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Higher Education/Research - University of California, Riverside North District Phase 2 Student Housing

Photo by Matthew Millman

October 26, 2026

University of California, Riverside North District Phase 2 Student Housing

Riverside, Calif.

Award of Merit

Submitted by: McCarthy Building Cos.

Owner: University of California, Riverside

Lead Design Firm: Solomon Cordwell Buenz

General Contractor: McCarthy Building Cos.

Owner’s Representative: AzimuthZero

Structural Engineer: DCI Engineers

Prefabricated Wall and Floor Panel: Nevell Group Inc./Standard Drywall JV

First envisioned as a wood-framed structure, this $299.6-million student housing project was ultimately converted to a prefabricated, panelized cold-formed steel system, which brought the facility better durability, fire resistance and faster completion.

Panels arrived just in time and about 75 to 130 were installed daily, with four cranes working at peak and production rates reaching…