Beverly Hills Is Going Green

The city recently celebrated the opening of a facility that features drought-tolerant landscaping and a stormwater containment system. It's also the first municipal building with rooftop solar panels.

"I think you all know how the city of Beverly Hills feels about being smart and being green in everything we do," Vice Mayor Barry Brucker said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility, which is located at 331 Foothill Road. "From parking meters and water use to a cleaner fleet and progressive green building ordinances."

The architects of the four-story, mixed-use commercial building are now seeking a gold environmental rating from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, also known as LEED. 

"Some of the [LEED] strategies we've embraced are that we employed some strategic sun shading elements," said Steven Ehrlich of Culver City-based Ehrlich Architects. "We are using two types of photovoltaic energy production, which means that we actually turned solar energy into electricity." 

LEED certification is based on a point system that takes into account factors such as water efficiency, energy sources, and the use of sustainable materials and resources. There are four LEED certification levels: certified, silver, gold and platinum.

The Foothill Road building, which also serves as the headquarters for the city's cable television operations, already has its first tenant. Participant Media, a production company that combines socially conscious films with non-profit work, was looking for office space in a structure that was environmentally friendly. The building was a perfect match, said Laurie Luh, Participant Media's Senior Director of Human Resources and Office Operations. 

"I think the city did a really great job with its design. Even the plants, everything they used seems to be more environmentally sustainable," Luh said. "Lots of open windows, lots of natural light—we are barely even turning on the lights in here." 

Ehrlich praised the city for its support of the sustainable design.

"The City Council and leadership of the city really embraced us and were open to a contemporary vision with modern architecture," Ehrilch said. "It was very special to see an open-minded group of people who were essentially the decision-makers."