For Immediate Release
April 21, 2003
Contact: Patti Waid Istas
Office of Communications
(209) 724-4483 or (209) 658-4483
e-mail: patti.istas@ucop.edu

UC Merced Selects Fresno-Based Firm as Designer-Builder of Campus Housing Project

Merced – After an extensive pre-qualification process for a design build firm, the University of California, Merced has selected Mauldin-Dorfmeier Construction, Inc. of Fresno to assist in the design and construction of the first housing and dining project on campus.

The Garden Suites and Lakeview Dining project is a housing facility that will serve approximately 600 students and staff members with a total of 603 beds in multiple-bed units. A combination of undergraduate and graduate students will be housed in one or more suite configurations. In addition to residences, the project will provide associated community and dining space and a 340-space surface parking lot.

BAR of San Francisco served as the initial architects on the buildings. The Taylor Group of Fresno is charged with completing the design. Construction of the housing and dining facilities is expected to begin in summer 2003.

UC Merced, the 10th campus of the University of California system, is the first major research university to be built in the United States in the 21st century. Currently employing approximately 110 educators and professionals, UC Merced has a special mission to serve the educational needs of the San Joaquin Valley. The University’s main campus in Merced is scheduled to open in 2004 to serve 1,000 students. Over the coming decades, the campus is expected to grow to a student population of 25,000. UC Merced contributes to educational access through the entire San Joaquin region via educational and outreach centers in Fresno and Bakersfield, and the Tri-College Center in Merced.

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Editor's note: A digitized photo is available from Melanie Horn, melanie.horn@ucop.edu (209) 724-4432.