University of California, Irvine Verano Place Student Housing

Client: PCL Construction Services, Inc.

Location: Irvine, Ca

Landscape Architect: EPT Design

Out with the Old, In with the New and Green

When the University of California in Irvine decided it needed to replace its old graduate and family housing facilities built in 1976, they chose to build a 4 building housing complex and Childcare Facility, and  include as many sustainable practices as possible.  Their goal was to create a LEED Gold certified project, and in the process, created a beautiful, green living environment which will certainly aid them in their quest to recruit and retain graduate students.

The landscaping includes drought-tolerant plant material, sub-surface irrigation, cobble bio-retention basins for collection and processing of water from downspouts, and gravel-pave porous surface parking area which redirects water back into the environment.