Powering a Greener LA: Modernizing LADWP's Hoover Street and West Los Angeles Yards

LADWP Hoover Street Yard Conceptual Rendering

Transforming critical urban infrastructure to meet ambitious sustainability goals is a challenge and a necessity for modern cities. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is leading the way in this effort, and HDR has been proud to partner with them on the redesign of the Hoover Street and West Los Angeles Power Yards. These significant projects are not just facility upgrades; they are foundational elements of Los Angeles’ Green New Deal, setting new benchmarks for sustainable and resilient utility operations.

Hoover Street Yard Concept Diagram

West Los Angeles Concept Diagram

LADWP, as the nation's largest municipal water and power utility, is at the forefront of delivering reliable service while spearheading a massive shift towards a greener grid. These projects are crucial to their commitment to phasing out natural gas operations and supporting the electrification of transportation across the city.

Hoover Street Power Yard: A Blueprint for a Net-Zero Future

The redesign of the Hoover Street District Power Yard focuses on replacing aging infrastructure with a net-zero energy design, ensuring resilience and creating a modern, efficient workplace. This yard is set to become a benchmark for all future LADWP facilities.

The design significantly improves the layout of exterior yard operations and inventory storage. It also delivers a new district office building, a modern warehouse, and a streamlined fleet maintenance facility. The aesthetic is intentionally cost-effective, durable, and low-maintenance, aiming to be a welcoming workplace that enhances the surrounding neighborhood.

Sustainable & Resilient Design: Built for the Future

This facility is designed to meet the criteria for an essential services facility, meaning it can survive a major seismic event and remain fully operational. This ensures that power can be quickly restored to Los Angeles after an emergency. Beyond resilience, the project is targeting Net-Zero Energy certification and LEED Gold, with a clear pathway to Platinum. Here are some of the sustainable features integrated:

• On-site Renewable Energy: A photovoltaic (PV) array generates 100% of the modeled building's energy needs.

• Smart Glazing: Electrochromic glazing automatically reduces heat gain and glare, keeping interiors comfortable.

• Daylight Harvesting: Solatubes provide natural daylight, enhancing the work environment and achieving LEED credit for glare-free daylight.

• Enhanced Comfort: Thermally broken, insulated precast concrete panels boost human comfort by minimizing heat transfer.

• Efficient HVAC: A hybrid natural ventilation and displacement HVAC mechanical system gives users control over their environment and significantly reduces energy consumption.

• Natural Airflow: Solar chimneys with fan assist and radiant heating ensure excellent air changes and support worker comfort.

• Water Conservation: Landscape and toilets utilize on-site treated shower and sink grey water.

• Stormwater Management: The site design effectively manages an 85-percentile storm event and the 25-year, 24-hour peak underground system flow.

• Cooling Pavements: 100% concrete paving combined with extensive shading from PV arrays helps reduce the urban heat island effect.

• EV Charging: Public and staff parking areas include electric vehicle chargers for 60% of fleet vehicles, supporting the electrification of transportation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

• Healthy Spaces: Healthy materials were prioritized to eliminate harmful chemicals and minimize adverse impacts on human health.

• Green Views: An extensive green roof offers calming views to nature for office users.

  
  

A Community Asset & Welcoming Workplace

A critical part of the design was ensuring the yard respects its residential neighbors. Special attention was given to building massing, traffic control, privacy, and security. Streetscape enhancements, like new street trees and a display of historic streetlights, nod to the site's rich past. Plus, a ground-floor assembly area is designed to be a community resource when not in use by LADWP.

For the employees, the focus was on creating a welcoming workplace. Enhanced adjacencies improve workflow, reducing internal travel and making operations more "lean." A variety of daylit areas—from private offices to open workstations and teaming zones—support employee wellness. Even the warehouse areas benefit from natural daylight via light wells, keeping staff connected to the outside. Active stairs and a free-to-use employee fitness center further support well-being.

LADWP West Los Angeles District Yard Conceptual Rendering

West Los Angeles Power Yard: Bolstering Resilience & Increasing Efficiency

The West Los Angeles District Power Yard project shares the same commitment to a net-zero approach. This facility is being designed to replace aging infrastructure and consolidate all emergency supplies and materials that previously lacked dedicated, secured space.

A new three-story mixed-use building will house a service planning center, fleet maintenance, supply-chain services, offices, and supporting amenities. This project is vital for increasing the number of crews with necessary supporting functions to better serve the entire west side of Los Angeles. Like Hoover Street, this yard is intended to demonstrate a viable pathway to a green future for the city.

Sustainable & Resilient Design: Key to a Stronger Grid

Meeting the criteria for an essential services facility, the West LA yard is also designed to withstand major seismic events and remain operational, ensuring quick power restoration. It's also on track for Net-Zero Energy certification and LEED Gold, with a pathway to Platinum. Many of its sustainable features mirror those at Hoover Street, including:

• On-site renewable energy photovoltaic array for 100% modeled building EUI.

• Electrochromic glazing for heat gain and glare reduction.

• Solatubes for natural daylight.

• Thermally broken, insulated precast concrete panels for comfort.

• Hybrid natural ventilation and displacement HVAC mechanical system.

• Solar chimneys with fan assist and radiant heating.

• On-site treated grey water for landscape and toilets.

• Site design managing 85-percentile storm event and 25-year, 24-hour peak underground system flow.

• 100% concrete paving and extensive PV shading to reduce heat island effect.

• EV chargers for 60% of fleet vehicles.

• Healthy materials to minimize adverse impacts.

  
  

A notable additional feature for West LA is the treatment of off-site runoff from the street in a parkway bio-swale to reduce pollution, showcasing a comprehensive approach to site water management.

Designed for Neighborhood Harmony & Employee Well-being

Given its urban setting, sensitivity to the neighborhood context was paramount for the West LA Power Yard. The building is strategically sited to shield the residential neighborhood from potential acoustical disruptions. Careful stepping and screening of the building mass were used to respond to the surrounding context, with taller elements set back from the property line. A green roof setback on the top floor further reduces the building's visual impact and ensures privacy for nearby homes. Additionally, a second-floor assembly area is designed as a community resource when not in use by LADWP.

Employee well-being and yard efficiency were also top priorities. The durable, low-maintenance design creates a welcoming environment that emphasizes human comfort, quality daylight, and access to landscape views. Ergonomic administrative and workshop environments minimize material handling and reduce travel distances between departments, streamlining operations for LADWP staff.

These two power yard projects represent a significant step forward in LADWP’s commitment to a sustainable and resilient future for Los Angeles. By integrating cutting-edge green technologies with thoughtful, community-focused design, they truly embody a viable pathway to a greener and more reliable future for the city.

Architect: HDR

Structural Engineer: HDR

MEP Engineer: HDR