The new housing is the third project at UCI for American CampusCommunities, which developed and now manages two phases of housingtotaling 3,052 beds. One project is Vista del Campo, which openedin 2004; the other is Vista del Campo Norte, which opened in2006.

Wendell Brase, administrative and business services vicechancellor for UCI, says that the university believes the threecombined phases of UCI's student housing "represent the largestprivatized student housing project in the US whether measured byresidents, dollars or square feet." A chief goal of the projects is"transforming commuters into residents," Brase says.

The project was designed to meet Gold LEED certification and topromote the use of public transportation, bicycles and walkways.The project will be a part of UCI's green building educationprogram that includes sustainable curriculum and buildingtours.