UC Riverside was honored at the City of Riverside’s annual beautification awards for its new School of Business building, a recognition that underscores the university’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community engagement.

The new four-story building, which opened last fall, received the Sustainable Design & Innovation Award as part of the Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful Awards on Thursday, January 30. This recognition is especially meaningful, as the awards celebrate not only aesthetics but also forward-thinking approaches to design that benefit both the environment and the community.
 

The program, now in its 38th year, is sponsored by the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce and the City of Riverside’s public works department. Each year, the committee evaluates projects based on criteria such as architectural design, maintenance, landscaping, and long-term sustainability. By honoring significant buildings and projects across the city, the awards highlight efforts that enrich the local landscape and demonstrate civic pride.

The award was presented during Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson’s State of the City address, a gathering that brought together city leaders, business representatives, and community members. Accepting on behalf of the campus was Yunzeng Wang, dean of the School of Business.

“We are honored to receive this recognition of the School of Business’s beautiful new home, which has become a vibrant center for students, faculty, and staff,” Wang said. His words reflected the pride the campus feels in having a facility that matches the caliber of its programs and serves as a visible symbol of UCR’s growth and progress.

The 63,400-square-foot building includes modern classrooms, administrative and faculty offices, and a large auditorium designed to host lectures, conferences, and community events. The building provides the School of Business with a state-of-the-art environment that supports both teaching and research, while also offering students increased access to the resources they need as enrollment continues to grow rapidly.

In honoring the project, the chamber highlighted the building’s sustainable features, which demonstrate UCR’s leadership in environmental responsibility. Among these features are a 216-kilowatt solar array on the roof, which reduces reliance on nonrenewable energy; perforated metal fins along the windows, which reduce glare and limit heat gain; and drought-tolerant landscaping, which conserves water while maintaining an attractive exterior environment. These features not only lower the building’s environmental footprint but also provide long-term operational savings.

The building has earned LEED Platinum certification, the highest standard in green building design, making it the third structure on UCR’s campus to achieve this distinction. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized benchmark for sustainability, and Platinum status reflects a commitment to excellence in areas such as energy efficiency, water conservation, materials usage, and indoor environmental quality.

“All of this is thoughtfully designed with care to be at once both functional and beautiful,” said Jacqueline Norman, campus architect. Her statement captures the balance of utility and aesthetics that guided the project from conception to completion.

This recognition also continues a growing tradition of excellence at UC Riverside. It is the sixth consecutive year that UCR projects have been honored at the awards. Previous winners have included the School of Medicine Education Building II, the Student Health and Counseling Center, and the Student Success Center — each project further demonstrating the university’s dedication to creating facilities that enhance student experiences and contribute to the surrounding community.

By receiving this award, the new School of Business building stands as a landmark for UCR and for the city of Riverside, reflecting both institutions’ commitment to sustainable growth, innovation, and community pride.