Sacramento, California

The Bateson Building in Sacramento was the first in a series of energy-efficient State office buildings designed during Sim Van der Ryn's tenure as California State Architect. Under Van der Ryn's direction, the CA Energy Efficient State Building Program pioneered many strategies including climate responsive design and thermal performance computer modeling which became the standard for energy efficient building design.

The 250,000 square foot Bateson building includes innovative heating, cooling, and daylighting features and served to initiate the construction of seven new office buildings demonstrating the potential of renewable energy alternatives and conservation. Using passive solar storage, a night air cooling system, adjustable shading, and efficient lighting, 70% of the building's heating and cooling needs are met without fossil fuel.