UC San Diego Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) Building Renovation

At the University of San Diego’s Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) Building, a 10,000 SF renovation reimagines how students experience computer science education. The project’s defining move relocates the department’s server room, once central in the building’s first-floor space, into a new 2,900 SF basement data center with the power and network capacity to process the massive datasets behind modern AI and computing research, supporting the university’s growing AI degree programs as they expand. Dynamic in-rack cooling tied to the campus chilled water system replaces aging air conditioning units, delivering more efficient, sustainable performance. The design frees the original server room for a bold, human-centered purpose: improved circulation, a clarified student service point, a welcoming entry sequence, and a shared workstation model supporting hybrid faculty schedules. The student collaboration lounge features an art installation designed in collaboration with local partners, Tecture Architectural Fabrication. “The Glitch,” adds sculptural interest and beauty in colorful gradients with integrated fiber optic lighting to the new heart of the space. Grounded in measurable outcomes, the renovation gives students hands-on access to real-world computing infrastructure, and links CSE to campus-wide AI research initiatives. The project balances technical infrastructure needs with genuinely memorable, human-centered design—earning LEED Gold along the way.