The County of San Diego North Coastal Live Well Health Center in Oceanside, California is a beacon of hope and a shining example of high-performance architecture. The three-story, 36,000 square-foot facility houses aging and independence services, a military and veterans resource center, community health promotions, regional administration, public health and behavioral health services. The County of San Diego specifically wanted an energy efficient building with little to no energy operating costs, a need that was met as this facility is a Zero Net Energy building, the only one in California that is a County-owned medical office. This facility also achieved LEED Platinum certification. The team overcame an 18-month design-to-occupancy schedule with a limited budget by embracing lean strategies and collaboration to maximize all resources.

Building a Healthy Environment

When a client’s purpose is to promote a better quality of life to families, it’s only natural that their built environment be healthy—responsible in energy consumption and harmonious with natural surroundings. Built on a lot that once housed the County’s Mental Health and Public Health Centers, one of the goals of the project was to provide a prominent structure that reflected the dignity of a county building. The City hoped to redevelop the area and bring a positive change to the community and its residents. Design-build helped create a space where people can re-integrate into life and a space for more success stories to be written.

Client/Owner:	County of San Diego Department of General Services
Design-Build Firm:	Balfour Beatty Construction/HMC Architects
General Contractor:	Balfour Beatty Construction
Architect:	HMC Architects
Engineer:	Excel Engineering (Civil Engineering) Miyamoto International (Structural)
Specialty Contractors:	Helix Electric WR Robbins
Specialty Consultant:	Syska Hennessy
Project Manager:	HMC Architects
Construction Duration:	18 Months
Project Cost:	$23,060,000.00

Photo Credit: Lawrence Anderson Photography