Those fences you'll soon see sprouting up around Jorgensen Laboratory are among the less classic signs of spring—and yet, they are very much a symbol of growth and rebirth. Now that the interior demolition of the building has been completed, with some 90 percent of the materials removed being reused or recycled, Jorgensen Lab's much-anticipated renovation is about to begin in earnest.
Once completed in spring of 2012, the building will house two of Caltech's key sustainability research efforts: the Resnick Institute and the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, or JCAP. The lab's structure and infrastructure will embody the sort of innovative work that will be done within its walls, with a low-energy plant design, building energy information systems, and exhibits showcasing Caltech's energy research.