Groundbreaking ceremonies for “One Miramar Street,” a new residential apartment complex for graduate students at the University of California, San Diego, will be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 26 on the East Campus site near Mesa Apartments.

A top campus priority for many years, the $78 million project represents the first new graduate housing to be constructed since 1995.

Joining Chancellor Marye Anne Fox in turning the symbolic first shovel of dirt will be Boone Hellmann, assistant vice chancellor, UCSD Design and Construction; Jon Wald, executive vice president, Sundt Construction; Eric Nasland, principal, Studio E Architects; Steve Relyea, vice chancellor, and Robert Simons, MVE Architects. Mark Cunningham, director of UCSD Housing and Dining Services, will serve as master of ceremonies and host for the occasion.

The project involves construction of four-story apartment housing for 800 graduate students and six staff personnel, and adjacent parking for 800 vehicles. Of the total 800 parking spaces, 682 will be provided in a six level parking structure, and 124 on adjacent surface space.

The unfurnished, two-bedroom apartment units will be contemporary in style and constructed of wood and concrete. Natural earth tone colors, ranging from olive to ochre, will be used on the building exteriors. Awnings will be placed randomly above windows to provide sun protection and energy efficiency, as well as architectural character.

Cunningham noted that the campus currently houses over 1,600 graduate and medical students, and there is up to a two year wait for inclusion in these facilities.

Occupation of the new project is anticipated for July 1, 2007.