UC San Diego has detailed campus design standards developed over more than 20 years of experience with systems and proven design solutions that work best for the overall operations and maintenance of the campus while balancing the capital cost and value provided to the community. The campus design standards are updated biannually. In addition, we strive to incorporate life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) which is a holistic approach to capital planning and design that considers the near- and long-term financial implications for a facility or project. For details, University of California Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) Guidelines.
The Building Standards Committee oversees the campus design standards and consists of more than 30 members who are subject matter experts in their respective areas. The committee also engages professional specification writers to assist in technical updates when necessary. If you are not a Building Standards Committee member and have questions or comments about our campus design standards, contact Walt Kanzler.
UC San Diego updates its Campus Seismic Safety Policy annually as required by the University of California Office of the President and the Seismic Advisory Board. For policy details, see Seismic Safety.
UC San Diego is committed to Sustainable Green Building Design and Construction. The University of California Sustainable Practices Policy outlines several requirements that have been implemented at UC San Diego for more than 15 years. The UC San Diego campus has almost 60 LEED certified buildings with several capital projects in progress that will increase our total to 70+ LEED certified buildings. Project Quality Management supports all capital project teams with the LEED certification process. Learn more about the LEED rating system, UC San Diego’s Green Building Program and our LEED projects.
The Project Quality Management team works with all campus capital project teams and third-party commissioning agents to support the Life Cycle Building Commissioning Process. This process ensures that all mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems as well as other architectural-related systems, such as access controls, roofing, elevators, etc., function and operate as designed upon project turnover. We also support the warranty work request process and project close out, along with our partners in Capital Program Management and Facilities Management. This effort ensures that all our projects perform as designed and meet our customers’ expectations.
UC San Diego has developed an In-House Architectural Design team to reduce project costs and to better serve our campus customers. The in-house architect’s primary goal is to develop a detailed project program and design based on the customer’s goals and needs. The architect is responsible for:
- Keeping customers informed of progress throughout the design process
- Scoping, planning and programming
- Developing designs for physical spaces to function per programming needs
- Selecting materials, finishes and aesthetic elements
- Managing outside design professionals (engineers, noise and vibration specialists, etc.)
- Obtaining design approvals from various university departments and committees
- Supporting the project as the lead designer during construction
- Providing follow-up service after occupancy as needed
Hourly Recharge Rates
- Principal Architect: $182
- Associate Architect: $173
UC San Diego welcomes students, faculty, staff and campus visitors who have disabilities and wish to participate in the academic endeavors, professional opportunities and campus events available in our community.
The existing campus has been developed over many years dating back to the early 1960’s. All our new buildings and renovations are built to meet the California Building Code, which has detailed requirements for accessibility. Many older buildings or campus areas that were designed and built before 1992 when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was adopted may have features that were not built to today’s more modern accessibility standards. Our campus implements various strategies to provide access to all.
Our team can assist in evaluating existing physical barriers or conditions that may not appear to be accessible. We work with the Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD) and Disability Counseling and Consulting (DCC) as well as Human Resources to review and evaluate potential barriers. If you are a student or staff member seeking assistance with access on campus, contact OSD at or DCC.
The Lab Renovation Working Group aims to understand where improvement is needed, identify where risks are greatest and recommend best practices through collaborative efforts between Operations Management and Capital Programs, Academic Affairs, Health Sciences and Scripps Institute for Oceanography, and others with the goal of achieving cost savings and greater efficiencies related to faculty recruitment lab renovation outcomes.
This working group is co-chaired by Adrienne Gallo from Academic Affairs and Walt Kanzler from Operations Management and Capital Programs. The group meets bimonthly and recommends initiatives or tasks to support the overall goals of the working group. Group members also implement initiatives as needed within their respective areas, including capital projects, academic lab planning and others to support the overall goals of the group.
Lab renovations in our existing buildings can pose significant challenges, including infrastructure limitations, code requirements and unique complex scientific experimental requirements. By focusing on close collaboration between all parties, including regular planning, sharing best practices and ongoing tracking of progress, we are seeking continuous improvement for these critical projects.
Some examples of our current recommendations and those that were implemented include:
- Updating Lab Renovation Design Guidelines
- Using subject matter experts to support early lab planning
- Collaborating across teams for space planning and infrastructure assessments