CARB Opens New Southern California Headquarters to the Public

On Saturday, May 21, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will host an open house of its new state-of-the-art “green” Southern California Headquarters: Mary D. Nichols Campus in Riverside. Media and the public are invited to tour the facility from 2 – 5 p.m. as well as enjoy an electric zero-emission car Ride and Drive, interactive booths, a display of zero-emission trucks and buses, and the largest art collection dedicated to air quality.
 
What: Southern California Headquarters Public Open House
When: Saturday, May 21, 2022 from 2-5 p.m.
Where: California Air Resources Board Southern California Headquarters, Mary D. Nichols Campus, 4001 Iowa Ave., Riverside, CA 92507
*Public parking will be located at University of California, Riverside’s Lot 30 at 900 Martin Luther King Blvd., Riverside. A zero-emission shuttle will be provided to and from the event. Media parking will be located behind the facility.
Who: CARB Board Members, CARB Executive Officers, Riverside City and County Representatives
Visuals: Striking modern architecture, laboratory, VIPS, largest collection of public artworks focused on air quality, zero-emission car, truck and bus showcase, facility tour.

This world-class facility houses the newest advanced vehicle emissions testing laboratory in the world. The new headquarters and laboratory will enable CARB to continue its globally recognized research and achievements in reducing air pollution and fighting climate change over the coming decades. It is also an award-winning green building of the future and has earned environmental and sustainability accolades. The 19-acre campus offers emissions testing capabilities for cars, trucks and buses, motorcycles, small off-road engines and marine engines; an advanced chemistry lab; a 250-person auditorium; a media center; administrative space for 460 employees; and, the largest public artwork collection focused on air quality and climate change.

Background
The new facility replaces the aging Haagen-Smit Laboratory (HSL) in El Monte that served CARB for nearly 50 years. Advancements like the catalytic converter and the On-Board Diagnostic (Check Engine Light) system found on today’s vehicles were pioneered at HSL.

CARB’s new lab will be one of the premier vehicle emissions testing facilities in the world. It is equipped with the latest equipment to effectively serve current and future research and testing needs, and support CARB’s continued leadership in reducing emissions, providing cleaner air for public health and tackling climate change. With vehicle technologies rapidly changing, it can also accommodate new test methods for future generations of vehicles and ensure emissions compliance with increasingly stringent standards.

The new lab will accommodate testing for passenger cars, motorcycles, trucks and buses, lawn and garden equipment, small off-road engines and marine engines. A separate advanced chemistry laboratory allows researchers to carry out precise and accurate testing of vehicle fuels and evaporative analysis.

Sustainability drove the striking design and every detail of the campus. The facility achieves Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, meets or exceeds California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) Tier 2 standards, and is designed to meet zero net-energy (ZNE) performance. At 402,000 square feet, including high energy usage laboratories, it is designed to be the largest ZNE building in the United States. To achieve the highest levels of sustainability, the facility includes energy-saving methods such as chilled beam HVAC in the office areas; a building management system that monitors the building’s vital operations for problems and to maintain its “green” efficiency; and solar arrays throughout to supply at least 3.5 megawatts of electricity, among numerous other features.