The Santa Cruz campus – one of multiple UCB campuses across Bolivia – sits in an emerging area of the city and is positioning itself as an anchor in the district. In response to enrollment growth, the master plan establishes a new spatial structure for the campus through a verdant and interconnected landscape network centered around walkability, sustainability and resiliency. 

This new armature creates a cohesive open space identity, reinforces connectivity between existing and proposed buildings and establishes a flexible framework for the long-term evolution of the campus.

Design Strategies

To align the physical development of the campus with UCB’s educational model, Sasaki defined design strategies that centered on supporting academic excellence, and advancing sustainability and community well-being. Through a robust process of stakeholder engagement complemented by Sasaki data and design tools, the design team translated these insights into a set of six design principles.

1. A Green Spine as a unifying campus landscape element 

A central open spine organizes the campus along the east–west axis, linking future development areas through a connected landscape framework while secondary north–south connectors strengthen pedestrian integration, improve circulation, and support diverse academic, social, and recreational campus experiences.

2. Create a heart for the campus

A recognizable campus heart brings together student life, academic spaces and administrative uses creates a vibrant gathering space and open commons for collaboration and engagement

3. Integrate sustainability across buildings and landscape

The plan implements integrated sustainability strategies tailored to local climate conditions to reduce energy use, promote natural ventilation and daylighting, and support long-term resilience through comprehensive stormwater management.

4. Share amenities to foster engagement and collaboration

Spaces and infrastructure are designed as shared resources rather than program-specific facilities, allowing multiple departments and units to access and utilize them. 

5. Define an implementation strategy for future growth

The plan establishes phased implementation strategies to allow the university’s operations to continue uninterrupted while defining complete programmatic clusters and enabling future growth to respond to available financial resources and evolving strategic priorities.

6. Promote strong connections to the surrounding district 

At the urban scale, the campus will be an anchor in the district, integrating community and commercial amenities that nurture a strong relationship with surrounding residential neighborhoods, and strengthen connections to public transportation networks.

A Green Campus

The master plan is organized by a green campus spine, inspired by the unique landscape qualities of the region and driven by a robust ecological framework. Key university amenities are positioned along this pedestrian circulation armature, such as the campus heart, library, dining hall, and recreation center to create attractive nodes of activity and open space programs. 

An urban reforestation strategy proposes a verdant tree canopy complemented by layered planting communities that prioritizes native species, provides shade and improves the campus microclimate. A key component of that strategy is the Edible Forest, where food-producing landscapes are integrated with academic programs such as agriculture, reinforcing the educational and environmental identity of the campus. This framework is designed to support ecological performance, serve the campus community, and create opportunities for outdoor learning and engagement.

A Full Campus Experience

At a programmatic level, the plan proposes integrated administrative functions, student life spaces, and academic facilities including classrooms, auditoriums, laboratories, and library, all connected through a network of corridors, arcades, and outdoor courtyards. Each intervention supports active learning, interdisciplinary research, and meaningful interaction across the university community. A recreational and athletics node anchored by soccer, volleyball, and basketball courts defines a major gathering and activity space.

UCB Santa Cruz’s mission extends beyond education and the transfer of knowledge. The campus vision supports the university in shaping conscience, promoting dialogue, and contributing to human and social development. Sasaki’s master plan provides carefully tailored spaces that allow for these spontaneous conversations to take place naturally and organically.

Phase one of the implementation plan is set to kick-off this year, 2026, as Sasaki and UCB continue their partnership with the master plan for UCB’s Tarija campus.