The building is heated entirely by the sun, with a small boiler ackup system, and is cooled by natural ventilation and leaky industrial sash windows.

Heat distribution is with an in-slab radiant system. The slow swing of the radiant system works well with the Bay Area climate, which has few spikes.

For heating, they considered passive solar, or a radiant slab system. The need for thermal storage, increased by the often around-the-clock use of the studio areas, pushed the solution toward an active solar system, with additional thermal storage^, with a small boiler added for heating backup.

The art gallery, with stricter temperature and humidity requirements, is conditioned by a packaged system with humidity control. The enclosed classrooms have PVAV systems.

Anecdotal post-occupancy feedback on building comfort is reported as positive.

The sun provides all heating for the CCA SF building, through an array of these rooftop solar collectors. Photo: Kevin Matthews Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.