The Oakland, California-based health care company, Kaiser Permanente, recently commissioned HMC Architects to design a medical office facility that would meet the demanding standards for LEED Platinum certification. The 28,000-square-foot building in La Habra, California features 25 exam rooms and 16 physician offices. HMC’s design emphasizes occupant comfort and energy efficiency while maintaining compliance with strict environmental regulations.
Swinerton Builders, the lead contractor on the project, faced the challenge of minimizing thermal breaks and preventing moisture intrusion in the stucco-clad wall assembly. Traditional stucco installation involves putting thousands of holes through the insulation and weather barrier layers to attach metal lath—possibly leaving the assembly vulnerable to air and water penetration. To eliminate this potential weakness, Swinerton and HMC Architects combined the latest envelope technologies with the traditional appeal of stucco in the most environmentally responsible way possible.