The Stewart Commons Building will be closed for the duration of construction beginning March 23, 2026, with completion targeted for mid-September 2026 and reopening planned for Fall Quarter 2026. Spaces affected by the closure include M.O.M.'s Café, the Kupaay Study Lounge, and the El Portal Commuter Lounge. The Muir Quad Patio will also be closed during construction, and a portion of the Muir Quad Lawn will be closed for several weeks during Summer Quarter 2026. During Spring Quarter 2026, M.O.M.'s Café will temporarily operate at the nearby John's Market, located within Tamarack Apartments, and will return to its original location in Fall Quarter 2026.
Project Location/Description:
Located in the Stewart Commons building within the Muir College community, the Pines and Roots dining facility renovation will enhance the student dining experience by improving functionality and increasing indoor and outdoor seating capacity to meet growing demand. The two-story building houses Roots on a portion of the first floor and Pines on the entire second floor. The primarily interior renovation includes new finishes and FF&E in both dining areas, HVAC and kitchen equipment upgrades at Pines, the addition of a restroom, and replacement of outdated equipment at Roots to support a new menu option. The project also includes seismic upgrades, façade restoration, improved East Patio access, updated wayfinding signage, and roof replacement.
Immediate Parking Lot, Street Traffic, and Pedestrian Impacts:
The project will utilize the loading dock at Stewart Commons and Construction operation vehicles and deliveries will use Muir Lane resulting in minor delays for pedestrians and vehicles. The construction team will utilize a flagger to ensure safe and minimize impact to campus operations.
We greatly appreciate your patience as we work with our agency partners to facilitate these access, circulation, and infrastructure improvements.
Please refer to the map of the impacted area here.
Should you have questions, please contact Project Manager Rosella Arce at roarce@ucsd.edu or (858) 736-7858.
We greatly appreciate your patience during these construction activities.
