What
may be viewed as an unlikely candidate for green accolades, a parking
structure in Santa Monica, Calif., has pushed the envelope toward
sustainability.

The Santa Monica Civic Center aboveground parking garage features
photovoltaic panels on the roof, recycled materials (including
post-consumer recycled glass) and various energy efficiency techniques.

James Mary O'Connor, AIA, principal of Moore Ruble Yudell
Architects and Planners, is confident that his team had met both the
aesthetic and sustainability challenges set forth by the city of Santa
Monica to create this six-story solar-powered structure.

"The garage has architectural, structural and mechanical design
elements that will make this the first parking structure in the USA to
achieve LEED certification," says O'Connor. "Photovoltaic panels on the
roof provide self-shading and much of the building's energy needs. The
array of angled photovoltaic cells serves to accentuate the skyline and
provides a memorable symbol for the Civic Center. Other sustainable
features include a storm-drain water-treatment system, recycled
construction materials and waste, low volatile organic compound paints
and coatings, low-e glazing for heating and cooling efficiency, and
energy efficient mechanical systems."

The distinctive glass design recently earned The Glass Association
of North America's first ever Design in Glass Awards in the Tempered
Glass — Commercial category, honoring designer Moore Ruble Yudell
Architects & Planners, installer Woodbridge Glass, Inc.,
manufacturer Bendheim Glass and supplier Specialty Glazing Systems.

"The design does not disguise the utilitarian nature of the
building, but instead seeks to celebrate this aspect as part of the
design aesthetic," says O’Connor. "The design solution uses colored
laminated glass channels, photovoltaic panels, ribbed pre-cast concrete
panels, and steel mesh to render a unique civic presence. The dynamic
integration of these materials makes the structure function as an urban
curtain in its vibrant context."

This article originally appeared in Environmental Design + Construction magazine.