UC Merced has more construction work underway right now than any other time since the campus opened. The new buildings include space for everything from academics to athletics and housing.
Construction crews are working on multiple projects to make room for the more than five thousand students now enrolled.
The biggest project underway is a new student housing building that's scheduled to open next fall. It will provide about 500 beds, plus social space, including a game room and lounge.
Crews are also working on this new student activities and athletic center. It's next to the gym and will offer more weight room space, plus coaches' offices and meeting rooms.
Two more projects are expected to break ground soon, a student services building and a four story science and engineering building that will include a variety of research labs. But of course, all these projects come with a price.
Tom Lollini said, "We're going to have about $175 million worth of projects underway here within the next two months."
University officials say it has taken time to secure the necessary state and federal funding, but this is a good time to build because of reduced construction costs. And students already have more big ideas.
"I'd like to see a big stadium or maybe an aquatic center because it gets really hot here," said Roydel Yabut. "I'd like that to happen in the near future."
This university prides itself on being very green, and these new buildings are expected to meet the highest sustainability standards.
