How a Growing Campus Reached Carbon Neutrality in Record Time

In four years, UC Merced doubled in size and met its net-zero carbon goal ahead of schedule. That’s just the beginning.

Photo: Dave Burk © SOM
UC Merced’s cross country running team at sunrise. Photos: Dave Burk © SOM

Sustainable from the start

Defining the campus

Typical Central Valley buildings, like this rice mill and storage facility, provided a starting point for a locally-inspired architecture. Photo © alacatr
Central Plant at UC Merced. Photo © Tim Griffith

Designed to grow

Kolligian Library, designed by SOM in collaboration with Fernau + Hartman Architects. Photo © Cesar Rubio
Beneath the arcade of the Science and Engineering Building, designed by EHDD, with Kolligian Library seen across the quad. Photo © Cesar Rubio

Partnering up for impact

Photo: Dave Burk © SOM

Economies of scale

The Pavilion with Sustainability Research and Engineering Building beyond. Photo: Dave Burk © SOM

Broad horizons for the Valley, and beyond

Sustainability Research and Engineering Building. Photo: Dave Burk © SOM
Students in the Sustainability Research and Engineering Building. Photo: Dave Burk © SOM.

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We are a collective of architects, designers, engineers, and planners building a better future. To learn more, visit www.som.com.

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SOM

We are a collective of architects, designers, engineers, and planners building a better future. To learn more, visit www.som.com.