Global design platform Archello recently profiled our full-scale transformation of Moscone Center, San Francisco’s premier convention venue, into one of the most efficient and sustainable convention centers in the United States, calling it “an efficient model for green urban hubs engaging communities.” Located in the downtown cultural district surrounding Yerba Buena Gardens and owned by the City of San Francisco, the Moscone Center Expansion spans almost 20 acres across two superblocks. The expansion transformed the center into a series of linked, light-filled spaces, seamlessly integrated with the public realm.
To meet ambitious sustainability goals, the design team implemented architecture and engineering solutions to conserve existing elements of the building—an approach that dramatically reduced the carbon impact of construction. In its operations, Moscone Center creates fewer carbon emissions per visitor than any major convention center in North America. The project has achieved LEED Platinum Certification through energy-efficient systems and onsite renewable energy, generated from the largest rooftop solar installation in San Francisco, providing nearly 20 percent of its power. The new construction portion of the facility is designed with a high-performance external facade, including high-efficiency fritted glazing and a large external shading structure.
The project is designed for net-positive water use, with innovative stormwater and groundwater capture and reuse strategies that result in a savings of more than 5 million gallons of water each year. This conservation strategy began with harvesting and treating nearly 15 million gallons of ground and rainwater yearly, allowing the center to use less water than it did prior to expansion, with enough left over to irrigate the adjacent gardens and supply part of the city’s street cleaning fleet.
Archello is an interconnected global industry platform for architects and manufacturers to showcase their impact on the built environment. Read about the project below.
