By Sarah Clow

As student housing is a growing part of the higher education design and construction conversation,听糖心少女 attended the Bisnow San Diego Student Housing & Higher Education Conference on May 13. The event brought together developers, university administrators, architects, and construction leaders, with a focus on balancing growth with affordability and changing听needs and听expecations听regarding听student experience. Across the board,听panelists听agreed that听institutions are rethinking听the traditional student housing model, and for many students next-generation housing options are听non-negotiable.听

Building For All 鈥� Balancing Housing Growth with Affordability听

There is a growing听student housing crisis in San Diego, where most universities can only guarantee housing for first- and second-year students. Panelists听were听candid about the structural barriers to building more attainable housing 鈥� and financing topped the list. When asked to听identify听the biggest hurdle 鈥� financing, land,听or approvals 鈥斕齨early every听panelist听pointed to听financing but also pointed听to strategies听for bringing costs down. Chief among them: increasing density.听听

Adding more beds to existing builds helps spread construction costs across more units, improving the economics of a project without sacrificing quality. Delivery methods also came up as a key lever, with progressive design-build highlighted as an effective tool for faster, more cost-efficient delivery.听

Panelists听noted a听distinct听shift in how institutions are thinking about the relationship between unit size and community space. Square footage per student is shrinking, while investment in recreation and amenity spaces is growing 鈥� a deliberate strategy to push students toward shared community while also keeping per-bed costs down. When asked听about must-have听amenities for higher education projects, panelists pointed to outdoor programmatic space and collaborative, community-focused interiors as essential.听

Speakers included:听Hemlata Jhaveri, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor at UC San Diego; Bob Schulz, University Architect and Associate VP of Real Estate at SDSU; Abbie Hawkins, VP of Development at The Michaels Organization; Lindsey Sielaff, Operations Manager at Hensel Phelps; Richard King, Principal at Gensler; and Lisa Norombaba, Executive Director of Wesley House.听

Panel 2: From Dorms to Destination 鈥� Redefining the Student Living Experience

Today鈥檚 students听value听quality over quantity, and the听student housing听industry is responding.听

The ongoing听shift toward wellness-focused design听is听bringing spas, fitness centers, relaxation spaces, and mental health-supportive environments听into student housing. Interestingly,听these offerings听are no longer听considered听amenities 鈥斕齮hey鈥檙e听expectations. Panelists noted that younger students are willing to trade square footage for higher-quality finishes and thoughtful design, a trend that is reshaping unit mix strategies toward smaller one- and two-bedroom configurations.听

Landscape and outdoor space took center stage, particularly in the Southern California context. Panelists from McCullough Landscape Architecture emphasized the growing importance of connection to nature, flexible outdoor听programming听and visibility 鈥� both for community building and for safety. Transparency and sightlines in outdoor spaces were called out as important design tools for creating environments where students feel secure.听

However, the panel pushed back on trend-chasing in amenity design. For example,听rather than听including a听golf simulator听鈥斕齛 shiny听amenity that听doesn鈥檛听hold long-term value听鈥斕齪anelists听emphasized听creating genuine 鈥渢hird spaces鈥� for socialization: areas that听aren鈥檛听over-programmed, allowing students to use them organically.听

Walkability and bike-ability also听emerged听as a priority, with several panelists听advocating for听pedestrian-focused campus design as a means of supporting both student health and affordability by reducing transportation costs.听

The panel also highlighted an interesting tension in the market: while many developers are moving toward smaller bed counts and higher-end amenities to attract students willing to pay a premium, San Diego Community College District is taking a different approach 鈥� building higher-density housing with fewer amenities to maximize access for lower-income students. Both strategies reflect the breadth of need in the market.听

On the technology and security front, panelists pointed to smart package and food delivery lockers as an increasingly expected feature 鈥� a practical response to the realities of how students live today.听

Finally, the Southern California advantage was hard to ignore. The indoor-outdoor lifestyle is a genuine differentiator in design, and solar energy adoption is accelerating. Core Spaces highlighted a project near UCSD where rooftop and parking structure solar arrays are expected to cover听the majority of听the building鈥檚 energy costs 鈥� a compelling case for sustainability as both a听values听play and a financial one.听

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• The听San Diego Community College District鈥檚听Saville Performing Arts Center Replacement project at San Diego City College听has moved into the schematic design phase.听
• The project will replace the existing Saville Theatre with a new performing arts facility of about听28,000 square feet听designed for academic programs and community use.听听
• Scope includes demolition, hazardous materials abatement, utility听relocation听and upgrades, plus site improvements including new walkways and ADA-compliant paths of travel.听
• The work is part of the Measure HH Bond Program, approved in November 2024, totaling听$3.5 billion.听

SAN DIEGO 鈥斕齌he Saville Theatre Replacement Project听at听, part of the district鈥檚 Measure HH Bond Program,听has听officially moved听from the programming phase into schematic design.听The project will replace the existing Saville Theatre with a new,听approximately 28,000-square-foot听performing arts facility designed to support academic programs and community use.

