UCSC Chooses Sustainability
Beautiful Pathways
At the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC,) the Coastal Science Campus covers 100 acres, and encompasses several buildings that play significant roles in the university’s Coastal Sustainability Initiative. GraniteCrete paving outside the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, UC Santa Cruz.
The Coastal Sustainability Initiative addresses various environmental issues with a focus on the health of coastal ecosystems around the world. At the Coastal Science Campus, some of the facilities that help with achieving this goal are the Joseph M. Long Marine Laboratory and its Seymour Marine Discovery Center, as well as the Coastal Biology Building that opened its doors in 2017.
The Coastal Biology Building is an impressive 40,000-square foot building designed by EHDD Architecture. It features various laboratories and offices to support both faculty and research. The building is equipped with a 125-foot seminar room, analytical labs, and a natural running seawater laboratory.
When designing the surrounding landscape, landscape architects Joni L. Janecki & Associates (JLJA) were careful to consider the substantial impact this project could have on the fragile ecosystem surrounding the project.
GraniteCrete was uniquely qualified to meet these concerns while offering a sustainable and lasting solution. JLJA chose GraniteCrete as a paving solution, and pushed for its inclusion for an 8-foot-wide walkway surrounding the Coastal Biology Building. The aesthetics of the walkway add to the natural beauty of the campus and the surrounding area.
Installation of the walkway was completed by Graniterock Construction Division. The ease of installation and quality of GraniteCrete’s Admixture was recognized by Graniterock installers: “Everyone loves it. It really holds up well.”