California State University Long Beach recently opened their newest building on campus for the College of Continuing and Professional Education (CCPE).
Until recently, the CCPE held classes in the University Foundation building and at various facilities on and off campus – and the University decided it was important to centralize and consolidate these spaces to allow CCPE students to be more integrated into the campus community.
What are the Features of the New CCPE Building?
The new 34,000 square foot, 3-story building includes 20 classrooms, student interaction spaces and a 240-person-capacity multi-purpose conference facility. The $31 million project was self-funded by CCPE student enrollment fees and did not use any tuition or fees from the general student body.
“The CCPE building will add to the classroom capacity and to the beauty of the campus.”
Jane Close Conoley, CSULB President
With the high-tech classrooms and outdoor courtyard set up for additional learning, the new CCPE building will be a new destination place for the campus learning community. Students who are not a part of CCPE, as well as school officials and faculty are encouraged to use the building resources and conference center. The classrooms will also be available for other departments during summer sessions or when not reserved by the college.
“This building will create an outstanding learning facility for our students and for our faculty.”
CSULB Provost Brian Jersky
The new divisible Conference Center space on the first floor can break into three separate rooms or open up into one large event or lecture space.
CCPE Building is the First Net-Zero Energy Project in CSU System
ZGF Architects designed the sustainable structure and the CCPE building is the first net-zero energy project in the Cal State University system which means that the building will produce all energy required on its own. Along with being self-sustainable and a producer of its own renewable energy, the building will also be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, which specializes in developing buildings requiring the consumption of less energy, water and greenhouse gases.
The CCPE building design maximizes energy savings by employing manually operable windows and shades on two sides of every classroom to encourage the use of natural daylighting and reduce solar heat gain. If additional lighting is needed, overhead LED lights linked to occupancy sensors are incorporated, allowing lights to be shut off when classrooms are not in use.
Additional details behind the net zero building energy saving design are available on the CSULB website.
How Did Vantage Contribute to the Project?
Vantage worked with ZGF on the infrastructure and system design and provided installation oversight for the technology. We were responsible for all IT and low voltage infrastructure including audiovisual, telecommunications, wireless and emergency notification.
We also collaborated with campus Public Safety to plan for the electronic surveillance system infrastructure and camera placement around the building as well as to expand the emergency blue phone network, adding coverage near the new building. In addition, we assisted the campus with strategies and design for the digital building wayfinding systems and deployed an external kiosk on the entrance to the building.