Water + Life Museums Complex Receive LEED^® Platinum Certification

HEMET, CA
The Water + Life Museums in Hemet, California received a LEED^® Platinum certification from the USGBC. It is the first LEED ^® Platinum rating for a museum, making it a particularly noteworthy achievement.

Lehrer + Gangi teamed with IBE Consulting Engineers on this 70,000 SF museum complex, which includes the Center for Water Education and the Western Center for Archeology and Paleontology. Considering the harsh desert environment of Hemet – where summers swelter in the triple digits but winters freeze water – achieving the highest green standard is particularly impressive.

IBE addressed the extreme climate by harnessing those very resources. Solar panels – a 3000-panel photovoltaic installation – cover a large part of the roof providing half of the energy for the complex as well as shade the roof area. Innovative design also optimizes daylighting to minimize energy usage.

This museum also received the following awards: the Beyond Green High Performance Award from the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council; the AIA LA Honor Award; the AIA Pasadena/Foothill Design Honor Award; and two Gold Nugget awards (Best Sustainable Commercial Project Grand Award and Best Public/Private Use Facility Merit Award).