Looking for proof that UC Davis is building toward a sustainable future? Check out our newest green building, the Maurice J. Gallagher Jr. Hall, new home of the business school.

Built to demanding environmental standards, Gallagher Hall is expected to be the first building on the UC Davis campus and the first business school in California to qualify for Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) program.

All new campus buildings are at least 20 percent more efficient than required by California’s strict energy code and the University of California policy is to design new buildings to meet the LEED Silver Certification.

Gallagher Hall features a number of green designs:

• The eco-friendly structure will reduce storm water runoff by 25 percent, with rainwater captured and treated on site.
• A white roof and light-colored paving will keep the building and its immediate surroundings cooler.
• The landscaping, which uses native, drought-tolerant plants, is expected to cut potable water use by more than 50 percent.
• The building also is 30 percent more energy efficient than a typical office building, with tall windows that maximize natural daylight and motion-sensitive lighting controls in every room.
• 30 percent of the materials used in the project had been recycled and 75 percent of construction waste was recycled.

In addition, UC Davis has one building approved for highest level of sustainability, at the Platinum level: The UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (completed in 2007). It is one of only five science laboratories in the world to receive a Platinum LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

UC Davis has an ambitious plan to incorporate green technology in new construction. Highlights include:

Platinum Certification

The new teaching and research winery and the August A. Busch III Brewing and Food Science Laboratory at the Mondavi Institute at the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science (expected occupancy 2010)

• Funding provided by winery owners, led by Kendall-Jackson, to build to LEED Platinum Certification level
• Will be the only Platinum-level winery in the world
• First fully solar-powered winery at peak load
• Equipped to capture and sequester all carbon dioxide from fermentations
• Will operate on captured rainwater for cleaning needs

Gold Certification

Gladys Valley Hall, instructional center for the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (completed in 2006, documentation in process)

• First building at UC Davis (and only the second in the University of California system) designed and built for certification under LEED rating system
• Uses one-third less energy than a standard design through conservation, heating and plumbing innovations, plus conserves water, provides better indoor air quality and incorporates natural material
• Less energy consumed for lighting by using natural light, photo sensors and motion

Tercero South Student Housing Phase II (water efficiency focus, expected occupancy January 2010)
Coffee House renovation (re-using 40 to 50 percent of equipment, to be occupancy September 2010)
Robbins Hall renovation (with 50 percent recovery from exhaust air, expected occupancy December 2010)
Student Community Center (features advanced lighting controls, expected occupancy May 2012)

Silver Certification

Advanced Transportation Research Center (completed in 2009)
Health and Wellness Center (expected occupancy January 2010)
Memorial Union and Bookstore expansion (expected occupancy August 2012)
Oxford Circle Dining Commons (expected occupancy February 2010)
School of Law King Hall expansion (expected occupancy September 2010)
Segundo Commons (expected occupancy October 2011)

About LEED certification

Leadership_in_Energy_and_Environmental_Design was developed in 1994 and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council and is a voluntary, consensus-based standard to support and certify successful green building design, construction and operations.

Certification levels

• Certified — 40-49 points
• Silver — 50-59 points
• Gold — 60-79 points
• Platinum — 80 points and above

• Points are awarded on a 100-point scale.
• Credits are weighted to reflect their potential environmental impacts.
• 10 bonus credits are available, four of which address regionally specific environmental issues.
• Must satisfy all prerequisites and earn a minimum number of points to be certified.