Sustainability is a virtually all-inclusive concept applicable to every part of life on earth. By definition, to sustain most often means to maintain, to support, or to endure. For human society, sustainability is a threshold for our continued existence on this planet. It is increasingly apparent our negligence and behavior is unsustainable due in large measure to our irresponsible use of natural resources and damage inflicted upon natural ecosystems. Over the past several decades, ‘ecology’, as a field of scientific endeavor, has begun to edge society towards a necessary balance with nature by defining and encouraging sustainability. This encouragement has taken several forms ranging from voluntary measures to ordinances. GBE has enthusiastically embraced the concept of sustainable design, by renovating our current office space with sustainable elements and achieving LEED Silver certification. GBE incorporates sustainability principles within all designs as a matter of course and is committed to continual improvement in its design strategies to ‘push the envelope’ and thereby contribute to an enduring planet.
West Los Angeles College Classroom and Student Services Buildings
Los Angeles, CA
Citing an expanding student body population, West LA College has commissioned a new Student Services Building and new Classrooms Building. Targeting LEED Gold certification, the project includes a “Smart” classroom complete with cameras, connections to a satellite uplink and telephone systems for distance learning … READ MORE
San Jose State University Student Health and Counseling Center
San Jose, CA
GBE was retained to provide LEED NC third-party consultation services for a new 47,000 sf Student Health and Counseling Center. Services included assisting and coordinating with the owner and design team in planning and programming, setting design standards … READ MORE
Pierce College Student Services Building
Woodland Hills, CA
Mandates meet design in this new $23.2 million, three-story 60,000 sf Student Services Building. As the symbolic gateway to the campus, the project needed to maintain the Mediterranean-style design inherent in the campus vernacular while incorporating the standardized Sustainable Building Goals of the Los Angeles Community College District … READ MORE
Westerly School
Long Beach, CA
GBE went to the head of the class for its MEP design for this elementary school’s new arts building, a multi-purpose pavilion and parking lot A. Although this school does not intend to apply for a LEED certification, the design of this project includes sustainable features to both save energy and to provide sustainable education opportunities to the students. Features included … READ MORE
434 E Broadway
Long Beach, CA
GBE relocated to their new offices in March 2008, having completely renovated the interior of a building originally constructed in 1902. Close to public transportation and many amenities, GBE has earned LEED Silver Certification by recycling demolition and construction waste, incorporating natural and low-energy lighting and plumbing … READ MORE
The Alhambra
Alhambra, CA
The Alhambra is an “urban community” filled with a diverse representation of industry and activity. This urban community consists of office spaces, retail spaces, a fitness facility and future residential areas. GBE is currently providing mechanical, electrical and preliminary design and cost estimating services for the replacement of a total 3,000 ton, three-cell cooling tower, along with three corresponding condensing water pumps, the chemical water … READ MORE
Hyperion Environmental Learning Center
El Segundo, CA
This interactive learning center for students K-12 focuses on sustainable concepts and principals and resource replenishment. The project was an adaptive re-use of an existing 15,000 sf building and now contains two exhibit galleries, an auditorium and a classroom. The main gallery … READ MORE
Leeway Sailing Center
Long Beach, CA
Ahoy! GBE is providing MEP design for a new 4,200 sf sailing center consisting of classrooms, offices and a boat service area. This is an outstanding project because the design team is designing this building to be the first “zero energy” facility in the City of Long Beach. READ MORE
Fire Station 94
Los Angeles, CA
Crenshaw Fire Station 94 is part of the Los Angeles Fire Department, which serves and protects more than four million people in the City of Los Angeles. Fire Station 94 is renovating and expanding its 1960 two-story facility to better serve the surrounding community and to support … READ MORE
North Central Animal Services Center
Los Angeles, CA
Transforming a former landfill to a pet-, people- and environmentally-friendly public animal shelter was a process that took over six years. The addition to an existing shelter, now houses 170 outdoor dog kennels, various small animal holding facilities, a detached behavioral assessment room … READ MORE
Bronson Court
Los Angeles, CA
This new three-story, 54,000 sf affordable housing facility includes 32 residential units including 12 one-bedroom, nine two-bedroom and 11 three-bedroom units. Each unit has its own private balcony that provides natural day lighting and ventilation. Photovoltaic panels were installed on the rooftop to provide alternative energy. Other amenities include … READ MORE
Church of Scientology
Pasadena, CA
Nestled in the heart of Old Pasadena, 35 Raymond is being renovated to house the Church of Scientology (CSI). Originally constructed in 1906, the famous Braley Building housed one of the first car dealerships in California. Much of the 47,000 sf structure will remain and GBE’s energy-efficient, sustainable design will help it achieve a LEED Silver certification. … READ MORE
More Sustainable Projects
CDM Offices – Los Angeles, CA
ConRAC – Los Angeles, CA
BMW South Bay – Torrance, CA
Toyota Puente Hills – City of Industry, CA
Keyes Mercedes-Benz – Van Nuys, CA
Fire Station 12 – Long Beach, CA
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