The University of California Regents have approved designs and a budget for a UC Santa Barbara housing project that would provide 1,688 beds for students on campus.
Noozhawk reports that the university plans to demolish the existing Santa Rosa Residence Hall and replace it with a 412-bed hall and three new apartment buildings with 1,276 additional beds.
The project is part of UC Santa Barbara’s goal to add 3,500 new beds on campus under its 2010 Long Range Development Plan.
On-campus dining services also will be renovated so more students can be served.
Construction is set to start in summer 2026; the buildings are set to open in fall 2028. The project still has to be reviewed by the California Coastal Commission.
UC Santa Barbara Chancellor Dennis Assanis says that since the 2010 Long Range Development Plan was developed, enrollment has increased from 20,000 students to 25,000, but not enough new beds have been created to accommodate the growth.
The Regents approved a $566 million budget for preliminary plans, working drawings, construction, and equipment.
UC Santa Barbara is also working on the San Benito Housing Project, which will add 2,224 student beds in seven apartment-style buildings for undergraduates.
The university is building the new apartments and residential halls instead of the controversial Munger Hall project that would have had 3,500 students in a nine-story residence hall.
The Munger Hall plans were dropped after backlash from students, staff and local officials, who were concerned about overcrowding and safety because of the building’s size. Others criticized the building’s lack of windows and natural light.
