The Merced 2020 Project at the University of California, Merced, is a master-planned campus expansion project made possible by an international, award-winning public-private partnership that is unprecedented in higher education. The $1.3 billion project broke ground in 2016. Upon completion in fall 2020, the campus will have nearly doubled in size. Less than two years after breaking ground, phase one of the project opened in August 2018, with the delivery of a 600-seat dining pavilion, two mixed-use buildings that incorporate student housing, classrooms and open study space, a soccer field, and nearly 1,000 parking spaces.
From the Judges
University of California, Merced's Merced 2020 phase one opening serves as a great model for showcasing capital projects while still honoring the institutional mission and identity in relation to the larger community and region. The public-private partnership involved in the master-plan for this campus expansion heavily relied on the success of the university's ability to engage with multiple stakeholders. The inclusion of locally sourced food and ability to highlight the agricultural footprint of the region was really impressive and innovative.
Everything—from the dinner settings, reception details, and elements of lighting in conjunction with the theme used to generate excitement—modeled an approach that was thoughtful from start to finish. The efforts and results from social media outreach were well aligned with the objectives and successful in raising awareness for this young campus community.
