The University of California, Santa Cruz recently selected notable New York firm Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects to design the university's new Institute of the Arts and Sciences. Competition was tough indeed, as TWBTA was one of three finalists that included Allied Works Architecture and Patkau with Fong & Chan.

UCSC states the new building will be the first of its kind at a research university, with a cross-disciplinary focus that brings the arts and sciences -- and their relations to other fields -- all under one roof. The Institute is one of UCSC's priority initiatives in a comprehensive fundraising campaign that was announced in fall 2013.

The architectural plan of the 30,000 sq.ft multi-functional facility includes space for student and faculty research, site-specific installations, exhibitions, seminars, residencies by artists and scholars, and other public gathering events. The Institute will also curate traveling art exhibitions and feature projects relevant to UCSC's curriculum.

Starting in July, TWBTA will work with a campus-wide school committee to evaluate and revise their initial design concept, which will be followed by the production of a fundraising package of renderings and concept plans.

Current construction costs for the building are estimated between $32 million and $40 million. Total project costs -- which include design, engineering, environmental reviews, utilities, and other related costs -- are set at $55 million.

According to the Institute's founding Director, John Weber, UCSC plans to move quickly through the next programming phases in the summer and fall. And depending on the pace of fundraising, a timeline for the project is yet to be determined.

Click the thumbnails below to see some of TWBTA's initial concept drawings.