2024 USGBC-CA Green Building Award
Merit - Energy/Operational Carbon
The Commons implemented energy efficiency measures that resulted in a 20% energy savings compared to the baseline (excluding renewable energy). In addition, the project includes a 72 kW rooftop solar photovoltaic array estimated to produce 140 MWh annually.
The building includes daylight harvesting photocells that allow for interior lights to be dimmed based on
outdoor lighting to further drive energy reduction and take advantage of Southern California’s natural
lighting. Window shades that cover the floor-to-ceiling windows along the third-floor event space are programmed to automatically lift and lower based on outdoor lighting and temperature. This feature allows for natural light to illuminate the space while the shade programming prevents heat gain, resulting
in decreased energy required to cool the space.
The project is enrolled in a demand response program through SoCal Edison to participate in peak-load
shaving during critical energy needs. Reductions up to 53 kW (or 10.5% of peak demand) are planned for
space cooling, pumps, and fans in the building. When a demand response event is issued, the Studio Lot Service Center (staffed 24/7) will dispatch a work order to implement the demand response sequence and
notify building occupants and visitors.
The project’s central chiller plant consists of high-efficiency magnetic bearing centrifugal chillers. In addition, the high-performance chillers are fitted with ultra-low GWP new-generation refrigerants which
have 1000-2000x less GWP than traditional refrigerants.
Finally, the aluminum veil that surrounds the building serves as a high-performance façade to reduce heat gain and glare while maximizing daylight availability.
It was decided early in project conception that The Commons (and The Campus Project at large) would incorporate sustainable design and environmental elements into the design and construction of the new
facilities. By having the goal of LEED Platinum certification to guide the teams on where to focus sustainability measures, the team was able to implement a variety of energy-saving measures during the
project’s design and construction.
The project engaged with energy consultants, architects, engineers, and sustainability experts to ensure
the integration of sustainability and environmental design was prioritized throughout the project.
During the project’s design, Comcast NBCUniversal made a public commitment to be Carbon Neutral by 2035 across Scope 1 and 2 emissions. This helped to further drive design and construction decisions that put us on track to reduce energy consumption and associated operational emissions in line with our carbon-neutral goal.
Enhanced commissioning was pursued for the project to ensure that the building continues to optimize at
peak performance on an ongoing basis.
The Commons and the adjacent One Universal office building comprise NBCUniversal’s “The Campus
Project” a newly transformed dynamic campus showcasing sustainability and environmental design. The Commons is under final construction review for LEED Platinum certification and on track to receive over 90 points, joining only three other projects in the United States that have scored above 90 under the BD+C rating system. One Universal is also on track for Platinum certification, making it one of the largest corporate offices to achieve LEED Platinum and positioning NBCUniversal as the first Hollywood studio to have a LEED Platinum building.
The Campus Project exemplifies a transformative approach to sustainable building design. Both buildings achieved over 20% energy reductions through efficiency measures described above including on-site solar, smart technology integration of daylight harvesting photocells, ultra-low GWP refrigerants, and demand
response strategies that showcase NBCUniversal’s commitment to intelligent energy management.
The Campus Project’s innovative building design includes a high-performance façade on both buildings to reduce embodied carbon emissions associated with the project while applying special engineering
attention to the thermal envelope to avoid heat gain and reduce cooling loads. A whole-building life cycle
assessment was completed for both buildings, with embodied carbon reductions of up to 22% through
low-carbon concrete optimization and a rigorous vetting process applied to the selection of building
materials.
Working with our waste-hauling partners, the project successfully reduced construction waste by over 90% and features operational waste reduction elements like three-stream bins and reusable dishware throughout the two facilities.
The Paseo and outdoor green spaces provide a heart for the campus and encourage outdoor gatherings to
foster a human-nature connection. Over 750 trees were planted during the construction project, including
a 3-acre preserved tree farm located in the southwest corner of the studio lot property. Recognizing the importance of tree diversity in a healthy urban forest, the project includes over 20 different tree and palm species all watered with 100% recycled water.
Our project represents a holistic approach to sustainable innovation, addressing energy efficiency,
embodied carbon, water conservation, waste management, and biodiversity. The Campus Project serves as an educational platform, raising awareness about sustainable practices among employees, talent, and visitors in the surrounding film and television community. We aim to inspire others to adopt similar initiatives and showcase what a sustainable studio lot can look like in Southern California and beyond.
Learn more: https://variety.com/2024/film/news/universal-film-studio-renovation-photos-1236158058/