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THE AUDUBON CENTER AT DEBS PARK
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Photography:
Cesar Rubio Photography
Jury
Comments: The sustainable features in this
project are remarkable. The jury was especially impressed
with the off-grid photovoltaic system, the storm water
management techniques, and water treatment. These and other
features all contribute to the well deserved LEED Platinum
rating.
An urban environmental education center that brings
nature to East Los Angeles inner-city children and families
with few opportunities to leave the city and experience,
learn and value nature, the Audubon Center at Debs Park is
LEED Platinum-rated and embodies the Audubon Society’s
environmental ideals, modeling sustainable design to the
surrounding community and serving as a prototype for future
Audubon centers.
Concrete masonry is an essential part of the Center’s passive, energy-saving sustainable strategies. The typical exterior wall assembly exposes 8” ground-face concrete masonry units on the interior, with 2” of rigid insulation on the outer face, beneath a protective stucco finish. The light-colored CMU reflect daylight deep into the building. Its thermal mass takes advantage of the diurnal swing in temperatures in Los Angeles; excess heat soaked up by the mass during the day is released and can be flushed through windows at night. The exterior insulation reduces heat gain or loss directly through the walls and stabilizes interior temperatures. The concrete masonry unit grout mix developed especially for this project substitutes fly ash for 50% of the Portland cement, reducing water use, carbon dioxide emissions and landfill waste.
The ground-faced concrete masonry unit is a handsome and durable finish material, suitable for a nature center. The building plan and elevations are designed on a concrete masonry unit module. Most wiring is either concealed behind cabinets or in a furred wainscot, both to minimize conduit within the CMU, and facilitate future electrical work without exposing conduit in public rooms.
ARCHITECT:
EHDD Architecture
500
Treat Avenue, Suite 201
San Francisco, CA 94110
Charles
M. Davis, FAIA
Principal- in-Charge
Glennis
Briggs, AIA
Mark Miksis
Simone
Goldfeder
Robert Aydlett, AIA
Greta Jones, AIA
Anne Timmerman
Design Team
STRUCTURAL
ENGINEER:
Parker-Resnick Structural Engineers
GENERAL
CONTRACTOR:
T. G. Construction Inc.
MASONRY
CONTRACTOR:
Granstrom Masonry, Inc.
BLOCK
PRODUCER:
ORCO Block Company
OWNER:
Los Angeles Audubon Center
