Mesa College Student Center
San Diego, CA

This proposal for the new Student Center at Mesa College envisions a dynamic hub for campus life, a place where students can gather, connect, and engage beyond the classroom. Central to the design is the creation of generous, flexible spaces that encourage informal interaction and foster a sense of community.

The 34,000 square foot facility brings together key student focused programs, including a library, dining hall, classrooms, meeting rooms, and exhibition areas. These elements are organized to support both structured academic activity and spontaneous social exchange, reinforcing the building’s role as a catalyst for campus culture.

At the heart of the design is a prominent main stair that connects the building’s two levels. More than just a circulation element, the stair acts as a spatial anchor—blurring the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, and offering a series of tiered seating and gathering areas along its exterior face. This sculptural feature not only links programmatic zones, but also welcomes students into the building, creating a lively threshold that invites pause, conversation, and connection.

Through a careful interplay of open space, natural light, and active program adjacencies, the Mesa College Student Center is designed to support the rhythms of daily student life, providing space to learn, relax, collaborate, and belong.