UC San Diego Starts Construction on 2,400-Bed Residential Complex

Local news reports that the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) will soon break ground on the Ridge Walk North Living and Learning Neighborhood, a four-building complex that will provide additional academic and residential facilities. Amenities are set to include capacity for 2,400 new beds for undergraduate students; 19 new classrooms and a lecture hall with 150 seats; space for collaboration, studying, and academic support; and administrative space for the university’s Thurgood Marshall College, Department of Economics, and the School of Global Policy and Strategy.

The project is part of a larger university goal to add about 5,700 new beds to campus by 2025. The other two planned projects are the Theatre District Living and Learning Neighborhood, which would house 2,000 undergraduates; and the Pepper Canyon West Living and Learning Neighborhood, which would add 1,300 single-occupancy spaces for transfer students and upper-division undergraduates.

The university is also set to break ground on a new student union for its La Jolla campus. Combined, the Ridge Walk North Living and Learning Neighborhood and the student union will cost about $1 billion, according to local news. The new union, called Triton Center, will add resources like student health and academic services, a 500-person event space, and an alumni and welcome center.

Local news reports that the university’s student population is estimated to increase by 7,000 during the next ten years. Once the three new residential villages are complete, the university would have space for 24,000 students to live on campus.

According to the university website, Ridge Walk will include student amenities like student dining, a fitness center, an eSports facility, a glass lab, and more. The university partnered with HMC/EYRC for the facility’s design and general contractor Hansel Phelps for its construction. It has an estimated completion date of fall 2025 and is aiming for a LEED Certification Goal of gold.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Longwood University Selects Builder for $73M Performing Arts Center

    Longwood University in Farmville, Va., recently announced that it has selected Swedish construction company Skanska as the builder of its new performing arts center, according to online news. The project involves the demolition of the current building and constructing a new, 64,500-square-foot facility.

  • sapling sprouting from a cracked stone

    Lessons in Resilience: Disaster Recovery in Our Schools

    Facility managers play a pivotal role in how well a school weathers and recovers from a crisis. Whether it's a hurricane, a flood, a tornado, or a man-made event, preparation determines resilience.

  • Photo courtesy of Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc.

    West Melbourne School for Science Completes Expansion Project

    The West Melbourne School for Science, which serves students grades PreK–6 in West Melbourne, Fla., recently completed a 12,450-square-foot elementary school expansion, according to a news release.

  • Creating Long-Term Sustainability on College Campuses Through Fair Student Housing

    The quality of student housing can have a significant impact on an individual’s college experience. Today’s higher education institutions face mounting challenges, including declining enrollment, low retention rates between the first and second years, and a rise in student mental health concerns. Thoughtfully designed living spaces can help address these issues by creating environments that promote both academic focus and personal well-being.

Digital Edition