DISPLAY
Credit : 16x9
INSIDE , OUT
Design and Innovation Building will show what goes on inside .
BY MALINDA DANZIGER ’ 00
IN THE SUMMER OF 2021 , when you look through the tall windows of the forthcoming Design and Innovation Building , you ’ ll find groups of students making a mess . It will be loud , lively and disruptive , but that ’ s all part of the process . They will be leaning in and working hard , sketching , cutting , prototyping , wiring and rewiring , and finding a solution together . That ’ s what innovation is at UC San Diego , and it will soon on display front and center , right on the university ’ s newest doorstep .
“ The Design and Innovation Building will be a window into what ’ s happening on this campus , literally ,” says Joel King , UC San Diego ’ s campus architect . “ The building ’ s large glass windows and placement near the Blue Line station are meant to showcase what we ’ re all about . And even if you stay on the light rail , you ’ ll still see everything at eye-level as you glide by campus .”
The new 74,000-square-foot building will be an extension of the Structural and Mechanical Engineering building at the rim of Pepper Canyon , and will house metal and wood shops along with cutting-edge makerspaces providing 3D printers , laser cutters and hand tools . The upper two floors will offer additional project spaces and interdisciplinary offices , while a large multipurpose room overlooks the canyon below . Altogether , it will be a showcase of campus collaboration and creativity with students from visual arts , engineering , cognitive science and business working together to create , tinker , invite and discover .
From the outside , the building ’ s textured metal exterior and asymmetrical angles lend a kinetic composition that complements the energy of the surrounding area — with the light rail breezing past , a street café buzzing with community and an outdoor amphitheater to serve as relaxation or performance space . All of it leads to a new walkway to the center of campus , where students and visitors will experience the academic lectures , concerts and world-class theatrical performances UC San Diego is known for .
“ We intend for this campus to be a cultural destination ,” says King . “ When it ’ s complete , the Design and Innovation Building and surrounding area will welcome students and visitors and give a glimpse into the cutting-edge innovation that comes from how we think here . It will connect different disciplines , and serve as the heartbeat of UC San Diego — for current and future students , alumni , and the greater San Diego community .”
10 TRITON | SPRING 2019