Emerson College’s Los Angeles Center breaks ground in Hollywood

30/01/2012 Written by: David Herd No comments

The striking new Hollywood, California campus for Emerson College broke ground in December. Designed by Morphosis, this new 125,000ft² ten storey residential college is being built in the shadow of the world famous Hollywood sign at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Gordon Street, and will be constructed by Hathaway Dinwiddie. The project also includes an additional 120,000ft², three level basement parking garage.

From the early stages of design, Buro Happold, as MEP consultant, has supported Morphosis in developing this landmark project, including:

• Sun path analysis and massing studies to assist the determination of the best arrangement for the building program to avoid overshadowing and excessive solar gain
• Extensive solar gain analysis to support the optimization of the innovative architectural façade system
• System analysis concluding that a passive chilled beam system, combined with natural ventilation, will provide the most efficient and cost effective heating and cooling solution in the residential towers
• A central plant strategy that maximizes the floorplate efficiency on this dense urban site through the use of a mezzanine deck located in the basement to minimize the impact of plant space, along with cooling towers placed on the high-level bridge spanning the two residential towers
• Preparation of a comprehensive MEP BIM model

Upon completion in 2014, Los Angeles Center at Emerson College will achieve a minimum LEED Silver certification.