Photo by Chad Ziemendorf

The building serves as a demonstration project to instruct thousands of electrical apprentices each year.

The meeting and learning center is the first large-scale commercial building retrofit to meet the U.S. Dept. of Energy's definition of an annual net-zero energy use building. Once an energy hog, the precast concrete building now serves as a demonstration project to instruct thousands of electrical apprentices each year on how to install renewable energy systems. The design incorporates wind and solar power generating technology in the facade, on the roof and on the site. The systems are designed to reduce energy use by 75% compared with similar commercial buildings.

Key Players

Contractor NOVO Construction

Owner IBEW Local 595 and NECA Northern Calif. Chapter

Architect FCGA Architecture

Structural Engineer MBA Structural Engineers Inc.

MEP Engineer Belden Inc.

Energy Consultant Environmental Building Strategies

Solar Energy Consultant Cubed LLC

Renewables Contractor Red Top Electric