Emerson College

The Los Angeles Center at Emerson College is a dramatic 10-story 125,000 square foot superstructure that takes the shape of an open cube with two residential towers surrounding a glazed academic pavilion. This hybrid classroom and residence hall also includes retail facilities, administrative spaces, student rooms, faculty apartments, multipurpose performance and audio/visual teaching spaces; along with a 3-level, 120,000 square foot basement carpark.

Brought on in the early stages of the architectural concept, we undertook sunlight path analysis and massing studies to assist the architects in determining the optimum arrangement for the building program to avoid overshadowing and excessive solar gain.

We conducted solar and daylighting analysis, along with optimizing facades and implementing MEP solutions based on the use of chilled beams in both the faculty building and dormitories to provide heating and cooling in an efficient and cost effective solution. Engineers placed the central plant on 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; therefore, improving floorplate efficiency and maximizing usable square footage. As the project progresses, we will continue to provide mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineering to this Morphosis designed structure.

The facility will support the Emerson internship program that seeks to link its rising, graduate talent with the Entertainment Industry in Los Angeles. Upon completion in 2012, Los Angeles Center at Emerson College will achieve LEED Silver certification.

• 10-story 125,000 SF
• Sophisticated hydronic heating and cooling system
• Computerized building management system
• Roof photovoltaic system
• LEED Platinum

Related Disciplines

• Building services engineering