SDSU Evolve: Transforming Student Housing for Academic Success and Community Building
San Diego State University (SDSU) is undertaking a transformative initiative, the Evolve Student Housing project, designed to address the growing demand for on-campus housing, enhance student academic performance, and foster a stronger sense of community. This multi-phased project will significantly expand SDSU's residential capacity, offering a variety of housing options tailored to meet the diverse needs of its student population. The Evolve project directly addresses the urgent need for more student-centered housing, where rising living costs and limited availability have made it increasingly difficult for students to live near campus and fully engage in university life.
Addressing the Need for Financially Competitive On-Campus Housing
A key driver behind the Evolve project is the escalating rental market in San Diego. In recent years, San Diego has seen an estimated increase between 8 to 11% annually in the rental market, making student housing increasingly unaffordable. The Evolve project offers a cost-effective alternative, ensuring financially competitive rates for students and promoting financial sustainability for the university. By providing more financially competitive rental rates for on-campus housing options, SDSU aims to alleviate the financial burden on students and their families.
The Strategic Importance of On-Campus Living
SDSU recognizes the significant academic and social benefits of on-campus living. Students who live on campus consistently demonstrate higher academic achievement rates compared to those who live off campus. They also experience greater social engagement, easier access to university resources, and a stronger sense of belonging. On-campus housing fosters community and enhances on-campus engagement, including higher utilization of academic support resources and co-curricular and on-campus recreational spaces.
Students living on campus have easier access to libraries, study centers, faculty offices, and academic support services, which can enhance their study habits and academic success. Campus housing often provides a more structured environment with designated quiet hours and study spaces, helping students focus on their academics. Students living on campus are also more likely to attend lectures, study groups and academic events. SDSU's residential communities feature live-in faculty and staff who are available to assist students with academic and personal challenges. Students also have access to STAR Centers, which offer a range of academic resources, including tutoring, study spaces, and workshops. Additionally, our programming includes leadership development opportunities, career planning support, and peer advising, all designed to empower students as they navigate their university journey.
The on-campus housing also aligns with the campus goals of reducing the scope 3 carbon emissions by reducing commuter trips. This will also allow the university to control rental costs for our students so they are not subject to rising San Diego rental prices, which have outpaced the cost of SDSU housing in many cases. Also, students enjoy academic benefits when they live on campus compared to their peers who live off campus, to include higher academic performance, higher graduation rates, and more involvement in university events and other campus activities.
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Project Overview and Key Components
The Evolve Student Housing project is a multi-phase initiative designed to create a new first-year student community, a suite-style community, and apartment communities. The suite-style and apartments will replace existing apartments, and the first-year student community will be a new development. Completing the project in several phases will allow the university to create new beds before demolishing existing beds, ensuring that housing capacity is maintained throughout the construction process. The proposed on-campus housing facilities will be located at: 55th Street and Aztec Circle Drive for the new facilities, and at Montezuma Road and 55th Street, adjacent to the current University Towers property. Based on the staggered project plan, construction would begin in May 2025 upon approval, and end in December 2030 or later, resulting in housing for first-year students, sophomores and upper-division students.
The project proposes the development of a total of 5,170 student beds in buildings to be constructed on the Peninsula Site and the University Towers East site. Project actions would also include vacating an unneeded and excess right-of-way on the campus to support development of the Evolve Peninsula Component.
Peninsula Component
The project’s Peninsula Component involves the development of six student residential buildings, including one 9-story building and five buildings up to 13 stories in height, on the 10.57-acre site. The 9-story building would be approximately 144,000 square feet in size and would house approximately 650 student beds available to first-year through senior students. The five 13-story buildings would each be approximately 174,240 square feet and each would house approximately 760 student beds. Collectively, development of the Peninsula Component would accommodate a total of approximately 4,450 student beds.
The proposed Peninsula Component would also include a new two-story amenity building of approximately 15,000 square feet in size that would house dining and other student support uses, as well as interim sports fields area in the southwestern portion of the site. The interim sports fields would be constructed at the same time as Apartment Building 3 and prior to construction of Apartment Building 4 and 5. Access to the Peninsula Component housing would be provided via 55th Street, which is connected to the larger street system via Canyon Crest Drive, Remington Road, and Montezuma Road. Public vehicular access would terminate at the main entry to the project site, which would feature a turnaround for pick-ups, drop-offs, and ridesharing.
