Central plants are the hot trend in commercial architecture. Traditionally an afterthought design-wise on healthcare, university, corporate, and city campus developments, power plants are being designed as showcase buildings with fanciful façades, daring forms, and prominent locations—anything but the 100% utilitarian structures of the past.
HONORABLE MENTION
UCSD Medical Center Central Plant, La Jolla, Calif.
The latest example is the new central utility plant that serves the $860 million, 245-bed UC San Diego Jacobs Medical Center. Since the 40,000-sf plant would be visible to staff, patients, and visitors in the 10-story medical center, the Building Team developed an undulating roof and façade scheme that masks the plant’s mechanical infrastructure and helps the facility blend in with the vegetated canyon beyond. Its floor-to-ceiling glass, earth tones, and sweeping curves—formed using metal battens coated with a color-changing paint—add visual appeal to the campus.
The LEED Gold plant can expand as the campus grows, with a capacity to serve one million sf of expansion.
Photo: Kevin Turner. Click to enlarge.
BUILDING TEAM
+Submitting firm: Kitchell (GC)
+Owner: UC San Diego Health System
+Architect: CannonDesign
+Structural: KPFF
+MEP: exp
GENERAL INFORMATION
Project size: 40,000 sf
Construction cost: $68 million
Construction period: June 2012 to July 2015
Related Stories
Building Team Awards | Nov 2, 2020
Fans come first at Allianz Field
The new home of the Minnesota United soccer club wins a Silver Award in BD+C’s 2020 Building Team Awards.
Building Team Awards | Oct 24, 2020
Emory University Student Center wins the top award in 2020 Building Team Awards
Emory University Student Center wins the top award in 2020 Building Team Awards
Building Team Awards | Oct 22, 2020
Look up to the skies
The Mori Hosseini Student Union at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University takes home a Silver Award in the 2020 Building Team Awards.
Building Team Awards | Oct 22, 2020
Judging a book by its cover
The New York Presbyterian David H. Koch Center wins a Silver Award in BD+C’s 2020 Building Team Awards.
Building Team Awards | Oct 21, 2020
Big Room equals big results
Tucson’s Banner University Medical Center is honored with a Gold Award in the 2020 Building Team Awards.
Building Team Awards | Oct 21, 2020
New York’s STEM epicenter and career gateway
The CUNY New York City College of Technology Academic Building wins a Gold Award in BD+C’s 2020 Building Team Awards.
Building Team Awards | Oct 20, 2020
Seamless speed to market drives Texas hospital’s growth
Learn why the Methodist Richardson Medical Center Vertical Expansion, in Richardson, Texas, was honored with a Gold Award in the 2020 Building Team Awards.
Building Team Awards | Oct 20, 2020
Winning with teamwork
The new home of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, Chase Center, is honored with a Gold Award in the 2020 Building Team Awards.
Coronavirus | Oct 8, 2020
The Weekly show: Statue of Liberty Museum, emotional learning in K-12, LA's climate change vulnerability
The October 8 episode of BD+C's "The Weekly" is available for viewing on demand.
