Milestone for Sustainable Civic Architecture

Last week, San Mateo County celebrated the official opening of 500 County Center—the first net-zero, mass timber civic building in the U.S.

🌱 Targeting LEED Platinum, this five-story building sets a new precedent for low-carbon, high-impact civic design, housing key departments and the Board of Supervisors’ Chambers—the central hub for democratic engagement.

“Every decision in construction detailing and structural design was motivated by the goal of diminishing the building’s carbon footprint.”
– Javier Arizmendi, FAIA, LEED AP

This project embodies San Mateo County’s bold leadership in sustainability and innovation in public architecture.

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We are a collective of architects, designers, engineers, and planners working together to build a better future.

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