3045 Park Blvd has achieved aggressive sustainability goals reflecting DES's commitment to sustainability. The project was realized with sustainable consideration to perform efficiently and have minimal environmental impacts through its entire life cycle. The project achieved its ambitious pEUI target of 20.95 kbtu/sq ft-year which is 62% less than a typical similar building in the country. In addition to this, the project also achieved LEED v4 Gold certification and Fitwel Rating.

Energy and Carbon

The building employs several strategies contributing to its aggressive PUE target, including a high-performance envelope, abundant light, low-energy HVAC systems and heat recovery systems. Deep roof overhangs protect the building envelope from direct solar heat gain for most part of the year and help achieve significant energy savings.

Carbon StrategyOperational Carbon - The project being an all-electric building has been designed to take advantage of the low carbon utility fuel infrastructure of California and the project draws electricity from Palo Alto Utilities which has been providing 100% carbon neutral electricity since 2013.

Embodied Carbon - Initiatives to reduce embodied impacts against standard practice were developed and implemented through an integrated design process. Embodied carbon was quantified and several design charrettes with the project team were held to investigate and incorporate opportunities to reduce embodied carbon. The project has achieved a 10% reduction in embodied carbon.

Strategic Shading Design to reduce the heat gain through the facade while maintaining daylighting and views within the occupied space.

Over 85% of the floor space is well daylit reinforcing circadian rhythms and leaving positive human behavioral and health effects.

Health and Wellness

Beyond energy and water use reduction, the project sought to integrate strategies that promote occupant health and wellness. The project team strategized to optimize natural lighting within the building and reduce the negative impact from glare through a systematic modeling process.

In addition, the design provides opportunity for human interaction. A large circular patio and a smaller turfed area are provided for building tenants to be in the natural environment and to interact with one another and the environment created by the landscape.

Ecology

The design incorporates stormwater treatment as an integral part of the design, with the use of both bioretention and flow-through planters (above-ground) and Silva Cell technologies (below ground, under parking lot paving) with appropriate plants. These technologies help in replenishing the underground aquifer and provide water that is of relatively high quality before it enters the storm drain system, thereby reducing jurisdictional use of expensive protocols for mitigating contaminants.
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The landscape design provides a plant palette that is appropriate for the site conditions at this location; plants used in this landscape are selected for low water use, low nutrient application, and low maintenance requirements and include trees, large shrubs, grasses and small shrublets consistent with achieving a meadow effect.

The Project uses several strategies to conserve water on the project like use of drip irrigation system, use of native adaptive plants and reclaimed water from the city for irrigation and flushing toilets reducing the total water demand of the project by over 70%.

Our integrated approach to a Carbon Neutral R&D Workspace

3045 Park Blvd

Energy and Carbon