What’s New on Campus? Fall 2022 Campus Updates

Much has changed on UC San Diego’s campus since the end of Spring Quarter 2022. From the opening of new buildings to the increase of parking rates, we report on several of these updates below.

$180 Million Engineering Center opens to the public

Franklin Antonio Hall near Warren College held its grand opening on September 23. At the heart of the $180 million hall are 13 research facilities dubbed “collaboratories” where faculty and students from a variety of disciplines can work together. Research teams will work in fields such as smart transportation, digital security, and precision medicine. The building also contains a 250-seat auditorium and two 100-seat classrooms along with indoor and outdoor study spaces for students.

Consortium Holdings rebrands Uncle Italian as Izakaya Underbelly

Consortium Holdings, a hospitality group founded by UCSD alumnus Arsalun Tafazoli, opened Izakaya Underbelly in the Old Student Center on September 26. Izakaya Underbelly is an extension of the North Park and Little Italy Underbelly locations, serving an expanded menu of ramen, katsu sandos, and Japanese-style small plates, according to Eater San Diego. This is the second time Consortium Holdings has rebranded its UCSD location, which first opened in 2019 as Soda & Swine until it was rebranded to Uncle Italian in 2021. Izakaya Underbelly is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is located at 105 Eucalyptus Grove Lane.

Geisel Library holds ribbon-cutting for renovated second floor

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on September 27 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the opening of the newly renovated second (main) floor of Geisel Library. Library goers can now experience a drastically improved entrance with clearer corridors and simplified access to library services. A new Service Hub, an Active Learning Classroom, a central “meet spot,” exhibit spaces, a gender-neutral restroom, and a lactation room have all been added while preserving the READ/WRITE/THINK/DREAM Stuart Collection installation. UCSD students, staff, and faculty also now have access to additional space within the 24/5 Overnight Study Commons.

Epstein Family Amphitheater to open with series of concerts and events

The Epstein Family Amphitheater is scheduled to open with a series of events from October 20 through 23. The open-air amphitheater will showcase performances and events and will also function as an open park and informal gathering space. The opening weekend will kick off on October 20 with free workouts and other activities hosted by UCSD Recreation. Performances by NIKI, the San Diego Symphony, and Death Cab for Cutie with Yo La Tengo will follow in the evenings of Thursday through Saturday. A community marketplace and film night will close out the celebration on Sunday. Visitors are encouraged to take the trolley as the amphitheater is conveniently located just west of UCSD’s Central Campus Station. For more information and to buy tickets, see the amphitheater website.

Eighth College now included in college ranking section of UC application

Theatre District Living and Learning Neighborhood (TDLLN) is expected to be move-in ready by Fall 2023, meaning prospective students can now rank Eighth College in their UC application. The general education requirements for Eighth College are expected to consist of four engagement/writing-intensive courses and nine alternative/elective courses. The engagement courses will center around the college’s theme of “Engagement & Community.” Further information regarding general education requirements at Eighth College is available within the Eighth College Final Proposal. Students in Eighth College will live in TDLLN in a mix of two, four, and six-bedroom units located at the southwestern corner of campus near Revelle College.

RIMAC Arena named LionTree Arena following scholarship gift

UCSD has changed the name of RIMAC Arena to LionTree Arena as of June 16. The name change took place following a $5 million gift from LionTree, an investment and merchant bank founded by UCSD alumnus Aryeh B. Bourkoff. The donation is the largest ever received by UCSD Athletics and will go towards scholarships to recruit scholar-athletes. The venue will be named LionTree Arena for up to seven years.

Office of Transportation Services raises campus parking rates

Faculty, staff, and student parking rates have increased for the 2022-23 academic year. UCSD’s Office of Transportation Services sent a campus-wide email on July 28 stating that “many parking permit prices will increase for purchases made or billed after July 28, 2022, with a maximum increase of $0.45 per day for UC San Diego commuters…” As a result, A, B, S, and SR parking permit prices have increased. Visitor parking rates have also increased by $1 per hour. There will be no price increase for the D “Discount” Permit or for Lots P782 (Science Research Park) and P386 (Gliderport). Additionally, there is a new student parking lot P707 with 200 spaces located under the UC San Diego Health La Jolla trolley stop.

Flixbus begins operation of new on-campus bus stop

Flixbus has begun operating a bus stop at UCSD as of September 8. The stop is located at the High Bay Physics Laboratory at 3201 Matthews Lane and replaces the previous La Jolla area stop at Westfield UTC. Riders can take the bus to destinations such as San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. The company continues to operate stops out of Old Town, Balboa Park, and Downtown San Diego. Flixbus is a privately owned transportation company that provides affordable bus services across the United States.

Liam Winstead is an Assistant News Editor for The Triton. Assistant News Editor Lara Donabedian assisted with the research and writing of this article.