University of California Irvine - Cortex Yearbook (Irvine, CA)

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20 William L. Pereim, Architect The Irvine campus site was selected in 1960 after an extensive survey. The original 1000 acres were donated to the University by the Irvine Company. Planning for the campus began in late 1961 when Mr. L. E. Cox established an office in the 01d Irvine Ranch home. W. L. Pereira and Associates were appointed to prepare a Long Range Development Plan. In J anuary of 1962 Dr. Daniel G. Aldrich, Jr. was appointed Chancellor and on February 1, 1962 Mr. Coulson Tough transferred from UCLA t0 Irvine as Campus Architect. On December 13, 1962 the proposed Long Range De- velopment Plan was submitted to the Board of Regents. This was approved as a basis for publication of the plan and further archi- tectural and planning studies. The firms of W. L. Pereira and Asso- ciates of Los Angeles, Jones and Emmons of Los Angeles and Blu- rock and Ellerbroek of Newport Beach were appointed for this work. In December of 1962 the tirst Irvine campus building was completed and the then existing staff consisting of about six persons moved into this building. This building is now called the iiGeneral Service Buildingfi The initial building designs were approved by The Regents in the fall of 1962. Working drawings were completed by late sum- met. The landscaping plans for the campus were prepared by three landscape firms: Hahn and Hoffman of Sierra Madre, Frederick M. Lang of South Laguna, and Robert H. Carter of Los Angeles. Construction began with the initial rough earth grading in late 1963 and building construction started in J anuary of 1964. During construction, the campus was dedicated by President Lyndon B. Johnson on June 20, 1964. The initial buildings and related utility Work were essentially complete by August of 1965 and the build- ings were occupied by the faculty and staff. The first classes began October 4, 1965. The total cost for constructing the initial build- ings, developing the site and providing utilities and furniture and equipment for the buildings is estimated at $20,000,000.

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Our children shall not know the experience of roaming over these rolling hills . . . . . . and listening to the wild birds as they talk to nature. w 1 19

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The Irvine campus is planned for an ultimate enrollment of 27,500 students. The initial buildings were designed in a scale to relate to the ultimate size of the campus and to reflect the urban environment that will exist when the campus will have a daily pop- ulation of 40,000 persons including students, faculty and staff. The architectural design was envisioned by the architects to provide this environment and to relate to the gentle, rolling terrain of the campus site. The exterior wall surfaces were designed considering the white sky condition and the resulting glare prevalent in the Orange County coast area. The colors selected for the buildings considered the prevailing color range running from the greens re- sulting from the winter rains t0 the golden and brown hills existing in late summer. The plazas are designed to serve as major pedes- trian gathering places. The campus development will be continuous to meet the pro- jected enrollment which will increase by about 1,000 students a year. Construction activity will be a normal part of the campus scene to provide the facilities needed for the future students of Irvine. Coulson Tough, Campus Architect