Contra Costa County Administration Building B & Plaza achieved TRUE Gold certification for Construction, the first government building to achieve TRUE for Construction certification. The project team included Contra Costa County, All About Waste, Webcor, Vanir, and Perkins&Will.
Key Facts and Figures:
- 10,346+ tons diverted from landfill, resulting in a 95.07% waste diversion rate
- $27,711+ saved with reuse initiatives
- 8,504 MT of greenhouse gas emissions reduced by recycling and composting - equivalent to 1,806 gasoline-powered cars driven for one year.
- +536 kg CO2e saved in upfront embodied carbon emissions (A1-A3) by salvaging 3,430 lbs of marble from the existing buildings and reusing it in the elevator lobbies of the new building.
Construction techniques and processes:
- The Prodeck horizontal formwork system was utilized instead of traditional plywood formwork, preventing 54,900 lbs of plywood waste from reaching landfills and saving $23,235.
- Various office supplies and appliances from existing buildings that were demolished were repurposed for use in the jobsite trailer, including furniture, building partitions, and fire extinguishers.
- Existing base rock was reused to fill the top portion of the existing basement of the building that was demolished as well as build the new building pad.
- The team reduced plastic bottle waste, repurposed construction gloves and wood into a table, and implemented QR codes to cut down on paper waste.
Significant materials from old structures were salvaged and reused in the new building:
- Marble panels from the old council chambers were repurposed for the new elevator lobby.
- 1,500 granite blocks from the old jail were transformed into plaza granite pavers.
- 59 perforated wood panels from the old Council Chambers were reused in the new building's main lobby.
- Wood dunnage was reused by a vendor for shipping panels, with 450 pieces of lumber, 60% of which was recycled from previous jobs, saving approximately $4,476 and reducing 10,908 lbs of waste.
Community engagement and proper infrastructure were prioritized throughout the project:
- Specialty cranes facilitated floor-by-floor deconstruction, reducing noise and dust for the community.
- Waste collection points were well-labeled, with bilingual signage and a TerraCycle box for non-recyclable materials.
- Education programs included a dashboard displaying project diversion rates, zero waste goals, and safety training on hazardous waste prevention.
- A Celebratory Coin program honored contributions to zero waste efforts.
- Team activities like lunch-and-learn sessions, Earth Day events, BBQs, student site visits, and a tour of the Republic Service's Facility were conducted to foster engagement and education.
“What an honor it is for Contra Costa County to lead in sustainability,” said Board Chair Supervisor Karen Mitchoff. “We must continue to work towards sustainable development, zero waste, and eco-friendly living. I am proud of the County’s Public Works department in achieving our goals in sustainability and improving our environment.”
Vice Chair, District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover said, “We can’t fix all the issues we face on creating a more sustainable County overnight, but we have begun. Sustainable innovation projects like the ADR help us move closer to our goal of ensuring that adequate resources are available for future generations.”
“Contra Costa’s effort shows we can help our planet one building at a time. Our diverse communities expect us to lead the way on sustainability and fighting climate change,” said District 1 Supervisor John Gioia, a member of the Board of Supervisors’ Sustainability Committee. “Our former Administration Building serves as a model for what other local government agencies can do when they’re committed to lead sustainably.”
“We are honored that our commitments and efforts towards a more sustainable future are being recognized through the achievement of TRUE pre-certification. This shows that we have a real ability to have a lasting impact on our stewardship of resources while making our County a better place to live and work,” said District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen.
“Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time and TRUE pre-certification shows the County’s dedication to promoting waste reduction, reducing our carbon footprint, and achieving our zero-waste goals,” said District 3 Supervisor Diane Burgis.
Learn more about the project in the following resources:
- Sustainability Tour of New Satellite Administration Building and Public Plaza
- Webcor press release
- Recorrido Por La Sostenibilidad Del Nuevo Edificio De Administración De Satélites Y La Plaza Pública
- All About Waste Case Study
Photo credit: Kyle Jeffers Photo