LEED Platinum Finally Comes To Cal State

Green student housing is all the rage these days, and the California State University (CSU) system apparently has some work to do to catch up with the likes of the University of California at Davis, which has gone so far as to institute the development of an entire green village to accommodate those studying at the school. CSU just earned its first LEED Platinum certification for the Student Housing Phase III project at the system's Fullerton campus, according to firm that did the construction.

Home to some 1,900 students, the project encompasses 347,899 square feet over six buildings and was completed last August. It includes housing offices, conference and classroom space, laundry, community rooms on every level, and a central plant, as well as your typical, double-occupancy dorm rooms distributed among five buildings, each of which is five stories tall. (The sixth building is single level containing a dining hall and the central plant.)

The project earned those all-important LEED points via a number of green systems and features, which include an efficient, four-pipe central plant HVAC system; an automated energy management system; high-efficiency lighting and lighting controls; energy-efficient glass and window systems; low-flow plumbing fixtures and irrigation system; native, drought-tolerant plants in its surrounding landscaping, as well as bioswales for on-site storm water management; and LED outdoor lighting.

The project took advantage of passive solar orientation for efficient heating and cooling, as well as sunshades to protect against solar gain in the summer months. The project recycled the existing site paving on the construction site and concrete materials in the course of building construction.

Stephen Chamberlain, senior project manager at CSU Fullerton, noted that this latest phase of housing has more than doubled the residential population, and went on to say, in a statement,  "It was important to us that this facility fosters positive student socialization and academic achievement while integrating leading sustainability strategies."