A newly constructed residence hall at California State University Long Beach is the first net-zero energy student housing in the Cal State system.
The Press-Telegram reports the Parkside North Residence Hall is the first new student housing on the Long Beach campus in three decades.
The facility is the Cal State system’s first Living Building Challenge Petal Certified residential building. It has been designed to meet three of the seven petals - Energy, Beauty and Place, said project manager Matt Grant.
The Energy petal focuses on maximizing free solar energy through the building’s orientation for use during daylight hours in interior spaces.
The Beauty petal celebrates the culture and spirit of its location.This petal requires providing a case study, website and annual site tours, and educational tours for the public about the benefits of a high-performance building.
The third petal, Place, requires the building to have a sustainable development, such as avoiding and respecting natural resources (wetlands, old-growth forests, prime farmland).
On-site renewable energy is provided by the solar canopy built above the roof terrace area, as well as using energy from existing solar canopies in campus parking lots.
The residence hall will have 472 beds--183 double rooms and 24 single rooms.
The $100 million building is shaped like the number 8 and built around two courtyards separated by staircases.
Students are scheduled to begin moving into the residence hall on Aug. 17.
