A beautiful campus can convince a student to attend. At UCSD, one of the newest, the Student Academic Services Facility, reflects the university’s tradition of innovation and exemplifies its commitment to sustainable design. A goal was made for the building to achieve 20 percent better numbers than the current California Title 24 energy efficiency standards. The building was self-certified by UCSD using the LEED rating system.

Walking into the building, a visitor can sense the openness the building was designed to convey. The interior features natural, unfinished materials; exposed mechanical and electrical systems; floating steel stairways; and colored concrete flooring. Outside, corrugated concrete panels were placed in the interior courtyard and huge, tilted stucco panels line the south side of the building. The new building is a great example of green practices adopted by a local university.

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