CSU East Bay Student and Faculty Support Center

Cutting-edge campus building is first CSU project to meet 2030 Challenge

An eye-catching, expressive building form and dynamic window pattern establish this student and faculty center as a signature icon and gateway to the campus. The five-story, 67,000-square-foot facility sets the standard as the CSU system’s first LEED Platinum project, as well as meeting the AIA 2030 Challenge, which challenges designers to drastically reduces fossil fuel consumption.

A holistic approach and innovative sustainable methods drove the design. Located on a tight 2.2-acres, the L-shaped structure’s elevated upper floors leave nearly three-quarters of the site as open space. This reduced building footprint allows 100 percent of stormwater to be treated with natural bioswales and infiltration basins, while also creating a grand entry and freeing up space for outdoor use. The landscape design focuses on native or drought-tolerant plants and combines with the irrigation system to cut water demand in half.

The building houses the campus Welcome Center, as well as administrative and faculty offices. The glazing pattern includes operable windows to take advantage of the pleasant coastal climate without compromising energy efficiency. Building systems are engineered with a variable air volume (VAV) system, high-efficiency condensing boilers, low-flow plumbing fixtures, PV panels and advanced lighting controls that account for daylight harvesting. Interior finishes use high recycled content. Low-VOC paints and low-odor carpets promote a healthy indoor air quality.

The college operates with a small maintenance staff, so material selection was a critical aspect of the project. On the exterior, precast concrete, metal panels and aluminum-framed glazing create a low-maintenance skin. A cool roof and high-performance windows and wall assemblies optimize thermal performance. Fifty percent of the materials and products were sourced from within 500 miles of the site, which cut down on fuel consumption and emissions.

The new building replaces the former Warren Hall, which stood as a campus icon for 40 years but was demolished due to seismic vulnerability. Since the site is located less than a mile from the Hayward Fault—one of the most active seismic faults in California—LPA’s structural engineers focused on occupant safety and long-term seismic resiliency of the building. The result is a cutting-edge facility that will perform strongly for another 40 years and beyond.