Mithun designed the Mesa Court Towers, a living-learning community for first year students attending the University of California, Irvine.

Mesa Court Towers is a high-performance living-learning community for first-year students at the University of California, Irvine. The mixed-use development houses more than a thousand residents in a mix of triple- and quad-occupancy rooms, and features a 1200-seat dining center, flexible classrooms, and diverse amenity spaces addressing students’ health, fitness and social interests.

New Campus Heart – Three residential towers rise above an amenity-rich base, presenting a new vertical living paradigm for this growing campus. Dynamic living and gathering spaces are woven in staggered layers to create a new center of gravity for the Mesa Court neighborhood.

Community Life – At the ground level, a fresh food concept dining facility – complete with healthy menus, culinary classes, indoor-outdoor seating and a café – serves the 2,500-student neighborhood. Educational and recreation spaces are interspersed to create a vibrant nexus of student life around the clock.

Amplified Performance – The design incorporates natural ventilation, daylight harvesting, active renewable energy systems and sustainable site strategies to achieve LEED Platinum certification and exceed California Title 24 energy requirements by 30%. Exterior circulation, dining and active courtyards maximize usable space on the infill site, enhancing campus connectivity and student experience.

Architect & Interior Design: Mithun
Contractor: Hensel Phelps
Structural Engineer: DCI Engineers
Electrical Design/Lighting Engineer: Michael Wall Engineering
Environmental Graphics: RSM Design
Photography: Bruce Damonte