USD, Student Life Pavilion

The 16th Century Spanish Renaissance design of the Hahn University Center continues with its renovation and expansion into a new 50,000-square-foot Student Life Pavilion. The Student Life Pavilion serves as the hub for student life activities with a full-service dining area and greenhouse market as well as additional office space for student affairs, campus publications and campus clubs and organizations.

The main floor of the Student Life Pavilion connects to the Hahn University Center which will receive three additional dining areas, known collectively as La Gran Terraza. The renovation of Hahn consists of turning the existing Deli into a student lounge and converting the existing faculty/staff dining and existing serving area into a faculty staff bar/lounge. The project is phased so that the Student Life Pavilion was occupied prior to the renovation of the existing space.

The SLP offers a dozen different dining options, a full-service grocery store called Tu Mercado, a farmer’s market each Wednesday. Students have a dozen unique dining options representing American, Italian and Mexican cuisines as well as Vietnamese, Mediterranean, Chinese and Japanese offerings. There’s also a food station dedicated to showcasing a daily “Special Ingredient” to produce a uniquely creative entree.

The Tu Mercado offers fresh produce, bulk dry goods, dairy, meats, fish, a salad bar and ready-made meals. This full-service grocery store received the 2010 National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS) “Best in the Business” award for incorporating sustainable practices into their store.

Another food outlet is L’atelier, housed within Tu Mercado, which has a deli and also offers gelato, pastries, smoothies, espresso bar and prepared meals.

The mission of the Student Life Pavilion was to develop a sense of community on campus. The organization of the functions, spaces and progression were designed to implement the mission. The exterior activity spaces, plazas, arcades, and grand windows were designed to enhance the interaction opportunities between students. And technology that allows students to interact and connect in new and exciting ways. It will offer informal spaces day and night for social growth and active involvement in programs and activities including dining, meetings, and interaction with faculty.

"After 3 years of planning, almost 2 years of construction, going through 2 vice presidents, 2 directors of dining and auxiliary services, and receiving permitted drawings from the City of San Diego 8 weeks later than was expected, I am pleased to announce that the “Student Life Pavilion” has received a temporary permit to occupy certain portions of the building. This is 2 weeks ahead of our original schedule. I would like to thank the design team, construction team and the USD team for all their hard work to make this happen.” Roger Manion
Assistant Vice President/Facilities Management
University of San Diego

Specific features of the University of San Diego’s Student Life Pavilion include:

• Multiple natural food choices in the new dining area including numerous themed mini-restaurants.
• Food prepared to order at live action cooking stations.
• Live demonstrations and complimentary cooking classes offered in partnership with the Culinary Institute of America.
• “Tu Mercado” market, featuring a full grocery line including fresh produce, frozen foods and a tea and coffee bar.
• The first BioHitech system on a college campus. The system breaks down excess food scraps and converts it into water.
• New study spaces in a totally wireless environment with smart technology and videoconferencing options including “Tidebreak” areas where students can work together across common screens and their own laptops.
• An active game lounge, plus other common areas.
• Entire floor dedicated to Student Leadership with offices constructed in an open-space forum to allow for student interaction.
• Sustainability efforts throughout the facility, including herb and vegetable gardens, conveniently located on the rooftop; use of compostable flatware, cups and plates; 100 percent Styrofoam-free; tray-less eateries; and offerings of organic, Fair Trade and local foods and beverages.

An energy efficient building, the Student Life Pavilion is designed to be the university’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building and is seeking Gold-level certification. Several of the credits that were used to achieve the LEED Gold certification were requested by the students, including natural ventilation to the student organization offices.

The rooftop area has a number of environmentally conscious elements. Other green features of the pavilion include:

• natural ventilation with windows that open and an inner courtyard to promote air flow
• the use of recyclable or recycled materials such as carpeting
• a 40 percent reduction in water usage by low-flow water fixtures
• low-water plantings on the rooftop offering panoramic views of San Diego’s Mission Bay and Tecolote Canyon