The Hayward Building Systems Plant is a LEED Gold certified building. It is a 50,000 SF manufacturing facility and office building. It is currently the only facility in the country that manufactures roof and floor trusses made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood. Hayward Lumber is the leading supplier of FSC-certified lumber products on California's central coast, and the company has made a strong commitment to practicing environmental stewardship throughout its sales and operations.

The facility was built in a rural-industrial area in Santa Maria (75 miles north of Santa Barbara) on a previously developed site that is close to a freight rail spur. Trains are used to transport many of the facility's materials, which reduces the amount of truck traffic at the project by half and reduces fuel consumption as well as NOx and particulate pollution.

The project showcases many innovative technologies. The project features an extensive rainwater collection system that captures rainwater from the roof and stores it in two 30,000-gallon, underground masonry cisterns for use in irrigating the landscaping. Rainwater runoff from the parking lot is also minimized through the use of pervious pavers. Water conservation is also achieved through the use of waterless urinals, low-flow fixtures, and ultra-efficient dishwashers. The project's minimized dependence on the public water supply enabled it to use smaller valving systems, which saved the company $76,000 and paid for the investment in the cisterns.

The project was able to exceed California's Title-24-1998 energy requirements by 60%. One of the significant reasons for that is the installation of a 14,500 SF solar panel array that generates 118 kW of electricity, more than is needed to operate the facility; the surplus goes back into the utility grid as energy credits. Heat exchangers warm outside intake air with exhaust hot air to reduce the use of natural gas. Skylights in the manufacturing space also provide enough natural daylight that the electric lighting rarely needs to be turned on during daytime hours. Natural ventilation as well as shading from awnings and overhangs help eliminate the need for air conditioning in the building.

Recycled-content and low-toxic materials were used in the project, including cellulose insulation, gravel from the on-site concrete pad from the previous development, and low-VOC paints and office furniture. All of the framing lumber used in the plant is FSC-certified lumber.

The project has received several awards, including the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Leadership Award, and the Santa Barbara County Green Award Consortium's 2002 Green Award.