The 95,000-square-foot structure provides approximately 2,000 seats of classroom space, which includes five lecture halls, three classroom spaces for project-based learning, and 20 flexible discussion rooms. Each of the 32 classrooms and lecture halls is designed to seat between 30 and 350 students. The project also provides 1,700 new bicycle parking spaces to facilitate the widespread bike culture of the university. It is estimated that approximately 14,000 UCSB students and staff commute daily by bicycle when school is in session.
“The project is located in the middle of campus and required an early re-route of bicycle and pedestrian lanes, as well as planning for just-in-time deliveries in the early morning to keep clear of student traffic,” said Jeff Bara, Senior Project Manager at C.W. Driver Cos. “We worked closely with the university to develop off-site staging where delivery vehicles could enter the campus individually, therefore limiting the number of trucks on campus at any given time and minimizing the impact of construction on the community.”
Breezing through the middle of the pavilion is an open-air "street" space that serves as a corridor between the two major buildings. Exposed stairs and terraces receive sun and daylight throughout the day. Upper levels provide views of the campus, including Pardall Mall to the west, Library Mall to the north, and the ocean to the south. The facility is certified LEED Gold, and it will be powered exclusively by electricity with no natural gas usage.
The construction team working on this new facility received the Liberty Mutual Insurance Safety Commendation Gold Award from the University Controlled Insurance Program for their safety performance. C.W. Driver Companies collaborated with LMN Architects on the project.
