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LaKretz Hall, UCLA’s first “green” building, was built on top of an existing wa

The completion of any construction project on campus is often more than enough cause for celebration. But as members of the Institute of Environment move into the new LaKretz Hall today, they will also be able to celebrate the first “green” building on campus.

Based on a voluntary, consensus-based national standard, a “green” specification denotes a building’s compliance with rigorous environmental standards.

“By creating LaKretz Hall with such a thoughtful approach to construction that ensures its green status, the building is a major step in our long-range commitment to environmental planning,” said Patricia O’Brien, executive dean of the UCLA College, in a statement.

The new three-story building, located in the South Campus Court of Sciences, will house lecture halls, seminar rooms, a conference center and the offices of UCLA’s Institute of Environment. It also sets a symbolic and concrete precedent for the university.

As UCLA’s first green building, LaKretz Hall acts as both a beacon of what future architects, designers and developers can strive for as well as a practical lesson in how to go about adhering to high environmental criteria.

“I think that the precedent is important and not only symbolic. The experience of going through certification with the Green Building Council is something you have to learn how to do. It’s not a simple checklist,” said Mary Nichols, director of the Institute of Environment.

The environmental regulations to which LaKretz Hall subscribes are all a part of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System, which assess both building performance and sustainability practices.

In tangible terms, the green classification means the building’s steel contains 80 percent recycled material, the interior and exterior lighting fixtures are meant to minimize impact on the nocturnal environment and a specialized air system supplies ventilation from the floor instead of ceiling thereby reducing electricity usage.

But perhaps one of the most spectacular elements of the building is its foundation.

“The first thing you need to remember is that it’s not sitting on earth, but on a 5-million-gallon water tank,” said John Sandbrook, special assistant to the UCLA College executive dean.

The concrete water tank, which was built before the LaKretz building, supplies chilled water to UCLA’s air conditioning system. The dual use of space – a cooling tank and the building’s foundation – was one of the main reasons LaKretz Hall garnered a green rating since it avoided the environmental impact of developing a new site.

The concept of encouraging new projects to be more green was adopted by the UC Board of Regents several years ago, but the real push for the LaKretz building came from its donor, Sandbrook said.

Morton LaKretz, from the Class of 1948, had indicated to the university that he had recently acquired funds from his sale of a commercial building and was interested in donating it to the school. He was also insistent on keeping the building environmentally friendly, Sandbrook said.

“LaKretz is one of the most humble people I’ve met and he was touched that he could give back to his alma mater in this way,” Sandbrook said.

The result was a $8.5 million project – $4 million donated by LaKretz – which was celebrated by chancellors and esteemed faculty at its dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony on June 10.

“The building will become not only the legacy of a loyal alumnus, but also a visible reminder of UCLA’s ongoing efforts toward sustainability,” said Chancellor Albert Carnesale at the ceremony, which also included a guest lecture by geography and physiology Professor Jared Diamond.