Sunnyvale, California has made history with the country's first net-zero, all-electric City Hall featuring LEED platinum certification.
This project was years in the making. Sunnyvale began gathering public input on the new City Hall in 2015. Construction began in 2020 during the pandemic and a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on April 3.
The project “iconifies Sunnyvale as the heart of Silicon Valley” and “creates an icon to sustainability in the fight against climate change,” Mayor Larry Klein told San José Spotlight.
The four-story, 120,000-square-foot building is as beautiful as it is sustainable. It features floor-to-ceiling windows, exquisite wood paneling, a floating staircase, and original artwork. There are over 1,500 solar panels providing 1.1 gigawatt-hours per year — enough to power 100 homes. Redwood trees that had to be removed during construction were repurposed into hardwood furniture. Each department also has a reception area to encourage visitors and civic participation.
The new City Hall is part of a broader 20-year Civic Center Modernization project. The city will also build a new two-story library, an expanded Public Safety Emergency Operations Center, and an outdoor amphitheater.
A public grand opening for the new City Hall will take place Saturday, Sept. 23.
See photos and video of the project here and read more at the Mercury News.