Spanning approximately 65,000 sq ft, this $63.4-million state-of-the-art facility serves as a central hub of health and social services, catering to the varied needs of a socioeconomically diverse community.

The owner’s vision for the Southeastern Live Well Center (SELWC) was to create a net-zero energy social services center designed to be trauma-informed and culturally sensitive of its historically disenfranchised location. Central to this vision was the mandate to incorporate the public’s voice at every juncture of the project’s development.

Principles of trauma-informed design are highlighted throughout SELWC. Upon entering the lobby, visitors encounter spacious areas bathed in natural light, and the decision was made to construct a more welcoming two-story building rather than the initially proposed three-story structure.

Photo by Mike Torrey Photography

The project team spent more than $8 million in the local community through local subcontracting and workforce opportunities and reached almost 14% in local hires. Ensuring inclusivity in subcontractor selection, particularly within the designated local zip codes, proved challenging. Despite the difficulty of finding qualified disadvantaged business entity (DBE) subcontractors within these boundaries, the project team was committed to inclusivity and local engagement. Working with third parties such as the Black IPO and Black Contractors Association made it possible to meet the lofty goals for local and minority-owned subcontractors to participate in the project’s success.

Completed under budget and ahead of schedule in July 2023, this all-electric and zero net energy facility was designed to offset at least 110% of energy consumption through renewables. The wall systems are R30, and the center features high-efficiency light fixtures and mechanical systems. There are 24 EV chargers in the parking structure and the infrastructure for more high-capacity chargers.

Photo by Haley Hill Photography

The Live Well Center was built on a brownfield site next to a San Diego Trolley light rail line. All stormwater is managed through a combination of bioswales, stormwater retention and modular wetland systems, with recycled water used for irrigation systems.

Overall, SELWC achieves 15% better than baseline performance as required by California Energy Code (Title 24). Photovoltaic solar panels on the structure’s roof are seamlessly integrated with energy-efficient glazing, functional sunscreens and the strategic use of recycled materials to minimize environmental impacts. The zero net energy design ambition was realized through a combination of passive and active design solutions that extend to ancillary structures like the parking facility, underscoring a holistic approach to energy management.

SELWC is located in a FEMA flood zone and next to a flood channel, so all vertical construction sits above the 100-year floodplain. The second floor was cantilevered, and no fences or other obstructions were built in the flooding pathway. Hidden retaining walls were added so water will not get in the building, and the team also conducted heightened water infiltration testing.

In January 2024, San Diego was pummeled by a massive rainfall—3 in. of rain in under three hours, flooding the nearby Chollas Creek. At the epicenter was the county’s recently completed SELWC, which incurred no damage during the storm.