UC Irvine Oso Tower is LEED Platinum Certified

Date Posted: 07.28.2026

The new Oso Tower at University of California, Irvine has achieved LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This 89,100-square-foot student housing project transforms a former parking lot into a highly sustainable community hub and sets up the first piece of a planned ecological corridor connection between the San Joaquin Marsh to the west and Aldrich Park to the east. Inspired by the nearby marsh, a critical stopping place on a migratory pathway for hundreds of species of birds, the design balances site restoration and bird-safe principles with Fitwel-certified strategies for student health and wellbeing.

Energy: The all-electric building earned 17 of the 18 possible energy performance points, reducing energy use by 49.6% from the LEED baseline.
Water: Water efficient fixtures reduced indoor water use 48% from the LEED baseline. Outdoor irrigation water was reduced by 71% and 100% of the irrigation demand is met with reclaimed water from a municipal system.
Ecology: The project site was previously a paved parking lot with no greenfield area. Landscape design restored 43% of the site, with the building footprint included. Bioretention basins, flow-through planter boxes and Deeproot silva cells treat the 90th percentile of local rainfall events. To support bird-safe design, given the proximity near the marsh and ecosystem for birds, a 2” x 2” dot pattern is provided on the large glass areas of the central hub and study areas to balance safety with the important need for natural light and views. Ecologically sensitive plantings support habitat and shifting climate patterns.
Embodied Carbon: Leveraging a whole building life cycle assessment (LCA), upfront construction embodied carbon greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 34%. More than half of the embodied carbon reductions are attributed to lower carbon concrete mix procurement and low carbon rebar.

As the second UC Irvine housing complex to earn Fitwel certification — following Verano 8 — Oso Tower reflects the campus’s continued commitment to wellness-centered design. Universal accessibility, indoor air quality with CO2 sensors, healthy materials, active stairs and trail access support a health-positive experience for residents. Oso Tower is the first UC project to achieve the multifamily residential Fitwel standard (Verano 8 was certified under Fitwel’s community standard).

Overall, Oso Tower provides a healthier, more sustainable place for students to live — and helps equip them with wellness and environmental stewardship practices they can carry beyond campus housing.