Camarillo, CA - CSU Channel Islands (CI) invites the public to the groundbreaking of Sierra Hall – a three-story, cutting-edge science lab and instruction building and a model for green technology. Join CI President Richard R. Rush, faculty, staff, students and community friends on Friday, March 14, at 9 a.m., as the University embarks on its next important building project.

Located along the Central Mall at the corner of Los Angeles Avenue and Ventura Street, the 68,000-square-foot building will house CI’s growing programs in Anthropology, Computer Science, Geology, Environmental Science & Resource Management, Physics and Psychology. The new building was designed to meet each program’s needs, offering flexible, efficient instructional science lab spaces, Cloud-based computer labs, state-of-the-art multimode lecture halls and offices, and classrooms that support active and collaborative learning.

A roof garden terrace will provide an outdoor space for learning and gathering. The upper-level courtyard is being created with input from several academic programs that plan to use it as an outdoor instructional space with students.

The building meets LEED Gold and CALGreen Tier 2 standards – high ratings awarded by national and state certification systems that encourage the construction of energy and resource-efficient buildings. Sierra Hall’s innovative and sustainable design includes the use of recycled and renewable building materials, reclaimed water in toilets, and energy-efficient windows and lighting controls that make maximum use of daylight and shut off when rooms are unoccupied. These features earned it an $82,000 rebate from Southern California Edison and will make the building 28 percent more energy efficient than what is required by code.
Sierra Hall is scheduled for completion in summer of 2015. The $42.7 million project is being financed with lease revenue bonds – long-term bonds issued by the state of California to finance public improvements, including state office buildings, state universities, prisons, and food and agricultural facilities.

“We hope the community will join us to celebrate this milestone in CI’s evolution,” said President Rush. “With Sierra Hall’s highly innovative and responsive design, we expect to open up new teaching and learning opportunities for students and faculty.”

To attend the groundbreaking ceremony, please RSVP by March 7 to noheli.viramontes@csuci.edu or 805-437-3552. Light refreshments will be served. Once on campus, follow signs for complimentary event parking.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI’s Social Media.