May 2008

BGA - Architect and Planner for New Faculty Housing at UC Irvine

 

Bucilla Group Architecture is excited about the upcoming opening of two (2) University Hills residential communities, at the University of California, Irvine campus. The project is the largest single-family residential development under construction in Orange County at this time. We are pleased to have been both the Planner and the Architect for this project of 2 distinct communities nestled in the hills around UC Irvine, and visible from much of northern Newport Beach in and around the 73 corridor .

The homes are part of the current faculty housing program at UCI and are developed by ICHA, the Irvine Campus Housing Authority. ICHA sponsored a Planning & Design competition in 2004 for the new University Hills neighborhood and BGA was chosen as the Planning and Architecture Lead for both the 930 Series and the 940 Series Homes. The project was started in April, 2005, and is currently in its final stages of construction.

 

Planning Objectives for both projects included:

Victor Van Zandt, Director of Planning & Construction at ICHA, states that Bucilla Group Architecture was selected for the project in part because of their efficiency in site planning, without trading off liveability. Because the plan called for a total of 90 homes on a 15-acre hillside site, Mr. Van Zandt and ICHA were concerned about the balancing of public open spaces within the project and the importance of providing private usable space, such as courtyards, in each of the new homes.

ICHA toured two BGA projects in Irvine, and reviewed them with Greg Bucilla, President of BGA. This trip ultimately convinced ICHA that BGA was the right firm for the project at UCI. The new home developments that were reviewed - Cachette at Woodbury in Irvine, and Bella Rosa in Irvine - are both award-winning projects with formal architectural details, product widths of 21'- 35', and alley loaded designs with greenbelt parkways amid highly-stylized neighborhoods.

The 2 new housing communities will be handed over to the faculty homeowners in May, 2008.

The 930 Series is a neighborhood of 60 Courtyard Residences, with Monterey, Italianate, and European Cottage Architectural styles. The 2-story homes vary from 1900-2400 sq.ft., with 3-4bdrms, 2.5 ba, Great Rooms with Kitchens, Islands and Dining Areas, an additional downstairs private Study, an upstairs Laundry, and 2-car garages, alley-loaded.

The 940 Series is a neighborhood of 30 Luxury Residences, both single and two-story, with Spanish, Craftsman, and European Cottage Architectural styling. Ranging from 2800-3100 sq.ft., these homes have 3-4 bdrms, 3.25 ba, Formal Dining Rooms, Kitchen with Islands and Breakfast Nooks, Butler's Pantries, Libraries and /or Bdrm 4-5 downstairs, additional Bonus Rooms upstairs, and street-facing 2-car garages.

 

In finalizing the properties for presentation to the faculty homeowners, Mr. Van Zandt stated that he was extremely pleased with the architectural design details showcased in the new homes, the attention to four-sided architecture and massing, as well as the professional, responsive service he received from the BGA team during the entire design & building process. At Bucilla Group Architecture, bringing a project to its completion is accomplished when the client is satisfied with the finished work, states Greg Bucilla. Furthermore, this objective becomes more meaningful when the original vision for the development comes to life in an elegant and liveable residential community...............such as the new residences at University Hills.

 

 

 

Bucilla Group Architecture, Inc.
19772 Mac Arthur Blvd., Ste. 260
Irvine, CA 92612
(949) 851-9080
www.bg-architecture.com