The Academic Village at UC Law San Francisco has a luxurious new addition: The Academe at 198. This mixed-use building features housing for students, faculty, and staff, in addition to academic space. The school, formerly known as Hastings College of Law, has brought together students and professionals from across the Bay area to work and live in this Downtown San Francisco collaborative space. This project was just one part of a multi-phase plan to expand the school’s “Academic Village.”
Project Background
The first phase of the Academic Village project was the Cotchett Law Center, the college’s first new academic building in four decades. The six-story, 57,000 square foot structure features state-of-the-art smart classrooms, offices, and a Sky Deck which overlooks City Hall. It was dedicated in Aug. 2020 and named after distinguished alumnus Joseph W. Cotchett ’64.
Just a few weeks later, the school announced that it had secured $364 million in financing for the construction of The Academe at 198, which was to take the place of the recently demolished Snodgrass Hall. Greystar oversaw a project team that included general contractor Build Group, landscape architect CMG, lighting designer HLB, civil engineer Langan, telecom operator Teecom, structural engineer Rutherford + Chekene and MEP engineers Taylor Engineering and The Engineering Enterprise. The project cost $282 million in total, was completed in 2024 and the building is now occupied by students and staff.
The Academe at 198 Amenities
The 14-story, 365,000 square foot structure features 656 units and 667 beds for UC Law SF students, faculty, and staff, as well as students from nearby colleges. The units come in a variety of sizes: efficiency (232 square feet), studio (275), one bedroom (397), and two bedroom (568).
Beyond just housing, the property includes 43,000 square feet of office and academic space operated by UC Law. This includes an incubator for start-up tech firms, an event space called LexLab, classrooms, an auditorium, and mock trial and appellate courtrooms for instruction purposes. Residents and other UC Law students can enjoy a seventh-floor indoor/outdoor lounge, an enclosed courtyard with patio seating, a café, and 8,000 square feet of commercial retail space on the ground floor.
What’s Next?
The third phase of The Academic Village Expansion will be a renovation and structural upgrade of the college’s 28-story Tower at 100 McAllister Street. The fourth and final component is the redevelopment of the properties at 201-247 Golden Gate Avenue, which will feature academic and residential facilities, in addition to other offices.
At Construction Protection Systems, we’re proud to have played a small part in development of The Academe at 198. Stay tuned for more updates from the makers of 1-2-3 Door Shield—the original, reusable door protection system.