CLIENTUniversity of California, Santa Barbara

SERVICESBuilding Renovation, Interiors

LOCATIONSanta Barbara, CA

SIZE25,000 sq ft

STATUSCompleted 2004

STUDIOS designed the renovation and expansion of the 1960s De La Guerra Dining Commons to meet a growing demand for a variety of dining styles, allow the campus to remain competitive with outside food sources, and provide higher quality products and services. The new Commons provides a full spectrum of dining environments—from solitary to intimate to communal—and takes advantage of the location’s year-round temperate climate with outdoor seating available both under a canopy and in full sun.

Main dining room and open kitchen
Main dining room and open kitchen
Main dining room and open kitchen
Main dining room and open kitchen
One of several kitchens
One of several kitchens
View across dining room
View across dining room
Indoor / outdoor dining
Indoor / outdoor dining
Cafe seating
Cafe seating
Context view
Context view

The new entrance structure serves as an orientation marker, linking two sides of the building that had been separated previously. At night, the glassy volume shines like a beacon, making wayfinding easy and creating a new community center for this precinct of student resident halls. 

The tower at night
The tower at night
Cafe seating
Cafe seating
Custom screen
Custom screen
Dining nook
Dining nook
Before renovation
Before renovation
After renovation
After renovation

"Student residents have responded very positively to the design and literally flock to the building."

Wilfred E. Brown, Executive Director, Housing and Residential Services

Awards and Press

  • Grade A Dining — Contract 2005
  • SCUP / AIA, CAE, Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture for Renovation or Adaptive Reuse — 2007

PHOTOGRAPHYTom Bonner