USC, through the stewardship of Facilities Management Services, is committed to growing in a sustainable manner, which includes constructing buildings with the highest degree of respect for the environment. In January, 2010, USC’s Board of Trustees passed a resolution stating that the campus strive to achieve LEED standards for all buildings on campus.
New to the university are two buildings that are in the process of obtaining LEED (Leaderhip in Energy and Environmental Design) certification . LEED certification was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council as a rating system to encourage construction projects that decrease negative environmental impacts while supporting the health and wellness of occupants. LEED certified buildings save about 30-40 percent on the use of energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 38%. Green buildings at USC include:
RONALD TUTOR CAMPUS CENTER
The Ronald Tutor Campus Center is home to multiple university centers, eateries, and student organizations, including the Admissions Center, Epstein Family Alumni Center and Student Affairs. The center’s hallmark will be spaces for students to learn, study, and socialize. The Center uses highly reflective roofs to keep the building cool during the day, highly efficient plumbing fixtures to conserve water, locally produced building materials and bricks, and many more innovative and effective measures to reduce the building’s environmental impact. While the center has not yet received a LEED rating, it is in the process of being certified.
USC SCHOOL OF CINEMATIC ARTS
Recognized nationally and internationally as a superb environment for the study and practice of film, television and interactive media, the School of Cinematic Arts draws thousands of students, alumni, industry professionals, academics and other visitors to Los Angeles each year. The 20,000 square foot complex is home to seven buildings and, despite its size, is one of the most efficient complexes at USC.
The state of the art building covers close to 150,000 square feet, but emits only 13 pounds of greenhouse gases per square foot, one of the lowest on campus. The building utilizes chilled beam technology that uses energy efficient, centrally located beams that cool the building in response to localized needs as opposed to heating and cooling the entire building which can waste energy.
ELI AND EDYTHE BROAD CENTER FOR REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
Also pursuing LEED Laboratory certification, the The Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC is a premier science and research project that pursues investigation into the biological mechanisms that control stem cell behavior. The building will employ chilled beam technology and an innovative curtain wall system. This curtain wall is designed to capture heat between the outer window wall and inner windows and release this heat through louvers in the roof to control building temperature and comfort.
