The Pitzer Student Housing Phase II aims to reinvent the college experience with a self-contained community that blends living accommodations with outdoor learning opportunities, meant to encourage students to live on campus all four years while reducing their carbon footprint. The project comprised two, four-story buildings with an open common area in between the two. The mixed-use residential buildings are home to more than 300 students as well as amenities which include computer labs, classrooms, study rooms, and offices. Also housed within the plan are numerous educational facilities including the Mosbacher/Gartrell Center for Media Experimentation and Activism, the Pitzer Archive and Conference Center, the Kallick Family Gallery, the Office of Study Abroad and International Programs and a demonstration kitchen.

Not only does the project reimagine student living, but it also does so sustainably. The project is LEED Platinum certified and was the first LEED Platinum project for Pitzer College. Per the owner’s desire, the design included a grey water collection system, photovoltaic panels, green roofs, living walls, and permeable concrete. The exterior of the buildings consists mainly of plaster, fiber cement siding, and operable windows tied to a mechanical system. American Institute of Architects Orange County (AIAOC) recognized Pitzer College’s Residential Life Project Phase II with an Honor Award at its 2013 Design Award and the Los Angeles Business Journal also recognized Phase II with a Silver Real Estate Award for being one of the most sustainable new constructions in Los Angeles County.