Mechanical design services for the new 60,000 sq ft science center at De Anza Community College in Los Altos, CA. The project consisted of mixed-use space including labs, classrooms, resource centers, administrative offices and a distance-learning center.

Natural ventilation, automated windows, light sensors, and daylight harvesting are some of the passive options implemented. Variable air volume systems serve the active conditioning of the buildings, including the laboratories. Chemistry laboratories are notorious for their high-energy usage primarily due to 100% outside air ventilation systems, which are required for safety reasons. For energy efficiency purposes, the laboratory system uses a variable air volume (VAV) system. By reducing the amount of air supplied to a laboratory when loads and fume exhaust requirements are small, cooling, heating and fan energy are substantially reduced.

The Science Center received a LEED Silver Certification rating as well as a Design Award for Architectural Excellence. The Center was designed to allow for additional environmentally friendly features to be installed in the future as funding becomes available, including photovoltaic arrays on the roof and adjacent parking lot, a pond and a waterfall.