the Desert Living Center (DLC) is a $40 Million facility on the 180-acre Springs Preserve campus. The 54,000 square foot center and 8 acres of gardens strive to create a unique sense of place while serving as a catalyst for individual and community change from being "in the desert" to being "of the desert." The center consists of five main buildings and a several small structures all integrated into the landscape and function as sustainable exhibits. Each building has different sustainable characteristics as to experiment with the effectiveness of the different design principles. The facility has obtained a LEED Platinum Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council