San Mateo College Earns LEED Gold

SAN MATEO, Calif. — The College of San Mateo recently received LEED Gold certification for its new health and wellness building.

 

Completed in early 2010, the 88,000-square-foot Health and Wellness Building and Aquatics Center at CSM is part of a larger $170 million initiative for the San Mateo County Community College District.

 

With funding utilized from San Mateo County’s voter-approved Measure A general obligation bonds, SMCCD contracted with McCarthy Building Cos. Inc. for all design-build aspects of the $86 million project, while Kwan Henmi Architecture/Planning was brought on as lead architect.

 

Situated prominently at the campus entrance, the Health and Wellness Building houses workforce development programs — cosmetology, nursing and dental assisting — as well as a fitness and aquatic facility. Named the San Mateo Athletic Club, it includes 14,000 square feet dedicated to cardiovascular and strength training areas and more than 5,000 square feet of space dedicated to group fitness, spinning classes, yoga and Pilates. In addition to students, the club also hosts community members who join through private health club membership. The new aquatic center is comprised of a therapy pool and 50-meter Olympic-sized competition pool located adjacent to the Health and Wellness Building.

 

“It is now one of the preferred venues for NCAA competition events in the areas,” says Jeff Stahl, principal in charge at Kwan Henmi. “It also has a Jumbotron for competition use.”

 

The project was sorely needed because the facilities where the health and wellness programs were located were in disrepair and costs to bring those facilities up to current code and teaching methodologies was excessive, says Rick Bennett, executive director of construction planning for the district.

 

One of the biggest highlights of this project is its LEED Gold certification. Originally, the owner specified that it wanted to achieve LEED-Silver certification, but is delighted that its expectations have been surpassed by leap and bounds.

 

“This project has been an extraordinary success,” Bennett says. “SMCCD is thrilled to offer a facility that has been designed and constructed with a high degree of environmental consciousness.”

 

To achieve Gold status planners paid close attention to the installation of materials. The use of linoleum flooring resulted in 32 percent of the total building materials being manufactured from recycled materials. Low-emitting materials were also used for interiors as much as possible.

 

During construction, approximately 16,000 tons of waste was diverted from landfill (97 percent) and McCarthy recycled the concrete materials from demolished buildings, which were crushed and will be reused as aggregate base under sidewalks, roadways and parking lots.

Design and installation of 100 percent outside air in the air-handling units, resulted in an energy efficiency rating that is 36 percent below Title 24 requirements. Storm-water management was incorporated through the use of bio-retention basins and Kristar media filtration units, water-efficient landscaping and the conservation of potable water use reduced water usage by 46 percent compared to conventional buildings.

 

“Careful attention [was also paid] to window location,” Stahl says. “Solar orientation resulted in achieving maximum daylighting points, while controlling glare, minimizing heat gain and preserving dramatic views.”

 

In addition to LEED Gold certification, the project was also honored with the 2011 Sustainable San Mateo County Green Building Award for non-residential, which recognizes outstanding construction projects designed and built in accordance with principles of sustainable resource use and environmental sensitivity.

 

“It’s gratifying to be part of a project that promotes sustainability and supports the growing green building movement,” says Bill Niemann, project executive for McCarthy Building Cos.