California College of the Arts Expansion

Sustainability is an intrinsic part of the CCA curriculum and is a main driver of the new unified campus. Atelier Ten integrated passive design strategies and enhanced renewable energy controls to achieve zero operational green house gas emissions and ensure future resiliency.

In this highly collaborative project, Atelier Ten worked with the stakeholders and the design team to establish the ambitious goal of carbon neutrality. Atelier Ten studied the complex program and energy uses associated with the art production facilities and developed a highly passive design to minimize the overall energy demand.

One of the key characteristics of the project is the integration of indoor and outdoor space to create an active and vibrant campus for the students to use year round. As a highly passive building, the majority of the spaces within the new building have abundant access to daylight and natural ventilation. The design uses courtyards to minimize the depth of the building massing throughout the ground level. This design not only extends the spaces usable area and activates the courtyards, but also naturally ventilates the space to reduce energy loads.

Atelier Ten provided energy and greenhouse gas analysis to reduce carbon emissions in the new and existing building. The team evaluated on-site renewable energy and energy storage potential to support the project’s goal of carbon neutrality.

Atelier Ten also collaborated with microgrid operators, mechanical engineers, and controls providers to develop the conceptual design of the new campus microgrid. The team assessed the feasibility, implementation plan and provided the client with the environmental benefits of a microgrid approach.