In January, the UC Board of Regents approved a new parking structure for campus and the beginning of the design phase for a new multi-use stadium.
The West Entry Parking Structure project for the UC Davis campus will hold 1,453 spaces and include a 20,800-square-foot office building to house the Transportation and Parking Services and UC Davis Police Department public safety programs, including a new emergency operations center. The parking structure has been proposed to accommodate recent increases in student enrollment, faculty and staff employment and campus visitors. Construction will begin in January 2004 with completion expected in November 2005.
The stadium will hold 10,000 seats and be located just north of the health sciences district and west of La Rue Road. The initial construction should provide between 13,000-14,000 seats with the potential to expand to as many as 30,000 seats in the years to come. Two practice fields, a team center and a modern press box are among the features anticipated for the stadium.
The stadium will accommodate the growing needs of the football and lacrosse programs as well as special events such as soccer tournaments and commencements.
The stadium’s design phase will continue through the rest of the year with the entire project scheduled to go before the UC Regents for approval in November 2003. If approved, construction is slated for 2004. It is the third of three capital projects approved by students. The other two projects, which are currently under construction, are an activity and recreation center and a new aquatics center, which is being built at a site adjacent to the new stadium.
Members of the regents’ committee to consider selection of a new UC president were to meet among themselves and with UC chancellors in closed and public sessions this week in Los Angeles to discuss selection criteria and the nomination process.
Members of the public may also address the draft selection criteria at the Board of Regents’ regularly scheduled meeting in San Francisco set for March 19-20. In November, President Richard Atkinson announced his plans to retire in October 2003.