PBG begins work on $8.5 million UC San Diego Hillel Center

University of California San Diego students will soon have a new Jewish center for spiritual, social and intellectual connection in La Jolla. General contractor Pacific Building Group (PBG) broke ground Sept. 19 on the $8.5 million, 6,500 sq. ft. Beverly and Joseph Glickman Hillel Center.

The project on a 0.8 land parcel 9009 La Jolla Scenic Dr. is expected to be completed in fall, 2022.

Twenty years in the making, the groundbreaking event drew community members and the San Diego mayor Todd Gloria.

“We look forward to building the Hillel Center, a project that will require extensive utility work, coordination with nearby neighbors and an eye for seamlessly blending indoor-outdoor environments,” PBG project manager Ryan Amos said in a statement. “To bring the outdoors in, we’ll need to execute flawless transitions between the interiors and the exterior courtyard that will connect the buildings. From lumber to landscape and walls to open water, we pride ourselves on our ability to blend mixed environments and can’t wait to see the beautiful Hillel Center come to life.”

The project includes three buildings “that complement the surrounding environment,” the builder says.

The first building will include a student lounge, kitchen, bathroom facilities and storage on the first floor and a student center, offices, storage and terraces on the upper floor. Both one level, building two will have offices, a conference room, bathroom facilities and storage, while building three will be a library. A new parking lot and solar carports are a part of the plan, and a small, accessible, park-like area will be open to the La Jolla community.

Joining Amos on the project are PBG superintendent Keith Moss, project engineer Deena Isa and Project Coordinator Michelle Gaitan. The architects are M.W. Steele Group with Michael Paluso and Clayton Madrid, and the construction manager is Dave Bates at Hughes Marino.