Tricom Office Building

Location: Pasadena, California
Type of building: Commercial and Industrial Use
Size (Sq. ft.): 23,300 GSF
New Construction of commercial building in expanded enterprise zone of Pasadena. The Tricom Building incorporates 3 commercial uses: executive office space, showroom, and warehouse.
Date completed: 2003
Cost: $3.3 million (approximately)
Owner: Yorkshire Development
Designed By: Caldwell Architects, Architect; Edward M. Pozzo Construction, General Contractor; Khalifeh & Associates, Mechanical Engineers; G & W Consulting, Electrical Engineers; Sun Utility, Solar Company; Wade Webb, Solar Engineer; Ryan McEvoy, Environmental Consultant.

Sustainable Building Strategies

The Tricom Building anticipates receiving Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Once certified, The Tricom Building will be the first LEED certified building in Pasadena and sets an ambitious standard for energy and resource efficient commercial buildings. The Art Deco Design offers the comfort and amenities of executive offices as well as warehouse and showroom space.

The Tricom Building is a prototype for Pasadena. Partnerships have been established with Pasadena Water and Power, a local landscape design school, and other entities. Tours are given regularly to community and industry members and students to educate them on sustainable building practices.

Sustainable Sites: The project site is in the expanded enterprise zone of Pasadena stimulating development in State-designated economically distressed areas. To promote alternative transportation, he building is located ¼ mile from 9 bus lines and ¾ mile from the light rail. A bicycle rack and an electric vehicle charger is onsite to encourage additional alternative modes of transportation.

Water Efficiency: The landscape is composed of drought tolerant plants eliminating the need for a permanent irrigation system thus conserving local and regional potable water resources. Significant water savings are realized by faucet aerators, dual-flush and low-GPF toilets.

Energy and Atmosphere: Design includes a 31 kilowatt rooftop photovoltaic system, which provides over 50 percent of the building’s energy. Energy efficient lighting, increased insulation, and dual glazed windows and ENERGY STAR rated appliances all reduce energy consumption and overall operating costs. The building occupants purchase GreenE Certified power from renewable resources.

Materials & Resources: Approximately 80 percent of the building products, some of which include the primary material, concrete block; the rebar; and the plants were manufactured or harvested locally thereby reducing environmental impacts resultant from transportation of goods and stimulating local economy.

The flooring in the break room is made from raw, rapidly renewable materials such as linseed oil and jute. The ceiling tiles are also made of rapidly renewable materials such as cork. Reused marble from hotels, reused hotel doors, reused tiles from showcase houses and reused lighting fixtures were all incorporated into the interior design of the building reducing waste stream into landfills and adding architectural character and detail.

Materials made from recycled postconsumer and postindustrial recycled products were also used. The carpet is made of 50 percent recycled content, the ceiling tiles are made from 75 percent recycled content, and the aluminum building signage is made from 94 percent recycled content.

Indoor Environmental Quality: Adhesives, sealants, paints, and carpet systems contain low or no VOCs and meet the most rigorous requirements for indoor air quality. The building was designed to maximize day lighting and allow views for all offices and workspaces. Operable windows provide the effective delivery and mixing of fresh and support the health, safety and comfort of building occupants.

Lessons Learned

On future projects Yorkshire Development will include a clause in the construction contract that allows for alternative and reused materials to be used in place of new materials. If the products are purchased with adequate time (prior to the General Contractors ordering) and there are no major construction adjustments the products should be used without a change order.

Information Contact: Annie Argento, Yorkshire Development: (626)449-3972