Welcome

Utility Infrastructure Element

The University is working to reduce energy demands for buildings through various measures. The Arts and Communications Building successfully used the Southern California Edison ÒSavings by DesignÓ Program to achieve significant energy savings by integrating natural daylight, improving insulation, installing a displacement heating and cooling system, and utilizing energy efficient lights. In recognition, the Arts and Communication Building received a Sustainable Design Award from the American Institute of Architects. In transforming the Super Tents into the new Sports Science and Athletics Pavilion, the thermal performance of the tent was greatly improved by adding insulation and natural ventilation at the peaks. North and South facing peaks now provide day lighting that reduces the need for artificial light and makes the interior space more pleasant. The pavilion now has displacement heating and cooling which is quieter, more comfortable, and more energy efficient. Efficiency is further enhanced by connecting to a central chiller that provides cooled water for air conditioning. The Pavilion also has been re-lamped, further reducing energy demands. Continued attention to energy conservation, as the campus grows, can create healthier, more pleasant environments and help reduce emissions and dependency on fossil fuels.

The University has installed a central chiller plant near the Hanawalt Fitness Building and campus loop to provide chilled water for cooling 60% of the campus buildings. The University is also retrofitting lighting to improve efficiency and consolidating electric meters and the electrical distribution system.

An initial renewable energy project could integrate solar electricity into the Arts and Communications Building that has optimal sunspace. Using net metering, it is possible to set up a Distributed Generation Association that could fund, own, and depreciate renewable energy assets and lease them back to the University at less cost than what the University would pay to continue to use fossil fuels. The University should protect solar access and encourage integrating solar electricity and solar water heating into future buildings.

The University can also continue to consolidate water meters, reducing the number of meter charges that it pays. Capturing and retaining more run-off water can reduce demands on the existing storm drainage system, as the campus becomes more dense, and at the same time provide water for campus landscaping. To facilitate this the University should make use of permeable pavements, landscape retention areas and roof gardens wherever possible.

A need for increased sewage capacity in 1st Street exists in order to accommodate the new student housing. The City is proposing to add a new sewer line along 1st Street that would better serve D Street.

The new student housing, that the University proposes to build on D Street to replace Stu-Han and Brandt, will have water-conserving appliances, reducing demand on the water and sewage infrastructure. A new residence hall using low-flush toilets (2.5 gallons or less) would have less impact on the water and sewage system than the previous facilities with the old (5-gallon flush) toilets.

Eliminating the baseball field and replacing it with buildings, parking, and more limited green space will reduce the amount of water needed for irrigation on the main campus. The use of water in the buildings and parking is less that the water required to irrigate the baseball field.

The University currently has a recycling program to reduce solid waste disposal. The University will continue to refine this program in the future to reduce its impact on solid waste disposal. The UniversityÕs ongoing program will comply with federal, state and local statutes and regulations related to solid waste.

Information Infrastructure Element

The campus has installed a fiber-optic backbone for its information infrastructure. There is a need to move portions of this into the rights-of-way in 2nd and D streets to bypass the building footprints of the New Campus Center and the future student housing. The University will also be creating a Wi-Fi Hotspot at the Campus Center and Johnson Family Plaza so that students and employees will be able to make wireless connections using their own PDA's and notebook computers.

Planning and Design Guidelines

College campuses are a unique component of the American Landscape. Urban campuses like the University of La Verne, interwoven within the townscape, face special challenges in creating a unique character that sets them apart from the rest of the urban fabric. Strong campus entries and edges, coherent and complementary architectural styles and building materials, and coordinated and well-designed landscaping all work together to create a special sense of place for the campus.

Entries and Edges

Clearly defined entrances and edges are the primary tools to improving campus way-finding and establishing a successful interface between campus and City. In its present configuration, the ULV campus facilities are interspersed between the well-defined Old Town and a mixed presence along a combination of private and public streets. The Master Plan phasing outlines opportunities to establish stronger campus entrances and edges that will help create a stronger campus presence, boundaries and a unique sense of place.

Implementing Phases 2 and 3 will create four specific locales for campus entries and edges. Currently, the most formal vehicular entrance to campus is at the intersection of Bonita Avenue and C Street.The new parking lot replacing Stu-Han will afford a great opportunity to extend the existing canopy of oaks that grace C Street south of 3rd Street. The north landscaped edge of this parking lot will be an excellent setting for a significant entry monument, designed to complement the existing Craftsman style monuments of mosaic tile utilized throughout the campus. Graphics, banners, or an integral and complementary sign monument on the proposed mixed-use/parking structure to the east of C Street could emphasize this monument. Furthermore, the potential academic building replacing the chapel, along with the mixed-use facilities proposed along Bonita, will create a strong campus edge along Bonita Avenue, reinforcing the significance of the C Street entrance. From this strong entry the canopy of Oaks would draw one to the center of the campus.

The entrance at B and 3rd streets announces the place on campus with the strongest presence of historical structures. At the southeast corner lies the Mainiero Parking Lot whose prominent location weakens the sense of arrival into the campus. A well-designed entry monument and landscaping at this corner would help create a strong campus entrance to this significant campus area.

