Clean technology for a warehouse renovation

La Kretz Innovation Campus

Los Angeles, CA, USA

The La Kretz Innovation Campus adaptive reuse project forms part of the new Los Angeles Cleantech Corridor, a four-mile stretch of land next to the LA River. The 60,000ft² single-story masonry warehouse dates back to 1903 and was renovated to house offices, conference rooms, R&D labs, workshops, training center, event and LADWP laboratories.

Passive design solutions resulted in 32% energy savings

The project is expected to achieve LEED Platinum certification

Design team retained historical features of the building, including the brick walls and bow truss roof

Challenge

The Buro Happold team needed to ensure a sustainable and energy efficient development, reducing energy costs and usage. Further challenges also included the need to maintain the existing brick walls within the warehouse spaces, and to install services while minimizing the number of new openings within the unreinforced masonry construction. The strength of the bow truss roof was also an important consideration.

Solution

Our team performed an annual daylight study to identify the amount of natural light penetrating the warehouse. The results then informed planning of windows and skylights, and also determining the optimum placement of solar tubes and roof lighting. We also assessed the potential for daylight harvesting throughout, providing an additional high performance feature.

Our work to ensure a sustainable and energy efficient building included installing four rooftop mounted air handling and cooling units with dedicated exhaust extractors for the laboratory. Photovoltaic panels are used within the car park shading structure, providing approximately 150 kw of peak output, while the car park itself features charging stations for electric vehicles. We also made provisions for a DC microgrid and future wind turbine connection.

To retain the original brickwork, we carefully coordinated the pipes and ducts needed for the new services with the existing openings available. Our team also reinforced the original bow truss roof to provide enough strength to house the new systems.

Value

Our input in the design for the La Kretz Innovation Campus has contributed to achieving a 32% energy savings, creating a facility that proves sensitive laboratory conditions can be achieved with low- energy solutions. The project has achieved LEED Platinum certification.