From open farmland in California’s Central Valley to a global model for sustainable design, UC Merced’s architectural story is currently on view as part of a special exhibit at UC Berkeley’s Bauer Wurster Hall.
Located in one of Berkeley’s most iconic Brutalist buildings and the home of the College of Environmental Design, “From the Ground Up: Building UC Merced” features oversized photographs, architectural models and sketches that trace Merced’s ambitious growth while creating a visual and conceptual bridge between the University of California’s first and newest campuses.
The exhibition coincides with UC Merced’s 20th anniversary and launched with an opening-night symposium on Jan. 29. Moderated by Brian Harrington, director of physical and environmental planning at the UC Office of the President, the event brought together several of the campus’s original architects and planners alongside academic leaders. The conversation explored UC Merced’s rapid evolution over the past two decades, examining how the ideals that shaped the university’s earliest days continue to influence its trajectory.
