Sunnyvale’s new city hall building will most likely receive a platinum LEED rating due to its sustainability features such as solar panels, water efficiency and close location to mass transit and shopping.
Environmental priorities for the building, set to open this December, included having net zero energy, meaning the building’s energy consumption will be met or offset with onsite renewable energy.
LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a certification system created by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council that recognizes sustainability achievement and leadership. Projects earn points by addressing such issues as a building’s potential location and nearby transportation, water efficiency, energy performance, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation.
“From the outset of this project, our community emphasized being a leader in sustainability,” said Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein. “We are proud to say we will be accomplishing that goal with what we believe is the first LEED platinum and net zero energy city hall in the country.”
Sunnyvale’s new city hall received 85 out of a possible 110 points for its LEED certification. The city won’t know the official LEED status until all of the construction credits are substantiated and the review is complete, but according to officials, the project is well on its way. Construction projects participate in a verification and review process and are rated on a point system, from certified (40-49 points) to platinum (80 points and up).
Located at the intersection of El Camino Real and South Mathilda Avenue, the new 117,107-square-foot city hall will have 1,653 solar panels generating 1,099,000 kWh per year, which officials estimate should be enough to power the building. Sunnyvale’s new building received 28 of 33 on the LEED scorecard for “energy and atmosphere,” along with 12 of 16 points for “indoor environmental quality,” which includes improved air quality for building occupants.
LEED certification requires water efficiency, and Sunnyvale received seven out of 11 points for measures including limiting potable water use for irrigation, restrooms and HVAC equipment. Outside, the landscaping will consist mostly of native and low-water plants and efficient irrigation systems. Sunnyvale received three points for rainwater management, which will include a vegetated roof garden on the building’s second level. This has the added benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The entire building has also been designed around the sun (a practice called “daylighting”), so it will limit the need to run the air conditioning and will maximize light for illumination, thereby improving visual comfort and reducing energy use. The building’s lighting will be 100% LED. The narrow footprint of the building and large windows and skylights have been designed to maximize the daylight coming in, but solar control is also provided by the roof, automatic window shades and horizontal shade structures outside the southern side of the building. The white roofing membrane will allow the building to stay cool on sunny days. In addition, a UV stripe coating on the windows may not be apparent to humans but will prevent birds from colliding with the building.
Sunnyvale received five out of a possible 13 points from LEED for materials and resources, which is low due to this being new construction and not a remodel using existing buildings. However, building materials were environmentally friendly whenever possible, and included free or recycled products and low carbon-emitting materials. By consolidating Sunnyvale’s many existing city hall buildings into the new singular city hall and removing the old buildings, planners have created about six acres of open space for Sunnyvale residents. Builders prioritized tree preservation as well, protecting 90% of existing trees, and 12 mature trees have been relocated around the new city hall site.
The building was awarded 12 of 16 LEED points for location and transportation, meaning there is housing, restaurants, banks, grocery and other retail stores within walking distance of the new building. The new city hall will be close to mass transportation such as Caltrain, buses and bike lanes, and the number of parking spaces on site has been reduced in order to minimize single occupant transit. The new building will also provide EV charging and long- and short-term bike storage.