The new center will be a modern, flexible venue capable of accommodating a range of performances and events, supporting both campus programming and broader community use.听The听programming听process brought together听faculty听and听staff听members, who听joined the听Design-Build team of听听and听听for听a series of workshops and discussions听to help shape the project vision, offering insights on听instructional needs,听room configurations, and听how听to best听support teaching,听learning听and live performance.听听

Work听will include听the abatement, demolition, and removal of the existing Saville Theatre and the removal and replacement of associated site utilities and appurtenances in alignment with the campus鈥檚 Master Plan.听New construction of approximately 20,000 assignable square feet (ASF) includes a street-level lobby with Box Office, restrooms, and manager鈥檚 office. A听mew听main theatre will include 250鈥�350 seats, including stage, orchestra听pit听and control room as well as a scene shop and costume shop. Other support spaces include rehearsal rooms, recording/editing听spaces听and dance studios.听听

Planned exterior work also includes new walkways, sustainable landscaping and irrigation, signage听and ADA-compliant paths of travel听that will connect to a future outdoor听amphitheatre.听

鈥淲e are honored to continue our partnership with the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) on this important project,鈥� said Ryan Nessen,听Senior听Vice听President听and California听District听Manager, according to听a press release from Sundt Construction.听听

鈥淭his selection reflects the trust we have built over more than two decades and our commitment to delivering high-quality facilities that serve students and the broader community,鈥� Nessen听added.听

Measure HH, approved in November 2024, is a听$3.5 billion听bond program that will provide听state-of-the-art听educational facilities, address long-deferred maintenance needs, and support accessibility and equity across the district鈥檚 colleges.听

The project team also includes structural engineering firm KPFF, civil engineer Latitude 33, and mechanical and electrical engineer MA Engineers/Johnson Consulting Engineers.听

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What You Need to Know听

• Sundt Construction has started site preparation for the Albert Einstein Academy Charter High School facility in San Diego.听听

• Sundt described the project as a 96,000-gross-square-foot, five-story campus planned to serve about 800 students, with new construction听anticipated听to begin in summer 2026.听

• The 85,000-square-foot adaptive reuse听project听centers on a light-filled atrium intended to function as a vertical student听commons.听听

• Albert Einstein Academies鈥� board previously postponed the school鈥檚 opening to fall 2027, citing supply chain delays.听

Learn More听

SAN DIEGO 鈥斕齋undt Construction has started work on the Albert Einstein Academy Charter High School project in San Diego, moving into early site preparation ahead of new construction expected later this year.听听

鈥淏reaking ground on this project is an exciting milestone.听We鈥檙e听proud to help create an environment that will support students鈥� growth,听curiosity听and future success,鈥� said John Messick, Sundt project director, according to听.听

In its announcement, Sundt said the future campus is planned as a听96,000-gross-square-foot,听five-story听facility designed to support International Baccalaureate instruction and the academic progression of Albert Einstein Academy鈥檚 middle years program students. Once complete, the high school is expected to serve听approximately 800 students, Sundt said.听听

Planned spaces include 25 classrooms and workrooms, a library, central circulation and collaboration areas, administrative offices, a multipurpose room, food service and culinary classrooms, fitness, dance and weight rooms, a music room and a 200-seat auditorium, according to Sundt. The contractor said the first phase is focused on site preparation, including abatement and removal of the existing building, with new construction anticipated to begin in summer 2026. The adaptive reuse project will be听organized听around a central, light-filled atrium that serves as a vertical听student听commons. It will include听flexible collaboration zones, quiet study听areas听and outdoor learning balconies intended to give students more choice in how they learn and connect.听

Civic听and activity-based programs are planned for the first two stories to allow easier access for community members. The primary community hub and main entry are planned for level three at street level, while classrooms, labs and other academic instruction spaces are planned for the two upper levels.听听

Separately, the Albert Einstein Academies Board of Trustees announced that it postponed the opening of Albert Einstein Academy Charter High School. 鈥淥riginally scheduled to open in Fall 2026, the new high school will now open in听fall 2027,鈥� according to听. The charter operator cited supply chain delays affecting construction materials.听

The听school will听ultimately reach听800 students听in grades 9鈥�12 in the听2029鈥�2030听academic year.听

Sundt听has supported San Diego Unified School District across multiple K-12 facilities, including current and recent work at Hardy Elementary School, Canyon Hills High School, Marston Middle听School听and Morse High School.听

This article is based on information published by Sundt Construction, DLR Group and Albert Einstein Academies.听

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SANTEE, Calif.鈥擳he Grossmont Union High School District has added a new building whose instruction will be devoted specifically to guiding students interested in the healthcare professions. A previous building for adult education on the site was deemed structurally unsound, and thus needed to be replaced due to Southern California鈥檚 seismically active environment. The new building fits within the footprint of the previous structure.

The Health Occupations Center Building will feature medical training laboratories that will accurately simulate scenarios students could eventually face in real healthcare settings. The facility will offer courses and certifications such as dental assistant, certified nursing assistant, pharmacy tech, vocational nursing, phlebotomy as well as a more intensive course leading to an EMT certification.

With nearly 20,000 square feet of space, the $6.58 million building will offer classrooms and support spaces in addition to the laboratories. The architectural design also features an exterior breezeway.

