Design Architect:

LPA, Inc.

Associate Architect or Firm:

None.

Landscape Architect:

LPA, Inc.

Owner / Developer:

County of Orange - Owner
Griffin | Swinerton - Developer

Project Data:

Completion Date:     10/1/2019

Square Footage:      250000

Building Use:           Office

Project Description:

Program:
The County Administration South (CAS) Building is the first phase of a multi-phase master plan for the County of Orange’s real estate assets, located in downtown Santa Ana. The 6-story 250,000 SF office building supports 1,000 county employees from the Public Works, Waste Management, and Treasurer/Tax Collector County Departments. This is the first new building in the 10-acre Civic Center in 40 years, following the County’s much-publicized bankruptcy. The design team working with the County wanted the project to be a demonstration of sustainability, resiliency, and open and accessible County services.

Sustainability
The LEED Silver-certified project purposely displays its sustainability, using its ideal north/south axis to promote energy efficiency through each façade, which responds differently to the orientation. The north elevation’s floor-to-ceiling glass brings north light into the open office environment. The east and west elevations have smaller punched windows that are protected by vertical fins. The west elevation uses a large horizontal overhang to protect the upper floors in the summer months, while announcing the building’s sustainable goals to the major intersection. The south elevation features horizontal banded windows with exterior sunshades that protect the occupants from direct sun. An integrated light shelf on the south facade bounces light deep into the open office environment. Through efficient envelope design, energy management, and daylight harvesting, the building exceeds the AIA’s 2030 Commitment target, operating 76% more efficiently than the baseline standard.

Resiliency
The primary design objective was to create a resilient building that would be efficient and operational for generations to come. The building was structurally designed to meet the building codes Essential Services Building Standards. The County’s under-utilized Central Utility Facility (CUF) generates electricity to supply the building at a rate 40% cheaper than electricity purchased from the utility company. Steam, a by-product of the CUF’s electricity generation, and chilled water are sent from the CUF to the building for heating and cooling. The efficient design and the local power generation gives the County real energy resiliency, taking the building 100% off the utility grid.

Open and Accessible County Services
The CAS was designed to transform the County’s interface with the public. The building uses a “transparent” non-reflective glass as a symbol of a more transparent government. Looking to simplify the public’s interaction with the County, a one-stop-shop County Service Center was created, providing walk-up, in-person service at a singular counter for everyone having business to do with the County’s 13 departments. The southwest corner of the site will serve as a major transit stop for the OC Streetcar (currently under construction), with pedestrian paseos on the north and east linking the project to other County and City destinations. A central courtyard to the north will connect to related elements of the Civic Center Master Plan.

The design team is currently working on the next phase of the masterplan, which will continue the new benchmarks on sustainability, resiliency, and County public services.