Sustainability by Design: Inside the Navigation Center in Redwood City

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - Ahead of Earth Day, the County of San Mateo is highlighting the Navigation Center in Redwood City as a model for how sustainability features are being built-in to public services and are reducing energy, waste and water consumption. The County-owned facility provides 240 safe temporary living spaces and intensive support services for individuals and couples experiencing homelessness while eco-conscious design elements help reduce environmental impact and operating costs.

"Sustainability is a core element of any successful project, and we are proud of the features built into the Navigation Center to reduce its environmental impact and support healthier operations," said Adam Ely, County of San Mateo Assistant County Executive.

Alongside its client-centered design, the Navigation Center features:

• LEED Silver Certification for environmentally responsible design and construction

• Rooftop solar panels that generate clean energy and offset reliance on non-renewable electricity by approximately 60 percent

• Electric vehicle charging infrastructure available to clients, staff, and partners

• All-electric industrial kitchen to reduce onsite fossil fuel use and train workers for a more electric future

• Community garden to support wellness, nutrition, and connection to nature

• Water refill stations and compostable utensils to reduce single-use plastic waste and waste-management costs

• Recycled water drip irrigation system for landscaping to conserve potable water

• Modular construction to minimize construction waste and improve building efficiency compared to conventional methods

"The Navigation Center was designed to support people with dignity while reducing energy use, waste, and operating costs," said LifeMoves Interim CEO Nicholas Hodges. "Features like an all-electric kitchen, community garden and refillable water stations help us provide clients nutritious, climate-conscious meals, meaningful activities and a healthier living environment while being good stewards of public resources and the environment."

The Navigation Center is made up of two- and three-story rows of prefabricated modular units that provide interim housing for hundreds of County residents experiencing housing insecurity.

Research shows that interim housing designed with trauma-informed principles can help clients achieve better outcomes and move more quickly into permanent housing. At the Navigation Center, clients have access to private units, most with their own bathrooms, as well as supportive services and amenities including a dog run, basketball court and barbecue area.

Unlike traditional interim housing, the Navigation Center is pet-inclusive, offers support services on location and enables clients to stay with a partner. In addition to lodging and daily meals, the Navigation Center includes onsite housing and employment specialists, health services, a dental clinic and assistance with social service benefits.

The facility is owned by the County of San Mateo and is operated by LifeMoves.

Editor's Note: B-roll and short interview clips (A-roll) are available for media use. Photos available upon request.

Paul Laustsen
Human Services Agency
[email protected]
650-465-9977

Maria Prato
Public Relations Manager
LifeMoves
[email protected]
609-529-5583