Completed in 1967 and designed by Paul Revere Williams, FAIA, UCLA’s Pritzker Hall is a key component of the university’s Franz Hall complex and home to its highly ranked Psychology Department. The eleven-story, 125,000-square-foot structure was originally conceived as a nearly cubic form, approximately 100 feet tall and wide, defined by a consistent structural concrete grid across all four façades. While the building has never been officially listed, it is eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places due to its architectural significance and the stature of its designer.
The recent renovation, led by CO Architects, treated the project as a historic preservation effort, blending sensitivity to Williams’s original design with extensive upgrades. The scope included seismic retrofitting, a complete overhaul of academic and support spaces, and an updated entry and lobby. Central to the project was the desire to present a new, modern face for the department while retaining its architectural identity. The upgraded building now houses ten new classrooms—including two active learning studios—two computer labs, 44 dry labs, advising centers, collaborative lounges, a graduate student lounge, and faculty and staff offices. A double-height lobby with amenity and study spaces further supports a diverse and flexible learning environment.
Structural façade and seismic retrofitting
The tower’s façades maintain the original exposed structural concrete grid, extending from the third to the eighth floors above a base arcade. Within this grid, Williams employed a rhythm of arched openings with angled plaster headers and spandrels. These openings either contained windows or solid cement plaster panels, creating a visual illusion of continuous fenestration. Originally, the windows featured bronze-anodized aluminum frames and bronze-tinted glazing, integrating into the building’s mid-century palette.
As part of the exterior renovation, the concrete grid was repainted from its prior brown and tan tones to a brighter hue that better matched the standard UCLA buff-colored concrete. Approximately 100 new windows were added in previously windowless bays, using frames designed to match the originals in color and profile. Cement plaster panels were repainted with a reflective bronze tone so they would appear similar to windows under natural daylight. These changes maintain the aesthetic uniformity of the façade while increasing natural light within the building.
The base arcade, spanning the first two levels, features sandblasted concrete columns and a waffle-slab ceiling. At the north-facing main entry, CO Architects replaced dark aluminum storefront walls and blank second-floor surfaces with a new double-height curtainwall. This intervention creates a more prominent and open entrance, introducing transparency and daylight to the new lobby while maintaining formal consistency. The new system uses aluminum framing with projecting vertical fins, high-performance insulated glazing, and integrated aluminum shadowboxes to continue the visual banding of the surrounding concrete structure.
Seismic reinforcement was a critical driver for the project. The design team, including KPFF Engineers and UCLA’s School of Engineering, carried out extensive computational modeling, physical testing, and materials studies. A one-third scale mockup of a section of the building was built and subjected to simulated seismic events in UCLA’s engineering lab. This testing enabled the team to minimize the visible impacts of retrofitting. The final solution introduced slender structural viscous dampers—essentially architectural shock absorbers—installed discreetly at the building’s exterior arcade and in select interior locations. Exterior dampers were enclosed in steel trim detailed to align with existing column geometry, while interior dampers were placed behind translucent glazing in classrooms and conference rooms, preserving spatial clarity without obscuring the building’s structural performance.
Interior transformation and program upgrades
At the outset of the project, Pritzker Hall’s interiors remained largely untouched since 1967. The finishes were dated and the spatial layout no longer supported the teaching and research needs of a contemporary psychology department. CO Architects undertook a full interior renovation while working closely with historical consultants Page & Turnbull to retain and reinterpret original features.
In the new double-height lobby, the design team referenced archived drawings of the building to guide material and spatial decisions. Instead of removing the existing marble feature walls and terrazzo flooring, new book-matched Calacatta marble slabs were applied over the originals. A lighter-toned terrazzo coating was poured directly atop the existing floor to maintain continuity with the building’s historical palette while enhancing brightness and durability. Opening the lobby to two stories exposed the original waffle-slab ceiling, which now connects visually with the exterior arcade. The design retained the character of the original lighting by replacing dome fixtures with similarly styled but higher-efficiency LED pendants. Larger ring fixtures were added to emphasize key gathering areas and student zones.
Student collaboration spaces were integrated into the lobby with a range of furniture types including Steelcase high-top and conference tables, Circa lounge seating, and circular sofas. Area rugs help define activity zones while providing acoustic dampening. A media wall serves to communicate current departmental research and events, strengthening connections between students, faculty, and visitors.
The upper floors were fully reprogrammed to support new academic and research functions. Ten classrooms, two computer labs, four conference rooms, an advising center, and a graduate student lounge were included in the scope. Existing elevator lobbies were redesigned with new bench seating, white oak wall cladding, and wood grille ceilings with integrated LED linear lights. Stainless steel was used to reface elevator doors, contributing to a durable yet warm material palette.
Corridors, which previously lacked windows, were redesigned to improve navigation and offer informal gathering spaces. Brightly colored “nooks” with new windows were inserted at the corridor ends to introduce daylight, aid in orientation, and encourage collaboration. Tackable surfaces along the walls accommodate posters and student materials in an organized manner.
Classrooms and meeting spaces were enclosed with laminated glass walls incorporating a custom interlayer pattern to balance transparency with acoustic privacy. Offices feature full-height oak doors and frosted sidelights to allow passive visibility while maintaining separation. New mechanical, electrical, and audiovisual systems were fully integrated throughout, supporting flexibility and active learning models.
Landscape and entry redesign
The site design, led by Studio-MLA, introduced new hardscape and planting around the north entry to better support accessibility, visibility, and informal use. The deteriorated monumental stair was replaced with a new stair and sloped accessible path, along with updated handrails and guardrails. New seating areas flank the entry and connect to the adjacent plaza, offering views of the inverted fountain and gathering opportunities.
The planting palette consists primarily of California native species, including Sycamore, Coffeeberry, Bush Anemone, Giant Chain Fern, and California Myrtle. These selections support local biodiversity while reducing irrigation demands and contributing to the formal landscape character.
Sustainability and LEED certification
Sustainability was embedded throughout the design process and construction. Although the original mandate required a minimum of LEED Silver certification, the project ultimately achieved LEED Platinum under the 2009 Commercial Interiors rating system. Key performance upgrades included high-efficiency HVAC systems, enhanced zoning and controls, and advanced lighting with LED fixtures and automated sensors. Commissioning, both fundamental and enhanced, was employed to ensure that all energy systems performed to specification.
Water-efficient plumbing fixtures helped reduce potable water use, while material selections prioritized products with high recycled content and low chemical emissions. All adhesives, sealants, paints, flooring, and furniture met LEED criteria for low-VOC emissions. Thermal comfort and indoor air quality were prioritized through detailed ventilation design and monitoring.
