leed platinum seal

We are thrilled to announce that Henley Hall, the extraordinary new purpose-built home of the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) Institute for Energy Efficiency (IEE), has been awarded the U.S. Green Building Council’s 2021 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification. Henley Hall is a 49,900 GSF building that consists of both wet and dry labs, collaborative break-out spaces, conference rooms, a 124-seat lecture hall, and faculty and administrative offices. The structure of the three-story building is primarily concrete and steel in nature. One of the most unique features of this building is the three-story open-air atrium that will allow for ambient air flow throughout the primary public spaces on all three floors of the easterly wing. “We designed Henley Hall to be a very energy-efficient building from the ground up, there are many different features, from natural lighting and ventilation to optimum air handling in chemical labs. It is great to have that effort recognized.” said John Bowers, the Director of the Institute for Energy Efficiency. This certification recognizes numerous sustainability strategies and contributions that Henley Hall has put in place.
 
Home to the Institute for Energy Efficiency (IEE), an interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to cutting-edge science and technologies that support an energy-efficient and sustainable future, Henley Hall was designed in partnership with the architecture firm Kieran-Timberlake. The design reflects and supports the Institute’s mission, to develop breakthrough technologies that substantially save energy while advancing the standard of living worldwide.  The Institute’s energy efficiency research focuses on critical energy issues in three broad interdisciplinary themes: Smart Societal Infrastructure, Energy Efficient Computing and Communications, and the Food-Energy-Water Nexus. The results of these interdisciplinary research projects are changing the way we use energy, while concurrently educating and training a new generation of energy-aware and sustainability-aware scientists and technologists. The U.S. Green Building Council LEED designation is a globally recognized green building rating system, symbolizing sustainability achievement and leadership. This designation undoubtedly coincides with the mission of the Institute. Chancellor Henry Yang also recognizes this outstanding award, “Henley Hall is a reflection of UC Santa Barbara's commitment to energy efficiency, and our campus is thrilled that this state-of-the-art building has been nationally recognized for its innovative architectural design and superb sustainability. Such qualities are paramount to furthering our stature as a world-class research institute with cutting-edge facilities, teaching, and research. We are immensely grateful to donors Jeff and Judy Henley and Shawn and Brook Byers for their tremendous vision and generosity in making Henley Hall and these subsequent recognitions a reality for our campus." LEED Platinum is the top level of LEED certification recognizing Henley Hall’s exceptional environmentally friendly and sustainable design.