Kresge College Nature-Centric Innovation and Campus Revitalization
Chicago-based Studio Gang has expanded the University of California, Santa Cruz campus, revitalizing its spirit. The project draws inspiration from how fungi grow in nature, incorporating mass timber structures.
Kresge College was originally designed in the 1970s by Charles Moore and William Turnbull. Studio Gang’s founding partner, Jeanne Gang, aimed to add new qualities while preserving the “sense of place” of the original.The project houses a total of 213 units, consisting of 158 waterfronts and 55 independent floating homes. The foundations of the homes are built on waterproof concrete “bathtubs” (concrete pontoons) that sink half a meter below the water surface. The monolithic concrete structures are anchored to underwater piers or specially placed steel piles (mooring piles) with flexible cables and pipelines.
The project seeks to open the campus to students of all ability levels, embrace the surrounding natural ecology, and connect with the broader university community. It complements the original’s rectilinear lines with more organic curves and porous forms.
The expansion includes a total of four new buildings: a dining hall, academic common areas, and three new residential halls. The academic center features asymmetric protrusions from a core..
The arc-shaped residential buildings adapt to the sloped terrain, providing natural light and views to the rooms. The project also includes durability and environmental performance upgrades to the original buildings (e.g., Mayor’s Stand).
The project utilized prefabricated mass timber structures, which reduce its carbon footprint. Redwood siding was chosen for the exterior facades. Indoors, the exposed mass timber structure forms the ceiling surfaces. Large, floor-to-ceiling windows fill the interiors with natural light.
Passive design strategies minimize energy consumption. The shading provided by redwood trees reduces cooling loads. Operable windows enable passive cooling and natural ventilation.
Kresge’s historic runnel system was rehabilitated to direct, capture, and filter stormwater for reuse, reducing water demand. The project was designed as Net Zero Energy Ready and targets LEED Silver certification.
Interior spaces are designed for collaboration and interaction. The dining hall, academic areas, and residential common spaces encourage student gathering.
The project transforms the original pedestrian path into an accessible loop, strengthening the campus’s connection to the surrounding forest and other university areas.
The revitalized Kresge College Quad serves as the campus’s main gathering point. New buildings and landscaping are in harmony with campus pathways and natural trails.
Studio Gang, an international architecture firm, was founded in 1997 by Jeanne Gang. The firm focuses on ecology, community, and equity. Its design philosophy creates environmentally and socially responsible structures through biophilic principles and performance-driven solutions. Notable projects include Chicago’s Aqua Tower and New York’s Solar Carve building.
Project Credits
Name: Kresge College Expansion
Location: University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, USA
Architect: Studio Gang
General Contractor: Swinerton Builders
Planning Completion Year: 2019
Building Area: 11,612 m²
Site Area: 32,374 m²
Original College Architects: Charles Moore and William Turnbull (1970s)
Landscape Architect: CMG Landscape Architecture
Structural Engineer: Arup
MEP Engineer: Interface Engineering
Civil Engineer: Kimley-Horn
Sustainability Consultant: Arup
Photography: Iwan Baan, Jason O’Rear
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