North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood

Project Details

• Project Manager: Matthew Smith, (858) 246-1970
• Phase: Construction
• Executive Design Professional: HKS in association with Safdie Rabines Architects
• Contractor: Clark Construction
• Anticipated Completion: Fall 2020
• Location: West Campus Neighborhood (between Muir and Marshall Colleges)

Planning Study

As Sixth College's future home, the North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood is an important part of the Marshall/Sixth Colleges Planning Study that provides a framework to guide future development, open space, circulation and infrastructure improvements within the Marshall and Sixth neighborhood. The planning study assembles a collection of diverse places and development needs into one common vision, yet is intended to be flexible as needs and resources change over time.

Housing and Academic Support Space

The new Living and Learning Neighborhood buildings, varying in height up to 14 stories, will blend with the existing campus development and will provide:

• Approximately 2,000 new beds, resident facilities and support space for undergraduate students
• A new home for Sixth College
• New instruction and research space for departments and programs within the Divisions of Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities
• General assignment classrooms
• Residential life space for students and staff
• Ancillary maintenance and operational support space

Dining and Retail Space

Retail operations along Ridge Walk and the project promenade as well as Housing*Dining*Hospitality operated market and dining facilities will energize the neighborhood. The re-envisioned Craft Center will return to UC San Diego offering students, faculty, staff and local community members unique opportunities to connect, create and collaborate.

Open Space

Thoughtfully designed open space will provide places to socialize and relax as well as pedestrian and bike-friendly pathways. Landscape design will be consistent with campus sustainability goals, emphasizing drought tolerance.

As part of the open space improvements, Scholars Drive will be realigned to create a more comfortable and safe pedestrian and micro-mobility environment along Ridge Walk on the eastern neighborhood boundary.

Parking

The neighborhood will include an underground parking structure providing approximately 1,200 parking spaces – over 200 more parking spaces than former lots P207 and P208 provided.

Sustainability

UC San Diego is committed to meeting UC system-wide goals of achieving Leadership in Energy and Efficient Design (LEED) Silver Certification for all new buildings with North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood seeking to achieve a LEED Platinum rating. Innovative design elements, like an anaerobic digester, condensate capture systems and onsite photovoltaics, will help to achieve this goal. Learn more about UC San Diego's Green Building Program.

Project Timeline

Conceptual

Watch the video simulation or view conceptual images (PDF).

Craft Center Video

Progress Video

Drone site video from Dec. 9, 2019

Construction Schedule

Construction is well underway with new student housing expected to be move-in ready by Fall 2020. Key dates include:

• Building structures: June through December 2019
• Building envelop and finishes: March through July 2020
• Landscaping: July through August 2020

Normal constructions hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Any work performed outside these hours requires UC San Diego's prior approval.

Construction will not affect class schedules. However, to avoid potential delays, we encourage students, faculty and staff to familiarize themselves with new pedestrian routes, vehicle detours and alternate parking locations around the construction site.

Minimizing Noise and Dust

The campus takes steps to minimize construction-related noise. Campus Planning completed a study to identify common construction activities and confirm that they will be below acceptable thresholds identified by UC San Diego and the City of San Diego municipal noise ordinance. The campus monitors construction noise to ensure that ongoing activity does not exceed prescribed thresholds.

To minimize the amount of dust leaving the construction site, the contractor installed a screened perimeter fence to contain debris and hoses down dirt during excavation and other construction activities.

Logistics/Contractor Routes

Construction workers arrive at the Torrey Pines Gliderport parking area from 5:30–7 a.m. and take a shuttle to the construction site via Scholars Drive North to reduce the number of additional cars on North Torrey Pines Road. An afternoon shuttle transports workers back to the Gliderport from 3–7 p.m.

Trucking Routes

Expect to see construction deliveries, trucks, equipment and construction workers on North Torrey Pines Road. UC San Diego works with the City of San Diego and local residents to minimize traffic impacts.

• Trucks from the south exit I-5 at Gilman Drive and stage at Gilman.
• Trucks from the north exit I-5 at Genesee Avenue and travel along North Torrey Pines Road.
• See map

Surrounding Street Impacts

A portion of Muir College Drive is closed during construction to make new pedestrian and bicycle-friendly improvements. Individuals can use Ridge Walk and other designated pedestrian pathways east of Peterson Hall. Signage will also be placed strategically in the area to identify pedestrian and bicycle pathways.

Muir Lane will be closed intermittently during the project. Alternative routes to all buildings around the construction site will provide access for students, faculty, staff, deliveries and emergency vehicles.

Parking and Shuttle Routes

• Parking lots P206, P302 and P303 will remain open during construction. 
• Lot P508 will be closed June 17 through summer quarter 2019 to support critical utility work. 

Visit the Transportation Services website for parking alternatives and shuttle service updates. View live shuttle maps and arrival times.

The North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood Building Advisory Committee oversees  development of specific project details. It engages with project consultants and stakeholders and reviews and recommends academic facilities, undergraduate housing, amenities and support services to meet university needs. The committee includes:

Committee Chair
William Hodgkiss, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs

Members

• Tara Cameron, Director, Space Planning, Academic Affairs
• Cristina Della Coletta, Dean, Division of Arts and Humanities
• Dan Donoghue, Provost, Sixth College
• Ross Frank, Committee on Campus/Community Environment Representative
• Justin Huynh, Sixth College Student Council, Associated Students
• Hemlata Jhaveri, Executive Director, Housing, Dining & Hospitality
• Jason Kayne, Assistant Director, Building Services, Facilities Management
• Carol Padden, Dean, Division of Social Sciences
• Todd Pitman, Assistant Director, Physical Planning
• JR Romero, Senior Project Manager, Facilities Management
• Barbara Sawrey, Associate Vice Chancellor, Dean, Undergraduate Education
• Matthew Smith, Principal Architect, Capital Program Management
• Cristiana Winter, Assistant Director, Capital Planning

Capital Program Management shared information on the development of the North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood with the campus community through open houses, town halls, meetings, campus notices, email and social media. Efforts included:

• Project visioning sessions with the Divisions of Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences as well as Sixth College
• Establishment and engagement with the North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood Building Advisory Committee
• Engagement with various committees and groups including:
  • Planning Advisory Committee
  • Campus/Community Planning Committee
  • Committee on Campus & Community Environment
  • Academic and housing workgroups
  • Campus Long Range Development Plan Community Advisory Group