The UC San Diego’s Antonio Hall was designed to blend in with the surrounding environment. (Rendering courtesy Perkins & Will
The unusual shape of the building was also used to better integrate with the existing topography.
Ryan Bussard (design principal at Perkins & Will) said that it is quite unique in its location. It was once a parking lot. The parking lot was at the top of the mesa, which presented challenges.
Bussard stated that we made the building compact and centered it to maximize the site’s potential.
Bussard explained that the advantage of this was that we could take the outer zones around the structure to create a habitat on the site’s edges that is more compatible with the canyon itself.
A Working Building
The 186,000-square foot building will house UC San Diego’s Jacobs School of Engineering. It also includes 11 research spaces that are designed for collaboration, collectively known as collaboratories.
The building also includes a flexible meeting space, an auditorium that seats 275, flexible meeting spaces, classrooms for students, a caf, faculty offices, and workstations.
Bussard stated that the structure of this building was built to be a teaching tool for students of engineering school. Many mechanical systems have been exposed so students can see their operation.
Bussard stated that it allows students to see how the building works. This building is an engineering building. It is a hardworking building.
Connecting
The building was named in honor of Franklin Antonio, who co-founded Qualcomm in 1974. He received a bachelors degree from UC San Diego and donated $30 million to the building’s construction.
Bussard stated that Antonio Hall is located at the edge of a canyon, near the intersection of Voight Drive, Engineer Lane. It is intended to be a model for the restoration of native habitat.
Perkins & Will collaborated with the California Coastal Commission to design the landscaping and lighting for Antonio Hall.
The landscaping design included a transition zone that is near the canyon with the same kind of native plant as the adjacent canyon. Bussard also mentioned that there was an area that is closer to the building that contains native plants and what he called native adaptive plants. These plants are plants that aren’t native to San Diego, but are very similar to those that can be found in the canyon. They are also drought resistant.
Bussard explained that the idea is to make it seem like the canyon is wrapping around and essentially inhabiting this site. The canyon side shows the building as a glassy, open structure.
Bussard explained that you are always within sight of the campus and can look back at nature and the canyons beyond.
A four-story glass-faced Atrium connects the building to the outside world. It is located where the butterfly wings meet.
Bussard stated that it not only increases collaboration but also allows people to see beyond the building.
It creates this kind a living room for researchers and students.
The atrium features a large spiral staircase that encourages interaction between students, faculty, and researchers. Bussard explained that the staircase has been made large so that people can cross it.
Wood finishes are used in the interior to create a sense of connection to the outside world.
A Better Environment Fit
The building’s skin includes a series vertical solar shades that extend to its full height and are angled to reduce solar gain.
Bussard stated that the goal was to create a building skin that was connected to the campus as well as the canyon.
The roof is covered by solar panels.
There are two courtyards in the building: a southern courtyard facing inward towards the rest of campus and a northern one with terracing facing the canyon.
The overall project consisted of completing one end for pedestrian and bicycle paths that meander through campus.
Bussard stated that UC San Diego committed from the beginning to making Antonio Hall a model for how buildings can better integrate with the environment.
It opens up many more design possibilities. Bussard suggests that you think about the site with an eye beyond the structure and a focus on how people enjoy the surroundings.
Perkins & Will
Chicago headquarters
San Diego Office: Little Italy
CEO: Phil Harrison
Business: architects
Employees: 2,600
Website:
Contact: 619-353-5670
Notable: Perkins & Will, which is based out of Lebanon, is a subsidiary Dar Al-Handasah.