ENERGY STAR Building Design Profile
50 UN Plaza
San Francisco, CA 94111
The renovation of the Federal Building at 50 UN Plaza is funded by the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, intended to help convert the
federal building stock into high-performing sustainable structures.
Operating as a federal building since its opening in 1936, it will be the
future home of GSA Region 9, the landlords and builders for the federal
branch of government on the Pacific Rim, and a showcase for appropriate
sustainable measures in a significant historic building.
Built before the advent of air-conditioning, 50 UN Plaza takes advantage
of free natural resources such as abundant daylight and fresh air. A
central courtyard ensures that no workspace is more than 20 feet from a
daylight source, and all exterior windows are operable to allow fresh air
and cooling into the building. Steam radiators that have been in operation
since the building opened will be re-used and equipped with individual
controls for heating. Ceiling fans and operable windows complete the fine-
grained user control of the interior environment.
Lighting circuits will be equipped with both daylight and occupancy
sensors wirelessly connected to electronic dimming ballasts, providing the
correct levels of electric light to match the prevailing conditions and
reducing energy use through lighting by more than half.
For GSA, the building is a proving ground, a demonstration to its
employees, consultants and clients of the approaches and technologies
that can make any facility more comfortable and reduce its carbon
footprint. It answers basic questions about how to approach historic
buildings and outfit them to function in the 21st century without losing the
essential character that gives them value and connects us to our heritage.
Talking Points:
•	Projects that achieve the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR
certification are designed to reduce energy and C02 emissions.
•	It was important that our project achieve Designed to Earn the
ENERGY STAR because it signals to the market that the project
is intended to perform in the top 25% of the nation's most energy
efficient buildings. HKS is also helping the environment by
delivering a low energy design to our client, which in turn sets the
stage for operating the building to actually earn the ENERGY
STAR label. ENERGY STAR buildings have a proven track
record and yield average annual energy savings of 30 percent.
•	Projects that achieve the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR
also promote future financial benefits from reduced energy costs
	over the life of the building.	

DESIGNED
TO EARN THE
ENERGY STAR
Architect of Record:
HKS
Engineering Firm:
Building Owner:
U.S. General Services
Administration
Design Energy Rating:
97
Percent Energy and C02
Reduction*:
59
Design Year/ Estimated
Occupancy Date:
Space Type:
Office
Floor Space:
256,000 sq ft
Estimated Energy Use Intensity:
102 kBtu/sf/yr
Estimated Total Annual Energy
Use:
7,786,679 kBtu/yr
Estimated Annual Energy Cost:
$276,116
Technologies Specified:
-Operable windows for thermal
conditioning and ventilation
-Daylight and occupancy sensors to
significantly reduce electric lighting
loads and commensurate heating of
occupied space
-Life-cycle analysis to determine
efficacy of retaining steam radiator
system
-Green roof for habitat to reduce
urban heat island and provide storm
water treatment

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Target Finder was helpful in evaluating how various design
strategies affected the energy estimates for the project.
Suggested Details:
The projected annual energy and C02 savings of the design is 59
percent as compared to the median building.
The estimated total annual energy savings for this project is
37,107,202 kBtu with an estimated cost savings of $ 393,958.
For More Information
Contact B. Kirk Teske at
kteske@hksinc.com
'Percent Energy and C02 Reductions are
based on comparison to a median building of
similar type.
EPA wants to feature your projects on the Architects and Projects Web page and in ENERGY STAR
program materials. We encourage the AOR to submit a completed Profile with the certification
application or by e-mail to buildinqdesiqn@cadmusqroup.com

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