University of the Pacific will break ground early next year on a new Southwest Hall that retains the striking architectural features of the original century-old building while creating an interior that is a modern, state-of-the-art living and learning community for students.

“The design for Southwest is really reflective of Pacific,” said Vice President for Student Life Maria Blandizzi, who unveiled the project Saturday at Homecoming and Family Weekend. “As California’s first university, we cherish Pacific’s rich history and traditions. At the same time, Pacific has a legacy of innovation, and we embrace that mindset by creating a space intentionally designed for 21st century students.”

The three-floor building will have suite-style accommodations with 391 beds. There are three suites for staff and faculty-in-residence, lounge space and 12 study spaces for individual and group work. Study nooks will include monitors, whiteboards and conference tables.

An interior courtyard will allow ample natural light into the building while providing space for students to socialize, relax and hold events.

The façade will closely replicate the original 1924 building, preserving many of its distinctive architectural details, intentionally designed to retain the historic feel of campus. Brick has been carefully sourced from a local supplier in the Central Valley to match the current look and feel of the building.

Pacific plans to break ground on the new residential hall in the spring and open to students fall 2026.

The university also is working to achieve LEED gold certification, a designation that identifies buildings as energy efficient and sustainable. In addition to energy efficient lighting, compost bins and other elements, there will be an interior storage room for students’ bicycles.

Pacific explored the possibility of renovating the 100-year-old building, but engineers advised it could not be renovated smartly, safely and efficiently. Part of the challenge is the building is really three different structures, with two being added long after the 1924 opening.

With the addition of new Southwest Hall, Pacific will have 12 residence halls on the Stockton Campus. The university completed sweeping renovations to Grace Covell Hall and the Quad community last year. The four sorority and fraternity houses owned and operated by Residential Life and Housing were renovated over the summer.

The additional space is greatly needed to accommodate a growing residential population. There are currently more than 2,000 students living on campus.

In 2022, the university announced it would guarantee four years of on-campus housing for all undergraduates to combat housing shortages and spiraling rents off campus.

There also are tremendous benefits to students that come with on-campus living, said Assistant Vice President for Student Life Josh O’Connor.

“Studies show students who live on campus perform better academically and are more likely to graduate,” O’Connor said. “They have better access to resources and are in an environment intentionally designed for them to thrive. There is also a greater sense of community, which plays a huge part in student success.”

President Christopher Callahan said he speaks regularly with alumni spanning generations about their years in Southwest Hall.

“Decades of alumni have cherished memories from their time in Southwest Hall,” the president said. “It was deeply important to us that we preserve the original building’s aesthetics while creating a space that meets the needs of current students. We are confident the new Southwest Hall will create new memories for future students while preserving our alumni’s pride in our storied history.”

To learn about naming opportunities in the new Southwest Hall, contact Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Scott Biedermann at 209.946.2166 or sbiedermann@pacific.edu.