New structure is LEED certified
CIVIC CENTER With temperatures in the high 50s and winds blowing at 17 mph in certain parts of the city on Tuesday, the top of the city’s new eight-level parking structure — known to be the most environmentally friendly garage in the country — felt more like December than March.
Undaunted, more than 60 people turned out to mark the grand opening of the mixed-use parking structure that is expected to be the first step toward giving the Civic Center area an extreme makeover.
With sweeping views of the ocean, the Santa Monica skyline and the city of Los Angeles in the background, the guests — including architects from Moore,Ruble,Yudell Architects and city planners — mingled, congratulating each other on a job well done and enjoying a spread of snacks on plates and napkins made from sustainable materials.
“This is an incredible spot,” said Councilman Kevin McKeown during his speech, motioning to the view of the ocean behind him.
The new parking lot will provide 882 parking spaces in an area where it’s desperately needed, with the Civic Center, Santa Monica Courthouse, Public Safety Facility and City Hall all within walking distance.
Located at 333 Civic Center Drive, ground was broken on the project 18 months ago and completed for $29 million. It’s considered to be a piece of the puzzle that is the massive renovation of the Civic Center area — a puzzle that includes an arboretum, a soccer field, renovation of the Civic Center auditorium and affordable housing.
The 298,786-square foot structure will include approximately 9,457 square feet of commercial and retail space, with a restaurant occupying the second floor outdoor plaza.
Perhaps one of the main reasons why many of the city officials and project planners were beaming with pride is what lies ahead for the product of all their hard work — certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the United States Green Building Council, which should make it the first parking garage in the nation to achieve such standing.
Approximately $1.5 million of the total cost was spent on sustainable elements, including solar panels on the roof level, which will generate 181,000 watts of renewable power, and a storm drain system that will filter runoff before it is sent to the bay. The building was also made from recycled construction materials, and will accommodate seven electric vehicles with charging stations.
There are currently five LEED certified buildings in the city. The city of Los Angeles, which has 40 times the population as Santa Monica, has only six LEED certified structures.
Part of the focus with designing the parking structure was to make it more than a building where people could park their cars, a veritable gateway to the Santa Monica Civic Center and all that is to come in the future.
“It’s important that this building is a complement and benefit to the Civic Center rather than a concrete parking structure,” said Laura Friedman, the city’s architect.
Art was also an important feature, with colorful paneling on the exterior of the structure and art pieces installed at the elevator bay on each floor. The panels are intended to signify the sunrise to the east and the ocean to the west. At night, the color panels are illuminated.
On each floor, Glendale-based artist Mark Lere installed a sculpture in front of the elevator, which should remind people where they parked their car, from the gigantic ball of twine on the first floor to the gray diamond on the third to the large tire on the roof.
“You don’t have an excuse not to remember what floor you were on,” Lere said.
Art is meant to alleviate the fears of a dark parking structure, especially for women who might find themselves walking in the garage alone.
“Parking structures are serious and sometimes scary places,” Lere said. “One of the things I tried to do is add humor to it.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 28, 2007. Read the original PDF.