+ ucla engineering i
Neil Hadley While at SPLA | San Diego, California+

SPLA collaborated with Coarchitects on the new Engineering I Building located at the heart of the campus along Portola Plaza a major pedestrian spine at the University of California, Los Angeles. The new facility had to be carefully sited between two existing buildings that were constructed in the 1950’s, as well as the existing Ackerman Student Union. Part of the project included realignment of the upper portion of Portola stairs, creating a canyon like effect planted with native California sycamores emphasizing the grade change, while creating an enhanced pedestrian environment. An entry forecourt with a series of brick seatwalls to match the building exterior, and a large open lawn area to the west provides areas for students and faculty to meet and hangout in the beautiful southern Californian climate.