University of California Irvine Mesa Court Expansion

A Vibrant Living-Learning Community

UC Irvine Mesa Court Towers

Irvine, CA

New Campus Heart

Three residential towers rise above an amenity-rich base, presenting a new vertical living paradigm for this growing campus. Dynamic living and gathering spaces are woven in staggered layers to create a new center of gravity for the Mesa Court neighborhood.

Community Life

At the ground level, a fresh food concept dining facility – complete with healthy menus, culinary classes, indoor-outdoor seating and a café – serves the 2,500-student neighborhood. Educational and recreation spaces are interspersed to create a vibrant nexus of student life around the clock.

Amplified Performance

The design incorporates natural ventilation, daylight harvesting, active renewable energy systems and sustainable site strategies to achieve LEED Platinum certification and exceed California Title 24 energy requirements by 30%. Exterior circulation, dining and active courtyards maximize usable space on the infill site, enhancing campus connectivity and student experience.

Client

University of California, Irvine

Overview

High-performance living-learning community incorporating residential, dining and educational programs

Program

1,009 student beds in a mix of triples and quads, 950-seat dining center plus 240 terrace seats, flexible classrooms and study rooms, fitness center, student center and lounges

Size

245,320 sf; 2.75 acres

Sustainable Metrics

LEED Platinum, Certified

Completion Date

2016

Services

Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture

Collaborators

Design-build project delivery in collaboration with Hensel Phelps

Awards

Contract Magazine 39th Annual Interiors Awards, Education, 2018

University of California Office of the President (UCOP) Best Practice Award, Overall Sustainable Design, 2017

ENR California Best Project Awards, Award of Merit, Higher Education/Research, 2017

Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Western Pacific Region Design-Build Awards, Regional Award, 2017

Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Western Pacific Region Design-Build Awards, Design Excellence Award, 2017

Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Project of the Year, 2017

Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) National Award of Excellence, Educational Facilities, 2017

Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), National Award of Merit, Educational Facilities, 2017

AIA Seattle Honor Awards, Merit Award, 2017

AIA Los Angeles Design Awards, COTE Honor Award, 2017

News & Ideas

UC Irvine Mesa Court Towers Opens to Freshmen

UC Irvine Mesa Court Expansion Tops Out

2017 Best Practices Case Study: UC Irvine Mesa Court Towers

Green Buildings Research Center, UC Berkeley

Interiors Awards 2018: Education

Contract

The Student Housing Boom: Design and Development Outlook

Urban Land

Two-story social lounges at the entrances of each residential floor help foster connections and community.

Common spaces extend students’ living environments beyond their rooms.

Mesa Court serves as a dynamic student life hub supporting the larger 2,500-student neighborhood with food service and access to amenities including athletic, social and academic spaces.

Common spaces extend students’ living environments beyond their rooms.

Mesa Court is the first set of campus housing towers designed in response to the University’s commitment to reduce its environmental footprint and need for affordable student housing.

A cutting-edge marché dining facility supports healthy lifestyles with fresh food venues, culinary classes and a coffee house with extended hours.

Three distinct tower identities help create a unique home for all students and enrich diversity on campus.

An expressive and transparent design presents a new spirit and style for freshman housing, supporting student recruitment.

The Mesa Court student housing project adds a new scale and density to an existing housing district comprised of smaller low-rise structures.

Amenities are located along a central pathway used by building residents and the campus community.

The building’s articulated facades add a modern aesthetic that responds to environmental influences and highlights student activities and program spaces.

A Vibrant Living-Learning Community

UC Irvine Mesa Court Towers