Model of Sustainable Practices
This $600 million, 1.3 million-square-foot office campus on a 38-acre site is, located in the Kearny Mesa area of San Diego. It serves as a consolidated operations center campus for the County of San Diego. The phased development of the project over an eleven-year period has allowed the County to maintain operations during construction. Sustainable design was a priority for the County, allowing Lowe and the development team to implement state of the art systems throughout the campus. The office buildings are certified LEED Gold, with the conference center, auditorium and cafeteria, which features a green roof, earning LEED Platinum status. Upon completion, the current phase will pursue LEED Gold certification. COC has also demonstrated a commitment to public art programs with multiple sculptures featured throughout the campus and a first-of-its-kind public art display that showcases work by local and national artists and a collection of local historic artifacts on display. As a result, the County’s first archive of historically significant pieces was compiled and documented. The delivery of each phase ahead of schedule and under budget demonstrates Lowe’s ability to satisfy client needs and create an inviting and efficient community facility, while also showing utmost respect for the environment and honoring the culture of the local community. COC has earned numerous awards for design and sustainability, including San Diego Gas & Elelctric Energy Leader for new construction for 2011, “Outstanding Governmental Building of the Year” by the California Center for Sustainable Energy, the People’s Choice Orchid Award from the San Diego Architectural Foundation and the AIA California Council’s Merit Award for Sustainable Design.