Tenaya Towers at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Geffen Hall at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) were recognized by the AIA California Council in the 2018 Design Awards. The program recognizes exemplary architecture that reflects thoughtful, sustainable, innovative, and well-crafted design. Both Tenaya Towers and Geffen Hall received a Merit Award.
The Tenaya Towers are part of the master plan SOM developed for student housing on the UCSB campus. The two parallel, six-story buildings total 105,000 square feet and define a central plaza. Living areas open onto balconies that overlook the plaza, while bedrooms are situated away from outdoor activity. Study lounges and recreation rooms are centrally located to support academic and social life. The towers also include a convenience store that serves the university and surrounding community.
Geffen Hall serves as a gateway for the David Geffen School of Medicine and the UCLA campus as a whole. The 88,000-square-foot facility incorporates planning and design that supports the most current technologies, innovative teaching styles, and greater connections between students, faculty, and the broader community.