energy throughout day, which contributes to the building’s performance at night and during extended power outages.

Design for Well-being

The entire house was designed to open up to fresh air, and use minimal to no artificial lighting during the daytime. Every room has access to operable windows with views, with skylights in the single powder room that does not have a window. As the building was seamlessly integrated with the natural boulder formations on the site, as well as preserving every old growth pinyon tree on the property, it’s connection to the natural environment was the driving factor of the floor plan.

Design for Resources

The project was designed with long life cycle materials in mind — concrete, charred and acetylated wood from Accoya that comes with a 30-year warranty, robust steel windows and framing elements, and aluminum windows and doors for long working lives. The house used all water-based sealants, stains, and paints; low to no-VOC products; and has multiple operable windows and doors to allow ample fresh air to cycle through.

The materials of the home were chosen to quietly contrast the lighter palette of the desert landscape. The blackened wood siding is pine wood that is acetylated, burnt, wire-brushed, stained and sealed. All of these treatments are intended to provide a highly textured finish that is bug and rot resistant, and minimizes movement within a climate known for its large diurnal temperature swings. The interior is a collage of concrete, wood, stone, and steel, each responding to its immediate application to maximize durability while providing the home with warmth and a soulful nesting quality.

Design for Change

The project runs on a 15kw solar system, that powers the house throughout the day, along with battery backup storage, in case of blackouts. As every room has operable windows, if power does go out, and the battery backup is expended, cross ventilation can be employed to continue to live in the spaces with comfort until power is restored, or evacuation is mandated. 10k gallons of water storage allow for extended lengths of potable water for drinking and cooking in the event of a water outage. The materials used on the project were selected for their robust nature and durability over time, to mitigate the need for maintenance involving paints or replacement.

Design for Discovery

Sister Lillian Murphy Community – Honor

October 6, 2022| 2022 Design Award Recipient, 2022 Honor Award, Specialist| AIA California

2022 AIA CA DESIGN AWARDS

Honor award

Sister Lillian Murphy Community

Architect: Paulett Taggart Architects with Associate Architect StudioVARA

Project Location: San Francisco, California

Photographer: Bruce Damonte

This new affordable housing development breaks open perimeter block typology into four articulated masses connected by open-air circulation and multilevel landscapes. This strategy integrates and visually connects the residents to the surrounding neighborhood and creates micro-communities within the building and block. Integrated design and supportive programming create a healthy, dynamic and supportive environment that helps build community.

“This multifamily project is handsome, variegated, and possesses a good urban presence. It addresses the needs of families living and working in the urban environment; extending the range of its impact by providing services to the broader neighborhood. Commendable performance criteria include:
Exceeded the 2016 Title 24 code
Achieved a 38% reduction from the benchmark EUI which is laudable for an affordable project”
– 2022 Design Awards Jury

Design for Integration

Breaks in building massing create small, distinguishable communities within the building and block, provide visual connection, and maximize sun exposure. This strategy provides ample fresh air, sunlight and greenery for the entire building. The corner stair tower acts as a beacon at the terminus of an urban view corridor. Its dynamic, airy interior and stunning views welcome residents to use the stairs, encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle. Sustainable strategies balance health, wellness and economy.

Design for Equitable Communities

The building is designed for its urban setting, woven into a lively, walkable, neighborhood. Such amenities as the bicycle pavilion and stroller parking support a car-free lifestyle and design elements such as the airy stair tower encourage healthy habits.

Open air circulation and common amenities strategically located adjacent to landscaped courtyards offer health benefits and opportunities to encounter neighbors.

The ground floor child development center serves families in the community, with free services to eligible local households. The community room on ground floor is strategically located to allow for public access. All common outdoor spaces are fully accessible.

Design for Ecosystems

The design of open spaces and their interface with the public right of way and pedestrian mews use native, adapted Mediterranean, and very drought tolerant species with tremendous variety of size, form, color and texture. Taller vertical plantings create smaller intimate spaces that feel protected from overhead views and will grow to provide greenery outside upper level windows, framing views to the neighborhood beyond. Native grassy species used in the existing adjacent pedestrian mews were repeated along that frontage. These species are appropriate for the stormwater planters and reinforce a bayside character that existed here before any development.

