Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Friday, December 13, 2024 78° Today's Paper


Top News

UCLA to turn former shopping mall into centers for research

ASSOCIATED PRESS
                                California Gov. Gavin Newsom, center, surrounded by University of California, Los Angeles, officials tour the former Westside Pavilion in Los Angeles.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, center, surrounded by University of California, Los Angeles, officials tour the former Westside Pavilion in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES >> The University of California, Los Angeles, will turn a sprawling former shopping mall into cutting-edge centers for immunology and quantum science research, Gov. Gavin Newsom and other officials announced today.

The 700,000-square-foot (65,032-square-meter) former Westside Pavilion, located 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from the university’s Westwood campus, will be called UCLA Research Park.

It will house the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy at UCLA, the UCLA Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, and eventually other programs, the governor said. He said it will take a little over three years to build out the research center and another two years to attract “the best and the brightest” to work there.

“It will serve as a state-of-the-art hub of research and innovation that will bring together academics, corporate partners, government agencies and startups to explore new areas of inquiry and achieve breakthroughs that could serve the common good,” UCLA Chancellor Gene Block told a news conference.

The mall shut down years ago. In 2019, Google leased the property and planned to use part of it for office space, a project that never came about. Google helped enable UCLA’s acquisition, the university said in a statement.

UCLA did not disclose the cost of the purchase, but Hudson Pacific Properties and the Macerich mixed-use real estate company, which were in a joint venture that owned the location, said it was acquired by the University of California for $700 million.

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.