Prize(s) Honorable Mentions
Lighting Design/Product Company HDR
Lead Designers Jeff Thompson
Other Designer's names Adeline Morin, Yunnan Allen, Steven Christian, Valerie DeLoach, Susan Suhar, Rebecca Veloso
Architecture Company HDR
Interior Design Company HDR
Client Orange County Sanitation District
Photo Credits Brian Doll, HDR
Completion Date September 2024
Project Location Fountain Valley, California, USA
Entry DescriptionOrange County Sanitation District’s new headquarters exemplifies net-zero workplace design, where lighting strategies directly support reduced wattage and reliance on electric lighting. High-performance glazing, solar shading, and building orientation maximize daylight, minimizing artificial loads. Large glulam beams integrate CNC-machined pockets to house direct/indirect luminaires, preserving structure and highlighting natural timber. Continuous linear luminaires provide balanced illumination with multiple integral drivers for daylight zones and emergency egress. Felt-finished fixtures add acoustic absorption, while micro-louver luminaires in meeting spaces maintain glare-free collaboration. Concealed accents reinforce the architectural identity, merging technical performance with aesthetic warmth in a facility designed for community and resilience.
Sustainability ApproachLighting design advances the building’s net-zero carbon goal, cutting energy demand while enhancing well-being. Optimal building orientation, exterior shading devices, and advanced daylight harvesting programming reduce electric lighting loads, achieving a 32% improvement over code. Integrated lighting within glulam beams provides efficient illumination without additional materials or structural compromise. Custom continuous luminaires are designed for task lighting, daylight zones, and emergency egress, improving control and reducing materials. Acoustically absorptive luminaires made from recycled materials improve comfort, while accent lighting highlights the timber structure’s sustainable story—aligning performance, durability, and human-centered design
