Projects

REthink is providing green building design and LEED NC certification services for US Army’s MEPS in El Segundo, CA. It is a 33,000 SF new construction class A office building. The project will include climate appropriate energy efficiency strategies such as day-lighting and night cooling.

REthink was hired by Disney to perform a full green building evaluation and carbon impact analysis of their planned development of a new studio in LA County. REthink needed to make sure the studio could reach a LEED Silver Certification as required by LA County as well as analyze its impact regarding SB 375 and AB 32.

This project entails the rehabilitation of four existing buildings on the LASC campus and the construction of a new administration building. The four existing buildings will be modernized and increase energy efficiency by 15% compared to 2010 energy code efficiency standards. In addition the learning environment will be enhanced through improved daylighting and comfort controls. The new building will be a showcase of environmental practices and is being designed to achieve LEED NC 3.0 Gold. REthink is providing the green building consulting and LEED certification services for all 5 buildings. REthink was invited to be a part of the proposal team by Hensel Phelps Construction Co.

Full evaluation, study, and project management of solar program on 10 buildings using MASH incentives and rebates through Stimulus and local utility. (MASH – Multifamily Affordable Solar Home program)

REthink is the developer and LEED design and certification expert on a 22,000 SF mixed use building in Hollywood. The building will likely be the highest rated mixed use green building in the U.S.  Beyond the advanced green measures the building also integrates and honors the significant musical and Hollywood history of Cherokee Studios, MGM Studios, and Republic Pictures before it along with the artists that recorded 300 Gold and Platinum on site including David Bowie, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Michael Jackson, etc.  Cherokee Studios represents the premier in green design, form and function, in the epicenter of the entertainment capital of the world. 

• LEED Platinum at around a 1% cost premium
• Integrated musical and entertainment history
• Form meets Function in multiple ways
• 47% more energy efficient, 30% more water efficient
• Cost of Ownership savings over 6%, $42 psf value
• Solar array 12% IRR
• Award winning:
  • American Institute of Architects/COTE Top 10 Green Projects Award 2011
  • 40th Annual Los Angeles Architectural Award in the Market Rate Multifamily category
  • AIA Los Angleles Honor Award
  • Best Los Angeles Apartment/Loft Design by Slow Home Network
  • West Side Urban Forum In-fill Award
  • Southern California Gas Company Case Study House

Visit the Lofts at Cherokee Studios Website at www.loftsatcherokeestudios.com →

REthink is the developer and LEED design and certification expert on a 63,000 SF office building project in the popular creative office district of Culver City the ‘Hayden Tract’. The building will consist of two separate structures connected by a common core and a green courtyard. It will be radiantly heated and cooled with a solar absorption plant. The building will be designed to reduce operating costs while increasing the productivity of workers through smart green design ultimately striving for a LEED-Core & Shell Gold or Platinum Certification. The project site is the former Selznick Studios and Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s Desilu Studios where Gone with the Wind’s Tara Farm was located among many other notable productions. This history will be creatively integrated into the first green creative office development in Southern California.

• 1/3 mile away from Light Rail
• 1/3 a mile away from Downtown Culver City
• 55% more energy efficient
• Solar Absorption Power Plant
• Constant Temperature Building
• 9% NOI increase, $50 psf value
• Green Office Ownership opportunity

Presentation of Green Culver City Office Space Available →
LA Times Article on Cuningham Group and The Plant →

REthink is the developer and LEED design and certification expert on an approximately 50,000 SF multi-use development on the highly popular street Abbot Kinney in Venice, CA. The project includes retrofitting existing restaurants, building new retail and office space, and building Live Work units all around a popular community garden. The new construction elements will target a LEED Gold or Platinum rating. This project will be the first LEED Gold or Platinum Certified mixed-use development in the Venice area. The result will be a more efficient, distinct, healthy and profitable development that caters to the creative people and artistic culture that make up this dynamic neighborhood. Using an integrated design approach while paying close attention to the neighborhood’s roots, the new development will combine the charm from the old with green building practices and innovative design making it one of the most sought-after retail, creative office and live-work spaces on the Westside. The southwest exposure and façade of the Live Work lofts will include an integrated ribbon based solar system. Live Work units and commercial space will have green roofs.

REthink is currently in the process of retrofitting a dilapidated building into two prime green restaurant spaces in the heart of downtown Culver City. The restaurant space is intended to be split into Washington Blvd-facing and Culver Blvd-facing spaces. The retrofit will take the building down to its bones with new systems installed. It will feature operable window walls that will open up to the 40 foot sidewalk while allowing for breezes and natural daylight to wash the space. It will also feature skylights and vent systems over each dining room to assisting ventilation and bring in additional daylight. The retrofit will also enable the addition of a full second and third story of green high performance pre-fab office space to be quickly added when appropriate. The development will be creatively tied in with the history of the adjacent Kirk Douglas Theatre, Sony Studios (formerly MGM), and Culver City itself giving it a unique perspective as well.

