What may be viewed as an unlikely candidate for green accolades, a parking structure in Santa Monica, Calif., has pushed the envelope toward sustainability. The Santa Monica Civic Center aboveground parking garage features photovoltaic panels on the roof, recycled materials (including post-consumer recycled glass) and various energy efficiency techniques.

James Mary O’Connor, AIA, principal of Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners, is confident that his team had met both the aesthetic and sustainability challenges set forth by the city of Santa Monica to create this six-story solar-powered structure.

“The garage has architectural, structural and mechanical design elements that will make this the first parking structure in the USA to achieve LEED certification,” says O’Connor. “Photovoltaic panels on the roof provide self-shading and much of the building’s energy needs. The array of angled photovoltaic cells serves to accentuate the skyline and provides a memorable symbol for the Civic Center. Other sustainable features include a storm-drain water-treatment system, recycled construction materials and waste, low volatile organic compound paints and coatings, low-e glazing for heating and cooling efficiency, and energy efficient mechanical systems.”

The distinctive glass design recently earned The Glass Association of North America’s first ever Design in Glass Awards in the Tempered Glass — Commercial category, honoring designer Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners, installer Woodbridge Glass, Inc., manufacturer Bendheim Glass and supplier Specialty Glazing Systems.

“The design does not disguise the utilitarian nature of the building, but instead seeks to celebrate this aspect as part of the design aesthetic,” says O’Connor. “The design solution uses colored laminated glass channels, photovoltaic panels, ribbed pre-cast concrete panels, and steel mesh to render a unique civic presence. The dynamic integration of these materials makes the structure function as an urban curtain in its vibrant context.”