We knew the new business school building was going to be green, but we didn’t realize it would be this green. Now that the basic foundation is nearing completion, more detailed plans for the new Darla Moore School of Business have been released.
The plans are ambitious. Not only is USC striving for LEED Platinum certification, they hope to achieve a Net Zero energy use rating as well, which means the building must generate as much energy as it consumes. Complete with light-maximizing architecture, open-air pavilions and gardens, natural heating and cooling structures and even rainwater collection systems, we might as well be studying in the rain forest.
But hugging trees isn’t the only thing the new business building is doing for the community. Throughout the construction process, the Moore School has made sure to incorporate local construction companies and minority-owned businesses, creating more than 1,600 jobs in South Carolina.
There’s no doubt that we’re impressed. Not only is this a great investment for the future of the Moore School and all of USC, this project is proof that an institution can hold profit-driven and capitalistic values while keeping sustainability and social welfare high on its priority list. While we so frequently condemn the university for frittering away its funds, this is one example of USC putting its money to good use.
We hope the Moore School does end up achieving its lofty goals and setting a new standard for universities around the country. However, even if it falls a little short, USC has already taken huge steps forward. And for that, we give them props.
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