Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 48.88
Liaison Barbara Queen
Submission Date June 6, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

California State University, Los Angeles
OP-4: Building Design and Construction

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.45 / 3.00 Barbara Queen
Director for Planning, Design and Construction
Planning, Design, and Construction
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have any building space certified under the following green building rating systems for new construction and major renovations?:
Yes or No
LEED or another 4-tier rating system used by an Established Green Building Council (GBC) Yes
The DGNB system, Green Star, or another 3-tier GBC rating system No
BREEAM, CASBEE, or another 5-tier GBC rating system No
The Living Building Challenge No
Other non-GBC rating systems (e.g. BOMA BESt, Green Globes) No

A brief description of the green building rating system(s) used and/or a list of certified buildings and ratings:

The 209,000 square foot Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center at Cal State LA received LEED silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Energy performance of the building is enhanced through the use of high-efficiency variable-speed chillers; premium-efficiency variable-speed pumps on the secondary cooling and heating hot-water pumps; and super-efficient built-up variable-volume air-handling units. Continuous dimming daylighting controls and occupancy sensors are used for light fixtures in lab and administration areas, and the building's narrow floor plate maximizes natural light to interior spaces.

Situated near public transportation, the facility also features a 300,000-gallon rain-storage system in the north parking area, which reduces the need to use potable water for irrigation. A cool roof reflects solar energy to reduce the heat-island effect and lower summer HVAC cooling loads. On the inside, laboratory fume hoods are continuously exhausted and supplied 100 percent outside-air makeup, while maintaining negative pressure in relation to adjacent spaces to protect occupants.

According to Cal State LA's Academic Senate Minutes on May 24, 2011, "All new buildings on campus, including the recently completed Wallis Annenberg Integrated Sciences Complex, Public Safety Building and the soon to be completed Corporation Yard Building, were designed to outperform the Title 24 Standards for the California Energy Code by at least 15 percent. These efforts help to reduce the BTU/square foot consumption. As such, all of these buildings meet the standard to be LEED certified buildings. However, given the cost associated with certification of these buildings the campus has chosen not to pay for that designation."


Total floor area of eligible building space (design and construction):
483,026 Square feet

Floor area of building space that is certified at each level under a 4-tier rating system for new construction and major renovations used by an Established Green Building Council::
Certified Floor Area
Minimum Level (e.g. LEED Certified) 0 Square feet
3rd Highest Level (e.g. LEED Silver) 209,000 Square feet
2nd Highest Level (e.g. LEED Gold) 0 Square feet
Highest Achievable Level (e.g. LEED Platinum) 0 Square feet

Floor area of building space that is certified at each level under a 3-tier rating system for new construction and major renovations used by an Established Green Building Council::
Certified Floor Area
Minimum Level 0 Square feet
Mid-Level 0 Square feet
Highest Achievable Level 0 Square feet

Floor area of building space that is certified at each level under a 5-tier rating system for new construction and major renovations used by an Established Green Building Council::
Certified Floor Area
Minimum Level 0 Square feet
4th Highest Level 0 Square feet
Mid-Level 0 Square feet
2nd Highest Level 0 Square feet
Highest Achievable Level 0 Square feet

Floor area of building space certified Living under the Living Building Challenge:
0 Square feet

Floor area of building space that is certified at any level under other green building rating systems for new construction and major renovations:
0 Square feet

Floor area of building space that was designed and constructed in accordance with green building policies or guidelines but NOT certified:
274,026 Square feet

A copy of the guidelines or policies :
The date the guidelines or policies were adopted:
May 20, 2014

A brief description of the green building guidelines or policies and/or a list or sample of buildings covered:

California State University Sustainability Policy Proposal (RJEP/CPBG 05-14-01)Sustainable Building Practices:
"1. All future CSU new construction, remodeling, renovation, and repair projects will be designed with consideration of optimum energy utilization, low life cycle operating costs, compliance with all applicable energy codes (enhanced Title 24 energy codes) and regulations. In the areas of specialized construction that are not regulated through the current energy codes, such as historical buildings, museums, and auditoriums, the CSU will ensure that these facilities are designed to consider energy efficiency. Energy efficient and sustainable design features in the project plans and specifications will be considered in balance with the academic program needs of the project within the available project budget...
3. The CSU shall design and build all new buildings and major renovations to meet or exceed the minimum requirements equivalent to LEED “Silver.” Each campus shall strive to achieve a higher standard equivalent to LEED “Gold” or “Platinum” within project budget constraints. Each campus may pursue external certification through the LEED process."


A brief description of how the institution ensures compliance with green building design and construction guidelines and policies:

California State University Sustainability Policy Proposal (RJEP/CPBG 05-14-01)Sustainable Building Practices: "2. Capital Planning, Design and Construction in the Chancellor’s Office shall monitor building sustainability/energy performance and maintain information on design best practices to support the energy efficiency goals and guidelines of this policy. The sustainability performance shall be based on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) principles with consideration to the physical diversity and microclimates within the CSU."


The website URL where information about the institution’s certified buildings and/or green building design and construction guidelines or policies is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center, 209,000 GSF (LEED Silver)

Wallis Annenberg Integrated Sciences Complex, 199,597 GSF
Public Safety Building, 16,040 GSF
Corporation Yard Building, 58,389 GSF
Total designed and constructed in accordance, but NOT certified = 274,026 GSF


Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center, 209,000 GSF (LEED Silver)

Wallis Annenberg Integrated Sciences Complex, 199,597 GSF
Public Safety Building, 16,040 GSF
Corporation Yard Building, 58,389 GSF
Total designed and constructed in accordance, but NOT certified = 274,026 GSF

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.