EBJ Project Merit Award for Outstanding Energy & Infrastructure Project
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2007 State AEP
Award for Outstanding Environmental Analysis Document
On February 20, 2008 MBA was presented with the Environmental Business Journal’s Business Achievement Award for Project Merit in Energy & Infrastructure. Then, in March 2008 MBA received another award from the State Association of Environmental Professionals for Outstanding Environmental Analysis Document. These awards were received for the outstanding efforts by the MBA team on the San Ramon City Center Project. Project Manager, Grant Gruber, led the preparation of a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) for the San Ramon City Center, a 2.1 million square foot mixed-use infill project creating much-needed residential space in concert with the City’s 2020 General Plan.
The project includes commercial/ retail, government offices, cultural and entertainment venues, and a transit center. MBA’s innovative approach allowed for the development of this “city within a city” in a manner that is fully respectful of the natural environment. City staff and planning commissioners cited the analysis of air quality in the SEIR analysis as comprehensive and consistent with the city’s recent goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 11% by 2010.
Senior Air Quality Scientist, Joe O’Bannon, added an innovative program, MM AIR-7, specifying that at least 50% of total landscaping for the city center would consist of drought-tolerant trees with low ozone-forming potential, as listed in East Bay Municipal Utility District’s (EMBUD’s) Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates. Mitigation was actualized through collaboration between Mr. O’Bannon, and the EBMUD. O’Bannon recognized some trees emit biogenic volatile organic compounds, considered precursors to ozone formation. He ranked EBMUD’s list of drought-tolerant trees by ozone forming potential and produced a list of trees good for water conservation and air quality.
Photo taken at the EBJ Awards Banquet
Environmental stewardship was demonstrated through cross-referenced tree landscaping to benefit local air quality and serve as a model for future landscape design. Use of cutting-edge environmental technology was actualized through combining BVOC identification with planting guidelines… seldom are two divergent concepts so thoroughly synchronized.
Photo taken at the EBJ Awards Banquet
“ I just want to thank you and your team for the great environmental document that was prepared for our project. The firm of Michael Brandman Associates was very professional in every aspect of consultant services to the project and the City of San Ramon. You were always available when called upon and never 'nickel and dimed' us when we needed a quick answer on something. I know the staff and the Planning Commission was very pleased with the document in terms of its comprehensiveness and readability. For sure, your firm will be called upon to work on future significant planning projects in the city.”
