Eleanor Roosevelt College, University of California, San Diego
Project Title
Eleanor Roosevelt College, University of California, San Diego
Alternate Titles
Camp Snoopy
Description
One of several residential colleges at the University of California, San Diego, Eleanor Roosevelt College (ERC) had been dispersed throughout the university; this project consolidates the college into a “campus within a campus,” with the goal of encouraging exploration and discovery.

Located on 11 acres overlooking the Pacific, the college deploys new building typologies and landscape areas in an array of spaces including residence halls, apartments, dining and meeting facilities, academic offices, computer labs, a five-level parking garage for 1000 cars, and the International House. The west side of ERC is organized around a campus green—an expanse of lawn intended as the school’s main outdoor congregating area, anchored on the north by the dining hall and flanked by residence halls and apartments. On the east side of the campus, a promenade—the principal pedestrian spine—is similarly bordered by housing and is partially roofed by bridges that contain apartments. This portion of the campus culminates in the Great Hall of the International House at the south end and, at the north end, the provost complex, which includes offices and classrooms.

Accommodating 450 students in residence halls and 740 students in apartments, ERC provides a variety of unit types, including flats and townhouses. These buildings have an earthquake resistant wood-framed structure. The exterior skin is a traditional three-coat stucco cladding, relieved with control joints at metal bands. Appropriate to the Southern California climate, the upper-level apartments enjoy roof terraces with ocean views. The lower levels feature sunken gardens, communal courtyards, and pedestrian streets.



Images on this page: 1 View across campus green looking north; 2 Exterior night view; 3 Interior view; 4 Site plan; 5 Rendering sketch

San Diego, California, United States of America

Timeline
between 1998 and 2003
Completion Date
Notes
Client: University of California, San Diego;

Size: 138,684 sq m (455,000 sq ft)

Cost: US $80 million;

Project Type
Creator
Safdie Architects
Rights:
© Safdie Architects. Explicit permission to use images is required. Contact the Communications Director at Safdie Architects (617.629.2100) for more information.