At University of California, Berkeley, a new exhibition and symposium documents the first 20 years of University of California, Merced—from its initial planning through its evolution into the first triple net-zero research university in North America.

“From the Ground Up: Building UC Merced” is an exhibition hosted by the University of California, Berkeley, that explores the design, planning, and evolution of the University of California’s newest campus. The exhibit will be on display at Bauer Wurster Hall Gallery and will be accompanied by a public symposium on January 29, 2026, marking UC Merced’s 20th anniversary.

SOM Partner Michael Duncan will participate in the symposium, which brings together key leaders, designers, and collaborators to reflect on the ideas and decisions that shaped the campus and continue to guide its future.

SOM has been an active partner with both UC Berkeley and UC Merced campuses for decades, with more recent collaborations including UC Berkeley’s Grimes Engineering Center and UC Merced’s 2020 Campus Expansion. Developed to serve an underserved, predominately Hispanic/Latino population of California’s Central Valley, UC Merced has been recognized as the most sustainable campus in the country, the first U.S. research university to achieve net-zero carbon, energy, and waste. 

The exhibition is open now until February 21, 2026, in Bauer Wurster Hall Gallery, and the symposium takes place on January 29.