UC San Diego’s Ridge Walk North Living and Learning Neighborhood earned the 2026 National Award of Excellence in Educational Facilities, the highest honor the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) gives in the category. The project was also a finalist for Best in Architecture and Best in Virtual Design & Construction (VDC).

The award recognizes UC San Diego and its design-build team, led by Hensel Phelps, with EYRC Architects and HMC Architects. HMC Managing Principal Kristina Singiser attended the November 5 awards ceremony at DBIA’s Design-Build Conference & Expo in Cleveland.

At more than $550 million, the 972,000-square-foot neighborhood represents one of UC San Diego’s largest capital investments. It adds approximately 2,400 below-market-rate undergraduate beds and gives Thurgood Marshall College and the Department of Economics a new home. Students can walk from their residence halls to classrooms, dining, outdoor gathering spaces, and the university’s Basic Needs Center.

Building on an active campus required the team to keep pedestrian routes open and deliver the residence halls in time for fall 2025 move-in. DBIA highlighted how early input from trade partners helped the team develop a façade system that halved formwork requirements while meeting the university’s design standards. Phasing design and construction helped the team open the residence halls on schedule.

Congratulations to UC San Diego, Hensel Phelps, EYRC Architects, and the design and trade partners who brought the neighborhood to life.