Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Architecture Firm, Community College District Partner to Create Sustainability Goals

  • By Matt Jones
  • 12/14/23

Architecture firm DLR Group recently partnered with the Riverside Community College District (RCCD) in Riverside, Calif., to offer a suite of sustainability services, according to a news release. RCCD is composed of three colleges (Moreno Valley College, Norco College, and Riverside City College), each of which will gain a new Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP), a Total Cost of Ownership dashboard (TCO), and Integrated Energy Master Plans (IEMP).

DLR and RCCD also worked with hundreds of stakeholders to produce the SCAP, which serves as a “practical roadmap for cultural transformation, setting aspirational, evergreen goals, measurable objections, and specific actions.” The SCAP is based off of the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) STARS program and the California Community Colleges Climate Change and Sustainability Policy as a template for approaching sustainability planning as practically as possible.

“Riverside Community College District believes sustainability requires a cultural transformation and the SCAP sets the foundation for its evergreen goals through the district strategic planning and integration process,” said RCCD Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Planning & Development Hussain Agah. “This plan aims to outline a roadmap for RCCD to live sustainably and take an active role in responding to evolving environmental and climate challenges.”

Meanwhile, the IEMP dashboard will allow the district to keep track of its many buildings’ consumptions of resources like electricity, gas, and water. The TCO capability will let the district understand the cost of ownership of its various assets or investments not just in terms of the initial capital and setup costs, but also the cost of long-term operations and human resources.

“As an institution of higher education, RCCD has the opportunity to live sustainably, actively lead their communities, and respond to today’s evolving climate challenges,” said Linsey Graff, DLR Group Principal and Campus Planning Leader. “Working with RCCD on their SCAP has been a privilege, paving the way for the College to create a legacy of stewardship, innovation, and responsible action.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.

  • LAN, Inc. Opens Office in College Station, Texas

    Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) recently announced the opening of a new office in College Station, Texas, to support its regional client base, according to a news release. The organization provides engineering, design, and program management services for water, wastewater, transportation, stormwater, and education clients in the Brazos Valley.

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.

  • iPark 87

    Building a Future-Focused Career and Technical Education Center

    A district superintendent shares his team's journey to aligning student passions with workforce demands, and why their new CTE center could be a model for districts nationwide.