Over the past two years Cruess Hall has been the site of a large renovation project which included the construction of several new labs, shop spaces, and classrooms supportive of the UC Davis Department of Design. Adjoining the existing Cruess Hall classrooms, labs and offices, the newly constructed spaces are scheduled to open in fall quarter 2021.

“This new facility will be a gamechanger for students wanting to build physical prototypes and bring their projects to life,” said Professor Simon Sadler, Department of Design chair. 

The Department of Design will launch a new Design Makerspace in which undergraduate and graduate students will enjoy state-of-the-art labs for both design studio courses as well as faculty and student research. The space hosts a Digital Fab Lab with 3D printers and laser cutters, a Prototyping Classroom with electronics workstations, prototyping equipment, clay 3D printing and biodesign research equipment. The Design Makerspace also has fully equipped wood and metal shops. The new space will help students to create everything from biomaterials to smart products, jewelry, furniture, and large-scale installations.

The fabrication equipment is complemented by a large Open Lab – a multipurpose space for student coursework critiques, exhibitions, events, and a sustainable material library. The newly landscaped Cruess Hall courtyard has space for student projects, outdoor exhibitions, events, a solar charging station and video projections.

“The new labs and public spaces will have an outstanding impact on the future of design at UC Davis and beyond,” said Professor Beth Ferguson, Design Makerspace Committee chair.

This renovation is shared with the Department of Cinema and Digital media who has additional multi-media labs and two Cinemas.