Campus Progress: Green Buildings Information

All new buildings at UC Davis are required to meet standards equivalent to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Silver certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Some campus buildings meet standards that are equivalent to LEED standards, but are neither registered nor certified. Other buildings have been registered and are either awaiting construction completion or awaiting third-party certification. 

Find out more about building management at UC Davis and which campus buildings meet green standards:

LEED-certified buildings

LEED certification includes rating systems for different types of construction, renovation and building management. LEED for New Construction is a framework for new construction and major renovations. LEED for Commercial Interiors sets benchmarks for improvements and renovations with a focus on a building’s interior. LEED for Existing Buildings provides metrics for operations, improvements and management of a building.

These buildings have achieved LEED certification, and are described in the certified project directory.

LEED Platinum

Teaching & Research Winery August A. Busch III Brewing and Food Science Laboratory (New Construction)

This UC Davis facility is the first brewery, winery or food processing facility in the world to be LEED Platinum certified. The two-wing building houses teaching and research activities in the August A. Busch III Brewing and Food Science Laboratory and the Teaching and Research Winery. The facilities will serve as a model for sustainability in each industry, with a focus on water and energy efficiency in the buildings' design. 

This facility has a large-scale water capture system used for irrigation and toilets that saves about 300,000 gallons of water annually. Photovoltaic panels on the building's roof are estimated to produce more energy than the building currently uses. The building also has a capture system for the carbon dioxide from the fermentation process, with future plans to sequester the carbon dioxide instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. Real-time data from the facility's water and electrical metering displays for visitors in the lobby, to help showcase the building's sustainable features. A comprehensive recycling and composting plan was also designed for the facility, with help from a UC Davis student project.

 

Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences (New Construction)

The home of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center is one of only five laboratories in the world that is LEED Platinum certified — the top level for LEED construction standards.

This facility has been noted as the first laboratory to use "active" chilled beams, which moves ventilation air through ceiling-mounted diffuser boxes for increased cooling efficiency at low investment costs. The building's energy efficiency is also boosted with radiant floor heating, a cooling tower and cold water storage. The building has 875 photovoltaic shingles on its roof.

LEED Gold

Cuarto Dining Commons (Commercial Interiors)

The renovation of Cuarto Dining Commons reused more than 41 percent of its original interior elements. Approximately 40 percent of new building materials used in the renovation were manufactured within 500 miles of the site.

Tercero Student Housing: Wall, Campbell and Potter Halls (New Construction)

Wall, Campbell and Potter Halls are registered with the certification goal of LEED Gold. The buildings have a chute for collecting recyclable materials, solar thermal panels on the roof and a whole-building ventilation system for nighttime cooling. The residence halls also have a "green cleaning" policy and program, and an active education program that informs occupants about green building practices.

LEED-registered buildings

These buildings have been registered for LEED certification, and are listed in their registered project directory. Registered buildings include those in the planning stages, under construction and already in use. LEED-registered buildings on the UC Davis campus are also included in the campus map.

The following buildings have been completed:

Advanced Transportation Research Center (New Construction)

Coffee House renovation (Commercial Interiors)

Gallagher Hall and Conference Center (New Construction)

Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr. Hall, occupied by the Graduate School of Management, and the adjacent Conference Center are registered with the certification goal of LEED Gold. Once certified, this would be the first business school building in California to meet the LEED Gold level of certification.

The buildings use a ground-source heat pump for radiant heating and cooling, and have an innovative rain screen design that helps mitigate solar heat gain. Natural daylight is passively controlled by the buildings' orientation, clerestory windows and a large light well, which save energy used for artificial lighting.

Gladys Valley Hall (New Construction)

Gladys Valley Hall, a veterinary instructional facility, was the first building at UC Davis to be designed and constructed to meet the certification goal of LEED Silver. The building was honored as the Best Overall Sustainable Design in 2005 in the statewide Best Practices Competition.

Natural ventilation cools the building's common spaces, with thermal and humidity sensors that control ventilation louvers. The building uses a night-flush strategy to release heat absorbed during the day with circulated night air that pre-cools the structure, to help moderate indoor air temperatures for the following day.

Student Health and Wellness Center (New Construction)

The Student Health and Wellness Center is registered with the certification goal of LEED Gold. The building is 42 percent more energy efficient than a typical medical office building. One interesting aspect of the building is its highly reflective roof and green roof that serve to minimize the building's heat-island effect on the surrounding microclimate.

The following buildings are under construction or in planning:

Emerson Hall and Webster Hall (Existing Buildings)

Emerson and Webster residence halls both make use of smart vanity lighting systems, a "green cleaning" policy and program, and an active educational program for occupants. Webster Hall has an advanced thermostat control system and an ENERGY Star score of 76. Emerson Hall has an ENERGY Star score of 82.

Foundation Plant Services Annex (New Construction)

Respiratory Disease Center (New Construction)

Segundo Services Center (New Construction)

Plans for the Segundo Services Center call for a green roof with seating area and rooftop solar photovoltaic cells. The center also uses a "chilled beam" system for efficient indoor temperature control.

South Valley Animal Health Laboratory (New Construction)

Student Community Center (New Construction)

Veterinary Medicine 3B (New Construction)

Plans for this building were honored as the Best Overall Sustainable Design in 2009 in the statewide Best Practices Competition.

The open laboratory floor plan for this building optimizes daylight with glazing between offices on the perimeter of the building and offices further interior. It also separates offices that can use natural ventilation and operable windows from more ventilation-intensive laboratory space. Building plans call for a reclaimed water system to supply dual-flush, low-flow toilets. Occupant sensors for lighting and ventilation and desktop air delivery with local controls will provide for efficiency and comfort.