Presentation Center Gets the Gold!

The Presentation Center has been awarded a Gold certification under LEED-NC v. 2.1, earning 46 points out of a possible 64. The new 9,400 sq. ft. building at the 264-acre interfaith retreat in the Santa Cruz mountains south of San Jose, CA, includes a welcoming center, bookstore and dining room/kitchen/multi-purpose facility. Project highlights include radiant in-floor heat, photovoltaics for electricity generation, strawbale walls, innovative storm water management utilizing vegetated swales, drought tolerant and native plantings, and a green roof. Paved areas incorporated permeable materials, recycled materials and products utilizing a high albedo content to reduce heat emissions. Overall, the design focuses on preserving the native ecosystem while reducing resource consumption.