UCSC 2300 Delaware Satellite Research Center

From Plant to Place

On the Santa Cruz coast, plans for an entrepreneurial research hub take shape.

A Catalyst

UC Santa Cruz is transforming a former Texas Instruments manufacturing plant into a research center anchoring a burgeoning biotechnology hub. Located just a few miles from UCSC’s main campus, the Westside Research Park, part of the Baskin School of Engineering, will become a bridge between academia and the region’s technology start-ups. JENSEN worked with the university to develop a master plan and concept design for the center, organizing research, conference, and supporting facilities into a welcoming campus.

Creating Place

Within the plan, the repurposed manufacturing building remains the heart of the campus, while new buildings engage the street and frame a series of outdoor spaces where people can meet, gather or recharge. A conference center at the site’s west edge establishes a strong public presence for the center. At the east edge, a parking garage with level rather than sloped floors allows UCSC to adapt the structure for different uses, anticipating a future when more visitors will use the accompanying transit center instead of driving.

Green Gains

UC Santa Cruz’s deep commitment to achieving a carbon neutral University of California system by 2025 also informed the master plan. Conceptual studies seamlessly integrate an energy-producing micro-grid, locating photovoltaic panels, windmills, fuel cells, micro-turbines, and battery arrays unobtrusively into the architecture. Green roof terraces, an added biophilic amenity for researchers, help manage stormwater runoff and temper heat gain.

A Good Neighbor

Just as the center seeks to foster connections beyond academia, the campus’ design invites in the community. Corner plazas at the conference center and transit hub greet visitors day-to-day and become places of community when activated with food trucks and events. A network of open spaces and tree-lined allées offer places for recreation and regeneration. The entire site connects with Anotelli’s pond, a nature reserve and historical site, tied to an earlier chapter of the city’s economy.