Mesa Court
Residence Hall History
and Descriptions
Mesa Court was the first residence hall community at UCI, opening with the campus in 1965. Since then, the community has grown with the campus. Mesa Court is now the largest student community on campus, housing 1,834 undergraduates in 29 residence halls. Each hall accommodates between 54 and 71 residents in suite-style layout. Mesa Court houses mainly first year students.
Each hall in Mesa Court is coeducational with single-gender suites. Each suite shares a lounge and bathroom, and each hall has its own central living room/lounge, kitchen, and laundry facilities.
The large living rooms in each hall are used for hall meetings, social programs, workshop presentations, or for informal gatherings with fellow residents.
The kitchen is equipped with a microwave, a full-size refridgerator, a stove, and an oven. Please bring your own appliances (spoons, forks, plates, pots, etc..) if you wish to use the kitchen.
Many of the halls in Mesa Court have special interest themes and academic courses that are associated with them. These halls provide residents with opportunities to share and expand their interests.
| Unit I Halls - Detailed Location Map (PDF, 325Kb) | ||
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| Hall Names | Arroyo (stream) 4009 Mesa Road Bahia (bay) 4013 Mesa Road Camino (road) 4021 Mesa Road Cielo (sky) 4019 Mesa Road Ciudad (city) 4025 Mesa Road |
Cuesta (slope) 4017 Mesa Road Lago (lake) 4007 Mesa Road Loma (hill) 4003 Mesa Road Sierra (mountain) 4015 Mesa Road Viento (wind) 4023 Mesa Road |
| Avg. Room Dimensions | Double Room: Approx. 170 square feet. Single Room: Approx. 100 square feet. |
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| Unit II Halls - Detailed Location Map (PDF, 325Kb) | ||
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| Hall Names | Brisa (breeze) 4029 Mesa Road Cumbre (peak) 4037 Mesa Road Otero (grassy knoll) 4035 Mesa Road |
Prado (meadow) 4027 Mesa Road Puente (bridge) 4033 Mesa Road |
| Avg. Room Dimensions | Double Room: Approx. 184 square feet. Single Room: Approx. 136 square feet. |
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| Unit III Halls - Detailed Location Map (PDF, 325Kb) | ||
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| Hall Names | Estrella (star) 4041 Mesa Road Nubes (clouds) 4045 Mesa Road |
Palo (pole) 4043 Mesa Road Vista (view) 4039 Mesa Road |
| Avg. Room Dimensions | Double Room: Approx. 184 square feet. Single Room: Approx. 136 square feet. |
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| Unit IV Village Halls - Detailed Location Map (PDF, 325Kb) | ||
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| Hall Names | Aldea (village) 4073 Mesa Road Barranca (gorge) 4067 Mesa Road Laguna (lagoon) 4075 Mesa Road |
Selva (forrest) 4077 Mesa Road Isla (island) 4069 Mesa Road Jardin (garden) 4071 Mesa Road |
| Avg. Room Dimensions | For Aldea, Barrance, Laguna, and Selva: Triple Room: Approx. 200 square feet Single Room: Approx. 145 square feet. For Isla and Jardin: Triple Room: Approx. 240 square feet. Double Room: Approx. 182 square feet. Single Room: Approx. 145 square feet. |
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| Unit IV Hillside Halls - Detailed Location Map (PDF, 325Kb) | ||
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| Hall Names | Cascada (waterfall) 4061 Mesa Road Lluvia (rain) 4047 Mesa Road |
Niebla (mist) 4059 Mesa Road Ondas (waves) 4055 Mesa Road |
| Avg. Room Dimensions | Double Room: Approx. 196 square feet. Single Room: Approx. 140 square feet. |
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Special Interest Halls & Academic Classes
Mesa court is comprised of 29 halls. Seven halls are general interest and 22 are theme-related. All the halls in Mesa Court have single-gender suites.
