With its grand opening in February 2024, Placer County’s first zero-net energy facility has become a one-stop health services center for Auburn and the foothills area.

The $83-million HHSC Center will improve public access to services ranging from mental health and substance use treatment to public benefits. The structure replaces multiple World War II-era facilities that previously housed these programs.

Equipped with all-electric heating and cooling systems, the center also features an onsite photovoltaic system, which will generate more power than the building consumes over the course of a year.

The design-build team did encounter some initial challenges with soil classification and seismic design, but independent geotechnical studies resulted in the soil being reclassified from Type C to Type B, which reduced seismic demands and steel tonnage necessary for the structural moment frames by 30%.

To maximize natural daylight inside the building, design choices included large clerestory light monitors at the roof. In addition, there is an open light well to the lower level as well as the strategic application of solar tube style skylights.

Thanks to the efficiencies of the building lighting and HVAC systems, the HHSC Center is expected to achieve an annual energy usage intensity of approximately 30.0 kBtu/sq ft per year.