DGS Building Project Under Real Estate Services Division Receives Green Award

The Department of State Hospitals (DHS)-Patton New Main Kitchen project has received the Municipal Green Building Award by the US Green Building Council-Los Angeles. This project was managed by the Department of General Services' Real Estate Services Division under the Project Management and Development Branch.

The DSH-Patton New Main Kitchen is a 36,144-square-foot project located in San Bernardino, Calif., and includes a new central kitchen building for the DSH-Patton. The project achieved LEED v2 Gold certification, exceeding DGS's original Silver certification goal.

The project focused on creating a sustainable site, conserving water, installing environmentally preferable products and creating healthy indoor environmental air quality.

Providing alternative forms of low-emission transportation was essential to the project and was achieved by installing bicycle storage and EV parking stalls. In addition, the Heat Island Effect was mitigated by highly reflective paving and roof materials, earning an exemplary performance point.

Quality stormwater was managed onsite by removing Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and low flow interior plumbing fixtures reduced the water demand, preserving the limited natural resource of fresh water. As a result, the project earned an exemplary performance point for water use reduction. In addition, a rigorous fundamental and enhanced commissioning process ensured that the building systems were installed and functioning properly as intended by the design team and meeting the owner project requirements.

The construction team excelled by diverting 95% of the construction and demolition waste away from the landfill, reducing methane and carbon emissions. The design team focused on specifying environmentally preferable products, and the construction team verified that they were procured and installed. The permanently installed products are composed of 25% recycled content, 40% are locally sourced, and 80% of the new wood-based building materials are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Indoor Environmental Air Quality was necessary to preserve and prepare for the end occupants during the construction phase. A Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan was followed, and products with low/no VOCs were specified and installed. Fresh air (30% ventilation above the minimum rates) and natural daylight were essential to the project team as they enhanced productivity, health, and well-being. Seventy-five percent of the regularly occupied spaces have access to natural and quality daylight, reducing the electrical lighting demand.

Overall, the LEED Gold Kitchen created a sustainable and healthy environment for the staff providing meals for patients.