with the other elements of the building. For
example, the first-floor gallery space takes
advantage of natural daylighting through
a floor-to-ceiling double-paned glass curtain
wall. Lights are on a lighting response
system and are only activated when they
sense insufficient natural light; the lights
will turn off automatically if there is no
movement sensed in the space.
The building’s 230 solar panels provide
approximately 35 kW of electricity, which
30 SOURCE summer 2013
accounts for 30-40 percent of the building’s
annual energy use. An additional four panels
provide hot water for the building. The landscape
is all low-water use or California
Friendly and includes pervious paving. A
stormwater recovery system features a bioswale
in the center courtyard to capture any
campus runoff or rainfall in one location.
From the bioswale, the water is diverted to
an underground cistern and used for onsite
irrigation. When full, the 2,000 gallon cistern
overflows into a 25,000 gallon underground
infiltration area. The system was designed
to keep runoff and rainwater onsite and to
replenish the groundwater basin.
Because the Frontier Project exceeds many
of California’s Building Code requirements,
CVWD and the architectural team worked
closely with the City of Rancho Cucamonga
and its Building Commission to clarify
aspects of the project, a process that resulted
in opportunities to educate about environmentally
efficient construction opportunities
that are viable for the region.
In line with Board’s commitment to environmental
stewardship and the District’s priority
of educating our next generation of customers,
The Frontier Project is dedicated to hosting
community events that educate and showcase
the green lifestyle, from Master Gardener
Workshops to Edison Energy Center on
Location classes. The project has been home
to the U.S Green Building Council’s Inland
Empire Chapter and hosted weekly events
for the chapter in 2011-2012. This year the
Chino Basin Watermaster hosted its workshop
Refresh, Recharge, and Reunite and the
District’s student Environmental Learning
Center moved temporarily onsite. In all, since
2009, nearly 20,000 people have visited The
Frontier Project, which regularly hosts international
delegations as well.
“By offering workshops and classes,” says
CVWD Board President Oscar Gonzalez,
“The Frontier Project has gone from simply
being a building that people look at to a
space where people can interact with the
technology and the systems and learn how
to be good environmental stewards.” S
The Frontier Project, continued from page 17
A recycled redwood trellis shades The Frontier
Project’s interior.