UCSB San Joaquin Apartments Project Opens for Fall Quarter
The San Joaquin Apartments Project at UC Santa Barbara is now complete and welcomed students as they returned to school on September 25th. Harper Construction acted as the Construction Manager at Risk for the project which consisted of two new residential complexes and a dining commons facility. The multi building project consisted of four different architecture firms, creating a vibrant new community around the existing Santa Catalina Apartment Towers. Overall, 1,026 new beds were added to on-campus housing for the university, providing a new state of the art facility for the west side of campus.
Two six-story, poured in place towers make up one zone of the new residential areas. The Gateway Towers consist of suite style living units that will accommodate undergraduate students. Each suite includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. It also includes several single units for RA’s. Students and community members of west campus will be able to purchase basic groceries and pre-packaged meals at the convenience store located on the first floor of the North tower. In addition, students will enjoy volleyball courts, common areas, and study lounges.
Sixteen wood framed buildings make up the North Village residential complex. Each suite comes with a fully equipped kitchen and has convenient access to nearby stand alone laundry rooms. There are also faculty units and RA units mixed into the four Clusters. North Village also provides students with recreational meeting areas and designated study lounges. The two and three story structures were designed around the courtyard space with overhead walkways connecting the buildings.
The Portola Dining Commons completes the residential community. While a loading dock, offices, and mechanical rooms make up the lower level of the dining facility, the upper level houses the kitchen, main dining room, walk-in refrigerators and freezers. The dining room includes indoor and outdoor seating which provide plenty of space for students to eat, study, and socialize. With all of the amenities of apartment living paired with the convenience of living on campus, the new San Joaquin Apartments will be a great addition to UC Santa Barbara’s housing system.
