Each year the HDAE Arts & Culture committee works on a variety of projects. Recent initiatives include the Chalk & Music festival, the UCensation,  San Miguel Stage mural, and Little Free Libraries. No matter the project size, we find a way to make it happen.

calaveras study room

San Joaquin Villages Study Rooms

The HDAE MarCom team partnered with Gaucho Athletics to add graphics to the recreation rooms and study areas. A theme of nature and subtlety was chosen. Bamboo, a jungle theme, and flower elements were designed in gray and blue to go with the chosen color scheme. The project was awarded first place in the specialty category by the Association of College & University Housing Officers.

tennis player

San Joaquin Villages Recreation Rooms

As part of the San Joaquin Villages Study Room project, three Recreation Rooms were designed in a Gaucho Sports theme. The Gaucho Athletic Design group suggested large photographic wallpaper and glass photo standoffs. Dynamic, bold, and oversized… they really hit the mark when students are playing pool, air hockey, or table tennis.

san rafael mural

San Rafael Residence Hall Mural

This project began as a request from Brandon Landford and Kaity Roos (Residential Life) to ‘cheer up’ the lobby and elevator area. San Rafael is one of the older residence halls at UCSB and the hallways are filled with cloth covered walls and heavy wood paneling. Our previous graphic artist and webmaster, Eric Zobel, worked with live-in lead staff, Resident Assistants, and Front Desk staff to elicit suggestions for potential design ideas. After much discussion the overall consensus was to incorporate the hall mascot (a wolf) with the residence hall color (purple) into the overall piece. Eric took it from there and decided on a fresh and modern look with 2D-like graphics of the buildings (tower and adjacent clusters), as well as incorporating our oceanside setting and a “Welcome”. The design is one cohesive piece but occupies two separate wall sections near the first floor elevators. 

Carrillo Laundry Room Mural

A collaboration with Matt Perko, UCSB Photographer, contributed to the refresh in the Carrillo laundry room.  A panorama of Campus Point at low tide “bring the outdoors in”, a catalyst for internal cross-departmental collaboration.

HDAE Arts & Culture, Residential Operations, and residential community engagement teams came together to create a model for future initiatives. By proving that a shared external partnership can inspire internal alignment, strengthen community ties, and deliver a more impactful, unified message to both internal stakeholders and the broader community. (2022)

club banners

The Club & Guest House Banners

Sara Engebrits of The Club & Guest House requested exterior banners promoting The Club’s services — STAY, DINE, JOIN, VISIT, MEET, GATHER. Other banners include a nod to The Club’s history: "architectural icon" and "50 years and counting." Sara worked closely with previous MarCom designer, Mandy Yoshida, to bring this project to life with colorful and well-designed banners.

anacapa succulent garden

Anacapa Residence Hall Succulent Garden

The succulent garden was the brainchild of former Residence Halls Association Programming VP Addison Luria-Roberson. An idea for a simple planter box in the Manzanita Village area grew into a beautiful succulent garden at Anacapa. Eric Zobel helped facilitate the project but completion wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance of Grounds Superintendent Manuel Herrera. He and his team prepared the area, and Addison and a team of 24 students planted the succulents. Funding for the plants was provided by the Residence Halls Association and the Anacapa Hall Council. The successful completion of this beautiful garden is a great example of tenacity, flexibility, and collaboration. 

Family Student Housing Laundry Like Home

The laundry room makeover provided an opportunity to refresh the wall art. Eric Zobel (retired) donated illustrations from his personal library to enhance the wall space. By blending art with the natural sciences, Eric's Santa Barbara area Wildlife and Sealife display provides education through art. (2023)

 

Accessiblity for the 'Littles'

Placement may unintentionally exclude children, individuals in wheelchairs, or people with mobility limitations. By lowering the height of Little Free Libraries, and placing them near community areas—we take an essential step toward inclusivity. 

The HDAE Arts & Culture committee worked with our Residential Operations team to find locations and perform the installation. The Little Free Libraries have now been transformed into hubs of connection, learning, and belonging. 

Thanks Eric Zobel (Ret.), for contributing your art and legacy as Chair of the Arts & Culture committee, and making this impactful suggestion. (2025)