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

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • University of Kansas Breaks Ground on Entrepreneurship Hub

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new KU Entrepreneurship Hub, according to university news. The Hub is part of the university’s School of Business and will include spaces for experiential learning and programming.

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.