Mogavero Architects

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Work

SMUD PV & Hydrostation

SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District), BP, and Ford Motor Company co-sponsored this hydrogen refueling station as a demonstration project located on the SMUD campus. The station produces hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles by combining water and electricity in an electrolyzer. Hydrogen is stored on site in tanks and dispensed to the fuel cell powered vehicles through a dispenser that looks much like a typical gas pump. Much of the electricity used to convert water to pure hydrogen is produced on site by the 100kW photo voltaic (solar panel) array that shades parked cars around the station. As part of the programming portion of the project, Mogavero suggested the inclusion of a visible public education area. This area will be designed to house exhibit information illustrating how hydrogen is produced on site and how fuel cell vehicles work. Fuel cell vehicles produce only water as a by-product and thus emit none of the common vehicle related pollutants. This station will serve as part of the “Hydrogen Highway” that is envisioned to someday stretch the length of California. Mogavero produced schematic drawings and visual simulations of the site to be used for bidding during the design-build portion of the project.

Work

Greyhound Bus Terminal (Sacramento)

Our firm led a team of design professionals who are passionate about sustainable design to implement an integrated design approach for building, energy, and water systems to provide a high-level of comfort, indoor air quality, day lighting, and occupant satisfaction with very low operating costs. Using collaborative integrated design practices and strategies, the project’s ecological footprint met USGBC LEED Silver standards. The project site is located in the Richards Boulevard Redevelopment Plan area of the City of Sacramento. The project will house bus terminal operations, serving customer needs between closure of the current facility and the ultimate creation of the Sacramento Intermodal Transportation Facility in the Railyards. Future reuse of the building was considered in the building’s design. As a basis for design, Greyhound gave the team the option to use one of its prefabricated modular building designs or build a custom building within a restricted budget. After review of the options, our team settled on the use of a pre-engineered steel building that can be completely disassembled and rebuilt. The steel used has a high recycled content, and as well can be easily recycled. All components are assembled with fasteners with very little use of adhesives which increases the potential for reuse. The building’s aesthetic draws from classic Greyhound station design with new interpretations. The exterior insulated metal panels use standard colors in a pattern emulating a bus in motion. At the center of the building, a high roof and glass wall facing the street celebrates the comings and goings of people while announcing the building to the neighborhood at large.

Work

Brookfield School

Brookfield School is a private K-8 school, best known for strong academics, personalized student attention, and fostering a strong sense of community among students and their families. Brookfield’s mission is for students to master a core curriculum and excel at higher levels of education. Mogavero Architects created a site and building master plan that separates grade levels while demonstrating sustainable site development and building design practices, fostering student stewardship and a ‘green’ education with the goal of becoming a ‘net zero’ facility. Classroom facilities include computer labs, an art and music room, and ancillary and support spaces. The site plan includes intimate and large spaces, a courtyard for school ‘community events’, a regulation soccer field and an outdoor active play area. Very large, existing, heritage trees on site were preserved and incorporated into outdoor ‘rooms’ that serve dual purposes for playing and teaching. Site circulation is balanced, with efficient parking and safe student drop off areas, coupled with sidewalks that are separated from the street as well as bike parking within the secure site.

Work

CSUS Dining Commons

Mogavero Architects developed a master plan and completed the first phase of construction documentation and administration for the renovation of the CSU Sacramento Dining Commons. Originally built forty years ago, the building was in dire need of a refresh. The first phase included the renovation of the large dining room and provided accessibility upgrades. The second phase included the renovation of the food service areas, an update to the building circulation, mechanical updates, rebranding and signage. The ceiling and lighting systems were completely replaced with new suspended acoustic clouds that float between existing wood beams. Daylight harvesting strategies were used with dimmable pendant light fixtures in conjunction with lighting control systems. Additional thermal insulation, ceiling fans and a recessed movie screen complete the ceiling renovation. All furnishings were replaced, providing floor level and elevated seating dining areas as well as new fixed booth and banquette seating arrangements. A soft seating area was also developed at the center of the dining room to provide for a more casual setting while making good use of natural light provided by an existing monitor skylight. The existing concrete block walls just above fixed seating areas were covered with acoustical panels that feature custom silkscreen images that portray life on campus. The flooring was stripped and refinished with a new concrete topping that was ground, stained and polished using a pattern that reflects the existing exposed beams above. Ecologically sensitive techniques were combined with products that kept green principals in mind throughout the project. Careful attention to construction systems, techniques and scheduling was required to be constructed during a short two month summer break while the kitchen continued to provide meals for summer conferencing.

Work

UC Davis Segundo Student Housing

Our concept for developing a community to house students in an enhanced academic and social environment was realized through the careful siting of the buildings relative to existing buildings as well as the site in context with its surroundings as a gateway to the Davis campus at large. Pedestrian circulation and common spaces in and out of doors provide opportunities for academic and social interaction as well as the opportunity to develop a corner of the UC Davis campus that had previously lacked identity. Throughout the development of the program for the 92,000 square foot structure, our firm worked closely with a design committee as well as student housing staff to ensure that the project responded to the ever-evolving culture of University student housing. Central to the mission of student-oriented residences is the importance of community, therefore, the project was designed to embrace community at all levels: from the relationship between two roommates to student interaction with the campus as a whole by means of a central plaza, to the way the building relates to its neighbors. Using natural light and air, modified by individual controls, the residence spaces in Segundo provide pleasant, healthy environments in which to live and study. The Segundo student housing project also addresses the social context of the space, maximizing the possibility for students to have choices about personal connection and privacy. The use of operable windows and shades for student residents in their rooms and common areas provide an important level of personalized comfort for residents and visitors alike.

