Floyd Farms Food Literacy Center, designed by HMC Architects for Sacramento City Unified School District, is featured in the American Institute of Architects’ Return on Investment for AIA’s Climate Action Pledge Programs. The publication highlights how architecture firms nationwide are advancing the AIA 2030 Commitment and Materials Pledge while demonstrating the measurable business and community value of climate-responsive design.
HMC joined the AIA 2030 Commitment in 2011 and has reported annually on its efforts to reduce energy use and carbon emissions since 2014. Since then, we have expanded our sustainability expertise, invested in training and technology, increased our use of external sustainability consultants, and more fully integrated sustainability into project pursuits. Our 2026 report included 140 projects totaling 7.5 million square feet. Those projects achieved an average predicted reduction in energy use intensity of 62 percent, with 78 percent incorporating energy modeling and 74 percent incorporating embodied carbon modeling. Sustainability is not a trend for HMC—it is a responsibility we carry into every project.
One of the first net-zero energy buildings in the Sacramento region, Floyd Farms offers the community opportunities to learn about sustainable farming, nutrition, and healthy cooking. Designed during the early implementation of the AIA Materials Pledge, the project established a disciplined material-selection process that continues to inform HMC’s work. The team prioritized products with verified human and environmental health attributes while also seeking to reduce embodied carbon. Post-occupancy data from the building’s first two years shows that Floyd Farms produces more energy than it consumes. As programming expands, the facility is expected to use a greater share of the renewable energy generated on-site. Its inclusion in the AIA report demonstrates how climate-responsive design can create measurable environmental benefits while advancing education, health, and community well-being.
To read the full publication, visit the AIA Resource Center.
