Dominican Convent Goes Green

(page 1 of 2)

When the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael commissioned a new convent in 2003, they wanted it to reflect their commitment to good earth stewardship and decided to build it green. As a result, they were given the gold—a gold certificate from the U.S. Building Council recognizing their efforts in sustainable building.

For years, the congregation had been studying the Earth Charter, a global sustainable living initiative, which they later endorsed. “It’s what we all should be doing,” says Sister Carla Kovack, O.P., one of two members of the order who conferred with the architects on the design of the convent. “We need to live more sustainably and simply and in right relationship with the earth or there won’t be an earth for the global community.”

They chose the San Francisco architecture firm of Van Meter Williams Pollack to design the eight-bedroom residence meant to function as both a home for training new sisters and as a hospitality center for the entire 130-member congregation, some of whom live off-site.

“I thought it was a hopeful approach on the part of the sisters to set a vision for their congregation,” says architect Fred Pollack, who worked with architect Benjamin Chuaqui on the plans. “They wanted a resource-friendly and healthy place to live that would serve them in the future.”

The Dominican Sisters of San Rafael have a long history in California that dates back more than 150 years. The congregation was formed in 1850 when the Bishop of California, Joseph Sadoc Alemany, persuaded Sister Mary Goemaere, a novice, to leave her French convent and open Santa Catalina School in Monterey, the first Catholic school in colonial California. In 1854 the congregation moved to Benicia; in 1889 it moved to its current location on Grand Avenue in San Rafael.

From its original majestic four-story motherhouse on ten acres to a collection of wonderful buildings on more than 110 acres, the Sisters have carefully managed the San Rafael campus, which up until 1969 included the now-independent Dominican University. When the motherhouse was damaged by fire in 1990, it was replaced with three smaller convents and an administration building.

The new green convent, named after Jane D’Aza, the mother of St. Dominic, the order’s founder, was completed in 2005. “I knew nothing about building before,” says Sister Carla, “but I learned from our architects. It was through their training, experience and commitment to green building that I was really educated. And green building is not just about the building itself, but construction, too. All of our unused materials were recycled instead of going to the landfill.”

The 6,200-square-foot, two-story shingle-and-stucco convent, built with strong lines and a vibrant brick-red exterior, takes full advantage of the latest pro-environment technology. It has rooftop photovoltaic panels, solar-powered attic fans and toxic-free insulation of reclaimed materials. With programmable gas heaters in each room, the interior remains at a uniformly comfortable temperature, even with a floor made entirely from a mix of concrete and recycled fly ash.

The roof solar panels heat the home’s water, all appliances are energy efficient and the toilets and showers are water misers. Lighting is low-energy fluorescent, the paints, adhesives and sealants are made from low-impact materials, and the wood trim is lumber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Do you like what you read? Subscribe to Marin Magazine »