Uptown Monterey is a multi-tenant urban shopping center that embraced the opportunity to reuse material from the 1950s era grocery store previously on site. The developer, Foothill Partners, worked in partnership with the Granite Land Company and the City of Monterey to create a detailed plan for salvaging and reuse.

The early decision to reuse allowed the project team to maximize the potential of the old, deconstructed grocery store. 47,000 board feet of 60-year-old Douglas Fir planks was repurposed from the old grocery store and a portion was used to build the roof of the new grocery store. Distinct from conventional 2x6s, these vintage 2×10 planks held inherent design value by inspiring the architect to integrate thicker walls, reminiscent of the Monterey’s original Spanish-style architecture, into the design. Additionally, 10 tons of stone were salvaged and reused in the public plaza and for portions of a new exterior stone veneer. A strong, strategic commitment to reuse was key for Uptown Monterey to achieve MR Credit 3 for material reuse under the LEED Core and Shell rating system. With the honor of California’s first LEED silver certified shopping center, Uptown Monterey is a notable leader of sustainable building within the commercial sector.

Reclaimed Materials (by application): Concrete/Masonry, Wood/Lumber

Key Info
Location: Monterey, CA
Date of Completion: December 2007
Architect: Rauschenbach Marvelli Becker Architects & Engineers
Owner/Developer: Foothill Partners & Granite Land Company
Contractor: Daniels & House Construction Company
Engineer: LP Consulting Engineers, Inc.

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BuildingWise Case Study