University of California – San Diego | Goeddel Family Technology Sandbox

Igniting Discovery and Technological Advancements

The Goeddel Family Technology Sandbox is a cutting-edge facility that brings together scientists, students, and advanced research technologies from diverse disciplines to drive life sciences innovation. Located on the newly renovated first floor of historic Bonner Hall, this central hub provides state-of-the-art tools like next-generation sequencing, mass spectrometry, and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). By offering these resources in one place, the Sandbox empowers researchers to make groundbreaking discoveries and accelerates advancements in fields such as neuroscience, plant biology, bacterial cell biology, and CRISPR technology.

HGA’s renovation of Bonner Hall was crucial in creating a space where graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty can collaborate across disciplines. The design considered the coastal environment, ensuring optimal laboratory conditions by closely monitoring envelope integrity, hazardous materials safety, bio-safety levels, humidity, and environmental controls.

Before UCSD was officially founded in 1968, it established its roots in San Diego in 1912 with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Bonner Hall, one of the original campus buildings, now houses the Goeddel Family Technology Sandbox. The retrofit of Bonner Hall preserves the historic research community and enhances collaboration by bringing together disparate elements of the biology department’s Correlative Light Electron Microscopy (CLEM) research into a centralized location. This consolidation, along with the integration of cutting-edge technology, fosters collaboration and innovation.

The project aligns with campus-wide sustainability goals and is designed for LEED Silver Certification.