Background

The Project includes the delivery of a new courthouse, comprising of 31 civil and criminal courtrooms, jury deliberation rooms, a large detention facility, administrative offices, and commercial retail place, as well as a new car parking facility.
This new 49,000 m2 building came to replace an old building in poor condition, which presented health and safety risks to the public and those working in the courthouse. A modern, spacious and energy efficient building opened on time and on budget in 2013 and continues to serve the public. It accommodates 600 employees and up to 3,000 visitors daily.
Sustainability played a key role in the design of the building as is reflected in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, which exceeds the contractual requirement by one level. In September 2023, MINA II re-purchased the stake of its co-investor, through competitive external acquisition financing.

Stage:

In Operation

ESG/SDG Key Facts

The Project Company commits $40,000 annually to support several local organizations and programs.

Initiatives in 2024 included ongoing support of the local elementary school to establish a sustainable garden to educate students about farming and fresh foods, the establishment of a science program for girls to introduce them to technology such as robotics and programming, a teen court program aimed at reducing bullying and hate in schools and partnering with the Park Youth Assistance Program (which provides academic scholarships for disadvantaged local young people). New initiatives have been added in the last several years to encourage school-aged girls to pursue an education in engineering, construction and design, as well as providing educational books to disadvantaged youth, and supporting an Art Lab at the Long Beach Public Library that allows underprivileged youth to access materials and equipment in the pursuit of artistic endeavors.

For the electric vehicle charging station project, the LBCH site has been approved for 120 stations and design work has been submitted for final review. Final approvals to commence installation are expected in Q4, 2024.

Continued improvements to the sustainability of the courthouse operations are underway, including a transition to more efficient interior light systems, water-saving initiatives related to passive landscaped areas, and the replacement of exterior lights with a more energy-efficient solution. These initiatives will support the project’s overall decarbonization pathway, as part of Meridiam’s broader Asset Decarbonization Initiative.

LEED Gold was attained for the new construction in September 2013 and in February 2023, the operations and maintenance phase of the project also attained LEED Gold (prior to Feb 2023 O&M had attained basic LEED Certification).

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