The University of San Diego’s new Student Life Pavilion is a striking four-story facility that blends the best of the campus’ Spanish Renaissance design with the latest in technology and “green” building techniques. Designed to take advantage of the region’s sunny Mediterranean climate, with rooftop views of Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean, it is a welcome addition to the public spaces in the San Diego community. The 55,000-square-foot pavilion is a comprehensive social center that includes state-of-the-art food services, including mini-themed restaurants featuring exhibition-style cooking by culinary academy certified chefs and a natural foods grocery store, along with formal and informal spaces for a variety of student, university and community activities. It has also been skillfully integrated with the existing student center next door. The pavilion’s façade is designed using the traditional elements of Spanish Renaissance design, animated with a series of balconies and terraces. The building’s signature features also include a copper dome which sits upon a tower. The central design feature of the upper two stories of the building is a two level arcaded patio for use by the students, offering new meeting and study spaces in a totally wireless environment. An entire floor is dedicated to student leadership with offices constructed in an open-space forum to allow for student interaction. The lower two floors of the building’s interior design are highlighted by a dramatic two story dining space which flows out to a plaza. The building design is integrated into the campus master plan via a thoughtful landscaping design which incorporates two public open spaces. The upper terrace unites the university center with the new pavilion and is highlighted by an outdoor arched arcade. The second open space is the “Plaza Mayor” which will serve as an entry plaza for the University as well as a major open space for campus functions; it is highlighted by a grand outdoor staircase to the upper terrace. The new facility is seeking the campus’ first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification and includes a variety of sustainable features such as reduced water and energy usage. With these “green friendly” features and inviting design, the Student Life Pavilion building and public plaza will create a new gateway for the campus that will be a source of campus and community pride.

Project Information

Project Address: 

5998 Alcala Park SD 92110

Project Owner/ Developer: 

University of San Diego

Owner Contact Name/ Email: 

harman@sandiego.edu

Project Architect/ Designer: 

The architect is Kevin Hom + Andrew Goldman Architects/New York and Architects Mosher Drew Watson Ferguson/San Diego, and the general contractor is Rudolph and Sletten.

Image