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

  • restroom sinks

    CSU Dominguez Hills Standardizes Plumbing to Improve Restroom Maintenance and Efficiency

    At California State University, Dominguez Hills, facilities leaders have taken steps to standardize restroom fixtures as part of a broader effort to improve maintenance efficiency and control long-term costs.

  • Wisconsin District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The School District of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff of two existing schools, according to local news. Funding for the school comes from a $53-million referendum approved in 2024.

  • Image courtesy of Kahler Slater

    UW–Madison Announces Completion of Morgridge Hall

    The University of Wisconsin–Madison recently announced that construction is complete on Morgridge Hall, a new academic building, according to a news release. The facility opened September 3 at the start of the fall semester, consolidating the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences into a single facility for the first time.

  • Geometric abstract school illustration

    How Design Shapes Learning and Success

    Can the color of a wall, the curve of a chair, or the hum of fluorescent lights really affect how a student learns? More schools are beginning to think so.