Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies

The John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies, informally called LCRS, is a research facility at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) in Pomona, California, United States. Based on regenerative principles of sustainable design and sustainable agriculture the center offers both a minor and a Master of Science in Regenerative Studies. Masters theses generally consist of students researching and implementing an element or elements of sustainability through Regenerative (also known as Cradle to Cradle) principles.
Mission statement
Taken from LCRS website
"The mission of the Lyle Center is to advance the principles of environmentally sustainable living through education, research, demonstration and community outreach. The term "regenerative" describes processes that restore, renew or revitalize their own sources of energy and materials, creating sustainable systems that integrate the needs of society with the integrity of nature.
Located on 16 acres (6.5 ha) within the Cal Poly Pomona campus, the Center researches and demonstrates a wide array of regenerative strategies, including low-energy architecture, energy production technology, water treatment, organic agriculture, ecological restoration and sustainable community development.
The Center is administered by the College of Environmental Design, and offers a Master of Science in regenerative studies as well as a minor program at the undergraduate level. Faculty are drawn from departments across campus, creating a unique interdisciplinary learning space."
History
LCRS was conceptualized in the late 1970s by John T. Lyle, professor of landscape architecture from the university's College of Environmental Design. In 1992 the facility was built, and by 1994 the center housed 20 students for the first time.
Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Center was designed by Dougherty + Dougherty Architects, LLP in conjunction with a team of University Staff from an array of interdisciplinary Colleges and Programs on the campus. Other portions of the Center were designed by a local architecture and landscape firm, the Claremont Environmental Design Group (CEDG).
The center conducts numerous sustainable and agricultural practices, including photovoltaic cells, solar hot water cells, student community gardens, wind turbines, permaculture practices. Rooms are designed to moderate temperature and humidity with passive solar building design techniques, rather than unnecessary air conditioning. The buildings are primarily made of concrete, farmed cedar wood panels and metal roofs of copper.
In 2010, with the installation of a 210,000 kW hours CPV system by Amonix, the center became the first carbon neutral facility in the California State University system
The Center is currently managed by the Director, Kyle D. Brown, agroecologist Juan Araya, and staff that operate its demonstration and outreach programs.
Wildlife
The Center for Regenerative Studies serves as a home to much wildlife. The Center is located along the pacific flyway, providing a temporary home to many migrating birds, particularly waterfowl such as egrets and hooded mergansers. There are a number of small to medium sized mammals including squirrels, rabbits, and coyote that call this place home. It is not uncommon to see a coyote in the middle of the day due to the abundance of food and the philosophy of the welcoming of wildlife. Reptiles are encouraged as snakes keep gardens free of burrowing mammals. Lizards often utilize some of the natural heating elements employed at the center. The ponds at the center also are home to frogs as well as turtles. In recent years, though it is unclear where they had come from, many crawfish have found a home in the many ponds at the center. It is not uncommon to see crawfish walking around amidst the center away from ponds.

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