SAN DIEGO—Construction has begun on the third phase of the County Operations Center and Annex redevelopment (COC) in Kearny Mesa, according to the project's developer, Lowe Enterprises. The 118,500 square foot Registrar of Voters Headquarters will include staff offices, election ballot processing capabilities, warehouse production space and public art installation. It will be built to LEED standards, and it is expected to cost $73 million.

“This is an important facility and another vital component of this modern, sustainable campus serving the County and residents of San Diego. The building will be state-of-the-art at all levels creating an efficient work environment and providing ample space for the processing of ballots and vote counting on election night,” said Mike McNerney, senior vice president, Lowe Enterprises Real Estate Group.

The 47-acre County Operations Center, located on Overland Avenue, is being developed in multiple phases. The second phase completed in August 2012 of the COC includes two 150,000-square-foot four-story office buildings, and a 15,000-square-foot Conference Center and cafeteria. The Conference Center, features natural lighting through solar tubes and skylights; energy efficient mechanical, architectural and solar electrical features; a solar hot water system; and a vegetated green roof that naturally filters rain water and provides a park-like setting for the Center. In addition, 20 percent of building materials were obtained from local sources.