HARRY & JEANETTE WEINBERG HOOKUPU CENTER

Bringing imagination to life for a collaborative community space

HONOLULU, UNITED STATES

HARRY & JEANETTE WEINBERG HOOKUPU CENTER

Kupu, an environmental education nonprofit based in Hawaii, transformed its existing open air “Net Shed” at Kewalo Basin into a green jobs training and community center located in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.

Envisioned as an innovative educational gathering place for youth and the community, the project provides advanced facilities for the organization’s participants and expands the capacity of its programs.
The project scope involved interior renovations to the existing one story 8,400 SF structure, which was previously an industrial warehouse facility for fishing operations, and the development of a new commercial kitchen, laboratory facilities, classrooms, meeting areas and other multipurpose gathering spaces to support Kupu’s educational and volunteer programs geared toward conservation, sustainability, Hawaiian culture and service.
The facility embodies Kupu’s mission of a more sustainable Hawaii, designed as a net-zero energy building that uses photovoltaic energy panels and is consistent with the master plan for development of the area to ensure shoreline and waterfront preservation.
Rider Levett Bucknall was engaged during the early stages of the project and provided Project Management and Cost Consultancy Services to support the client through the design, entitlement and construction phases of renovation. In addition to bringing imagination to life for the collaborative community space, the RLB team successfully completed its first Photovoltaic (PV) rooftop panel and Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station installation project, a Design-Build effort that utilizes a Power Purchasing Agreement with the local utility company.

At a glance

  • Client
    Kupu
  • Services
    Certainty, Team Performance
  • sector
    Mixed Use
  • Location
    Honolulu, United States