UCAB considers plans for grocery store at Price Center
In light of the Price Center Expansion agenda for 2007, the University Centers Advisory Board is considering various locations for a grocery store as well as potential operators. Plans for a grocery store operated by the UCSD Bookstore were discussed at the UCAB meeting on May 17.
The expansion calls for an approximately 3,500 square feet grocery store, as promised in the student referendum passed last year. According to UCAB officials, two options are currently pending. UCAB can either rent out space for a privately owned grocery store, or allow the Bookstore to fully fund and operate the store. UCAB also discussed the possibility of adding a sixth Price Center restaurant to cover additional rent space if the Bookstore controls the grocery store.
According to UCAB officials, if the Bookstore funds and operates the grocery store, monies from the student-funded expansion would not be used. Because of this, several agreements between University Centers and the Bookstore were discussed. UCAB suggested the development of a student advisory board, with UCAB representation, to monitor the activities of the grocery store; an agreement of common-area custodial maintenance; and a mission statement of mutual agreement between the Bookstore and University Centers.
UCAB is only discussing the matter and no final decisions have been made. UCAB Chair Justin Williams will present the resolution agreement to the Building Advisory Committee on May 26, and UCAB will make a final decision before the end of spring quarter.
Building wins architectural awards from local group
The Natural Sciences Building, which houses UCSD’s divisions of biological sciences and physical sciences, received two design awards from the San Diego chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
The local organization granted the building one of three annual Honor Awards. The award recognizes architecture worthy of study by those in the architectural industry. The Natural Sciences Building’s sun-shaded aluminum, glass and concrete design also received the Energy Efficiency Integration Award from the group. The award recognizes structures that utilize energy performance, treatment of energy-related elements and use of technology, in addition to being environmentally sensitive in design and creativity.
The building has ocean views, is located in Revelle College, and was completed in June 2003. In addition to serving as the administrative home for the two science divisions, the building also houses research laboratories and facilities for biologists, chemists and physicists. The building features undergraduate chemistry teaching laboratories as well. Architectural firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson of Pittsburgh designed the building, with Architects Bundy & Thompson of San Diego as an associate.
UCSD takes part in large-scale emergency drill
UCSD researchers and students from the Jacobs School of Engineering and the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology participated in the largest emergency response drill ever held in San Diego County on May 12. The test was called Operation Moonlight and involved the simulation of a bomb explosion inside a Carlsbad office building. The simulation tested preparedness of first responders and emergency-relief agencies, including police, firefighters, paramedics and hazardous materials crews. The simulation involved more than 18 federal, state and local agencies in addition to local hospitals, SWAT teams, Red Cross and county health and emergency systems. A second explosion simulated the detonation of a radiological bomb in the building’s parking lot.
The drill, organized by San Diego’s Metropolitan Medical Strike Team, helped researchers study new technologies that would operate in real emergency-response situations.
During the drill, technicians used a CyberShuttle, a mobile command center outfitted with a wireless and cellular network to collect wireless data transmission from the “disaster site.” The data included victim tracking information and vital signs monitoring. Technology and equipment tested during the drill were developed at UCSD and Cal-(IT)2 engineering labs. UCSD students who participated played “victims,” enabling them to get a close-up look at how first responders use wireless technology and how it can be used to monitor vital signs.
Debriefings and discussions on how to improve wireless technologies used during the drill and how to create a first-responder computer system took place after the drill.