Downtown Culver City Restaurant Space Available →

Full evaluation, study, and development assistance of solar farm using Feed In Tariff and high capacity power line location, with exact positioning to maximize power generation while maximizing rebates and tax credits. Projected IRR 13+%.

The LEED EB certification efforts for this project required the coordination of every department within the city to document and initiate environmental policies from purchasing certified lumber to retrofitting lighting with low mercury bulbs.  The project resulted in new, more effective environmental policies city-wide.

REthink provided LEED EB certification services and project management for the certification of a 77 room hotel in Santa Monica.  It was the first hotel in the United States to be certified under the LEED EB system.  The Ambrose has been awarded the City of Santa Monica Sustainable Quality Award for its excellence.

REthink was hired to perform green design support and LEED Silver level certification for a 15,000 SF new construction exhibit hall and office space with underground parking and extensive green roof/rooftop park.

REthink provided LEED EB feasibility analysis and green operations strategies to help certify this 867,000 square foot facility.

Strategic Hotels, owner of the Loews Hotel in Santa Monica, hired REthink Development to assist them in the development of the first LEED Platinum condos in the City of Santa Monica to strive for net zero energy use. REthink assisted the design team with incorporating design elements to achieve the extremely high level of green certification and the unprecedented net zero status. REthink continues to coordinate the LEED for Homes certification for the project.

Sweetwater Mesa is a luxury home project in the hills above Malibu. The project has drawn tremendous attention due to the high-profile owner, U2 guitarist, The Edge. REthink is providing green building design consulting and assisting in the achievement of a LEED for Homes Gold certification.

Harbor Interfaith Services is a non-profit that provides transitional housing and job training for the homeless and unemployed. Their new headquarters building will include day care and educational facilities for children, an expanded food pantry and improved office conditions to enable them to provide a higher level of service to those in need. REthink is assisting in the LEED NC 3.0 Silver certification of the building.

REthink Principal closely worked with City Staff to provided green building policy, program, and ordinance direction and advisement on LA setting up its green building policy and incentives.

REthink provided green building design consultation to enable the project to achieve a LEED CS Silver certification.  This second phase of a 500,000+ square foot lifestyle retail complex on the border of Manhattan Beach and El Segundo is currently on hold.

Large single family home in Brentwood seeking LEED Silver certification.  REthink hired to assist in the green design and LEED H certification.

REthink provided green design consultation and building systems and materials specification for a new home to meet the LEED for Homes Platinum certification level.  Strategies included green living walls, rainwater catchment, greywater systems, radiant heating, and natural ventilation.

Hybrid house duplex in West Los Angeles seeking LEED for Homes Silver or Gold certification.  REthink is assisting in the green design and LEED certification.

REthink evaluated the Sterilaire UV Emitters to determine how they would influence the attainment of a LEED Certification.  We looked at all LEED points in all LEED Rating Systems for ways the product could enhance a project’s environmental performance and contribute to earning LEED points.  A list of strategies for attaining LEED points using the product was created along with a quick reference spreadsheet listing the credits that could be influenced by the product.

REthink was hired to assist in the green design and LEED H certification of a number of other large luxury residences.

REthink Principal provided green building design and LEED certification support for 80,000 SF library which achieved LEED NC Gold.

REthink Principal provided green building design and LEED NC certification support for 117,000 SF LEED Silver Certified building.

REthink Principal provided green building design and LEED Silver certification the world’s first LEED certified park.

REthink Principal provided green building design and LEED CS certification support for first LEED parking structure.  It also included a 250kW rooftop solar system.

REthink Principal provided green building program development and management of Santa Monica’s green building programs, ordinances and incentives make Santa Monica the greenest city in the USA.

Full evaluation, study, and development of solar generation plant using Feed In Tariff and high capacity power line location on two office building roofs while maximizing tax credits and other financial benefits.

Full evaluation, study, project management and implementation of 20 kW infill project on LEED Platinum building. Creatively powering HVAC systems with creative layout and design. Lease back model instead of power purchase agreement. 12% projected IRR.

Full evaluation, study, and project management of solar absorption plant on LEED Platinum office building. Creatively powering HVAC systems with renewable energy. Pay for lease on system.

REthink’s demonstration project took an underperforming property and built the first of its kind Green detached duplex in Culver City. The home demonstrates that green building and high design can be achieved within standard budgets. The home was recognized in the LA Times Magazine as one of three top examples of green building in Los Angeles County and featured in the September 2006 issue of Dwell Magazine.