A new residence hall at San Diego State University has received LEED Silver certification for its sustainable design and construction.
The university says the two resident towers of South Campus Plaza opened in January 2017, and include water- and energy-efficiency features that reduce the building’s impact on the environment.
Among the features are a lighting control system with occupancy sensors, photo sensors for daylight harvesting and 100 percent LED lighting. The buildings also have an intelligent and automated heating and cooling system, as well as large windows and water-saving shower heads in the resident rooms.
The new housing is part of a $142.7 million project that provides living space for more than 600 students, as well as retail space. The project will consist of 225,000 gross square feet of residential and retail space.
The South Campus Plaza residence hall is a short walking distance from the university's Transportation Plaza, so residents have easy access to both campus and public transportation options and don't have to rely as heavily on motor vehicles. The buildings also provide special parking for drivers of low-emission vehicles and a secure, covered bike storage locker for residents.
San Diego State has set a goal that all new construction and major renovations at a minimum achieve LEED Silver designation.
The university recently approved its own Climate Action Plan, which lays out environmental goals such as achieving operational carbon neutrality by 2040 and completing carbon neutrality by 2050.
"South Campus Plaza captures a breadth of sustainability issues while improving quality of life for students, faculty, staff and the broader community,” says Tom Abram, assistant director of campus sustainability for Facilities Services. “From energy and water efficiency to transit-oriented development and sustainable commuting, this project exemplifies the work that we need to accomplish to meet our carbon neutrality goals."
Retail shops in the South Campus Plaza mixed-used development are set to open this summer and fall.
