Sustainable Building: UCSD Structural and Materials Engineering

UC San Diego’s LEED Certified Structural and Materials Engineering building, newly completed and dedicated in September 2012, is the ideal venue for Sustainable Solutions. The public event will bring together innovators in sustainable practices to share their unique solutions for making long-term sustainability a reality.

Green building features

— The building is built with LEED Silver certification in mind

— Recycled condensate water from roof top heating and cooling units irrigates landscaping. Recently, the system has been producing up to 1,000 gallons of recycled water per day.

— The building design team used modeling software to determine the placement of horizontal sunshades that allow maximum natural light in laboratories while keeping the labs cool with minimal air conditioning.

— Low volume air displacement throughout the building – where cooler air is pumped into rooms at lower levels – also minimizes the need for air conditioning.

— An exterior blind system is set to a solar clock to keep sunlight from directly hitting the glass while preserving expansive views into Pepper Canyon.

More Building Facts

— First permanent home for the Departments of Structural Engineering and NanoEngineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering. These engineers share space with Visual Artists, and with medical device researchers from the Institute of Engineering in Medicine.

— $83 million project, including design, construction and equipment costs

— 183,000 gross square feet

— 1,261 people were directly employed during construction, accumulating 374,515 payroll hours

— Construction of the building was funded almost entirely by California General Obligation Bonds

— Each year, the faculty in the Structural and Materials Engineering building are expected to bring in approximately $35 million in annual federal grants

— Building architects: The Miller Hull Partnership, in collaboration with Safdie Rabines Architects

(Via.)

Sustainable Solutions is the second collaboration between the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce and UCSD’s Jacobs School of Engineering. The event is open to community members, business owners, and students.

Advance registration still available here! $20 at the door.