Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership has designed a building for the University of California at Santa Barbara that is one of a dozen to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. Toilets will flush with reclaimed water. The school is also planning to generate much of its own electricity with a fuel cell and photovoltaic tiles. Extensive use of recycled and renewable resources is being used in the construction of the building. Its carpets, ceiling tiles and insulation are made from recycled materials- even some floor tiles are made from old tires.
Office furniture is make from wheat husks and newspaper.
Even the landscaping around the building will consist of drought-tolerant native plants that will rely on reclaimed water for irrigation. When finished in 2002, the building will provide space for the university's programs in applied and quantitative ecology, earth systems sciences, environmental engineering, environmental microbiology and toxicology, and environmental policy and resource management. It will include faculty and administrative offices, research and teaching laboratories, and conference and seminar rooms. An open courtyard will be framed by the laboratory structure to the west and the office wings to the east. It will be accessible through two entry portals.