University of San Diego Breaks Ground on Shiley STEM Initiative Building

The University of San Diego broke ground in May of 2026 on the Shiley STEM Initiative Building to drive excellence in education and research. Designed by Gensler, the 70,000-sf facility will feature labs for biomedical engineering, robotics, neuroscience, and food science, as well as a medical device lab for prototype development. Flexible instructional venues will be accompanied by teaching labs, maker spaces, and a lecture auditorium. 

Enabling students to engage in hands-on learning and advanced research, the three-story development will also house an accessible rooftop ecology zone and a central atrium incorporating glulam timber framing. Environments dedicated to human cognition, biomechanics, geospatial analysis, and visualization will promote interdisciplinary breakthroughs. Comprehensive structural measures will mitigate vibration and interference for sensitive instrumentation. 

Creating a physical link between the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences, the collaborative building will offer numerous settings for interaction and exchange, including an ideation plaza. The project aims to meet the continually evolving needs of the biotechnology and science industries and is supported by a $75 million donation.

Swinerton is acting as general contractor, with Saiful Bouquet as structural engineer and KTUA as landscape architect and site designer. Occupancy is anticipated in November of 2027.