USD Degheri Alumni Center

Considered one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States, the University of San Diego (USD) is located on a scenic mesa overlooking San Diego’s Mission Bay and is distinguished by its predominantly Spanish Renaissance architecture.

USD sought to create a welcoming campus hospitality center that would bring together alumni relations, communications, marketing and public relations within a single destination.

Located at the University’s eastern gateway, the Degheri Alumni Center was envisioned as both a front door to the campus and a place that strengthens connections among alumni, prospective students, visitors and the broader University community.

Drawing inspiration from the University’s distinctive Spanish Renaissance campus, JCJ Architecture designed the Alumni Center to complement its historic surroundings while creating a welcoming arrival experience. Organized around a welcoming open-air courtyard and central fountain, the building reflects the character and scale of the campus through its Mission Revival architectural vocabulary, including arcades, clay tile roofs, stucco walls and shaded balconies.

The first floor houses the campus hospitality center and public gathering spaces, while administrative offices occupy the second floor and alumni guest accommodations are located on the third. By consolidating multiple University functions within a cohesive, contextually sensitive design, the Degheri Alumni Center reinforces the University’s identity while creating a welcoming destination for visitors, alumni and the campus community.