A key element in the vision of Aggie Square is sustainability — a broad concept that encompasses and inspired the massive project’s design at all levels, from its use of all-electric energy sources down to the details of reducing the carbon footprint from transporting materials with the use of locally produced brick and glass envelope. The sustainability goals set by the University of California system are ambitious, and Aggie Square is poised to exceed them. 

ZGF Architects and mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering lead, Blake Coren, emphasized that Aggie Square’s high commitment to sustainability, rare in such a large commercial development, emerged from the partnership between developer Wexford Science and Technology and UC Davis, which had “significant sustainability goals” from the outset of the project.

“This is Wexford’s biggest project to date, and what’s really special about it is the partnership with UC Davis, which elevated the development from a design standpoint,” said Coren. “We’ve been able to bring a private-development client to this higher education standard of design.”

Aggie Square’s construction is outperforming UC sustainability standards in multiple ways, like the fact that the development is on track to achieve LEED gold status (UC standards call for silver), said Coren and Paul Erickson of Affiliated Engineers. 

Aggie Square’s all-electric energy source approach is unique in the country at the scale of this development. 

“I wouldn’t say it’s a unicorn of a building, but it is really the leading edge of what we're seeing nationally for complex buildings at this scale,” Erickson said.

Other innovative technical design elements increase energy efficiency and sustainability in ways carefully designed for Sacramento’s hot climate. The buildings use efficient heat pumps (rare in commercial buildings), exhaust air heat recovery, and cascading airflow for ventilation, saving 60% of water compared to typical lab buildings by omitting cooling towers. 

Sustainability, however, doesn’t come just in the form of technical specs, according to Coren: “When we think sustainability, I always like to think about user experience and equity. That's a really huge part of this project,” she said. 

Shared terraces, kitchens, and lab spaces promote collaboration, while the ground floor is open to the public. The central pedestrian square is designed for comfort in Sacramento's climate, with shade, seating, and a tree canopy made from mature, contract-grown trees. Porous hardscapes prevent runoff, and drought-tolerant native plants support urban forestry goals.

“We weren’t just selecting things that exist around the city now, but things that are also going to work with a changing climate into the future,” said Coren. That’s a true ground-up approach to sustainability — and a hallmark of Aggie Square’s thoughtful, integrated design.