McCarthy Building Companies Breaks Ground on their 17th Project on UC San Diego Campus

Multi-Structure Triton Center will Reinvigorate Campus Gateway and Offer State-of-the-Art Facilities

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — McCarthy Building Companies (McCarthy) has broken ground on the Triton Center at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) campus. Designed by LMN Architects, the 400,000 square-foot project is the grand entrance to the university and seamlessly blends art, culture, entertainment, and student academic resources to foster a sense of connection. The total projected cost is estimated at $428M.

“This amazing project is our 17^th on the UCSD campus, and it has been such a unique pleasure helping to reshape the campus over several years,” said Bob Betz, Executive Vice President at McCarthy. “The new Triton Center is beautifully designed to not only add functional spaces for student support and campus administration to take place but is also an open space for students to enjoy events, experience the vibrancy of the environment, and interact with the campus.”

The project includes the construction of four separate buildings that will house the university’s Welcome and Alumni Center, a multi-purpose facility with a 500-person event space and art gallery, gathering spaces and offices for Global Initiatives programs, a Student Health, Mental Health and Well-Being clinic, Student Academic Resources, a mix of retail and restaurant spaces, and a parking structure.

“The Triton Center will transform this central campus neighborhood,” said Julie Adams, Partner, LMN Architects. “It provides a new gateway into campus and creates an instantly identifiable district that is welcoming and socially dynamic. The project was conceived of as a village filled with student-centered programming, and celebrates the unique characteristics of place: climate, the UC San Diego campus culture, and the materiality of the region.”

The Triton Center is seeking LEED Gold certification. The plaza accommodates both planned and spontaneous experiences, including concerts, graduations, and other campus events. The plaza is designed to promote student interactions that help build campus community and set the stage for memorable academic experiences. The project is expected to be completed in 2026.