CSU Monterey Bay Student Union

Weaving the Campus Together

Developed in collaboration with students, the Student Union creates a “home away from home” with facilities and amenities that will serve the campus for years to come. The three-story building includes a ballroom, meeting rooms, student study and leadership spaces, the Otter Cross Cultural Center, coffee kiosk, dining hall, bookstore, offices, outdoor terrace, meditation spaces, and informal gathering spaces.

The goal was to design an inclusive environment for a diverse student population and provide amenities that create a ‘living room atmosphere,’ where students can socialize, collaborate, and study under one roof—within an equitable and versatile backdrop for student life. The building siting captures sustainability best practices, maximizing natural daylighting and shading with a design that yields a symbiosis of indoor and outdoor gathering space and provides a welcoming transition from the Main Quad. Natural cross-ventilation opportunities were created by reducing the building depth and forming a “U” shape building footprint.