An integral part of the Sacramento skyline, Office Building 8 and 9 have recently completed an extensive renovation project. State of California employees will soon relocate to Building 9, which is closing a four-year renovation period. The two 310,000-square-foot office buildings occupy a full downtown city block. The renovations, designed by HGA Architects and Engineers, are part of the Excellence in Public Buildings program.
"These towers, intended to house approximately 1,700 employees, have been a Sacramento icon since the ’60s, making it critical that our design visually reinforce rather than splinter the original architectural style of the complex,” says Greg Bucher, HGA project manager. “Additionally, we were able to incorporate a considerable list of green elements into both the new facility and office tower renovation, underscoring the state’s emphasis on sustainable design efforts.”
The 20-story towers were the tallest and largest office buildings in Sacramento in 1969. The redesigned plaza and a two-story lobby join the towers to create a single entry point. This new focal point also provides additional security for the complex. Building 8 was completed in 2008 with a near 100% reuse of the existing structure and exterior skin. It now uses approximately 20% less energy and 40% less water. Both buildings received new electrical and plumbing systems, seismic reinforcement, dampers that serve as shock absorbers, and mechanical air distribution systems.