CSU Northridge Student Sustainability Center

Home to the university’s recycling operations and its Institute for Sustainability, this LEED Platinum facility is a landmark achievement for the CSU Northridge campus in the school’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship. Through net zero consulting and LEED certification management, Gensler’s Climate Action & Sustainability consultants helped the Center achieve LEED Platinum status and become the completed net zero energy building in the CSU system, with a 24KW rooftop photovoltaic array with a glazed overhead window that offsets the building’s entire energy needs.

In both design and construction, the building highlights the recycling and sustainability education efforts housed within. The building envelope conjoins office space with a recycling yard into a dramatic singular volume. The envelope is composed of slats of cementitious panel fabrication remnants, and the interiors use repurposed furniture. Daylight autonomous lighting eliminates the need for artificial light during the day, and north-facing, operable windows draw in ample natural light to create a comfortable work environment. A solar thermal and hybrid hot water heat pump serves 100% of hot water needs.

Other sustainable strategies and services include the use of locally manufactured products for building materials, gray water for irrigation, modular building components that minimize waste, and diversion of construction debris from landfills — helping the university to further achieve its vision of a sustainable campus.