Building gets green light

Despite the 90-degree heat, residents and city staff members gathered Tuesday along Third Street to celebrate the opening of the new Community Services Building.

The new facility will replace the old municipal services building on the lot, which was demolished after being severely damaged during the 1994 Northridge earthquake, City Manager Mary Alvord said.

The opening was a momentous occasion for staff members, who started planning the building in 2003.

After $38 million in project costs, the 72,000-square-foot structure is the city’s first “green,” or sustainable, building.

Head architect Leo A Daly designed a series of sustainable features such as water-efficient plumbing fixtures such as waterless urinals and ultra-low flow lavatory faucets.

The fixtures reduce water consumption by an anticipated 37 percent, according to a city staff report.

Light fixtures that use motion and photo sensors as well as a central atrium that provides ample natural light also lower energy usage.

The public works, community development, park and recreation as well as community services departments are located in the facility.

“I have lived here for 68 years,” resident Lee Paysinger said.

“I have never seen anything like this. It is like looking at the future. It is just so amazing.”

Mayor Dave Golonski, Vice Mayor Gary Bric and council members Marsha Ramos, Anja Reinke and David Gordon cut the ribbon, welcoming guests to tour the new three-story building.

“This is a proud moment for the whole community,” Golonski said. “This building reflects the quality that we believe putting behind the services we provide.”

Second-floor changing rooms and showers, along with bike racks are also in the building to encourage employees to use alternative transportation to commute.

A large community room with an audio-visual system will also be available for public assembly and committee meetings, Daly said.

“Burbank had the great foresight to incorporate these sustainable principles into the development,” Daly said.

The city hopes to achieve a silver-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design award for the structure.

LEED, a ratings system for green buildings, was created by the United States Green Building Council to accelerate sustainable building practices.

Artwork is also scattered through the new facility, such as the entrance’s skylight that features historical photographs of the city taken in the 1920s.

“This is a great improvement for the city,” resident Bill Vescio said. “It’s very up to date and has incorporated the latest in building technology.”