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Portfolio: Project Details


Student Services Building
Contra Costa College
San Pablo, CA
Interactive Resources is currently providing comprehensive architecture and engineering services for the new 16,000+ square-foot Student Services Building.

The new building will provide students with one-stop access to important resources, such as counseling, financial aid, and career guidance.

The Student Services Building will serve as a part of the gateway and focal point to the college, and will bring a fresh new aesthetic to the mid-century architecture of the campus.

Sustainable design measures include:
  • Landscape design to reduce heat island effect by minimizing paved areas, use of light col-ored paving and porous brick paving instead of asphalt, and utilizing drought tolerant plants.
  • Utilization of PG&E Savings by Design program, which offers monetary incentives for exceeding Title-24 energy requirements by 20%.
  • Reduced amount of energy required to heat and cool building by accommodating under-floor air, data and power through the use of a raised access floor. This technique also requires virtually no ductwork, and provides for maximum upgrade flexibility in the future.
  • Use of clerestory windows to increase daylighting and natural ventilation.
  • Incorporation of sunshades (louvers) above all southern exposed windows and deep overhangs at glazed entry areas, as well as roll-down shades at all glazed areas, and low-e insulated glazing combine to provide maximum daylighting and energy performance.
  • East to West building orientation to provide daylighting and optimize solar control.
  • Operable windows enhance indoor air quality and ventilation.
  • Single-ply "cool roof" to enhance energy efficiency and reduce heat island effect.