North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood

UC San Diego
La Jolla, CA

The North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood (NTPLLN) is an 11-acre interdisciplinary environment blending academic, residential, commercial, and cultural programming. At 1.6M SF, the complex is the most ambitious in UC San Diego’s architecturally acclaimed history, and it fulfills the school’s pioneering vision for a vibrant, barrier-breaking community that anticipates and accommodates consistent annual enrollment increases and exemplifies sustainable design. It’s a new and transformative environment in which students, staff, and visitors are provided an immersive experience through a variety of programming extending well beyond academics.

The NTPLLN provides a new home for Sixth College with over 2,048 student beds in multiple mixed-use/residential structures. New Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences Public Engagement buildings are connected via classroom-containing bridges, collectively creating the Ridge Walk Academic Center (RWAC). Now the largest lecture hall on campus, The Jeannie is a 17,323 SF, 600-seat, stand-alone auditorium. Additional features include a public Craft Center, 9000 SF of ground floor retail, a market, extensive outdoor spaces, pedestrian and bike-friendly pathways, green plazas, with several options for dining and recreation.

In collaboration with HKS Architects, OJB Landscape Architecture, and Clark Construction

Client: University of California San Diego
Completion: 2020
Size: 11 acres / 644,000 assignable SF / 1,441,000 GSF
Certifications: LEED Platinum-targeted
  • Fast Company: Innovation by Design Award Finalist
  • Associated General Contractors: Building San Diego: Merit Award (Building Construction Public Work)
  • 2021 CMAA Project Achievement Award, Buildings Greater than $25M
  • ASID: Outcome of Design Award: Optimizer
  • NACUFS: Loyal E. Horton NACUFS Award – Gold
  • Southern California Development Forum: Design Award: Educational
  • US Green Building Council: Merit Award: Built – Most Efficient EUI
  • 2022 AIA California Design Award, Special Commendation: Design for Discovery
  • AIA 2023 COTE Top Ten Awards
  • USGBC San Diego: Registered LEED BD+C Merit Award
  • San Diego Architectural Foundation: 2021 Orchid Award