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Clark Design/Build of California, along with Kaplan McLaughlin Diaz Architects of San Francisco, was selected as design/builder for the new $99 million Solano County Government Center, Probation Building and parking structure. The project involves a “bridging” process with the County’s master architect, Johnson Fain of Los Angeles.
Located in downtown Fairfield on three city blocks, the facility will be an economic catalyst for the area. Adjacent to the existing Solano County Courthouse and County Justice Center Complex, the center will house more than 800 county employees and consolidate the administrative and office functions of 15 departments into one centralized facility.
The 300,000-square-foot Government Center, 42,000-square-foot Probation Building and 1000-space parking structure are designed with the latest sustainable design technologies and recycled materials, and will be equipped with architectural and electrical systems for energy efficiency, improved air quality and water conservation.
Exceeding Title 24 regulations, the center includes high efficiency fans and lamps and low ambient lighting systems along with a photo voltaic panel system to allow for solar energy recovery. Interior space also features increased day-lighting effectiveness with open workstations placed along the perimeter windows and private offices situated at the building cores. To further maintain indoor air quality, high occupancy spaces maintain variable-flow air ventilation by allowing fresh outdoor air into the building through an innovative injection fan and airflow measuring station. A “gray water” recovery system will be installed in the facility for future use, while all plumbing fixtures feature flow restrictors to reduce water use.
An expansive public plaza with landscaping and a spectacular water feature is situated in front of the building, providing open space for public gatherings and easy pedestrian access to county offices. A six-story inverted pyramid glass window wall marks the Government Center’s main entry. Adjacent to the entry is a two-story arcade, which wraps the building and connects the plaza with a courtyard and the garage. Joining the two points of entry is a large oval lobby, which both provides access to the County Board Chambers and serves as the “public living room“ for the County.
Found midway between San Francisco and Sacramento, Solano County is a mid-sized, suburban and rural community with a combined population of more than 400,000. Solano County is anticipated to be the fastest growing county in California in terms of percentage of growth, according to the Association of Bay Area Governments and ranks as the 19th largest of California’s 58 counties. The government center will be ready for occupancy at the end of 2004. Clark Design/Build of California is a subsidiary of Clark Construction Group, LLC of Bethesda, Md.
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