Design for Water

Stormwater that falls within project boundary is collected and directed to stormwater planters that slow and clean water before releasing to the City system. Stormwater planters are scattered across the project in main courtyard, upper podium spaces, along perimeter of building, and along the adjacent pedestrian mews. Low-flow water fixtures are used throughout. The project is fully set up to utilize a separated reclaimed water system for all toilets in the building, once the City of San Francisco implements the reclaimed water supply in the neighborhood.

Design for Economy

A variety of residential unit sizes are designed with great efficiency, allowing minimized square footage yet extremely livable units. Breaking the building into wings lent itself to grouping and stacking of repetitive unit types for construction efficiency, and prefabricated wood framing reduces cost and waste. Exterior circulation reduces reliance on mechanical systems and provides a healthier environment; generous windows provide ample daylight. Exposed concrete structure and exterior and interior finishes were chosen for economy and durability. Efficiencies such as centralized open space in lieu of private balconies and shared laundry have the added benefit of promoting social interaction.

Design for Energy

The project exceeds California’s stringent energy standards. Photovoltaics generate solar thermal hot water, offsetting energy usage. Strategies to reduce energy consumption include electric heat and stoves, LED lighting, Energy Star rated appliances, generously sized windows for ample daylighting, and outdoor circulation with photocell lighting controls. Exposed concrete walls on south side provide passive thermal cooling and heating benefits, and sunshade formats respond to solar orientation. A fast EV Charger provided in the garage (all on-site parking spaces are EV capable/EV ready) promote the use of electric vehicles and designated car-share vehicle parking space encourages car sharing.

Design for Well-being

The project enhances residents’ quality of life and promotes healthy living. The light and airy main stair tower, designed in reference to Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative, encourages fitness by inviting residents to take the stairs. The building’s massing strategy sites the tallest to the north, maximizing sunlight into courtyards. Outdoor spaces provide ample biophilic connection and a variety of structures, rather than age-restrictive equipment, to encourage creative play. Exterior circulation provides safe, fresh-air passage and ample windows provide abundant daylight. Quality indoor air is enhanced through low-VOC paints and finishes, operable windows, and filtered mechanical ventilation.

Design for Resources

Anticipating a 50-year building life and striving to be good stewards of both the environment and the non-profit client’s funding, the design team applied solutions that balanced affordability with longevity. For instance, fly-ash concrete structure and finishes were used throughout for economy and durability, providing passive thermal and environmental benefitss. FSC certified wood was applied where able for such items as apartment doors. Low/No-VOC interior products and finishes contribute to healthy indoor air quality, and approximately 65% of site construction waste was diverted from landfill.

Design for Change

An affordable housing development, the building is not intended to change use but was designed with some flexibility. All units are adaptable to accommodate residents with disabilities. All of the on-site parking is EV capable/EV ready to allow for installation of EV chargers in the future. Most spaces within units and common areas have passive systems available, including generous glazing for daylight and operable windows for passive ventilation, which allows for adaptability to outside conditions. For instance, in adverse outside air conditions, such as pollution or wildfire smoke, residents can close operable windows and the mechanically-ventilated air to their homes is well-filtered. Likewise, as has been revealed in the COVID pandemic, the health benefits of natural ventilation are significant, and when outside conditions are optimal, the exterior circulation design reduces reliance on mechanical systems, while providing a healthy alternative via natural ventilation. In addition, the project is fully set up to utilize a separated reclaimed water system for all toilets in the building, once the City of San Francisco implements the reclaimed water supply in the neighborhood.

Arguably the biggest change facing 691 China Basin is its location. The Mission Bay neighborhood is built on landfill and actively sinking. As a result, the building was built on steel piles and a spider web of grade beams support the building and central courtyard structural slab on grade. Flow-through planters in the courtyard had to be placed between the grade beams, requiring tight coordination with the landscape architect.

However, the streets and sidewalks in Mission Bay are not as stable and are actively sinking. Working in collaboration with the developer, contractor, and other stakeholders, who all brought previous experience and lessons learned from earlier development in the neighborhood, the design team incorporated design strategies to maintain accessibility as the neighborhood infrastructure declines. For instance, buried steps will reveal themselves as the sidewalks sink, and hinge slabs on exterior access points respond to the movement of street and sidewalks around the perimeter of the site.

