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The Village at UC Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA

Santa Cruz has always been a community based around ecological goals and sustainable living. UC Santa Cruz's master plan was no exception. The goal of the campus layout was to form multiple small communities within the university centered around the main campus to limit vehicular transportation and to promote a sense of community within these group-living spaces.

WMA's history with passive sustainable design made them a perfect candidate to design a new community on UCSC's campus. Similar to the other housing areas on campus, the village is made up of small community clusters comprised of 2-6 buildings centered around a shared patio space. The light-colored roofs have a high solar reflective index which minimizes the heat island effect reducing the need for air conditioning inside the buildings. Large windows with proper overhangs welcome in natural light without the intrusive glare of the sun's direct rays.

This housing project is nestled within a natural quarry on the lower east side of campus next to the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. On the north side, there is a large staircase leading back up to the main road to the bus stop frequently used by students to get around campus. WMA was mindful of this unique location to develop the site for the main utilities and natural drainage while keeping as much as possible of the natural landscape and wildlife undisturbed.

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