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

  • North Carolina District Completes New Elementary School

    The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) in Holly Springs, N.C., recently announced that construction on a new elementary school has finished, according to a news release. Rex Road Elementary School measures in at 133,000 square feet and is the fifteenth school that general contractor Balfour Beatty has completed for the district.

  • Construction Begins on East Austin CTE-Focused High School

    The Del Valle Independent School District recently announced that construction has begun on a new CTE-focused high school in Austin, Texas, according to a news release. Del Valle High School will measure in at 473,338 square feet and have the capacity for 2,400 students.

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

  • Florida SouthWestern State College, Skanska Partner for Humanities Hall Renovation

    Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) in Fort Myers, Fla., recently announced that it is partnering with construction firm Skanska to renovate the school’s Humanities Hall, according to a news release.

Digital Edition