University of California Riverside - Student Success Center

Lead Designers Ellie Motevalian

Entry Description

The Student Success Center at University of California, Riverside is 3 story, 62,000 GSF building comprising of classrooms, multi-purpose student life spaces, and dining services.

The open and airy atrium, Paseo, is the signature space that slices vertically through the building and connects all 3 levels. Indirect linear adjustable fixtures mounted over structural members evenly illuminate the sloped atrium ceiling 10’ above, providing ambient light for the 3rd floor and stairs. The ceiling remains uninterrupted, consistent with the airy, open aesthetics and softly “elevates” the asymmetrical roof. Thoughtful collaboration and design charettes ensured that light fixtures are rigorously aligned with the interior architecture.


The project followed Richard Kelly’s three tenets of lighting design - small, shallow fixtures integrate seamlessly with architectural details, while providing uniform illumination at the Paseo. Decorative pendants of varying lengths over the collaboration table create multiple focal points, that draw the user’s attention. Indirect ambient lighting paired with a light-colored ceiling minimizes shadows and glare, making the space look voluminous and visually comfortable. The Paseo thus showcases all the 3 layers of lighting – focal glow, ambient luminescence and play of brilliants.

Sustainability Approach

Conveniently located control keypads throughout the building provide scene setting optionality and simple building management. Site fixtures are controlled by timeclocks and photosensors. Despite the use of indirect lighting in many spaces and accent fixtures in others, the building exceeded the strict California Title 24 energy savings requirements by over 15% and is LEED Gold certified.

In addition to the budget constraint on this design-build project, the team was faced with collaborating through the tough times of COVID-19 pandemic. Cost effective light fixtures with reasonable lead times were selected, that addressed the design teams goals and ultimately satisfying the client, leading to a successful project.