David Brower Center

Green from the ground up, the Brower Center is a powerful model of sustainable, mixed-use
development. Utilizing the latest in energy-saving technologies and recycled building materials, the
Center will make as light a footprint on the Earth as possible, taking into account the true life-cycle
cost of building construction, operation, and maintenance.
The building is awaiting its LEED Platinum rating from USGBC.
Some of the design features include:
Construction using 53% recycled materials
68 KW photovoltaic (PV) system, that doubles as sun shades, and offsets about 40% of electrical
consumption.
90% Daylighting
Collection and reuse of rainwater
Low-energy mechanical systems using radiant heating and cooling
High-efficiency lighting with automatic controls
Concrete with high slag content to reduce CO2 and cement content
Vertically post-tensioned structure to minimize earthquake damage
Operable windows and low pressure ventilation via a raised floor system
The Brower Center is the architectural anchor of a mixed use, transit oriented development
including 96 units of affordable rental housing (Oxford Plaza), ground floor retail below the
housing, and an underground parking garage owned & operated by the City of Berkeley. The entire
development is a model for sustainable living and social justice.
The David Brower Center gracefully integrates distinctive architectural design with environmental
sensitivity and innovative engergy efficient systems. The architectural design of the Center follows
the example of some of Europes most distinguished recent green buildings in both its contextual fit
and use of innovative technologies.
Located in Downtown Berkeley, the Brower Center relies on public transit. The Center does not
provide parking for office tenants. Ample bicycle parking is provided along with secure bicycle
parking inside the Brower Center. Three car share spaces are provided, offering hybrid vehicles.
The four-story 44,000 SF building is home to predominantly non-profit organizations that inspire
social and environmental action. The first floor includes the lobby, gallery, 180-seat theater,
conference room, restaurant and offices. The second floor includes offices, conference rooms, and a
patio that connects to the neighboring Oxford Plaza housing complex. Offices are on the second
through the fourth floor, all with 100% daylighting.
The Center utilizes the suns energy to reduce its carbon footprint through photovoltaics and
daylighting. The photovoltaic panels also act as sunshades for the fourth floor, in addition to the
solar-shading devices on all the south-facing windows.
The building cost was $29M, or about $650/SF in total project costs. Hard costs were about
$480/SF. The integrated design process was very successful throughout design and construction.
The project went out to bid in Fall 2006 at the height of the construction market causing the entire
design team and contractor to collaborate over an exhausting 3-month period to bring this
innovative project back on budget prior to construction.
The building utilizes extremely low energy mechanical systems using radiant heating and cooling
within the buildings concrete structural slabs, high efficiency lighting with automatic controls and
daylight harvesting. Commissioning of the building was time consuming and it took one year to
fine-tune the building's HVAC systems.
All of the rainwater from the patios and roofs of the entire development is collected through internal

drains to a rainwater cistern in the below-grade parking garage. The rainwater is used for toilet
flushing and irrigation. Waterless urinals and high efficiency toilets keep water use to a minimum.
The concrete structure provides thermal mass as well as architectural finish throughout the
building. The high volume slag concrete significantly reduced CO2 emmissions and a vertically
post-tensioned structure minimizes potential damage due to earthquakes. The use of high-volume
slag caused challenges with finishing of the architecturally exposed concrete and delayed set times.
Construction of the structural slabs was challenging as radiant tubing was knitted through the
structural steel and post-tension cables.

Notable Accomplishments
Construction using 53% recycled materials
90% Daylighting