Orange County Sanitation District Headquarters

This 109,000-square-foot facility—the first hybrid mass timber building for a public utility in Southern California—supports wastewater services for 2.6 million people while converting its own processes to reliance on renewable energy.  
 
Biogas from sewage treatment provides 60 percent of the building’s energy needs, while photovoltaics generate 104 percent, delivering net-zero operational energy. A high-performance envelope with silicon-glazed curtain wall and terracotta rainscreen withstands the site’s high-pollution, high-salt conditions, while optimized orientation, shading, and efficient systems reduce solar heat gain loads and enhance comfort. The building promotes occupant well-being with views of nature and daylight reaching 97.5 percent of occupied spaces. Additionally, current tracking of material submittals indicates that the project is 90 percent free of Red List materials. 
 
With exhibits and public meeting areas, accessible via a pedestrian bridge, the headquarters also serves as a community education hub.  Orange County Sanitation District Headquarters is currently completing the reviews for LEED Gold and ILFI Net Zero Energy certifications.