UC Davis Constructs Resnick Center for Agriculture Innovation

The University of California, Davis is constructing the Lynda and Steward Resnick Agricultural Innovation Center on its main campus. The $66.4 million facility will enable the exploration of new ways of balancing food production with leading sustainability practices while advancing the global agricultural industry with scalable solutions. Designed by Yazdani Studio of CannonDesign to drive collaboration, the 32,000-sf building will feature diverse and dynamic environments for learning and research. 

Flexible, specialized laboratories will accommodate work in sensor and robotics prototyping, big data and digital AI, plant culture growth, and food-grade extraction. The two-story development will also house a student maker space, a molecular analysis wet lab, and a discovery and characterization wet lab. Key investigative themes will include solutions for agricultural byproducts, maximizing water and energy efficiency, developing next-generation technologies, ensuring crop resiliency and sustainability, and expanding access to nutritious food.

Targeting LEED Platinum certification, the hybrid structure will integrate 6,569 cubic feet of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and 2,684 cubic feet of glulam. Hensel Phelps is serving as design-build contractor and Thornton Tomasetti is the structural engineer and sustainability consultant. The project team also includes Mercer Mass Timber. Ground was broken in May of 2024 and occupancy is slated for summer of 2026.