Project implementation would remove 3 accessible, 260 standard, and 15 van parking stalls (totaling 278 parking stalls) from the project site and would create approximately 5 staff parking spaces, 5 short-term parking space, five ADA accessible stalls, several parking spaces for short-term rental ZipCars, and two 16-foot truck spaces and short-term parking for deliveries and brief visits. Parking for student residents with vehicles would not be provided on-site but rather would be provided in existing SDSU parking lots and structures.
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University Towers East Component
The proposed University Towers East Component of the Evolve project would be constructed on the site of an existing building and would construct a single 9-story building on the 1.1-acre site. The building would be approximately 133,200 square feet in size and would accommodate approximately 720 student beds reserved for first-year students only. An existing fire access lane exists between the existing University Towers building and the proposed building that provides fire department access to a standpipe along the eastern side of the existing University Towers building. This fire access lane may be removed pending approval from the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
The Evolve Student Housing project site and other portions of the San Diego State University campus are encumbered by an easement and right-of-way for public highway purposes created when a large parcel of land was transferred to the State of California. The right-of-way is not consistent with the San Diego State University Master Plan, including the proposed revisions in connection with the Evolve Student Housing project, and is impassable for vehicle travel in major sections and not required for public right-of-way purposes. It has been superseded by the existing street network on the San Diego State University campus and in the surrounding neighborhood. Relinquishment and vacation of the Right-of-Way would have no impact on existing vehicular and nonvehicular circulation in the affected area.
Tarastec and Templo del Sol
Construction on Tarastec began summer 2025, adding approximately 650 beds to SDSU’s on-campus housing. Tarastec is expected to open in fall 2026. This space is designed to foster connection, convenience and collaboration among residents and the campus community. Tarastec is a suite-style community with a private bathroom shared by roommates, designed to accommodate either first-year or sophomore students based on demand. The room layouts are similar in design to those of South Campus Plaza. The building will offer double-occupancy room types.
Tarastec and Templo del Sol will be located on the west side of SDSU near 55th Street and Aztec Circle Dr., replacing the current Tarastec Apartments, International Student Center and Passport Office.
Prioritization of Housing
Priority will be given to the first-year and sophomore students who live outside of the local service area and are required to live on campus. Local first-year students will be the next group to be accommodated. Next will be transfer students.
Read also: SDSU Student Body Profile
Mitigating Construction Impacts
SDSU is committed to minimizing the impact of construction on students and the surrounding community. Students living in nearby communities-including The Tecs (Huaxtepec, Metepec, Mixquic, Toltec, Zacatepec, and Zapotec), Huāxyacac, Chapultepec, University Towers and Aztec Corner will be in close proximity to active construction areas.
We understand that living near an active construction area can be challenging, and we want impacted students to know that their comfort and academic success remain a top priority. The Office of Housing Administration and Residential Education Office are committed to supporting impacted students throughout the year and minimizing the impact wherever possible.
Several measures will be implemented to mitigate disruptions:
Noise Monitoring: A project superintendent will monitor sound levels using a decibel meter to help manage disruptions.
Schedule Adjustments: Some work may require schedule adjustments.
Community Events: Events will be hosted in residential areas to give impacted students the chance to hear directly from the construction team, learn more about the project timeline and ask questions.
Noise Support: To help reduce the impact of construction noise, complimentary earplugs will be available year-round at the impacted community front desks.
Quiet During Finals: SDSU is coordinating closely with the construction team to minimize noise and activity during fall and spring final exam periods.
The contractor has experience constructing in active communities and will mitigate the disruptions and impacts to the neighbors.
These activities will generate moderate noise from engines, machinery and equipment operations. Please note that the pour schedule may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, including weather, which may affect the timing or duration of pours and associated impacts such as noise.
Environmental Review and Public Input
SDSU is committed to environmental stewardship and transparency. An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been prepared for the Evolve Student Housing Project. The EIR process began with a public scoping meeting, during which the public and resource agencies provided input on the specific environmental issues to be addressed in the EIR. Public information sessions were held throughout the proposed project period.
The project was approved by the California State University’s Board of Trustees in May 2025. Under CEQA, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared to analyze the potential impacts of the student housing project on the environment.
SDSU Imperial Valley Housing
New student housing is under construction at SDSU Imperial Valley, offering 40 to 80 affordable housing beds.
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