Bright achievements: SMUD’s Station G wins prestigious awards

Bright achievements: SMUD's Station G wins prestigious awards

Sacramento-based Sestak Lighting Design, Moniz Architecture elevate downtown infrastructure to deliver reliable electricity service

Station G, the newest substation in SMUD's clean energy portfolio, recently attracted national recognition for its bold, geometric architecture and innovative lighting installations, with recognitions from the Sacramento Business Journal, Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP) and the Sacramento Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineering.

The substation was completed in 2023 and plays a pivotal role in energizing Sacramento's expanding downtown core with clean, reliable power, supporting SMUD's commitment to sustainability, reliable service and rates that are consistently among the lowest in California.

The project was designed by SMUD's civil and substation engineering teams, Black & Veatch Engineering, Moniz Architecture, Sestak Lighting Design, and was built by Roebbelen Contracting and Wilson Construction.

The architecture was designed with community and aesthetics in mind. Station G is accentuated by striking lighting elements designed by Sacramento-based Sestak Lighting Design, that harmonize with the surrounding downtown neighborhood, art scene and landmarks. This approach adds to the aesthetics of the nearby Railyards and surrounding development while providing safe and reliable power and infrastructure modernization, which includes advanced equipment and expansive underground networking.

Key features of the award-winning and advanced lighting system include:

• Programmable colors: The system's LED lights emit different colors and adapt to various times of the year - allowing SMUD to customize and light up the building to celebrate various events. Multi-color and textured panels adorn all four sides of the Control Building.
• Energy-efficient lights: Station G is equipped with 141 ColorGraze MX4 Powercore LED Philips lights, known for their energy efficiency and performance.
• Specialty exterior lighting: This lighting includes four-foot sections of Color Kinetics light fixtures on the Control Building façade and the perimeter wall.
• Concrete up-lighting: At the Control Building, lighting is cast into the concrete flatwork, up-lighting nearly 400 Ultra High-Performance Panels (UHPC) on the rainscreen cladding system.
• Perimeter wall illumination: Lighting washes down on Fiberglass Reinforced Panels (FRP) with decorative, flowing patterns.
• Seasonal adaptability: The system can create color schemes to reflect seasons and events throughout the year.
• Architectural enhancement: Designed by Moniz Architecture, these lights enhance the building's unique architecture, designed to reflect the City's streetscape and riverwalks.

During the Sacramento Kings' 2023 playoff run, SMUD lit Station G in purple, synchronizing with Golden 1 Center's iconic purple beam, rallying the city's collective pride and celebrating the team's achievements.

"Beyond its technical capabilities of enhancing grid reliability and resilience to serve growing downtown power needs, Station G is a prime example of how utilities can engage deeply with and enrich their communities," said Frankie McDermott, SMUD's Chief Operating Officer. "The award-winning lighting installations and building design beautify our city and exemplify our dedication to sustainable progress and strengthening community connections through partnerships with local businesses as we create a clean energy future."

Station G received two AOLP Lighting Awards, which commend professional excellence by celebrating innovative and effective lighting designs that push industry standards forward but also enhance aesthetics and functionality in public and private spaces.

"Sestak Lighting is proud to integrate intelligent LED lighting solutions that enhance our neighborhoods' appeal and vibrancy," said Michael Sestak of Sestak Lighting Design. "Our collaboration with Moniz Architecture on Station G aimed to improve downtown Sacramento's visual landscape and nighttime experience, transforming it into a landmark that blends functionality with modern design, and demonstrating our shared commitment to community and environmental stewardship."

"We are honored to have been a part of the team developing this project for SMUD," said Alicia Moniz, AIA, of Moniz Architecture. "Because of SMUD's vision to develop a project that contributes to the community, and to create an important element of the downtown infrastructure, we were given this unique opportunity to create something special and memorable."

SMUD's Station G has been awarded:

• 2024 AOLP Lighting Awards - Splash of Color Category, Award of Excellence
• 2024 AOLP Lighting Awards - Commercial Category, Award of Merit
• Best Real Estate Project Award from the Sacramento Business Journal
• Nominee for American Society of Civil Engineering Project of the Year, Sacramento Chapter

The recognition underscores the advanced design and technical proficiency of the lighting installations, which not only elevate the visual appeal of downtown's streetscape but also enhance the functionality of urban spaces.

The design of Station G is unlike any other in SMUD's fleet, differing significantly from traditional substation design due to the small footprint and aesthetics to enhance the downtown core. The building features a geometric silhouette by day with textured, durable concrete panels. At night, its advanced, computer-controlled lighting system casts a dramatic glow, highlighting the architectural features and reinforcing its presence as a modern downtown landmark. The windowless building's neutral tones and textured wall panels are accented by bright orange stepping returns, reflecting SMUD's logo. Surrounding walls feature decorative sculpture panels, and two sides of the site have areas designed as urban parklets.

The 11,286-square-foot building sits on 1.17 acres at the intersection of 7th and G Streets in downtown Sacramento. It stands 50-feet high and includes a basement and two additional floors.

About SMUD

As the nation's sixth-largest, community-owned, not-for-profit electric service provider, SMUD has been providing low-cost, reliable electricity to Sacramento County for more than 75 years. SMUD is a recognized industry leader and award winner for its innovative energy efficiency programs, renewable power technologies and for its sustainable solutions for a healthier environment. Today, SMUD's power supply is on average about 50 percent carbon free and SMUD has a goal to reach zero carbon in its electricity production by 2030. SMUD's rates and customer bills are consistently among the lowest in California, and are today, on average, more than 50 percent lower than its neighboring investor-owned utility.

About Sestak Lighting Design

Keeping up with the latest in design, technology and innovation, Sestak Lighting Design offers the widest variety of design options for condominiums and lofts, restaurants and night clubs, shopping centers and other commercial developments.

About Moniz Architecture

Moniz Architecture is a full service architectural firm, focusing on creating quality places for live, work, and play. We orchestrate the dynamics of project goals with the resources of our team to develop thoughtful and technically resolved design solutions. For renovations, new spaces, commercial, private and public projects, we are motivated to enrich the built environment and those who use it.