Kresge College renewal providing more housing, new facilities

Kresge College is mid-way through a comprehensive renewal that is creating more housing, new academic and student life facilities, and increasing overall accessibility to the iconic college.

Phase one

The first phase, which included three new residential buildings with beds for 408 students and an academic center, was completed in fall 2023. The new buildings at Kresge are some of the few on campus that are nestled in the redwoods and feature stunning views of Monterey Bay.

Kresge College residential buildings with giant redwood trees all around

Phase two

The second and final phase of the Kresge project, slated to reopen in fall 2025, will restore existing buildings—adding more space for housing and residential life—resulting in a total of 993 beds for undergraduate students. The treasured Town Hall will be rebuilt on the south end of the college and will once again host concerts, conferences, and other large events including town halls where students will come together to continue to envision the present and future of Kresge.

Sustainability at its core

Sustainability and accessibility were at the forefront of the project’s design led by noted architect and MacArthur Fellow Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects. The three new residential halls are home to more than 400 students and feature open spaces and lounges where students can connect and collaborate. The new 35,000-square-foot academic building houses multiple departments and faculty offices, affirming the college as a scholarly space as well as a residential one. The entire campus community will benefit from the building’s multipurpose classrooms, study lounges, a state-of-the-art computer lab, and a 600-person lecture hall—the largest on campus—for events and performances. The remodeled North Bridge, now accessible to people of all abilities, connects Kresge to the rest of the campus and helps facilitate foot traffic to the west side of campus.

Last modified: Feb 22, 2024