UC Davis West Village / Studio E Architects

Elevation - Courtesy of

Studio E Architects faced a compelling challenge when designing the first phase UC Davis West Village, which opened last October in ’s upper Central Valley.  Experiencing moderate winters, warm summers, prevailing winds and moderate rainfall within the heart of former agricultural fields, the new addition to UC Davis was to be a net-zero facility. Serving as the largest of its kind and a model for campus communities and environmentally conscious urbanism.  That is sustainable and community oriented.  The program required 123 units of student apartments in one, two and three-bedroom configurations, 45,000 square feet of ground level commercial space all of which would emulate the central park space in downtown Davis and become the heart of West Village.

Follow us after the break to see the sustainable solutions that Studio E Architects came up with!

Architecture City Guide: San Diego

This week our Architecture City Guide is headed to . It is home to the Salk Institute, one of ’s most well-known buildings, and Richard Neutra’s Airman’s Memorial Chapel. One could argue that these alone make a visit worth the trip. That said, we have put together a list of 12 great contemporary buildings that are also worth seeing. By limiting ourselves to 12 buildings we were not even able to include all the ones we have previously featured on our website. Take a look at our list and add to it in the comment section below.

Architecture City Guide: San Diego list and corresponding map after the break!

Housing & Dining Services Administration Building / Studio E Architects

© David Hewitt & Anne Garrison

Featuring a new 8,000 sqf main catering kitchen for the campus, the Housing & Dining Services Administration Building is home to UCSD’s Catering and Housing, Dining & Hospitality staff—here everything to do with food or housing on campus is handled. The project site is in the southwestern corner of the UCSD campus and sits on the western edge of campus. The building overlooks North Torrey Pines Road which is a major thoroughfare. The neighborhood across this road to the west is a mix of small scale housing and a church. On campus, the immediate neighbors are classrooms and laboratories to the north, a student dining commons to the east and a new residential complex now under construction to the south. The site was chosen in part because the catering operations could share the loading/drop off space with the student dining commons.

Architect: Studio E Architects
Location: North Torrey Pines Road, , , USA
Landscape Architect: IVY Landscape
General Contractor: Swinerton Incorporated
Project Area: 43,400 sqf
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: David Hewitt & Anne Garrison

High Tech High Chula Vista / Studio E Architects

© Jim Brady Architectural Photography

Designed by Studio E Architects, High Tech High School is a 45,000 sqf charter school for 450 students in ninth through twelfth grade, and a recent names as one of the COTE 2011 Top Ten Projects. The school is situated on an eight acre site in southeastern Chula Vista overlooking the Otay River Valley and Mexico to the south. The design of the school reflects the charter school’s emphasis on three fundamental values – transparency, community and sustainability. The school is a combination of modular and site built construction. Classes commenced in January 2009 hosting a diverse student body of 440 students who began pursuit of a unique ‘hands-on’ curriculum in an innovative building crafted to their needs.

Architect: Studio E Architects
Location: 1945 Discovery Falls Drive, Chula Vista, ,
Landscape Architect: IVY Landscape
General Contractor: Bycor General Contractors
Project Area: 61,445 sqf
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: Jim Brady Architectural Photography