UCLA honored for sustainable buildings by green building group

The U.S. Green Building Council-Los Angeles chapter selected UCLA as one of its 2018 visionaries, to be recognized at the group's annual Green Gala on Dec. 6 in Hollywood.

This year’s Visionary Award recognizes both UCLA and the Los Angeles Lakers for their sustainability leadership in developing cutting-edge athletic facilities that earned the environmental seal of approval for buildings known as LEED certification, which stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design.

UCLA received the award in part for two of its training facilities, Wasserman Football Center and Mo Ostin Basketball Center, which both earned the highest rating, LEED Platinum. UCLA policy requires that all new construction obtain LEED certification as part of the university’s carbon neutrality by 2025 goal, and to support the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge, a university-wide initiative focused on getting Los Angeles to 100 percent sustainability in energy, water, and biodiversity by 2050.

The football center focuses especially on water savings, featuring a combination of efficient plumbing solutions and greywater management programs resulting in a 72 percent reduction in the project’s potable water usage, and a 94 percent reduction in potable water discharged to the sewer. The basketball center focuses much of its efforts on minimizing energy demand, ensuring the mechanical and lighting systems were designed to incorporate the best use of the natural ventilation and daylighting. An extensive underfloor duct system is used to bring outside air into the practice courts at floor level, and low speed, high volume fans exhaust warm air at roof level.

“UCLA is honored to receive this award,” said Nurit Katz, UCLA’s chief sustainability officer. “Our green building efforts led by Todd Lynch and our Capital Programs team are a critical part of our carbon neutrality and sustainability strategy. USGBC-LA has been an important partner in these efforts. We look forward to continued collaboration on creating a more sustainable and resilient future for Los Angeles and the world.”