The graduate housing complex at the University of California’s new Mission Bay campus provides students with an affordable yet comfortable option in the nation’s most expensive rental market. Indoor/outdoor courtyards, retail amenities, and a variety of well-appointed units enhance the inhabitants’ quality of life.

The project is composed of 431 units in four buildings — stepping up from seven to 15 stories — set around a landscaped courtyard. The four buildings are gathered around the central courtyard, which extends the campus network of outdoor rooms. To provide added convenience and enhance street-level activity, retail storefronts are positioned along the sun-filled plaza.

Although designed on an aggressive budget to provide below-market-rate housing for the university community, the project includes many amenities. In addition to the landscaped garden courtyards and community rooms, the efficient design allows for a variety of well-appointed units, generous layouts, and bay views.