State of California (DGS) - Resources Building Renovation

Flexible and Employee-Focused Workspace

The State of California required a complete renovation of its 17-story DGS Resources Building in downtown Sacramento. With nearly 3,000 employees, the building is designed for maximum flexibility and efficiency.

As longtime collaborators, the newly renovated DGS Resources Building is one of the first significant progressive design-build partnership between DGS and HGA, in collaboration with Turner Construction and AC Martin. HGA was brought on for the firm’s expertise in workplace strategy, programming, and interior design. The most significant challenge of the project was the front-loaded design schedule, where the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) had to be submitted within only five months. With 675,000 SF and over 20 user groups in the building, a high level of tenant engagement, team preparedness, and effective communication were key to achieving this goal.

Balancing the need to bring the Resources Building up to date to meet current codes, while maintaining aesthetics that honor the building’s International Style was the design team’s key challenge. Establishing an integrated team early, however, greatly impacted the speed of the project and the team’s ability to address challenges, make decisions, and accommodate changes quickly.

The two major agencies in the Resources Building are the Employment Development Department and Labor & Workforce Development Agency, along with each department’s subgroups. The project initially began during the Covid-19 pandemic when much of the workforce was working from home and a hybrid model had yet to be established. While DGS wanted open and collaborative workspaces, HGA also had to create opportunities for privacy that employees had grown used to working from home.

Flexibility over time was a significant goal for the project, which meant each floor needed to maintain a level of consistency while addressing their unique requirements, such as press rooms, specialized storage, and varying levels of security. A limited amount of space and evolving post-pandemic user numbers and department needs meant HGA had to identify shared functions and efficiencies, such as shared conference rooms and scheduled workstations. Interior finishes are consistent throughout the entire building, with a bright nature-inspired palette of blues, greens, and yellows that create a holistic feeling from outside-in.

Wellness was also front of mind, including access to natural daylight throughout each floor, as well as outdoor patios for breaks. A fitness facility was included, and stairwells were designed to promote employee use. Car-alternative commuting is encouraged with the adjacent light rail station and a large bike storage facility. The project will achieve Zero Net Energy and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification (at a minimum).