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Contra Costa County told the world a new building in its administration complex in Martinez would be cutting edge and very green when it opened in July.
It was right. Apparently, the only way it could be greener would be if someone painted it that way.
The county said Friday the new building at 1026 Escobar St. just received “historic recognition” as the first government building in the world to receive Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) certification for waste reduction in a construction project.
The $66.3 million project also achieved LEED Platinum certification; the highest level awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. And, if that wasn’t enough, the building was honored with the California Green Building Award for Honor in Zero Waste & Circular Solutions.
It seems Contra Costa County has got this sustainable development thing down.
“This project reflects our unwavering commitment to sustainability and our dedication to creating a healthier, more equitable, and environmentally friendly community for our residents,” Supervisor Federal Glover said in a statement. “We must continue to work toward sustainable development, zero-waste and eco-friendly living.”
The California Green Building Award recognizes innovative efforts to advance zero-waste and circular economy principles in building design and construction.
“This honor highlights the Administration Building’s groundbreaking achievements in sustainable material use, waste reduction, and environmental stewardship,’ the county said.
The USGBC’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification signifies the building meets rigorous environmental standards, including energy and water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, and more.
TRUE certification, administered by Green Business Certification Inc., acknowledges the project’s success in diverting 90 percent or more of solid waste from landfills, incineration, and the environment, fostering public health and reducing the carbon footprint.
Located across the street from the main administration building at 1025 Escobar St., the three-story, 66,361-square-foot new building anchors a new civic plaza in downtown Martinez.
The site replaced a very outdated office tower and a jail, the latter dating back to 1902. The innovative project has created a modern hub for county departments, including the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice, the Law Library, the Public Defender, and the County Sheriff’s Civil Division, streamlining services and enhancing community interaction.
The county said the project achieved a waste diversion rate of 95.07%, with 10,346 tons of waste diverted from landfills. On-site recycling and composting reduced 8,504 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions — equivalent to the annual emissions of 1,806 gasoline-powered cars. More than 2,200 tons of concrete waste were recycled and repurposed as aggregate base material for the new building.
The project implements a zero-waste policy. It salvaged and reused existing marble wall panels in the new building lobby. It repurposed granite blocks from the old jail into the new plaza. It used recycled content for building materials and reused or returned packaging of delivered products and materials.
The building features a public law library, ground-floor retail spaces, and a parking garage. The project features street improvements and an advanced stormwater system designed to address unique groundwater challenges.
For more about the building, go to contracosta.ca.gov/adminbuildingdemo.
— Story by Tony Hicks, Bay City News