Design for Discovery

Caymus-Suisun Winery – Merit

October 6, 2022| 2022 Design Award Recipient, 2022 Merit Award, Specialist| AIA California

2022 AIA CA DESIGN AWARDS

merit award

Caymus-Suisun Winery

Architect: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

Project Location: Fairfield, California

Photographer: Matthew Millman

Caymus-Suisun Winery sets a new standard for hospitality in an emerging wine region, creating an elevated yet approachable experience and fostering a sense of discovery and immersion within the landscape. The winery includes a glass-enclosed tasting pavilion, sheltered welcome and retail building, and 29 acres of orchards, gardens, and vineyards. The tasting pavilion opens to let the valley’s hallmark breezes flow through, while a pyramidal oculus emphasizes changing light throughout the day.

”Very powerful and well detailed, pavilion style building with impressive passive heating and cooling measures.” – 2022 Design Awards Jury

Design for Integration

The project provides immersion and connection to the landscape while maintaining occupant comfort in a region with hot, dry summers and cool winters. Strategies for natural ventilation and minimizing direct sunlight throughout the day create an open and airy environment throughout. Integral to the sense of presence within this emerging wine region, the tasting pavilion’s deep overhangs and dramatic west cantilever provide shade during warm afternoons as the sun moves toward the nearby hillside.

Design for Equitable Communities

The site shares an entrance with a neighboring restaurant, hospitality and events center, helping to form a cluster of activity and encourage visitors to park and explore several amenities during a visit.

Design for Ecosystems

Our clients wanted each guest visit to involve exploration of the site’s dry-farmed vineyards and variety of diverse crops, including fruits, vegetables, and new tree plantings that provide additional habitat for small fauna and pollinators on the valley floor. Choreographing this indoor/outdoor approach, we integrated publicly accessible pathways through the site to encourage visitors to move seamlessly from tasting environment to landscape. Abundant natural light and wide openings in each tasting environment, as well as sheltered outdoor areas, help visitors experience the sights, sounds and smells of the surrounding landscape as they enjoy their visit.

Design for Water

Stone dripline infiltration trenches integrated into the outdoor circulation around the tasting pavilion mitigate stormwater and minimize volume of stormwater going into underground systems. Permeable pavers and perennial plantings throughout the site promote stormwater infiltration.

Design for Economy

Our clients wanted flexibility and multiple uses for tasting environments, both as a strategy to help groups of different sizes find their ideal setting as well as meeting the need for hosting varied community gatherings and events. We created tasting areas for different group sizes to feel comfortable, but left flexibility to easily scale up or down to accommodate different functions. Efficient back of house organization and location in core masses responded to our client’s operational and service needs while maintaining the interior’s clean lines and restrained materials palette.

Design for Energy

Large door openings and motorized transoms take advantage of southwest winds off the San Pablo Bay, reducing the need for cooling in the afternoon hours and allowing the building to open to the outdoors. The transom windows also provide nighttime flushing, using overnight air to pre-cool the building mass. On warm days when doors are closed, high-efficiency rooftop heat pumps and indirect evaporative coolers provide a comfortable interior environment. Hydronic tubing in concrete slab-on-grade provides radiant heating in winter and chilled floor cooling in summer. Deep overhangs reduce solar heat gain, particularly within the west tasting areas in the afternoon.

Design for Well-being

We conducted spatial daylight analyses to create an open, light-filled environment while minimizing direct sunlight into tasting areas during the warmest times of the day. The oculus over the central tasting area includes integral tint, low-e coating, and a frit pattern to reduce heat gain and moderate natural light. All tasting areas have expansive views to the outdoors, while deep overhangs, particularly over the west terrace, provide shade during warm afternoons. Large openings and motorized transoms take advantage of cooling southwest winds off the San Pablo Bay, while the motorized transoms provide nighttime flushing to pre-cool the building mass overnight.

Design for Resources

The Tasting Room is a steel-framed building. The Retail Building is a wood-framed building, with concrete masonry (CMU) walls and mass-timber roof structure. The project uses a limited material palette of wood, concrete, an aluminum and glass window system, and mass timber. Finishes were minimized by limiting painted gypsum-board to Back-of-House spaces. The project team worked with local artists and craftspeople to integrate interior furnishings made with local and regional materials.

Design for Change

The valley is a floodplain and the buildings were raised several feet above natural grade to remain above floodplain elevation without changing the natural drainage of the site.

Design for Discovery

Because the project was recently completed and opened to guests in June, a POE has not been conducted but is planned after 12 months of occupancy to understand how the design is working for staff, visitor comfort, flexibility of different tasting environments, and more. As a relatively new project typology for our firm, we plan to share information about process, successes and improvements with our staff to inform future projects.