Solano County, one of the fastest growing counties in the State of California, brought its many government departments together under one roof as part of a $113.5-million ‘smart-growth’ consolidation effort. The project consists of a six-story, 300,000 square foot administration building with a five-level, 1,008-space parking garage equipped with a solar electric system and electric vehicle hook-ups, plus an adjacent two-story 43,000 square foot probation building and a 25,000 square foot public plaza. The entire county campus stretches nearly three city blocks in downtown Fairfield and is located next to the County Courthouse and Justice Center, placing all important governmental functions adjacent to one another. The sleek new administration building, the project’s central structure, houses over 800 county employees, combining 16 departments from 15 different locations in two cities. The project embodies smart-growth strategies as an infill development located within walking distance of a multi-modal train station.
The 100 foot tall administration building, a LEED® SILVER project, incorporates many sustainable features including major recycled building materials plus a gray water recovery system. The building also exceeds California’s Title 24 Energy Efficiency Standards by 10% using high efficiency fans and lamps, low ambient lighting systems and a photovoltaic panel system for the conversion of solar energy. The overall project goal was to create a landmark community building. The steel-framed, glass-sheathed building’s iconic image is marked by a distinctive six-story inverted pyramid at the main entrance. The central lobby is double-height and anchored by a monumental staircase with broad landings, and incorporates publicly-funded artwork. The generous central lobby serves as a public gathering space for exhibits, press conferences and community events.