The extensive campus improvements proposed for the area southwest of the intersection of D and 2nd Streets strengthen another main campus entrance. The combination of a well-defined canopy of street trees and landscaping along D Street and the edge created by the new student housing will reinforce the opening at 2nd Street. This corner is another great location for a campus entry monument, announcing the entrance to this important pedestrian way leading to the new Campus Center and the Johnson Family Plaza.

The other main entrance to the campus is from Arrow Highway. The combined improvements of the Arts and Communications Building and the future Student Housing will announce this main campus entry. In addition, the entrance onto 1st Street will provide an excellent opportunity to site a landscaped entry monument. Landscaping and street trees along 1st Street and the railroad right-of-way will help provide a buffer to the railroad tracks and Arrow Highway and create a strong edge. The future parking structure will also help create a buffer and edge for this south side of campus. Finally, the Live Oak Channel and B Street need landscaping to provide a more attractive edge to the western side of campus. New fencing and canopy trees would greatly improve this important western edge.

Buildings

The University of La Verne campus is composed of a number of successive historical architectural styles. Early campus buildings were in the California style Ñ stucco walls, red tile roofs, classical detailing. Interspersed with these structures are vernacular style structures Ñ consisting of wood framing and simple detailing. In the fifties, more institutional brick buildings were the style. New structures proposed for the campus should take cues from this historic mix to blend with and highlight these architectural styles.

Several architectural characteristics are common to ULV campus buildings. Typically, they consist of simple flat facades, punctuated by stone trim or highlights. Light-colored stucco or the traditional red brick are the most common finish materials. Roofs are characteristically pitched, usually with red tile roofing materials. Overhangs are often clipped and insubstantial. Colors, textures and details should complement the historic campus. New materials may be introduced, but should reflect the scale, style, rhythm, color and texture of the historic architecture.

The University of is committed to environmentally appropriate design. In this spirit, new buildings must make use of natural daylight and ventilation. Energyefficient electrical fixtures and mechanical systems with computerized control systems must be utilized. Materials should be attractive and durable, with characteristics of long life-cycle durability and low-embodied energy.Where possible, the use of locally obtained materials should be encouraged.

The University will continue to use the Historic Preservation Guidelines put forth in the Lordsburg Specific Plan as well as other historic preservation standards that apply to existing buildings to be renovated on campus.

Using Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Standards for all new buildings will reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts. These standards are administered by the U.S. Green Building Council. Making use of LEED criteria during programming and design can greatly improve the performance of future buildings. Actually having the buildings certified will provide recognition that they meet these standards. Although there are costs associated with LEED Certification, they are more than offset by lowered operating costs. Operating costs over the life-cycle of buildings now amount to more than the initial construction costs. Consequently, there is a substantial payback for ÒGreen Building.Ó In addition to creating healthier environments Green Buildings are consistent with the Mission of the University of La Verne Master Plan and can enhance productivity and provide educational value.

The ÒSavings-by-DesignÓ and other incentive programs administered by Southern California Edison provide the University with rebates and other financial incentives to save energy. Other Buy Downs and grants are available for implementing ÒGreen BuildingÓ guidelines. Making use of these programs offered in the public interest can help the University create a healthier and more sustainable campus. Not only will this reduce ongoing operating costs but it will help attract and retain quality students, faculty and staff.

Landscape

University campuses are a unique and prized element in the American landscape.The opportunity exists in a well-designed campus to widely display excellence in landscape design and horticultural practices. A successful campus landscape is made up of innovative and coherent landscape design, state-of-the-art horticultural practices, and sensitivity to the unique ecosystem of the campus locale.

Trees are the basic underpinnings of a successful campus landscape. Every effort should be made to protect and maintain campus heritage trees. Coherent tree plantings help maintain the human scale of the campus, enhance pedestrian ways and provide shade and visual interest. Street tree plantings, as mentioned previously, help define campus edges and draw visitors into the campus. Tree canopies also enhance the microclimate.

Every capital improvement project must include a landscape component. Excellent planting design helps maintain human scale for the campus, helps establish safe outdoor use areas, and reinforces the historical continuity of the campus. A campus planting scheme helps make the campus a special place, with visually interesting variety in color and textures, with carefully thought out variety in seasonal change. Furthermore, the City and University should coordinate public street landscape design to establish strong links between Old Town and the campus.

The University of La Verne specifically is committed to water-conserving, locally adapted planting schemes. Utilizing California natives and Mediterranean plantings should be a campus priority. The landscape should be sustainable and attractive, relating to the natural history of the region. Irrigation should be water conserving, with automatic control programming for seasonal variation utilizing moisture sensors or weather data. Pruning and trimming should be minimized to achieve the most natural forms for plantings. Composting and mulching should be an integral part of landscape management practices.

Utility Infrastructure Element

Information Infrastructure Element

Planning and Design Guidelines

Maps