Academic Excellence Halls (includes Campuswide Honors Hall)
Arroyo, Isla, Nubes, Loma and Barranca
| These halls are committed to providing students with an atmosphere conducive to study and academic excellence. In addition to programming around academics, the students in these halls agree to special community standards in order to support the academic efforts of fellow residents. Loma and Arroyo Halls are reserved for students in the Campuswide Honors Program. Special admission requirements apply to these residents. |
Interest in Music Hall
Otero
This hall community is developed for students from diverse academic backgrounds and majors who share an interest in music. Residents in this hall need not major in a musical field; non-music majors are encouraged. Residents will be encouraged to explore the diverse musical presentations and performance opportunities on campus and in the surrounding community and further their own musical interests. We are committed to providing students with an environment in which they can explore their shared passion for music as a community while supporting their individual success in their academic disciplines. Otero is equipped with a piano and a mirrored practice space and is in close proximity to the Claire Trevor School of the Arts. |
Mass Media and Communication Hall
Viento
Students are provided opportunities to explore forms of broadcast media, such as radio and television, forms of print media, and the fields of video and film production through hall programming events, faculty interaction and community dialogues about its usage and influence in society. In addition, students will be encouraged to explore leadership and career opportunities in the world of broadcasting and communication. Living in this community will introduce residents to such campus-wide leadership/broadcasting opportunities, as the KUCI-FM campus radio station, the New University student newspaper, 24-Hour Mad Film Dash, and other UCI programs. |
Wellness Hall
Bahia & Lago
| Residents in these halls are encouraged to learn more about an array of wellness topics and support a community that allows for growth of personal wellness. In order to facilitate and support the values and goals of the residents in these communities, programs are offered which enhance students’ understanding of various wellness issues, including nutrition, physical fitness, mental health, financial balance, and spiritual wellbeing. Residents in these halls are given priority when registering for wellness courses offered in the hall and complex. |
Emerging Leaders Hall
Ciudad
| These halls are designed to enhance leadership skills and potential. Students who live in these halls will have the opportunity to learn about her/himself as an emerging leader at UCI and beyond. Throughout the year students will be exposed to a variety of individual and group leadership skills. Topics may include leadership style assessment, communication, intercultural awareness, diversity, volunteerism, leaders in action, values and ethics, and the impact of leadership in a global society. Students may be connected to leadership classes offered at UCI like the Passport to Leadership Program and in Mesa Court, including the Mesa Court Leadership Institute. Residents are encouraged to share their campus involvement and play an integral role in developing leadership within the halls. |
Community Service & Social Justice Hall
Cumbre
| This hall brings together students who have a commitment to community service, civic engagement and social justice. Residents will engage in activities that address community needs within the University and in the surrounding communities. In addition, students will be encouraged to engage in dialogues about social issues, and will explore them through hall programming events, faculty interaction, and community involvement. Students will be exposed to the UCI Center for Service in Action and will be able utilize this resource to develop their own service projects and initiatives. |
Campus Connection Halls
Brisa, Puente
| These halls are designed to educate residents about campus resources, services and opportunities as well provide a community of support while residents get involved and “find their niche” in college. These halls allow residents to learn about campus resources like career services, student activities, academic support services, study abroad opportunities, student organizations and campus recreation through formal presentations and informal interactions. Residents will have the opportunity to participate in classes that help them understand university resources, services and opportunities while also learning about issues related to college student transition and personal development. |
Interest in the Performing Arts Hall
Prado
| This hall is designed for students from a wide variety of majors who share an interest in the arts. Residents in this hall need not major in an artistic field; all majors are welcome. Prado focuses on students with an interest in the performing arts. Because of the proximity of this hall to the Claire Trevor School of the Arts, students can explore the rich offerings of the graduate and professional arts community. We are committed to providing students with an environment in which they can explore their shared passion for the arts as a community while supporting their individual success in their academic disciplines. Prado is equipped with a piano and mirrored dance space. |
"Community in a Diverse Society" Class Experience Hall and Academic Class
