A LEED certified building, the Locatelli Student Activity Center has several unique sustainability features. Click on the triangular arrow to expand and collapse the information box for each feature.
Sustainable Features
The Locatelli Student Activity Center has achieved Gold status on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system for being a top-rated sustainable building not only at Santa Clara but also in the State of California.
The Locatelli Student Activity Center is designed to blend in architecturally with other buildings on campus while integrating energy-efficient features like trellises and overhangs to reduce direct solar gain on the south and west face of the building.
Use of mortar-free pavers and decomposed granite for walkways around the building reduce water runoff. Unlike traditional cement sidewalks, which are completely water tight and drive water toward storm drains to flow straight into the Bay, brick pavers are permeable and allow water to pass through them. Water runoff from the building is diverted to planting areas to increase the infiltration rate and reduce the impact of storm water.
The Locatelli Student Activity Center is equipped with standard University recycling, waste, and composting bins. Student work areas have ample recycling and composting capabilities. Students using the building are strongly encouraged to divert their waste from the landfill. Santa Clara collects plastics #1-7, paper, aluminum, glass, and tin in "recycle" containers, food waste and biodegradable containers in "compost" containers, and whatever else remains in "landfill waste" containers.
Paints, surface coatings, and adhesives in the Locatelli Student Activity Center were chosen based on their low-emissions or non-emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Carpets are certified "Green Label" by the Carpet and Rug Institute, meaning the carpets are the lowest emitting carpet products on the market.