Our “living laboratory” design for the University of California, Merced 2020 Campus Expansion has won the prestigious Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Americas Awards of Excellence 2023 as well as achieving recognition in the Low-Carbon Development category. 

UC Merced is the youngest campus in the University of California’s 10-campus system and the first North American research university to be established in the 21st century. After designing the university’s original master plan in 2002, SOM was selected to lead the 2020 project to nearly double the campus footprint. 

Upon completion, UC Merced became the first public research university to reach carbon neutrality in the United States, and eleven of the project structures have since achieved LEED Platinum certification.

The project is the largest public-private partnership (P3) social infrastructure project in U.S. history and supports the University of California’s mission, to train the next generation of climate leaders and to make this education equitable. Nearly 75% of UC Merced undergraduate students are first-generation college students, and more than half of undergraduates come from low-income families.

The project will now proceed to the ULI Global Awards for Excellence.