The County Operations Center consolidated twenty five widely dispersed work groups into an integrated campus on Kearny Mesa. Widely recognized for its civic character and its ability to create a compact, pedestrian-oriented campus, our plan allowed for phased development without interruption of the County’s existing and on-going operations on the site, which included important customer serving operations and mission-critical activities such as the Medical Examiner’s building, the Sheriff’s headquarters, and the “911” emergency communications center. The new buildings are organized around a series of individual plazas and courtyards, each incorporating landscaping and art to reflect the various cultures that make San Diego unique. The campus offers an inviting and comfortable place for both employees and customers and is envisioned as a model and benchmark for future development in Kearny Mesa.

Incorporating a significant collection of newly commissioned, site specific public art, public spaces throughout the campus are enlivened by the work of important contemporary artists. The Center also created the County’s first archive of historically significant artifacts, which are displayed at entry areas to departmental offices.

The Center reflects the County’s commitment to sustainable design, and the office buildings are certified LEED Gold, with the Conference and Dining center earning LEED Platinum status. The Center earned numerous awards for design and sustainability. It was named “Outstanding Governmental Building of the Year” by the California Center for Sustainable Energy and received the AIA California Council’s Merit Award for Sustainable Design.

James Robbins

Partner