How Can a Historic Building "Go Green"?

Officer's Housing

NPS

Because of its national historic significance, Fort Baker was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. When the army transferred the post to the Golden Gate National Parks in 2002, the National Park Service consulted the public on the best future for this site, and a retreat and conference center won approval.

Cavallo Point Lodge at the Golden Gate completed rehabilitation of the post's historic buildings in 2008. In 2009, the U.S. Green Building Council certified the project at the LEED Gold standard for environmentally sustainable design and construction, the first national park lodge to receive LEED Certification. Reusing and rehabilitating historic buildings is in itself a sustainable practice, and the work was done so as to maintain the buildings' historic character inside and out. New lodging facilities were constructed with state-of-the-art solar panels integrated onto the roofs, and environmentally friendly glues, paints, carpets, and other green building materials such as denim insulation, bamboo and recycled woods were also used. Water is conserved by using drought-tolerant planting and by recycling laundry water.

Fort Baker also hosts the Institute at the Golden Gate, a joint venture between the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and the National Park Service. The Institute promotes environmental action and global sustainability.