University of California Washington Center Gets Comfortable in New 11-Story Building

WASHINGTON, DC-The University of California Washington Center (UCDC) settles into its new location at 1608 Rhode Island Avenue, NW. The 176,270-sf structure is a high-tech facility that accommodates classrooms and office space, as well as apartment-style dormitory rooms for up to 280 students. UCDC officials estimate the new building and property purchase costs to be $24 to $27 million.

UCDC has had a campus in Washington, DC for more than 10 years and it distinguishes itself as the largest non-local university entity among the bevy of higher education campuses in the District. The move to the new facility is partially due to the organization’s growing popularity and success. “We were leasing space at 2301 M St. for the past 10 years or so, but they were just offices,” explains UCDC Director Larry Berman. “The students were living in residential hotels in Virginia.” Now student and visiting scholar living quarters, faculty offices, the university’s Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, and its Office of Federal Governmental Relations are housed on 11 floors under one roof. The building also has 10 classrooms, an auditorium with direct satellite feeds and a below-ground parking structure.