Sierra
| (required 4-unit class) A multicultural hall with over 35 years of tradition, Sierra has provided opportunities for student growth since 1971. All residents are required to participate in a progressive 4-credit in-hall class that provides a unique opportunity that challenges residents to think beyond their current boundaries. Residents will explore a variety of issues in diversity, clarify their values and ethics, and further their understanding and their ability to make an impact in their community. |
Diversity: Advocacy and Activism Hall
Jardin
| Cultural diversity, social events, and appreciation of differences are highlighted in this hall through a variety of programmatic and educational efforts. This hall (with Aldea) offers opportunities for students to explore such issues as socioeconomic status, LGBT issues, multicultural vs. multiethnic communities, and encourages students to identify the opportunities & challenges that come from being a citizen of a diverse global community. Jardin’s specific focus is Advocacy and Activism. Students and staff will explore various ways to become involved in campus and community issues and will identify the best methods towards a system of positive progression in society. |
Diversity: Global Issues Hall
Aldea
| Cultural diversity, social events, and appreciation of differences are highlighted in this hall through a variety of programmatic and educational efforts. This hall (with Jardin) offers opportunities for students to explore such issues as socioeconomic status, LGBT issues, multicultural vs. multiethnic communities, and encourages students to identify the opportunities & challenges that come from being a citizen of a diverse global community. Aldea’s specific focus is Global Issues. Students and staff will explore important international issues and use particular events and processes to have a better understanding of the world around them. |
First Year Excellence Program (FYEP) Hall and Academic Class
Ondas and Palo
| (Undecided/Undeclared majors only; apply with an essay) The First Year Excellence Program is designed to support first-year students making the transition to University life, and then help them define their educational and career goals. The FYEP is open to students who (a) do not plan to declare a major until the end of their first year; (b) have a minimum high school GPA of 3.0, and (c) have demonstrated leadership abilities. FYEP participants are required to take a two-unit course fall quarter, “A Freshman Experience,” and a two-unit course winter quarter, “Overview of Majors,” which may be offered in the hall living room. |
Interest in Engineering and Technology Hall
Cascada
| This innovative hall explores the impact of technology on our daily lives. Open to students of all majors, residents will explore how science, technology and engineering empower many fields of study. Students can engage in dialogues related to scientific breakthroughs as well as the many ethical challenges that these discoveries present. This includes concerns in biotechnology and genetic research, the impact of technology on communication and society, and the development of new technologies that might deplete natural resources. Students will also have the opportunity to engage in discussion about how engineering and technology can be utilized to provide solutions for local and global issues. |
Interest in Global Sustainability
Vista
| This hall brings together students who have an interest in environmental issues, sustainability, and eco-friendly living. Residents of this community will explore the impact of personal decision-making on the environment and its natural resources through hall programming events, faculty interaction and community involvement. Residents are encouraged to explore ways to practice and promote conservation and “green” living. Residents will also have opportunities to engage in dialogues about issues such as global environmental change, policy and management of natural resources, sustainable rural and urban environments, and environmental leadership. Residents will also be encouraged to learn more about campus and community organizations and efforts related to topics of sustainability, including Green Campus, Students for Sustainability, Anteaters for Recycling and Conservation, and CALPIRG. |
Interest in Visual Arts Hall
Cielo
| Students from any academic background are invited to join this hall community geared towards the visual arts. Residents will be encouraged to explore different visual media including: photography, drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, and graphic arts. Additionally, residents will be supported in exploring the use of computer technology in the process of creating new art forms. As with the other halls with an interest in the arts, Cielo is in close proximity to the Claire Trevor School of the Arts. |
Camino, Cuesta, Estrella, Laguna, Lluvia, Niebla, Selva
General Interest Halls provide growth opportunities to help residents define their educational goals through outreach opportunities and programs which serve to support and reinforce First Year Initiatives and the Mesa Court Housing values of Academic Excellence, Diversity, Leadership, and Wellness. The environment in these halls addresses developmental issues including, but not limited to, homesickness, interpersonal relationships, time and stress management, getting involved, managing conflict, and self-expression in order to assist students in building a solid foundation for collegiate success.
