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Project Type
Visitor Center
Poway, San Diego County, CA Client
County of San Diego
Cost
$1.6 million
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Goodan Ranch Visitor Center
Platt/Whitelaw Architects provided architectural design services to the County of San Diego to replace a visitors center structure that was burned in the fires of 2003.
The new visitors center totals 3,200 square feet. Platt/Whitelaw helped the County meet their goals for the new visitors center, including enhancing the public learning experience, energy efficiency, low maintenance, and building longevity. It has received a LEED Silver Certification from the US Green Building Council.
Energy, Atmosphere
The building exceeds the current minimum threshold for Title 24 energy efficiency by 50% using:
Photovoltaic power generation system
Deep overhangs to limit summer heat gain with windows oriented to maximize winter heat gain and mechanical systems with integrated controls
High-efficiency lighting
Passive heating and cooling to reduce mechanical heating/cooling
Tiered mechanical heating/cooling of selected building areas
Water Efficiency
Decomposed granite to allow rainfall to be absorbed back into groundwater
Use of native plant materials that do not require permanent irrigation
Ultra low-flow plumbing fixtures
Daylighting
The building design introduces daylighting through windows on two sides of most rooms and the use of clerestory windows.
Materials
Building materials have been selected to provide good indoor air quality, high amounts of recycled content, durability, ease of maintenance, be recyclable at the end of the building’s lifespan. Materials include:
Low VOC paint, sealants and binders
No floor covering, only polished, colored concrete, for materials conservation
Sustainably-harvested wood
Steel framing for high recycled content, recyclability, and fire-resistance
Fiber cement exterior siding, for reduction of Portland cement use while providing a building skin which is more durable, termite-resistant, and fire-resistant than wood
Steel roofing with cool roof coating for fire resistance and reflectivity of sun’s heat
Fly ash from coal industry waste added to concrete to reduce cement production
by 25%
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