By Doug Bevier

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As mainstays of innovation and progress, universities are under growing pressure to address climate change. And with a profound understanding of the scientific imperative to act, many are prioritizing decarbonization across every facet of campus life, from operations and academics to community engagement. At the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), transforming the physical campus by replacing traditional design and construction methods with prefabrication has significantly reduced its carbon footprint. The Tidelands, a student housing project situated in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood, showcases how this shift to prefabrication, combined with a thoughtful design-build process and rigorous performance targets, has helped lower carbon emissions, create healthier spaces and set new benchmarks for sustainable campus development.

Balancing Aesthetics, Carbon Emissions and Cost

In response to San Francisco’s urgent need for high-density affordable housing, The Tidelands doubled the amount of housing available to UCSF medical students and trainees, offering 595 units across two buildings.

The need to balance aesthetics, environmental impacts and cost became a driver for thoughtful design solutions across the project, inspiring creative problem-solving rather than hindering owner priorities for a timeless building and minimized carbon footprint. The architect, engineers and UCSF came together early in the project, which allowed for the selection of healthy building materials that were also affordable, the integration of passive strategies and cross-team coordination for faster, informed decision-making.

Together, the teams determined that the Tidelands would use Clark Pacific’s Infinite Facade with glass fiber-reinforced concrete (GFRC). The design team tested multiple materials for the building envelope, ultimately discovering that GFRC concrete had significantly lower impacts than other options. The Infinite Facade is a building envelope system, prefabricated offsite that is tested for ASTM and AAMA air, water and vapor penetration, and meets or exceeds Title 24 building code requirements for every climate zone in California.

Clark Pacific collaborated with UCSF to determine a window-to-wall ratio that would keep the cost within budget while also focusing on thermal comfort. The design team explored multiple scenarios and the effect each would have on energy systems, cost and performance.

Kieran Timberlake also conducted a façade sun exposure analysis to determine the impact of solar heat gain on the rooms. The design team selected billows, and horizontal and vertical sunshades were built directly into the prefabricated panels on the sun-facing elevations and flat panels on the others. This strategy, combined with the continuous insulation inherent in the Infinite Facade system, ensures the Tidelands project not only meets but surpasses Title 24 prescriptive requirements on performance. The ability to achieve the desired U-value from a single provider eliminated the need for additional subcontractors and consultants, and simplified energy analysis.

Windows were installed during the manufacturing process. The Tidelands project was completed six months ahead of schedule, and UCSF has one point of contact for the building envelope warranty.

Doug Bevier is director of preconstruction at Clark Pacific.

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By Lindsey Coulter��

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Brooklyn College has launched a major step toward meeting its campuswide decarbonization goals with the drilling of a 500-foot-deep geothermal test well, marking its participation in New York’s Decarbonization Leadership Program (DLP) and positioning the institution as a leader in sustainable campus infrastructure.��

The project, which kicked off during World Environment Day on June 5, is part of a broader initiative led by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to reduce emissions at the state’s largest carbon-emitting facilities. Brooklyn College is the first City University of New York (CUNY) campus to undergo this level of geothermal testing. The results will determine the viability of a fully integrated low-carbon energy system on campus.��

“Participating in Gov. Hochul’s Decarbonization Leadership Program is a pivotal step in CUNY’s commitment to environmental stewardship on our campuses,” said Mohamed Attalla, CUNY vice chancellor of facilities planning, construction and management, in a statement published by the college. “Expanding on renewable energy is a key strategic direction for CUNY including geothermal. Brooklyn College was envisioned as a suitable site and many sites will follow.”��

The initiative centers on the campus’ West End Building (WEB), a 20,000-square-foot academic hub that serves as an academic and student life center. A $10 million award from the New York State Bond Act will fund its conversion to a geothermal heating and cooling system that will provide the facility with 100% carbon-free climate control.��

Already equipped with hydronic infrastructure, the WEB is considered ideal for a geothermal retrofit. It houses a variety of high-use spaces, including a large open-use computer lab, multimedia classrooms, the Undergraduate Film Department, 16 student clubs and a student testing center.��

“Brooklyn College is proud to play a vital role in advancing clean energy innovation,” said College President Michelle J. Anderson in a statement. “This initiative stands as a cornerstone of the college’s commitment to building a cleaner, more resilient future.”��

The geothermal project is being delivered in partnership with NYPA, which provides energy services to public institutions across the state. Under the DLP, NYPA supports facilities with energy audits, engineering, installation and construction services aimed at accelerating the state’s climate goals.��

“Brooklyn College’s efforts to explore the viability of a geothermal system is an exciting milestone in the school’s journey toward decarbonization,” said Maribel Cruz-Brown, NYPA senior vice president of customer solutions, in a statement. “It exemplifies how the public sector is driving progress through collaboration and strategic planning.”��

CUNY is the nation’s largest urban public university system, enrolling nearly 240,000 students across New York City. Brooklyn College, a senior CUNY institution with a 90-year legacy, serves approximately 15,000 students across more than 100 academic programs.�� Other CUNY campuses, including Hunter College and City College, are developing decarbonization action plans through the same program.��

NYPA, the largest state public power organization in the U.S., generates more than 80% of its electricity from renewable hydropower and plays a key role in transitioning New York’s public facilities toward sustainable energy.��

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