+ UCSD Academic Court
Neil Hadley While at SPLA | San Diego, California+

SPLA led a multidisciplinary consulting team to design a major public open space at the Jacobs School of Engineering on the UCSD campus. Work on the Academic Court began in 1999 when SPLA completed a Master Plan update for the Warren College Neighborhood that focused on the court and the three surrounding buildings. The main concept for the design of the court focused on the idea of physically and visually connecting each of the three engineering buildings’ front doors on the court to promote interaction amongst students and faculty of the various departments. SPLA also collaborated with artist Tim Hawkinson on the siting of his giant, 180-ton sculpture, “Bear,” in the courtyard, which is the latest addition to the UCSD Stuart Collection. The project has been nominated for a University of California open space award and received an ASLA Award of Honor by the San Diego ASLA Chapter in 2007.