California State University, Dominguez Hills

Faced with the need to update its student union to accommodate campus growth, California State University, Dominguez Hills elected to renovate the existing student union, build an addition, and unite the old and the new with a multilevel courtyard. This innovative design solution doubles the available space and creates an open and inviting atmosphere for the many activities and services the facility supports, including student-services offices, a bookstore and retail outlets, computer rooms, a game room, conferencing facilities, and a large ballroom.

In addition to simply uniting the existing and new buildings, the courtyard serves as a physical and symbolic campus core, promotes retail activity, and facilitates interaction among students and faculty. Offices surrounding the courtyard enjoy plentiful daylight and a visual connection to the social activity occurring below.

• Campus is served by commuter bus lines
• On-site bicycle storage encourages alternative transportation
• Limiting paved parking area reduces water runoff and site disturbance
• Light-colored paving materials reduce heat-island effect
• Low-cutoff light fixtures avoid contributing to night-sky pollution

• 40% of building materials are regionally manufactured, exceeding LEED standards
• Green building user education program educates public about sustainable design
• Green operations and maintenance plan preserves indoor environmental quality

• Indoor air quality management plan, no-smoking policy, and low-VOC paints, carpets, adhesives, and sealants preserve indoor air quality
• Building air system filtered and flushed prior to occupancy

• 50% of existing building shell reused
• All HVAC equipment, exhaust fans, and boilers, some ductwork, and 50% of VAV boxes and reheat coils were reused
• Significant portion of building materials were manufactured regionally

• Refrigeration and fire-suppression equipment is HCFC-free and halon-free
• Insulated, low-E coated glass reduces energy consumption
• Insulated skylight glass reduces interior heat gain
• System performance optimization reduces energy costs by 20% above prerequisite standard
• Naturally lit building interior reduces dependence on artificial lighting

• Hardy and native vegetation minimizes irrigation requirements
• High-efficiency drip irrigation conserves water

• Multilevel courtyard/common area between buildings
• Student lounge areas
• Student bookstore and retail outlets
• Student services support space and administrative offices
• Full kitchen and indoor/outdoor dining area
• Ballroom with food preparation support space