Plans for the new Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house in San Luis Obispo are targeting Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system.

Currently, the building is on track to become the first LEED-New Construction building in the city and is one of eight projects attempting to achieve LEED certification in San Luis Obispo County, said a spokesman for RRM Design Group, which designed the house.

The design was given high marks by both the city's Planning Commission and Architectural Review Commission and was unanimously approved by the City Council.

The new three-story, 8,830-square-foot building will include 16 bedrooms, an apartment for fraternity house parents and a library.

The building's orientation takes advantage of the southern exposure for daylighting as well as passive solar heating and natural ventilation.

Additional sustainable design features include photovoltaic and hot water solar panels on the roof, pervious pavers to minimize runoff, drought-tolerant landscaping, and building materials and finishes that minimize the project's “carbon footprint.”

The project connects with Cal Poly's learn-by-doing philosophy by offering both fraternity members and other Cal Poly students the opportunity to work with RRM on the LEED documentation and construction documents.

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