Project Description
The University of California San Diego Village at Torrey Pines East project increases the amount of high-end housing options for transfer students on the UCSD campus. The 237,900 square-foot project includes five residential buildings and two mixed-use student services buildings.The project provides accommodations for 807 students in five- and six-bed apartment-style units. The project also includes student meeting rooms, faculty office space, a student market, and a dining facility.
The project includes a mix of high-rise and low-rise buildings that are designed to encourage interactivity and take advantage of the area’s spectacular views and climate. The largest building is a 13-story concrete tower with 82 apartment units, maintenance shop, and interior bike storage area. The project’s four low-rise buildings, called eco-flats, include a total of 64 apartment units, laundry facility, and student meeting rooms. The eco-flats weave together with a series of cantilevered walkways that connect via exterior stairs and elevators. All buildings are connected by a common pedestrian walkway called The Strand that cuts diagonally between the structures.
The project’s other two buildings are steel structures consisting of approximately 13,500 square feet of dining, market, and faculty office space. These structures are designed to capitalize on features that draw students out into the public realm with a combination of vibrant architecture, ample day lighting through large storefront windows, and both indoor and outdoor seating areas.
Though the owner requested that the community earn LEED® Silver certification, the design team exceeded that and earned LEED Gold certification. By relying on the natural advantages of San Diego’s climate, as well as incorporating a thermal solar panel system, the design team set a sustainable goal without increasing the project budget.