UC Santa Barbara Associated Students Bike Shop

UCSB’s Associated Students desired to replace their beloved but decades-old bike shop. The design team with AS and Facilities selected a site along Ocean Road that fronts Admissions, located inside SAASB – Student Affairs and Services Building.

Admissions worried that the literal and metaphorical University entrance would consist of broken bikes, dirt, and oil, but came on board once they understood the design’s focus on sustainability, resilience through repair, do-it-yourself entrepreneurship, and cycling health and wellness. Outdoor seating areas and a sculptural “selfie wall” and bench were added for prospective students and families to hang out before and after tours.

The geometrically striking structure is a “pavilion” foregrounding the blocky SAASB. Its form references the campus figure-ground’s many roundabouts as well as the bicycle wheel and frame. A spoked shade structure defines an outdoor do-it-yourself area between the building and community selfie-wall/bench. The concrete bench holds steel plates supporting student backs as well as UCSB branding. Inside, the open, bright shop has ample space for repair stands and  plywood interior wall panels that imbue casual warmth and easy sophistication. A service counter open to the main road is punched through a long wall defining a shaded queueing area; customers can be assisted without coming inside and enjoy interactions with passersby.

This shop for UCSB’s huge cycling population is designed so that anyone, while having a bike serviced or visiting the campus, can chat with others, take a shady outdoor break, snap a proud selfie, and fully engage in the community.