Division of Continuing Education - UCI, California

The Division of Continuing Education Building, formerly known as UNEX, is recently one of UCI’s LEED Platinum certified projects. This landscape concept presents an interesting and challenging hierarchy of diverse outdoor spaces. The design encompasses a major circulation access along Peltason Drive with its series of ramps and a pedestrian bridge nestled along a green corridor of mature Pines and Araucaria trees to the West. The landscape green to the north is a homogeneous blend of mature deciduous and evergreen trees that screen and buffer the Student Affairs Building, parking and utilities. The area to the East provides a secondary access/circulation edge along Adobe Circle Road. The south access adjoins a new parking area providing additional parking spaces. The interior courtyard was designed as a major plaza amenity for outdoor study, public events and pedestrian respite. It incorporated landscape to visually soften, screen and provide seasonal variety while blending with the adjacent landscape. The diverse selection of native and/or drought tolerant plant palette blends seamlessly with the existing surrounding landscape consistent with the University’s “Green and Gold” sustainability guidelines. The low flow irrigation system was designed to aid in water conservation reduce maintenance costs.