The Contra Costa County Administration Building and Redevelopment Project in Martinez, Calif. recently became the world’s first Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) Gold for construction-certified public project, setting a new sustainability benchmark for such work the world over. The facility rose on the site of a 12-story county building and jail, demolition of which yielded materials for the new facility—led by concrete rubble and marble respectively used for base or infill material and lobby finishes.
Those specifications contributed to project principals’ diversion of more than 95 percent of demolition waste from landfills and waste-to-energy facilities, hence 15,000-plus tons of material reused, recycled, composted or recovered to productive ends. “Certification required meticulous documentation of our waste management processes, ensuring that every piece of project waste reached its intended destination,” observes Contra Costa County Chief Assistant County Administrator Eric Angstadt.
The design-build Administration Building and Redevelopment Project was delivered by San Francisco-based Webcor, a top West Coast player in commercial construction and concrete work, in partnership with global architectural/engineering firm Perkins & Will and Contra Costa County. Webcor pursued the TRUE Gold certification with All About Waste, a zero waste and circular economy consultant to the County. The TRUE Certification for Construction program recognizes projects that achieve exceptional levels of waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. Along with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, it is administered by Green Business Certification Inc., an independent U.S. Green Building Council entity.
“Achieving TRUE Gold certification for a public building of this scale is a testament to our dedication to pushing the boundaries of sustainable construction,” says Webcor Senior Project Manager Alec Bangs. “We’re setting new industry standards and demonstrating that environmentally responsible practices can be implemented without compromising project budgets or timelines.”
“We introduced several new ideas, such as using natural fiber-based gloves that were later repurposed into furniture,” adds Webcor Project Engineer Mansi Bansai. “This project demonstrates how innovative thinking can lead to significant environmental benefits.”
“This project is a living testament of Contra Costa County’s commitment to leading sustainably and making services more accessible for our community,” affirms Chair of Board of Supervisors Federal Glover. “We’re excited about setting a new standard for local government construction projects that prioritizes our environment and are grateful to our project partners for helping us achieve this success.”
