UC Merced Granite Pass Residence Hall

The 2020 Project is an excellent model of a sustainable Public-Private Partnership (P3) project that greatly improves campus life. Atelier Ten lead the sustainability effort for this ambitious project that nearly doubled the size of the campus with 11 new LEED Platinum buildings. The strategic massing scheme and pedestrian boardwalk surrounding UC Merced’s undergraduate residence hall contributes to campus’ open space network and enhances the environment of the walkable campus.

Located between UC Merced’s Little Lake Boardwalk and the Academic Walk, the project challenged the design team with creating an active destination for the campus community. Atelier Ten provided massing recommendations that increase thermal comfort within the building, provide shade and comfort for the external spaces and walkways that surround the building and accommodate views of the nearby lake. The building shades the Academic Walk, a pedestrian pathway that spans campus, and contributes to the richness of the pedestrian environment on campus.

The Granite Pass Residence Hall surpasses its sustainability goals, originally targeting LEED Gold certification, the project was certified LEED Platinum.
Exterior photo courtesy of webcor
To accommodate views of the lake from other parts of campus, the residential building’s massing drops from four stories to three and serves as a backdrop to the lake.