Coming in 2026
This renovation relocates computer server functions to the basement and repositions the east wing of the first floor to improve functionality for the Computer Science & Engineering building. The new design will improve the student experience by making the lobby space on the first floor more welcoming, and by creating a new student collaboration space. The renovation will also relocate staff from throughout the building into new office space on the first floor, which will free space on upper floors to accommodate department plans for growth of faculty and students.
The new server room in the basement will be a 2,900 SF state-of-the art facility that can host high-end servers, including direct-to-chip liquid-cooled solution. The room will accommodate 1.2MW of power and cooling, and will be designed for future expansion. The scope addresses ADA improvements, meets the UCOP Sustainable Practices Policies and is targeting LEED certification.
From left: Computer Science and Engineering Department Chair Sorin Lerner, Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth Simmons, CSE Chief Administrative Officer Jennie Morrow, Miller Hull Associate AIA Joey Moser, Align Building Director of Preconstruction Trevor Gammelgard, and Jacobs School Dean Al Pisano
Level 1
The space vacated from the server room moving to the basement will be infilled with 13 new staff offices for shared and hybrid work, and an area dedicated to student collaboration with a variety of seating types to accommodate a range of student needs. The new student collaboration area will be the new heart of CSE: a place that gathers students from throughout the building and supports the existing conference rooms across the hallway.
Basement
The new server room in the basement will be a 2,900 SF state-of-the art facility that can host both low-density and high-end servers, including direct-to-chip liquid-cooled solution. The room provides a mix of (18) high and (37) low density racks. Future flexibility will allow for additional high-density racks in the event that low-density racks are decommissioned within the existing space. High density racks will host various A100 and N100 nodes to support Artificial Intelligence research and education. The 1.2MW data server load at CSE requires 370 tons of cooling capacity provided by a 6”chilled water service tied to the campus loop. A secondary process loop and redundant pumps ensure consistent and adjustable temperatures specific to server operation by way of heat exchangers. Mechanical infrastructure is designed to support both in-rack and direct-to-chip cooling. Power distribution units are utilized to provide flexibility of 480V and 208V as required, also allowing for efficient monitoring and controlling individual components. The new server room will help meet the computing needs of the future, and will propel CSE into the new age of AI Computing.
Pamphlet
2026