The completion of any construction project on campus is often
more than enough cause for celebration. But as members of the
Institute of Environment move into the new LaKretz Hall today, they
will also be able to celebrate the first “green”
building on campus.
Based on a voluntary, consensus-based national standard, a
“green” specification denotes a building’s
compliance with rigorous environmental standards.
“By creating LaKretz Hall with such a thoughtful approach
to construction that ensures its green status, the building is a
major step in our long-range commitment to environmental
planning,” said Patricia O’Brien, executive dean of the
UCLA College, in a statement.
The new three-story building, located in the South Campus Court
of Sciences, will house lecture halls, seminar rooms, a conference
center and the offices of UCLA’s Institute of Environment. It
also sets a symbolic and concrete precedent for the university.
As UCLA’s first green building, LaKretz Hall acts as both
a beacon of what future architects, designers and developers can
strive for as well as a practical lesson in how to go about
adhering to high environmental criteria.
“I think that the precedent is important and not only
symbolic. The experience of going through certification with the
Green Building Council is something you have to learn how to do.
It’s not a simple checklist,” said Mary Nichols,
director of the Institute of Environment.
The environmental regulations to which LaKretz Hall subscribes
are all a part of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Green Building Rating System, which assess both building
performance and sustainability practices.
In tangible terms, the green classification means the
building’s steel contains 80 percent recycled material, the
interior and exterior lighting fixtures are meant to minimize
impact on the nocturnal environment and a specialized air system
supplies ventilation from the floor instead of ceiling thereby
reducing electricity usage.
But perhaps one of the most spectacular elements of the building
is its foundation.
“The first thing you need to remember is that it’s
not sitting on earth, but on a 5-million-gallon water tank,”
said John Sandbrook, special assistant to the UCLA College
executive dean.
The concrete water tank, which was built before the LaKretz
building, supplies chilled water to UCLA’s air conditioning
system. The dual use of space ““ a cooling tank and the
building’s foundation ““ was one of the main reasons
LaKretz Hall garnered a green rating since it avoided the
environmental impact of developing a new site.
The concept of encouraging new projects to be more green was
adopted by the UC Board of Regents several years ago, but the real
push for the LaKretz building came from its donor, Sandbrook
said.
Morton LaKretz, from the Class of 1948, had indicated to the
university that he had recently acquired funds from his sale of a
commercial building and was interested in donating it to the
school. He was also insistent on keeping the building
environmentally friendly, Sandbrook said.
“LaKretz is one of the most humble people I’ve met
and he was touched that he could give back to his alma mater in
this way,” Sandbrook said.
The result was a $8.5 million project ““ $4 million donated
by LaKretz ““ which was celebrated by chancellors and esteemed
faculty at its dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony on June
10.
“The building will become not only the legacy of a loyal
alumnus, but also a visible reminder of UCLA’s ongoing
efforts toward sustainability,” said Chancellor Albert
Carnesale at the ceremony, which also included a guest lecture by
geography and physiology Professor Jared Diamond.