Screen Shot 2016-09-20 at 10.57.06 AM The recently completed Maple Street Correctional Center (MSCC) in Redwood City, CA, has been awarded LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold CertificationTM from the Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI®) as created and maintained by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC®).
From the early stages of design and subsequent hiring of the Design-Builder’s, LEED Silver was the contract obligation with a wild stretch that LEED GOLD could be a target.  Achieving a perfect score on the design points submitted over a year ago truly set us on a course towards achievement and raised the expectations.  The credit due and sense of accomplishment is shared between the San Mateo Sheriff’s Office, HOK, SundtLayton, and each and every Design-Builder, Design Consultant, and contributing subcontractor.
LEED® certification is based on points awarded for environmental impact across six categories:
  • Sustainable sites
  • Water efficiency
  • Energy and atmosphere
  • Materials and resources
  • Indoor environmental quality
  • Innovation in design and regional priority credits LEED Gold ® is the second highest of four possible certifications and MSCC is one of very few county jails in the country to earn this level of certification. The 832-bed, 260,000-square-foot correctional center operated by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office was designed by HOK and built in concert with design-builders working under the direction of Sundt Layton, A Joint Venture, the facility’s general contractor and construction manager. The new building boasts significant reductions in a number of metrics, most significantly water use. Through the use of increased efficiency plumbing and recycled water available through Redwood City’s purple pipe system, the facility reduced indoor water use by 54% and cut potable water use for landscaping to zero. "Building sustainably was the right thing to do," said Dave Titus, Lieutenant, San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. "Not only have we ensured we have a safe and secure facility, this building's efficiency conserves natural resources and is a cost savings for the county."
Although a secured facility, day lighting and natural ventilation were leveraged when possible to help reduce energy loads. Coupled with significant performance improvements in heating and lighting performance, energy use was reduced by 34% over industry standards. Being located in an area that prioritizes waste reduction, the design-build team diverted an impressive 97% of site- generated construction waste from landfill. Over 25% of building materials were manufactured using recycled products, and although the building replaces some services at a downtown jail, the facility remained centrally located, making it very accessible by mass transit or bike. With a goal of reducing individual automobile use, the project received high scores in the “Sustainable Sites” category. The facility aims to reduce recidivism by employing a new approach to correctional services, termed “Corrections with Compassion” the design of the facility integrates sustainable design and performance into that end goal, creating a facility that looks feels and performs differently from a typical county jail. MSCC’s new approach sets a high bar for design and environmental performance. San Mateo County Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos said: “I am very proud of my staff, design and construction team for making the Maple Street Correctional Center a huge success. Earning LEED Gold certification is a great accomplishment for us and our environment.”