HGW Architecture

San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center

San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center
© John Durant

SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC ENERGY INNOVATION CENTER

Architects Hanna Gabriel Wells

AREA
25000 ft²

CATEGORY
Science Center

LOCATION
San Diego, United States

YEAR
2011

PHOTOGRAPHS
 John Durant

Text description provided by architect.

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
© 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
© 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.

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;

San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center
© John Durant
San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center
© John Durant

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
© John Durant


San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center

Floor Plan
San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center
Renovation Diagram
San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Innovation Center
Diagram

HGW Architecture
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HGW Architecture
1955 Bacon St, San Diego, CA 92107, United States