Ontario, Calif., opens renovated, green city hall
In June, Ontario, Calif., reopened its city hall after a $21.9 million, 19-month renovation project. The 30-year-old building, located at the heart of the city’s historic downtown, had become outdated and inefficient.
The new building is designed for Silver LEED certification from the Washington-based U.S. Green Building Council and features numerous green building components, such as flooring and carpets made of mostly recycled materials, paints and coatings with low amounts of volatile organic compounds, PVC-free upholstery, waterless urinals and low-flow toilets, and toxin-filtering indoor plants.
Outside, drought-tolerant plants and an automated sprinkler system were installed, and there is special parking for bicycles and low-emission vehicles.
The renovation added 3,000 square feet of space to the building, now totaling 55,000 square feet. It was designed by Newport Beach, Calif.-based architect Robert Borders & Associates and built by 28 contractors managed by New York-based Turner Construction.
