Best Overall Innovative Project – Large District

Contra Costa Community College District,
New Art Complex at Diablo Valley College

The Diablo Valley College New Art Complex is a new 33,100 square feet, two-story building, including an all-electric, high efficiency new heating and cooling water plant designed and built concurrently and shared with the new Physical Education/Kinesiology (PE/K) Complex. Simultaneously with the new PE/K project, the new Art Complex shares a recognition in being the district’s first building designed to be Zero Net Energy (ZNE).

The sustainable strategies adopted in the Art Complex construction will also be highlighted in a large-scale infographic sign which will be prominently displayed and visible to students and visitors. This building is projected to save 24.3 kW and 43,477 kWh compared to a baseline T24 building, resulting in approximately 36% cost savings and 12.6% energy savings. Through the implementation of passive design strategies coupled with a right sized mechanical system, the building achieves an energy use intensity of 50 kBTU per square foot per year. A portion of an onsite photovoltaic array is also used to offset the energy use intensity of the building, resulting in Net Zero Energy Status. As a result, the Arts Complex will also target LEED Zero status. The building design exceeds the college’s expectations for LEED Silver standards and expects LEED Gold V4 certification.

Best Overall Innovative Project – Medium District

Citrus Community College District,
Educational Development Building at Citrus College

Citrus College teamed with Westberg White Architects and Pezeshki Engineering, Inc. (A & E team) to modernize and prepare a circa 1970’s Educational Development (ED) building for a green future and service for the next 40 years. The renovation, as the last project of Measure G bond, incorporated new high energy dependent educational spaces with testing centers, two fully equipped science classrooms and the epitome of sustainable and efficient design.

Incorporating design strategies, state-of-the-art Building Automation and Energy Management Systems, and the use of recycled materials and optimizing the building envelope, the A & E team was able to renovate the building within budget and reduce the original electrical consumption of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and electrical systems from 12.1 kilowatt hours per square foot per year to 6.8 kilowatt hours per square foot per year, reducing the carbon footprint and bringing the building in line with the Sustainability Plan and Board of Governors goal of achieving Zero Net Energy readiness. Harnessing a savings of 171,794 kilowatt hours per year, the ED building is also sub-metered with DDC Smart Technology.

Best Overall Innovative Project – Small District

Merced Community College District,
Johnson Controls Partnership at Merced College

The district partnered with Johnson Controls (JCI) to manage the design, procurement, and installation of energy-efficient central plant and lighting retrofits, as well as upgrade campus building automation systems and mechanical systems. The partnership marks the first infrastructure project in the state enabled by a contingent payment program (CPP), an arrangement that allows the college to transfer all risk to JCI and that requires no upfront cost for the work. This was a huge challenge to establish the first-of-its-kind project in California through a contingent payment program based on energy savings. The innovative project guarantees $6.4 million in cost savings over a 20-year period.

Faculty/Student Initiative Award

Earth Day Street Mural at Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa Junior College faculty, students, and administrators embarked on bringing a climate activist street mural to Elliott Ave, a public street that runs through the northern part of the Santa Rosa Junior College campus. Students were able to participate in the planning process and learn what it takes to work through multiple City of Santa Rosa committees, commissions, permitting, and departments for overall approval.

The goal of this project was to galvanize climate action at the community level, provide a way for victims of the 2017 Tubbs fire and 2019 Kincaid fire to find healing through artistic expressions, and for the community to come together after COVID-19. The theme for the street mural was “A Shared Livable Future”.

Sustainability Champion

Terrance DeGray,
San José Evergreen Community College District

In 2021, Terrance led the submission of the Evergreen Valley College Facilities Master Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report. San José Evergreen Community College District proposed to construct and implement the Vision 2030 Evergreen Valley College Facilities Master Plan, which includes renovations throughout the Evergreen Valley College campus, demolition of aging structures, construction of new structures, and upgrades to existing transportation and circulation facilities.

Terrance has exemplified a willingness to share resources and lend support in sustainability and energy efficiency for community colleges. In 2021, he stepped up to co-lead the NorCal Facilities Officers group, and transitioned into full leadership responsibilities in 2022.