Hilmar Cheese Company Administration Building
Hilmar, California
Programmed for LEED-NC 2.2 Silver
Completion: 2010

Programmed to achieve Silver certification under the LEED® New Construction green building rating system, the new, two-story, 42,000 square-foot Hilmar Cheese Company administration building will, when completed, stand as a stellar example of sustainable design in Merced County.

Sited in a vacant area in the exiting Hilmar Cheese facility, the new building will feature a 6,000 square-foot central atrium space that will provide natural daylighting to the majority of the interior office areas. The atrium also will serve as a hospitality area for the many catered events held by the company.

The building structure will incorporate recycled and regionally manufactured materials in its construction. Energy efficient glazing and exterior wall assemblies will promote occupant comfort, while a “cool” roof system will be employed to reflect sunlight and reduce solar gains on the building, thereby reducing the load on environmental systems. Taken together, these techniques will reduce energy consumption for air conditioning and lighting by a minimum of 20% over a comparable conventionally constructed building.

An on-site storm-water retention and discharge system will be employed to fully filter site storm water before returning it to the groundwater aquifers that support agriculture throughout the Central Valley.