Work

UC Davis Cuarto Dining Commons

Mogavero was the architect for the Design Build Team with Valley Commercial Contractors to complete bridging documents for this extensive renovation, including the conversion of the dining commons from a traditional cafeteria style facility to contemporary, themed platform dining established in the Segundo and Tercero dining commons. The dining commons embraces an open “public market” design with final food preparation viewable to patrons, and includes five food distribution areas: a granary and bakery, a grill for specialty hot foods, a pizza and pasta station, a soup and salad bar, and a market station for self serve and bistro-style entrees. The first floor has an open feeling, with daylight enlivening the the main dining area through a large curved light well which penetrates the second floor, combined with the curved path through the various food counters,  creating a contemporary vibe and smooth flow throughout the commons. The second floor has traditional restaurant seating, with banquettes, separate, skylit quiet rooms, and lounge-style seating along with larger tables that allow for more intimate dining experiences.  A balcony on the second floor allows for al fresco dining.  Cuarto Commons has become a campus focal point, showcasing sustainable design and food service operations that will be implemented at other campus locations.

Work

1200 Park Avenue

On a redeveloped brownfield site along a busy commercial corridor, 1200 Park Avenue provides affordable senior housing as an integral part of Chico’s revitalization strategy. Covering an entire city block, the architectural design presents an urban, three-story face to the Avenue and a two-story residential scaled facade to the single-family residential street behind. Heritage trees were preserved throughout the site. The project includes 107-units in 2- and 3-story apartment buildings on 1.46 acres. One-and two-bedroom units range from 560 to 800 square feet with a total project square footage of 89,000 square feet. The complex incorporates numerous common areas allowing residents to interact, thereby creating a community and diminishing the likelihood of isolation for residents. Exceeding Title 24 by 20%, each unit has its own balcony or porch with highly transparent common living spaces and kitchens, while offices enliven the street level. Covered walkways and pergolas provide outdoor space for resident interaction and shaded outdoor activities. Operable windows wrap the project to allow for natural ventilation and surveillance, providing defensible space and eyes on the street.

Work

Cesar Chavez Plaza

Cesar Chavez Plaza is a 53-unit affordable apartment project located in Davis, serving a low-income and disabled population. It has sustainable design features including night ventilation, roof mounted solar panels, and storm water retention. It was important that each tenant have their own personal space, therefore the outdoor environment and exterior decks are visually expressive and play an important role in the overall design of the project. Careful site planning and detailing of the outdoor spaces contribute to a cohesive community. The animated massing of the community building aids in nighttime ventilation, helping the project beat California energy standards by over 15 percent.

Work

Rochdale Grange

Rochdale Grange is a 44 unit, neighborhood friendly, multi-family complex that is designed to emulate a traditional craftsman style home in historic Woodland. The project consists of 8, two-story buildings and a separate community building with a second level manager’s unit. Unlike typical garden style apartments that often create an isolated community, Rochdale Grange addresses its neighbors by having a street presence. The project was designed with the pedestrian in mind: nicely detailed front porches engage the street to help minimize the scale of the project to a personal level and interior site streets are frequently crossed with accented pedestrian walks to serve as visual cues to motorists that they are sharing streets with pedestrians. Rochdale Grange not only has a positive impact on the neighborhood, but the project is designed in a manner to minimize environmental impact and maximize human comfort. Building features such as large windows with high head height allow light to penetrate to the backs of units. Balconies provide an exterior connection and enhance passive site security. Energy saving strategies such as dual zone air conditioning, natural day lighting, and high density insulation helped to out perform Title 24 requirements by over 30%. Additionally, a 45kW photo voltaic system further reduces the new energy consumption of the complex.  Environmentally friendly materials such as bamboo flooring, recycled insulation, and formaldehyde free casework were utilized throughout the project.

Work

Almond Court Senior Housing

  Almond Court senior housing in Manteca, California complements the adjacent Almond Terrace senior housing which was completed in 2004. Connected by driveway and sidewalks, both projects are dedicated to providing independent and affordable housing for seniors in a supportive community setting. Almond Court has 39 senior apartments in addition to a manager’s residence. Six buildings are arranged around two landscaped courtyards, including seating areas, raised planter boxes for community gardening, and a bocce ball court. Adjacent to this green, the community building provides a lounge for residents, manager’s office, laundry room, and common restrooms. Nearby, a paved path covered by a steel trellis allows residents from both sites to interact and feel connected. Each apartment is accessible and adaptable for residents with mobility needs. Besides ease of access to and within the apartments, site pathways are set up for easy maneuvering from building to building, the sidewalk and street. Local dining, shopping and bus access are directly adjacent. All units have front and rear porches, and residents can gather in a number of exterior seating areas to visit. A covered patio at the community building accommodates benches that sit beneath existing redwood trees that were preserved during the design and construction process.