In today’s evolving higher education landscape, institutions are increasingly prioritizing wellness and resilience. Universities are embracing trends like net-zero energy buildings, regenerative water systems, and biophilic design to combat increasingly severe weather and enhance student well-being. Hillside Gateway at CSULB is at the center of these trends. Designed for the Living Building Challenge standards, this project not only aligns with the university’s climate action plan but also sets a new benchmark for long-term resilience and inclusivity on campus.

Hillside Gateway is an all-electric, high-performance building that integrates renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, and biophilic landscapes. Key features include a bifacial solar canopy generating 105% of energy needs, a net-positive water strategy using reclaimed water, 100% Red List-free materials, daylight-optimized interiors with operable windows, and resilient landscaping. Through extensive stakeholder engagement, we aligned sustainability goals, integrated educational components, and secured funding for long-term resilience strategies, including a campus-wide purple pipe extension for reclaimed water use.

The project exceeded expectations, achieving net-positive energy and zero net water, enhancing student well-being, and influencing CSU policies on sustainable design. Hillside Gateway sets a benchmark for carbon-neutral academic spaces and has become a showcase for how high-performance design can deliver tangible benefits. The building has lower operating costs and has been the model for a campus-wide shift toward sustainability.