Stanley Saitowitz Designs New Student Housing for CCA in San Francisco

Construction has begun on a new student residence for the California College of the Arts (CCA) at 188 Hooper Street in San Francisco. Designed by Stanley Saitowitz | Natoma Architects Inc., the five-story building will provide below-market-rate housing for over 500 students—roughly 25% of CCA's student body—with 280 single and double rooms. The project includes over 1,100 square meters of common and study areas, plus 900 square meters of outdoor space with interconnected courtyards at ground level. The sidewalk will be expanded into a pedestrian zone with walkways to give the neighborhood a more residential feel. The design incorporates sustainability features such as rooftop photovoltaic arrays, solar water heating, 167 covered bicycle parking spots, and floor-to-ceiling windows for natural light. The building's infrastructure is prepared for future connection to a campus microgrid. Stanley Saitowitz stated that the project allowed his firm to transform CCA's San Francisco site from a standalone building into a vibrant campus, working with student groups to understand their needs. David Meckel, CCA's director of campus planning, noted that of 80,000 students across 30 San Francisco institutions, fewer than 10,000 beds are available, making on-campus housing crucial for student focus and freeing up local housing. The residence is located at the confluence of Dogpatch, Potrero Hill, and Mission neighborhoods, an area known as the DoReMi Arts District.