Eleanor Roosevelt College, California, USA

The Eleanor Roosevelt College, an undergraduate campus at University of California San Diego, creates a home for a college which had previously been spread throughout the campus, lacking a cohesive unity. The site is bound on the east by Ridge Walk, one of the University’s primary pedestrian thoroughfares, while Scholars Drive, a primary bus route, cuts the site in two.

The 450,000 square foot college includes residence halls, apartments, dining and meeting facilities, student lounges, academic offices, computer labs and a five-level parking garage for 1,000 cars. Main entry points to the campus are the Ridge Walk, on the northeast corner, and at the Great Hall on the southern edge.

© Timothy Hursley

The west side of the campus is organized around the Green, a large expanse of lawn intended as the campus’ main outdoor congregating area. The Green acts as the heart of the campus, anchored on the north by the Dining Hall and flanked by residence halls and apartments. A pedestrian bridge over Scholars Drive and a series of ramping and stepped walkways extending downhill through the site weave the two sides of the campus together. To preserve the site’s panoramic ocean views, buildings do not exceed four stories and step down the sloping site, and the parking garage is sunken.

The housing, which is all wood frame construction, includes space for 450 students in residence halls and 740 students in apartments, with a variety of unit types available including flats and townhouses. The Residence Halls are made up of 4-story buildings which flank the Green. The apartments, in suites of 4 students, include sizeable kitchens and living rooms; the lower levels with sunken gardens and upper levels with terraces.

Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Structural Engineer: Nabih Youssef Associates

MEP: ARUP

Civil Engineer: Flores Lund Consultants

Landscape: Wallace Roberts & Todd

Lighting: Robert Morrow

Project Area: 450,000 sqf

Photographs: Timothy Hursley

Architects: Safdie Rabines Architects and Moshe Safdie & Associates

Photo Gallery of Eleanor Roosevelt College, California, USA