Nadel-Designed Building Becomes the First LEED Core Shell Gold Ever in SoCal

April 4, 2011 - PRLog -- An office building designed by Nadel Architects has earned the unique designation as the first LEED Core Shell Gold office building in Southern California. Nadel’s 80,000-SF Tustin Centre Office Building, a $13 million, structure owned by The Muller Company and BlackRock Realty, is a highly sustainable facility that shows how innovative architecture can help developers gain an advantage in today’s marketplace.

“We are extremely proud to have created this type of landmark property that is the first of many to come,” said Nadel Architects Founder/President Herb Nadel. “This LEED Core Shell Gold designation reflects a significant sign of the times, not only architecturally, but from an overall business and development standpoint. Our company is excited to be at the forefront of such an important movement.”

Core Shell is a newer segment of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) categories. It indicates a developer-driven project and relates only to office buildings. In the case of the four-story Tustin Centre Office Building in the Orange County town of Santa Ana, the certification is the first of its kind and came to fruition without a major cost increment for the developer.

The sustainable features Nadel incorporated in the facility include heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems that are 14% more efficient than code minimums. There also is improved indoor air quality due to increased introduction of outside air and use of low volatile organic compound finish materials. Other sustainable features include:

•         Low water consuming landscaping and an efficient irrigation system resulting in a 73% reduction of water consumption
•         Low-flow fixtures and waterless urinals saving nearly 250,000 gallons of water annually
•         Decomposed granite walking surfaces to reduce water run-off
•         Bike racks, lockers and showers to encourage non-auto commuting
•         A cool roof and underground parking to reduce heat island effect

Additional energy-saving components include the building’s windows, which are all floor-to-ceiling glass to give the potential for 95% of its occupants access to exterior light, including interior offices.

“As a result of the recession, there are very few new ground-up office building developments in Southern California these days,” said Nadel Project Director and Executive VP David Jacobson.

“This particular development proves that in a competitive marketplace developers are capable of delivering a value-conscious LEED Gold certified building at a reasonable cost and then occupying it with tenants who want to invest in a sustainable future.”

Along with designing something sustainable, Nadel met its goal of creating a coherent urban campus. The mid-block Tustin Centre Office Building successfully meshes with an existing 10-story office building tower, a seven-level parking structure and a more recently built LA Fitness Center.

Jacobson and Nadel Project Architect Khoi Tran utilized elements from the LA Fitness and the existing office building, but in a fresh, more contemporary design that integrates with the structures. The pre-cast panel motif and rhythm of the pilasters is a direct reflection of the vocabulary of the 10-story tower’s arcade, to which it is adjacent. The punched windows are glazed with a bronze low-E glass which relate to the tower’s glass. Nadel added dramatic curtainwall elements, as well as a soaring entrance canopy that emphasizes the building’s role as a gateway to the site.

Tustin Centre Office Building is 100-percent leased and was completed in Spring 2010. Joining Nadel Architects on the project was structural engineer Englekirk Partners, MEP engineer Davidovich& Associates, LEED consultant Verde Concepts, Inc., commissioning agent Jacobs Carter Burgess, landscape architect Fong, Hart, Schneider & Partners and general contractor BYCOR General Contractor.

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About Nadel Architects
Nadel Architects provides comprehensive services ranging from architectural design, master planning and feasibility studies to complete interior design, planning and programming. Nadel is ranked among the largest architectural firms in the world (#42 per Building Design + Construction, July 2009). The company has completed more than 600 office buildings, 80,000 residential units, 30 million square feet of retail space, numerous hotels and resorts, and a variety of public and educational institutions, which have received more than 75 awards for design excellence. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the firm has designed a variety of projects located around the globe. For more information, please visit www.nadelarc.com.