SUNNYVALE CLEANWATER CENTER
The Sunnyvale Cleanwater Center project modernizes staff workspaces and support spaces, maintenance shops, and the water quality laboratory, preparing the facility for the next 50 years of operation. Facing increasingly stringent regulations, expanded operational requirements, and renewed public perception, the design organizes staff spaces into one facility to improve efficiency and well-being while introducing a new civic identity.
PROJECT CONTACT
LOCATION
Sunnyvale, CA
OWNER
City of Sunnyvale
SIZE
27,000 SF
ESTIMATED COMPLETION
2029
SUSTAINABLE ELEMENTS
LEED v4 Gold Certification Equivalency
DESIGN AND FUNCTION
The new design consolidates previously dispersed operations into a unified facility that provides staff with opportunities to connect and engage across departments. The updated and expanded water quality laboratory will support new regulatory requirements with modern, flexible modules, high-performance mechanical systems, and centralized lab systems. The ground floor’s grey fiber cement cladding elevates a functional appearance with a combination of linear striations and ribbed panels. The all-glass second story façade washes the open office spaces with daylight and provides ample view while controlling glare with auto-tinting electrochromic glass. The finished look draws contrast between the muted base and the bright, reflective second story, which pairs well with the surrounding Silicon Valley tech campuses. The interior conveys functionality with a neutral, highly durable palette of materials that are accented with an articulated wood ceiling to provide warmth in all gathering spaces.
RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY
The building achieves LEED Gold equivalency with sensible strategies like an all-electric design augmented with solar PV, electrochromic glazing, indoor recycled water usage, and a mechanical system that repurposes the hot water supply from the Cogen facility. To support operational flexibility, the design incorporates a large foldable partition wall, multipurpose spaces, and workspaces that can be converted to offices in the future. The facility embodies its mission of preservation through practical, sustainable design choices that lead the community by example.
COMMUNITY
A dedicated public outreach room offers space for education and engagement, where visitors can gather before guided tours of the facility. This main entrance balances the obligations of a transparent, public facility with its need for security and 24/7 operations. Designed to serve as functional infrastructure and a community asset, the Cleanwater Center inspires civic pride for staff and residents.
