California State University’s $27-million, 34,000-sq-ft College of Professional and International Education (CPIE) serves as a hub for international students to collaborate and integrate with the broader campus community. Accordingly, project team members sited the building at the intersection of a busy campus entry point and two major pedestrian thoroughfares.

The CPIE building has 20 classrooms, flexible conferencing space and a variety of open-air communal spaces. It is designed to achieve LEED Platinum status—the project team used the building’s footprint and orientation to provide daylighting and natural ventilation for 95% of its spaces. It is the campus’ first net-zero-energy classroom building.

Team members also incorporated energy-efficient systems, including radiant heating and cooling, LED lighting with sophisticated occupancy and daylight controls, occupancy-controlled power outlets and a photovoltaic system.

The classrooms have operable windows, ceiling fans and a direct outside air mechanical system to promote efficient cross-ventilation while maintaining indoor air quality and minimizing the structure’s carbon footprint.

The building, which sits on the Edward Killingsworth-designed campus, strikes a balance between respecting the architecture of existing structures and delivering a contemporary design that is forward looking. The building expresses Killingsworth’s vision of simple volumes organized around central, open spaces with a lighter, larger volume set upon a heavier, rusticated plinth that forms a rectilinear right angle that embraces a landscaped courtyard. Designers matched the primary building materials with Killingsworth’s palette and used secondary materials, colors and architectural detailing to accent the building’s unique signature.

With plans for campus-wide carbon neutrality by 2030, planners, including the design-build team of architect ZGF and general contractor MATT Construction, used BIM energy modeling throughout design to ensure sustainability measures were integrated into the building’s aesthetics and functionality.

Back to "ENR California's Best Projects 2019: Diverse Mix of Public, Private Work Garners Award"