Rachel Carson/Oakes Dining Hall Expansion

Update April 2024:  This construction project has been completed. For location, hours, and menus, visit dining.ucsc.edu/eat.

Rachel Carson/Oakes Dining Hall Expansion

UCSC's Colleges, Housing & Educational Services (CHES) Capital Planning is partnering with the campus on the design work for the expansion of the Rachel Carson/Oakes Dining Hall and kitchen facilities. The project goals are to modernize the facility (constructed in 1990) and expand capacity to serve future demand.

The original building was made up of three distinct parts: a dining hall, a kitchen, and a link connecting the dining and kitchen areas. The second floor of the building has classroom and office spaces which are not part of the scope of this project.

The project includes a full demolition of the existing dining hall and link. A newly constructed dining hall will be re-oriented to maximize views of Monterey Bay as well as provide more interior and exterior seating, and will be fully accessible. The kitchen building is being retained and expanded, renovating the layout and introducing new kitchen systems to develop additional production capacity and improve service areas. 

The construction project is underway. The fully renovated dining hall and kitchen are scheduled to reopen during the 2022-23 academic year.

The dining hall is closed during construction.

• To provide additional dining service for the west side of campus, the nearby Porter/Kresge Dining Hall is offering expanded hours, including weekends and late night service.
• Students can use their meal plans to dine and get food and drinks at any UCSC Dining-operated location on campus including dining halls, cafes, coffee bars, and markets. You can visit any location that’s convenient to your next class, a trip to the gym, studying at a library, meeting up with friends, or has one of your favorites on the menu!
• The Rachel Carson College Cafe has been turned into a Basic Needs Food Pantry. Students with a current ID sticker have access to pick up food at the Pantry at no cost.

Other changes during the construction project:

• The Rachel Carson mailroom has been relocated. A temporary mailroom has been placed in the main parking lot, across from the academic building.
• The outdoor basketball court at Rachel Carson College is being used as a construction staging area and is closed.
• The upper tennis courts at Rachel Carson College are open during the construction.