East Campus, University of California, Santa Barbara, California
About this story
Four new buildings ranging from six to eight stories will provide 1,688 undergraduate beds across approximately 489,283 square feet. Staggered volumes extend the campus Science Walk into a shared landscaped quad and open pedestrian connections toward the coastline. The accommodation includes apartment-style units and traditional dormitories supported by lounges, study rooms, community kitchens and terraces. The project is designed to LEED BD+C New Construction Platinum standards.
Status and timeline
Designs were publicly revealed August 17, 2026. The development is the second phase of a campus housing expansion planned through 2029 and will replace Santa Rosa Hall, an adjacent surface parking lot and Ortega Dining Commons. A precise construction completion date was not stated in the announcement.
Design highlights
Stepped massing toward the ocean; self-shading facades and deep corner windows; earth-toned custom concrete masonry incorporating Santa Barbara sandstone; reflective corrugated-aluminum upper levels; operable windows and coastal cross-ventilation; all-electric systems, solar thermal hot water and stormwater bioretention.
