University of California—Santa Cruz, Bay Tree Bookstore and Graduate Student Commons

Santa Cruz, California

Firm

EHDD Architecture

Client

University of California—Santa Cruz Office of Campus Facilities

Area

50,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$10,000,000

Completion Date

05/2001

Situated in the heart of the campus, this project was created as a focal point for student activities in an otherwise decentralized campus. The Bay Tree Bookstore is a 37,000-square-foot building that gracefully curves around hills and trees.
On the ground floor is the campus bookstore, a variety of small shops and public restrooms. The second floor houses additional books and related store offices. With a dedicated lobby at the plaza level, visitors can get to the third floor for student services or conference rooms. The exterior deck at the third floor, which continues along the length of the building, provides the opportunity to further an image of student life in the central plaza.
Directly across from the bookstore is the two-level, 6,700-square-foot Graduate Student Commons. This building contains a restaurant on the first level with rollup garage doors that allow students to dine outdoors. Upstairs, the graduate students enjoy private study rooms, a spacious lounge with a fireplace, tables and comfortable furniture, along with offices that support their student organizations.