Earth Day focus turns to Redwood City facility built to support people and reduce environmental impact
Redwood City, California – As Earth Day approaches, San Mateo County is turning attention to a public facility in Redwood City that blends two urgent goals into one response: helping people move out of homelessness while cutting the environmental costs of doing so.
The County-owned Navigation Center, designed to serve individuals and couples experiencing homelessness, offers 240 safe temporary living spaces along with a wide range of onsite support services. At the same time, the project was built with sustainability woven into nearly every layer of its design.
County officials say the center reflects a broader idea that public services can be both compassionate and resource-conscious.
“Sustainability is a core element of any successful project, and we are proud of the features built into the Navigation Center to reduce its environmental impact and support healthier operations,” said Adam Ely, County of San Mateo Assistant County Executive.
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That vision is visible across the campus. The Navigation Center holds LEED Silver certification for environmentally responsible design and construction. Rooftop solar panels generate clean energy and cut reliance on non-renewable electricity by about 60 percent. The site also includes electric vehicle charging infrastructure for clients, staff and partners, an all-electric industrial kitchen aimed at reducing fossil fuel use, and a community garden intended to support nutrition, wellness and a stronger connection to nature.
Other features focus on everyday efficiency. Water refill stations and compostable utensils help reduce single-use plastic waste and lower waste-management costs. Landscaping is supported by a recycled water drip irrigation system that conserves potable water. Even the building method was chosen with efficiency in mind, with modular construction used to reduce construction waste and improve performance compared with more conventional approaches.
But the center’s purpose goes well beyond green building standards. The Navigation Center is made up of two- and three-story rows of prefabricated modular units that provide interim housing for hundreds of residents facing housing insecurity. Research has shown that trauma-informed interim housing can improve outcomes and help people transition more quickly into permanent housing. Here, clients have access to private units, most with their own bathrooms, as well as amenities such as a dog run, basketball court and barbecue area.
LifeMoves, which operates the facility for the county, says the design supports both dignity and daily stability.
“The Navigation Center was designed to support people with dignity while reducing energy use, waste, and operating costs,” said LifeMoves Interim CEO Nicholas Hodges. “Features like an all-electric kitchen, community garden and refillable water stations help us provide clients nutritious, climate-conscious meals, meaningful activities and a healthier living environment while being good stewards of public resources and the environment.”
Unlike more traditional interim housing models, the Navigation Center allows clients to stay with a partner, welcomes pets and offers support services in one place, including housing and employment specialists, health services, a dental clinic and help accessing social service benefits. In Redwood City, the county is presenting the facility not simply as shelter, but as a glimpse of how future public projects can care for both people and the planet.
