UC Merced is guided by a long-range vision of sustainable planning and design. The Pavilion at Little Lake is designed as a flexible space for gathering, respite, and reinvigoration, connecting students and faculty to the surrounding landscape, providing a reason to stay on campus, and strengthening the sense of community.

In the spirit of the Central Valley’s unique architectural character, the design reinterprets the region’s traditional industrial sheds. The dining hall’s exterior features shade producing overhangs; simple, durable materials; and strong, geometric lines. The façade is clad in painted, corrugated aluminum strategically perforated and detached in key locations to provide views inside. At night, the screening allows interior lighting to emanate, drawing the campus community to the building by highlighting activity within. The result is an expansive indoor/outdoor dining space with strong connections to the Academic Quad, Little Lake, and the rest of the UC Merced campus.

Inside, an open volume provides an uplifting, generously daylit space designed to meet the evolving needs of the campus. The flexible seating transforms the space’s function throughout the day—from intimate community dining to lectures, meetings, dances, and concerts.

Fixed window counters offer exterior views, while full-height glazing on the south façade connects to a sheltered outdoor patio that creates additional leisurely dining space and social opportunities.

Interior sightlines from dining areas to the kitchen—defined by a vibrant orange wall—allow for unobstructed views into the production space. This seamless transition from dining to servery to kitchen encourages observation. A clerestory located between the main dining area and the kitchen washes the back-of-house with daylight, offering warmth and signaling the passage of time throughout the day.

Through its open plan, inviting circulation strategies, engaging food platform design, and transparent character, UC Merced’s dining hall champions community engagement and a socially-focused culinary environment.

Photography: Bruce Damonte