San Bernardino Community College District's Crafton Hills College

Kinesiology, Health Education and Aquatics Complex

“We must be a leader as a campus to show not only do we care about our students. But our communities and their well-being. Through sustainable buildings, we help lead the transformation to a clean energy future.” — Dr. Kevin Horan, President, Crafton Hills College

“Sustainable infrastructure is an evolution, not a revolution. While establishing a healthier environment for students to study and thrive, we want Zero Net Energy solutions to be well-designed with operational sustainability in mind.” — Farrah Farzaneh, Director of SBCCD Facilities, Planning and Construction

A Sustainable and Zero-Net-Energy College Campus

In 2010, the San Bernardino Community College District created a formal sustainability plan for its campuses to follow and began implementing the concept of sustainable practices throughout the district. In 2018, the District then ventured into the design of zero-net-energy buildings on its campuses with the modernization of three small office/classroom buildings on the Crafton Hills College campus. Their Facilities Director was in charge to improve the building sustainability and energy efficiency as the improvements were in progress. Creating a partnership with Southern California Edison (SCE) was instrumental as SCE educated the District in the methodology of energy efficiency. In implementing the strategies that brought the building to zero net energy. The completion of the first building and understanding the basics of how to reduce energy use and achieve zero net energy targets were beneficial. The district team was off and running, setting their sights on achieving zero-net-energy campus-wide at the Crafton Hills College campus.

Crafton Hills College

Crafton Hills College embodies the District’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and energy efficiency. A sprawling campus tucked into the eastern end of the Inland Empire in San Bernardino County in the city of Yucaipa. It implements many of the sustainable strategies formalized within the District. The goal was to be a good model and good neighbor. The District collaborated with the City of Redlands to install a non-potable water pipeline connecting the irrigation system of the college to the City’s non-potable water supply. This has reduced the potable water usage of the college by 67 percent or 100 million gallons per year. Thus reducing the amount of potable water needed from the city water system and reducing the campus’s operational utility costs. Continuing efforts include reducing indoor potable water demand and outdoor water demand to alleviate the demand on the city water supply.

Stormwater runoff on the campus is directed into mitigating bioswales planted with California native flowering shrubs. The stormwater is then captured into large underground water detention systems, storing the water for irrigation needs rather than losing it. In keeping with the District’s sustainability goals, the landscape generally reflects the diverse native flora of the area surrounding the campus, incorporating decomposed granite pathways within the native landscape. The integration of water-wise native plants and the use of non-potable water for irrigation, reflect the District’s growing commitment to reduce its water use in the midst of ongoing drought.

A seven-acre solar farm is planted on the upper slopes of the campus. Also, equipped with a 140-panel solar array set in place. It produces onsite renewable energy that feeds 50–65 percent of the electrical energy needed for the Crafton Hills College campus, with an annual energy output of 2,956,000 kWh/year. In place since 2012, the panels are slated to be upgraded to new panels that will provide 95 percent of the total on-site electric consumption.

The Kinesiology, Health Education and Aquatics Complex, nestled into the hillside at the other end of the campus, focuses on the modernization of an existing building and a new addition. They contain fitness studios, offices, and an Aquatics Center. Powered by 100 percent renewable energy from the solar farm, the campus focused on reducing its carbon footprint with reusing the existing building and the new addition. Both buildings were blended into the existing structure using similar materials to create a seamless transition to the new space. Taking advantage of the hillside, the northern walls made of fully grouted concrete masonry units are largely buried in the earth. The exposed walls clad in masonry veneer with an air space in between. They create a large thermal mass that absorbs heat during the daytime and releases it slowly at night. Therefore, easing the loads on the building conditioning systems. Floor to ceiling windows on the south facade allow daylight into the building and accentuate the views to the different scenic points of the campus. The building is shaded by a massive, cantilevered steel roof utilizing a white single-ply roof membrane with a solar reflectance of 78. The glazing on the southern orientation warms the building during the winter months and the roof canopy blocks the summer sun’s glare, avoiding heat gain. Stationary fins march along the walkway at the common plaza; each fin angled in an easterly-westerly direction designed to prevent glare and heat gain into the interior spaces. This passive solar system creates natural light within the interior spaces while reducing the demand for artificial lighting and cooling. Interior finishes were selected for their alignment with the sustainability goals of the District. This included recycled rubber flooring at the fitness studios, renewable bamboo flooring at the yoga studios, and carbon-neutral linoleum flooring at the office areas. This is reflected of a careful selection process sensitive to the environment. Overall potable water use was reduced by 30 percent, of which at least 20 percent was achieved through low-flow toilets, waterless urinals, and electronic faucets. Within a campus of similarly sized buildings, this complex of three buildings boasts an EUI range of 30 to 60 compared to a 90-100 EUI range for most of the existing campus buildings. The Kinesiology, Health Education and Aquatics Complex was certified LEED Platinum at its completion.

