WESTCHESTER, CA – Today marks the first day of classes at Loyola Marymount University, and the first opportunity for engineering students here to explore the campuses’ state-of-the-art Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering.

The 103,000-square-foot facility is now officially home to LMU’s Life Sciences programs in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, environmental science, health and human sciences, science education and urban ecology.
According to the school’s website, the building was designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and break down the silos among the different areas of study. The new building includes 35 teaching and research laboratories, about 9,000 square feet of faculty research space, shared public spaces, conference rooms, a 292-fixed seat auditorium, and one dramatic green roof that will also provide research collaborative opportunities. Faculty and students from different disciplines will use the same research equipment and work side-by-side.
University officials say the building also highlights LMU’s commitment to sustainability. For example, more than 8,200 square feet of solar panels will generate 10 percent of the facility’s electricity.
Other innovative sustainability strategies — including low-flow plumbing fixtures and independent climate control installed by Xcel Mechanical Systems – demonstrate why the building is expected to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification.
The LMU Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering took about five years to complete and cost about $110 million to build. Located prominently on the bluff-top Westchester campus, it’s billed as the cornerstone of what will become the Seaver College Complex, including Pereira Hall for engineering and Seaver Hall for physics and mathematics.

About LMU Seaver
The Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering is committed to delivering science, engineering, and mathematics education to students through individual attention with emphasis on self-learning, service to society, and ethical behavior. Undergraduate students conduct sophisticated state-of-the-art research by working very closely with their professors and they participate in various undergraduate student research conferences and student design competitions. Graduate programs are offered in civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, in environmental science, in computer science, and in engineering management. The programs are directed to full-time working professionals, and are more applied than theoretical. A wealth of experience is brought into the classroom by LMU faculty and by utilizing part-time faculty from local industry. For more information, please visit: http://cse.lmu.edu/

About Xcel Mechanical Systems, Inc.
Xcel Mechanical Systems designs, builds and services commercial and industrial HVAC, Plumbing and Process Piping systems for clients across the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. Our cost-effective solutions make buildings more comfortable, energy efficient, and easier to manage. Our resume includes large-scale implementations across the Aerospace, Commercial, Data Center, Education, Entertainment, Government, and Healthcare sectors. For more information, please visit: www.xcelmech.com.