On December 11, nearly 150 people joined the United States Forest Service as they celebrated the dedication of the Angeles National Forest’s new Supervisor’s Office in Arcadia, CA. Attending the dedication on behalf of HMC + Beverly Prior Architects were Steve Parker and Byron Bronston.
The 24,000-square-foot project includes a replacement headquarters facility housing management and special services in a single building for more than 80 personnel and a large number of visitors. An existing historic warehouse was renovated as a conference and training center. Public and private entity functions include meetings, indoor and outdoor fire training for federal, county and city fire departments, public open houses related to specific special projects or issues and public events such as recruitment and outreach. During times of emergency, the facility will be active 24 hours per day to support public safety operations.
“This new facility has really special features and conforms to green construction standards such as using smaller amounts of energy and water than used by the previous building,” said Thomas Contreras, supervisor for the Angeles National Forest.
The project is designed to achieve LEED Gold certification and provides a comfortable and energy-efficient working environment through the use of daylighting, ventilation, recycled and renewable materials, energy-efficient lighting and building systems and water saving fixtures. Landscaping features include a “fire-safe” demonstration garden and cultivation of over 80 plants selected from the forest itself. Natural and native stone and other rocks are used as barriers and site control.
And in case you would like to see the project, it is visible right off the 210 Freeway at the N. Santa Anita Ave. interchange.
