A high point for SDSU life sciences
New building construction "tops out" ahead of grand opening during the 2027-28 academic year
Tuesday, April 28, marked a high point — both literally and figuratively — as a crane hoisted the final steel beam into place atop SDSU’s new Life Sciences building, scheduled to open during the 2027–28 academic year.
A group representing the SDSU community, university supporters and construction partners gathered for a “topping-out ceremony,” a traditional construction milestone marking the placement of a building’s highest structural beam. The beam was slowly lifted into place after being inscribed with signatures and notes from those in attendance. The remainder of construction will encase the beam and its signatures in perpetuity.
“Like higher education, constructing a building is a long, complex journey that requires vision, grit and perseverance,” said SDSU President Adela de la Torre. "There’s value in pausing along the way to celebrate progress, and that’s what today represents.”
The milestone marks a major step toward completing a facility designed to transform life sciences education and research at SDSU. The new building will occupy 1.3 acres in the heart of SDSU’s College of Sciences. Research and teaching labs will be relocated from the existing North Life Sciences building, which was built in 1962, to the new building.
The project aligns with SDSU’s 2025 designation as an R1 research university, placing it among the top 5% of institutions nationwide for research activity. The cutting-edge facility will enable critical research in areas such as cancer and infectious diseases. It will also foster industry partnerships essential to advance scientific discovery and train new generations of life sciences professionals for successful careers after graduation.
San Diego has one of the nation's largest biotech clusters and boasts nearly 60,000 life sciences jobs, creating demand for a skilled workforce. Recognizing this opportunity and need, the California State University Board of Trustees approved plans for the new building as part of SDSU’s STEM Forward initiative in January 2025.
“Construction of our new life sciences building has progressed steadily and this week we celebrated a key milestone,” said Jeffrey Roberts, dean of SDSU’s College of Sciences. “A project like this requires a great deal of collaboration and we are especially grateful to our generous donors who continue to help make this a reality.”
The construction site lies on the northeast corner of campus along Canyon Crest Drive, just northwest of the Chemical Sciences Laboratory.
At five stories and nearly 80,000 square feet, the new building’s classroom, lab and office spaces are designed with sustainability in mind. They will feature both wet and dry laboratories for teaching and research, faculty offices and support spaces, and areas for collaboration and student interaction.
“This building reflects SDSU’s commitment,” said Roberts, “to preparing our students to build careers and lead in the STEM workforce while driving innovation and economic growth in the region.”
The beam was carried to the top of the structure with an American flag and a small evergreen tree, part of an ancient Scandinavian tradition representing growth and long life for the development.
Additional information on the Life Sciences building and naming opportunities can be found online.
