Sponsorship from Kaiser Permanente Makes Green Makeover Posssible

Green Chip Living has covered stories in green architecture and building for awhile now…

The latest in green gyms and health clubs; LEED-Platinum certified monasteries and houses of worship; farmers markets; and now, green health clinics popping up on the West Coast.

Now, thanks to a one million dollar grant sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, a health clinic in a San Diego community could be the first of its kind to earn LEED certification.

The new center has been built from the ground up as environmentally friendly for both residents and the community, and is hoping to earn LEED Gold certification.

California Senators and big wigs in health care, as well as the likes of Michelle Obama, joined Kaiser Permanente and La Maestra for the ribbon cutting ceremony just two weeks ago.

Serving citizens of the City Heights neighborhood in the eastern part of San Deigo since 1990, La Maestra is not only giving patients the medication and diagnosis they need to feel better; it’s also an example of green building in one of the most ethnically diverse and low-income communities in the city.

The site for the new building was considered based on solar power and breeze; the health center’s grounds also include a high-efficiency landscape irrigation system and drought resistant and native plants.

The green features at La Maestra include:

high performance insulated glass
recycled materials, energy management system, and materials with low volatile organic compounds
highest environmentally-friendly standards in lighting, air quality ventilation, waste management, energy-use sources
furniture and interior decoration from natural materials, manufactured by sustainable companies
a rooftop solar photovoltaic array expected to generate 15% of the building’s energy needs

La Maestra is running more efficiently while enjoying a much-needed expansion. The 36,440 square foot facility can now accommodate 180,000 patient and client annual visits — three times the number of patients the old clinic was able to accommodate.

So while people sit in chairs in a plush waiting room for their name to be called for a throat culture, they’re sitting in a waiting room that uses less energy.

“No longer must we believe that underserved neighborhoods are exempt from the highest standards of green architecture design and environmentally friendly programs,” said Zara Marselian, La Maestra’s chief executive officer.

“La Maestra and the City Heights community are proving that neighborhoods that care about their future and their environment can make a lasting difference for everyone.”

La Maestra provides not only health services for the San Diego community, but with a staff of 162 doctors, nurses, counselors and social workers who speak 19 different languages and dialects, it is also the largest employer in City Heights.

Joining Kaiser Permanente in the sponsorship of the La Maestra’s green makeover are Anthem Blue Cross, Bank of America, and San Diego Gas and Electric. Contributions from Price Charities, The Parker Foundation, The Robert Wood Foundation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources, and the Tides Foundation also made the project possible.

La Maestra’s design and mission statement for the new green building can be found here.

And it’s worth taking a look at — to see the thought and design process that went into making a sustainable community center that reflects the aesthetic and cultural values of the people whom it serves.

Stock Investing Guide

Start Trading Like a Profesional