A rendering of the new One Miramar Street graduate student housing complex.

This Week@UCSD has been asking several university departments what they have in store for this new academic year. Here’s a short list of new offerings from Housing and Dining Services, according to department director Mark Cunningham.

More than 800 students have moved into the first new graduate housing complex to open its doors on campus since 1994. One Miramar Street comprises 403 two-bedroom units and one parking spot for each resident. The $78-million complex is located behind the Mesa residential apartments. The two-bedroom units are about 700 square feet. The project includes a café, central mailroom, laundry rooms and meeting areas.

A detail of the new One MIramar Street graduate student housing complex.

A model unit from the One Miramar Street graduate student housing complex.

Rendering of the North Campus housing project.

Officials will break ground Oct. 1 on the $119 million North Campus housing project located north of Eleanor Roosevelt College. Scheduled to open in fall 2009, the new facility will house more than 1,000 transfer students. The project will include a 14-story high rise as well as several three-story buildings. Students will have access to a café and bookstore.The complex will house a total of 1,800 students once a second phase is completed later on.

Tenaya Hall, an undergraduate residence hall on the Muir campus, underwent a $4.5 million extensive interior renovation and remodeling project during the summer, including interior painting, all new flooring, suite lounge furniture, new bathroom fixtures and plumbing.

Other buildings also underwent smaller renovations, to the tune of about $250,000. At Revelle College, Argo and Blake halls received fresh paint and new fabrics on all the existing suite lounge furniture. At Muir College, the Muir Annex building has been renovated and will house the HDH Lock & Key Team. New outdoor furniture and other items will be installed at the Warren residence halls. The floors of Sixth College’s Lodge are now covered with Forbo, a high quality, resilient linoleum that is eco-friendly, easy to clean and has an expected life span of 40 years.

Housing Custodial Operations is switching to green cleaning products, to be used in residence halls and apartments. These products are in line with the department’s sustainability goals and also provide a healthier environment for students and staff members, who use them on a daily basis, Cunningham said. Staff members are currently undergoing training for proper use of these new products.

Two other views of the North Campus housing complex.

Rendering Court View

Canyon Vista is taking part in a sustainability project run by graduate students. The restaurant will collect its fryer oil and provide it to students, who hope to turn it into biodiesel.

Students will get a chance to satisfy late-night cravings at more locations on campus. Foodworx, at Sixth College, and El Mercado, at Muir College, are now open until 11 p.m. They join Earl’s Place, at Warren College, Ocean View Terrace, at Thurgood Marshall College, and Plaza on the Side, at Revelle College, which already provided late-night dining options until midnight and 1 a.m.

The staff at El Mecado.

Students dining at Foodworx.

Steve Casad was hired as new director of Dining, Retail and Conference Services. He brings more than 25 years of industry experience to the department, most recently from PETCO Park and Old Town State Park. He has served as director of food services at Sea World San Diego, was vice president of operations at The Los Angeles Zoo and has served as general manager for The American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Julia Engstrom, former director of UCSD Catering, has also been hired as the new manager for culinary enhancement and will be working very closely with Casad.