The California State Teachers' Retirement System is constructing a new headquarters building in West Sacramento to meet members' needs through 2027. The project is an opportunity for CalSTRS to make a commitment to a sustainable investment in the fund's real estate portfolio and realize efficiencies in operations.

The new building, a 13-story office tower above two levels of public space, is part of the Sacramento Riverfront Master Plan. Move in is expected in June 2009.

High Performance Green Building

Utilizing the latest breakthroughs in sustainable building science and technology, the new headquarters is being constructed to meet the Gold certification LEED® designation. The design incorporates high performance building systems and water conservation measures to reduce or eliminate negative effects on the environment. The tower will feature energy efficient glazing and be oriented in the east to west direction to maximize access to natural light and to minimize direct solar heat gain throughout the 400,000 square feet of interior space. The energy-efficient features alone are expected to save more than $145,000 in energy costs annually.

Careful Planning Saves Time, Money

CalSTRS is saving an estimated $13.2 million on its new headquarters project through careful planning and smart project management.

The savings to date include an estimated $9.7 million from using a "team-build" construction approach and bidding the construction components in phases, which allows a fast-track construction schedule:

• $2 million saved by using the team-build approach.
• $2.8 million saved by bidding the steel and glass early in the project.
• $2.8 million saved in project supervision costs by starting construction while tenant improvement designs were in progress. This also shortened the construction schedule by eight months.
• $2.1 million saved by integrating interior improvements into shell and core construction.

CalSTRS also saved money by negotiating a guaranteed maximum price with the building contractor. This avoids costly change orders during construction. It is projected to save an additional $3.5 million (2 percent of construction costs) through the completion of the project.

Planning for the Future

The new building will dramatically increase the efficiency of CalSTRS operations by consolidating staff currently housed in leased space in three buildings into one facility.

Faced with an anticipated increase in services to its 795,000 members and greater technological needs than its current facilities can accommodate, CalSTRS began a study of options to solve its long-term needs. After considering the options and conducting a thorough two-year, 35-site search, CalSTRS concluded that constructing a new building at the West Sacramento site was the best solution.

More Information

The links below provide additional information on the building, its construction team and its design.

• Architectural Drawings
  Drawings of the new headquarters building
• Building Facts
  Building statistics, information about the properties, and a tentative building schedule
• Design Concept
  Detailed information about the design of the new headquarters building
• Team-Build Facts
  The partners involved in the construction of the new headquarters

Last Updated November 14, 2007