UC San Diego Supercomputer Center Expansion

The latest addition to the San Diego Supercomputer Center on University of California, San Diego’s picturesque La Jolla campus creates a highly collaborative environment for researchers who use cutting edge computer technology to advance the sciences.

To promote interaction among researchers, the design team broke each wing of the building into two halves, which share a core of common spaces. Each “research neighborhood” has its own labs, meeting rooms, and associated open office space in the center. However, double-height “interaction spaces” throughout the building interconnect two floors and feature ample daylight, views and soft seating. These casual, unassigned meeting spaces attract researchers out of their clusters, increase chances of interaction and mingling, and reinforce the team-based culture of the center.

The building is designed with a high-performance skin, naturally ventilated offices, daylighting, sun-shading, and high-efficiency mechanical systems. These sustainable strategies help it reduce energy use by 60%, achieve a LEED Silver rating and provide a healthy, collaborative environment for this world-class institution.