Taking the concept of carbon-friendly and sustainability one step further through material re-use, the Aquatics Complex included a competition-level swimming pool. It originally was used in the Long Beach Olympic swimming trials in 2004. The City of Yucaipa purchased the modular pool originally built in Long Beach and gifted it to the college. These types of modular pools have been crafted from stainless steel and PVC materials. They have been proven to reduce GHG emissions by as much as 45 percent compared to a traditionally built concrete and tile pool. The pool was dismantled, relocated from Long Beach, and installed at the campus. It is also heated with energy captured by the solar thermal water heating system. This system can be located on the hills above the complex. Manually operated pool covers were installed once the pool was completed. This provides students with a sustainable aquatic and athletic complex.

San Bernardino Community College District is proud to have become the leader in southern California and role model for its campuses. To accomplish this, the District committed to achieving Zero Net Energy district-wide and by implementing a formal sustainability plan. The District began their journey with little formal knowledge and training in creating a sustainable and energy efficient environment. However, the willingness of their administrative team to collaborate with the utility companies in gaining the knowledge and skills needed. Their success was key to accomplishing the goals set by the District. Today, the District continues its commitment to creating a campus-wide culture of sustainability and energy efficiency. By continuing to do so, this will direct resources and implement design ingenuity towards the next evolution of sustainable, high-performance buildings for the campus.

The District’s Director of Facilities Planning, Farrah Farzaneh and the architectural design team gave insight into the new building and its use of sustainable elements.

What were the items that impressed you the most about the design of the building?

The design of the building is extremely efficient; the circulation patterns were carefully considered, and similar functions were clustered together to create a very efficient flow between workspaces. Operable windows to let in outside air and a lot of side windows let in natural light and create an airy feeling in the building.

At least 50 percent of wood-based materials are FSC certified, ensuring that products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. Materials are used with a recycled content of at least 20 percent. Recycled materials include steel, concrete, and wood products.

Were there any elements that were a surprise to the District after the completion of the building?

Installing a storm drain that is sustainable made the use of the soccer/track field limited in use. The physical constraints of the area once the storm drain was installed caused the soccer/track field to be smaller than regulation size. This was not a concern when it was installed years ago; however, it has become a concern because we want a regulation field to play soccer. We have learned it’s important to evaluate future priorities to guide our campuses in creating sustainable practices for the long term.

How was your district’s interface with the DSA and other agencies through the process of design and construction?

We had a great working relationship with the staff at the San Diego Regional Office as we went through the approval and construction process. DSA had recently implemented a newly created system of online tools and resources for its clients to facilitate both processes. The new system, along with the electronic submittal process for construction change approvals. This allowed us to submit and gain approvals quickly and achieve project close-out soon after the project was completed. The DSA field engineer, Scott Uyeda, was extremely helpful in the construction process, helping us resolve issues as they arose in a timely manner.

Is your district planning other energy efficient and green projects as you move forward from completing this project?

Our District has put together a formal sustainability plan to improve the overall sustainability and energy resources for our campuses. New high-efficiency HVAC units and LED lighting throughout will significantly contribute to sustainable and cost-effective energy usage. Additional smaller projects include projects on several campuses to add EV charging stations, solar energy, and an operational sustainability framework in retrofits and new construction. We are also in the process of designing a performing arts center complex for the Crafton Hills College campus that we anticipate will be certified LEED Zero.

Are you interested in finding out about creating a Sustainability Plan for your District? Read more about the San Bernardino Community College District’s Sustainability Plan in our next installment!

San Bernardino Community College District
Diana Rodriguez, Chancellor, San Bernardino Community College District
Jose Torres, Executive Vice Chancellor, San Bernardino Community College District
Farrah Farzaneh, Director of Facilities, Planning and Construction, San Bernardino Community College District 

Project Team
Architect: Steinberg Hart Architects
Landscape Architect: AHBE
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer: P2S, Inc.
Structural Engineer: Englekirk
Civil Engineer: Snipes Dye Associates
Contractor: Minako America Corporation dba Minco Construction

DSA: San Diego Regional Office
Building Final Cost:  $16,700,000
Building Square Footage:  7,529 Total Square Feet
Year Built:  Aquatics Center, 2010; Fitness Center and Dance Studio Addition, 2014