The staff of Encina Wastewater Authority proudly moved into its new operations and maintenance facilities in Carlsbad, Calif., December 2007. The facilities were dedicated May 28, 2008. Completion of these facilities marks the end of a $15 million expansion project that began in May 2005, according to Leucadia Wastewater District’s Downstream Spring 2008 newsletter.
The new facilities include environmentally friendly architecture that maximizes the use of natural light, and are designed to meet the agency’s needs for the next 25 to 50 years. The new site hosts a public-use boardroom, modern administrative facilities, a state-of-the-art laboratory and a comprehensive maintenance building.
Encina’s energy efficient new building is projected to save an estimated $45,000 per year in energy costs. In addition to saving energy and money, the innovative “green” design prompted SDG&E and the California Public Utility Commission to award Encina a $38,000 incentive as part of its “Savings by Design” program.
In May 2008, the building received an honorable mention award from the American Society of Civil Engineers/California for structural design. It also received the 2008 Honor Award for Masonry Design in the Public/Civic category from the Concrete Masonry Association of California and Nevada.
Source: Downstream Newsletter, Platt/Whitelaw Architects
