San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center / Architects Hanna Gabriel Wells

San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center / Architects Hanna Gabriel Wells - Table, Windows, Chair, BenchSan Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center / Architects Hanna Gabriel Wells - Image 3 of 9San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center / Architects Hanna Gabriel Wells - Table, Chair, Facade, Deck, Patio, Garden, CourtyardSan Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center / Architects Hanna Gabriel Wells - WindowsSan Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center / Architects Hanna Gabriel Wells - More Images+ 4

San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center / Architects Hanna Gabriel Wells - Windows
© John Durant

Text description provided by the architects. The Energy Innovation Center is a working showcase that demonstrates smart energy initiatives and green building practices, all housed in one unique setting. This 27,000 square foot LEED Platinum center offers visitors a venue for learning and exploring the latest in energy efficiency, renewable energy, smart grid and alternative fuel technologies.

San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center / Architects Hanna Gabriel Wells - Table, Chair, Facade, Deck, Patio, Garden, Courtyard
© John Durant

The project’s location was strategically chosen by the utility to help stimulate economic development in the local community and to demonstrate the possibilities for renewing a near-forgotten building by bringing it back to life as a regional hub for emerging energy technology and sustainability. The project’s scope expands onto the site utilizing a grove of solar trees for demonstrating power generation, permeable paving surfaces and bioremediation landscape islands for storm water management, and a demonstration garden to compare traditional landscapes with alternative drought tolerant planting options.

San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center / Architects Hanna Gabriel Wells - Image 3 of 9
© John Durant

Buried under decades of misguided renovations, the existing building has been stripped down to its bare form exposing a classic mid-century design with low-pitched roof, glass façade and open plan. By notching a courtyard with operable glass walls into one side of the building, interior program uses surrounding this new open-air garden space now have an outdoor connection providing daylight and ventilation. The white spray-on foam insulation rooftop is covered in arrays of photovoltaic and thermal solar panels which share space with a variety of ultra-efficient HVAC units.

San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center / Architects Hanna Gabriel Wells - Table, Windows, Chair, Bench
© John Durant

Seminar rooms for training and instruction; a commercial demonstration kitchen where new energy efficient restaurant equipment can be tried-out and tested by professional chefs; a functioning “smart home” representing the latest in energy efficient residential appliances, LED and fluorescent lighting fixtures, water saving devices, HVAC equipment, in-home electric vehicle charging, solar power generation and energy storage systems; a courtyard break-out area with living wall feature demonstrating vertical garden systems utilizing self-feeding water saving technology; a sky lit administrative office area using repurposed furniture including demountable partitions; gallery space with interactive displays for lighting technologies; a lobby with lending library and interactive information kiosks.

San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center / Architects Hanna Gabriel Wells - Image 8 of 9
Renovation Diagram

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Project location

Address:San Diego, CA 92117, USA

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center / Architects Hanna Gabriel Wells" 12 Aug 2013. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/413744/san-diego-gas-and-electric-energy-innovation-center-architects-hanna-gabriel-wells> ISSN 0719-8884

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