University of California Transforms Westside Mall into UCLA Research Park

The University of California has selected Flad Architects as executive architect for the UCLA Research Park Master Plan Study, a roadmap for the transformation of the former Westside Pavilion shopping mall in Los Angeles into a nexus for discovery and innovation. Leasable lab and office environments will enable industry, academic, and government partners to benefit from collocation with two multidisciplinary research centers. The Center for Quantum Science and Engineering will enable the Samueli School of Engineering to drive advances in quantum computing, communication, and sensing. The California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy will draw on the expertise of UCLA faculty members, academic partners, leading scientists, and clinicians to create new tools, treatments, and vaccines. 

The UCLA Research Park project is part of a strategic initiative to expand the campus footprint through adaptive reuse and sustainable development, repurposing existing buildings while avoiding the need for major new construction. Located two miles south of the main campus, the 700,000-sf property consists of two structures connected by an enclosed pedestrian bridge. Completion is expected in May of 2027.