The Health Occupations Center Building was designed by architect HED and built by general contractor Conan Construction.

Said Barbara Brock, vocational nurse and instructor at HOC: 鈥淭he new labs will help us to achieve our mission which is to provide affordable quality education for those interested in employment preparation, skill advancement, and/or personal fulfillment in health-related fields.鈥�

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SAN DIEGO 鈥� San Diego State University (SDSU) has plans for a proposed Mission Valley campus that envisions a vibrant, mixed-use, medium-density development that is transit-oriented 鈥� and expands the university鈥檚 educational, research, entrepreneurial, and technology transfer programs.

SDSU Mission Valley will provide SDSU with the opportunity to build a world class university research and innovation district just three trolley stops from the main campus. It will allow for SDSU to grow and serve more students, as well as increase its economic impact on the region. SDSU will also build a river park for all San Diegans to enjoy, along with housing, and a new multi-use stadium.

The project would include roughly 1.5 million square feet of campus/tech office space located adjacent to the stadium to activate the space and create an incubator-like feel to the area, as well as to provide modern facilities for SDSU鈥檚 internationally recognized researchers, consolidation of offices for faculty and staff, and homes for our interdisciplinary teams researching climate and sustainability, water scarcity and other critical topics. The expansion of community clinics in health and counseling will also provide more opportunities for community engagement.

鈥淭he buildings on campus will reflect the fact that it will be a place of collaboration between the academic and private sectors,鈥� said site plan consultant John Kratzer, president and CEO of JMI Realty. 鈥淲hile the plan remains a work-in-progress, we listened to the community and believe that this plan represents a balanced approach to the needs for active and passive recreational spaces as well as biological habitat.”

With the preservation of the River Park and expansion of green spaces planned throughout the Mission Valley site, the university鈥檚 site plan mirrors SDSU鈥檚 expanding commitment to sustainability, as evidenced by recently constructed LEED silver buildings on the main campus.

鈥淲e are committed to LEED silver or better for SDSU Mission Valley,鈥� said Kratzer.

SDSU envisions that just over 4,500 units be built to accommodate students, faculty, staff, as well as the general public. This housing will include townhomes, mid-rise and high-rise residential communities situated along various green belts and pocket parks located throughout the site.

After the siting and design of the plan area鈥檚 open and recreational spaces, trails, and River Park, the next priority was to sensitively locate an expandable 35,000-seat multiuse stadium. Located in the upper northwest corner of the site, the stadium would house Aztec football and accommodate professional soccer, as well as a multitude of other sporting and community events.

“These renderings really show how important high-quality open space is to us as a university,” said Robert Schulz, SDSU’s associate vice president of operations and the university’s architect. “I think the campus green space and parks are going to be a great resource to the community.”

SDSU intends to begin construction in 2020 on the San Diego River Park and a multi-use stadium, while preparing the site for further development. The stadium would be planned for completion in 2022, at which time SDSU would demolish the existing stadium and the remainder of the development can begin. The completion of the full project, including the campus research and innovation district, housing, and hotel and retail development, will be done in a phased rollout. SDSU鈥檚 current estimate is that it will take approximately 10-15 years for full build-out.

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The current campus is also located in San Francisco but the move to a former Wells Fargo office building, at 155 Fifth St. in the city’s South of Market district, will provide the school with a visual presence in the heart of the city.

“The new facility allows Pacific to strategically expand its footprint in San Francisco by providing a highly visible presence downtown,” said Pacific President Pamela Eibeck.

The university purchased the building for $47 million and plans to spend an additional $104 million on renovations for students and future businesses.

According to Eibeck, the school will occupy the top five stories of the building and the bottom two levels will be leased as premium office space.

After an extensive interview process, the San Francisco office of SmithGroupJJR was hired as the design lead in August 2011 to design the 395,000-square-foot school. San Francisco-based Plant Construction Co. is serving as the general contractor and Nova Partners, Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif., was hired for project management services.

The new school will accommodate 500 students in six programs and have more than 500 faculty and staff. The school will be designed to have a better layout for labs and clinics and will be easier for visitors and students to access via public transportation because of its close proximity to Bay Area Rapid Transportation stations.

“The new campus represents a significant investment in San Francisco, bringing new jobs, new economic activity and one of the top dental schools in the nation to the heart of our city,” said San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee in a statement.

The design team developed the building with the latest architectural innovations in order to cater to the mission and operations of the school.

“The potential is huge for us,” said Nader Nadershahi, executive associate dean for academic affairs in San Francisco. “It’ll give us state-of-the-art technology on site. The school has been recognized nationally as a leader in dental education, and this move allows it to stay in a leadership role.”

The school recently launched a fundraising program to cover $40 million that will be needed to pay for the new building after the previous school in the Pacific Heights neighborhood is sold.

The project is seeking to achieve a U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold Certification by targeting specific areas in design and construction including sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design.

The new school will house a complex program, with varied space types planned into a very large floor plan that will cause some obstacles for design teams. Wayfinding, circulation and daylighting are all challenges and opportunities to resolve, according to SmithGroupJJR.

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