Evolution of Aggie Square

At the end of 2017, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and UC Davis Chancellor Gary May established a joint exploratory working group to create a framework for a new technology and innovation campus called Aggie Square. Thanks to collaboration with our university, industry and community partners, In less than three years, Aggie Square has gone from an idea, with goals to support UC Davis' core mission while growing the economic vitality of the broader Sacramento region, to Phase 1 plans comprised of: a lifelong learning office and classroom building; two science and technology buildings; housing, primarily for students; community serving uses; a parking structure; and public spaces. Each building is anchored by UC Davis programs and configured to host private industry tenants and investment.

Catch up on where Aggie Square started and where it is today by reviewing the timeline below. Become a part of this project's future by engaging with Aggie Square today.

2024

July: The City of Sacramento, in partnership with Wexford Science & Technology, awarded $40,000 to youth STEM programs near Aggie Square
July: Connect Labs by Wexford Science & Technology, a flexible lab and innovation infrastructure, is announced and set to open in March 2025 at Aggie Square
May: Aggie Square Community Engagement Meeting shares information on workforce development, career pathways, and an open house session with organizations
April: Sacramento artists invited to apply for mural projects in Aggie Square
April: Aggie Square Announces UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory as New Research Tenant
April: Bricks made by local company installed at Aggie Square
April: More renderings and details released about the Social Lab at Aggie Square
February: Aggie Square Community Engagement Meeting shares a look at Wexford’s philosophy related to public art and an overview of the upcoming opportunity for local artists to provide original murals for Aggie Square interior spaces.

2023

December: UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May names George Baxter to new position of Chief Innovation and Economic Development Officer of Aggie Square
November: Aggie Square Community Engagement Meeting shares an overview of Wexford’s Innovation Convener and the Aggie Square Community Fund
October: Groundbreaking on Mixed-use Residential Building and Building on the Square
August: Aggie Square Community Engagement Meeting features a walking tour of the exterior of the buildings
July: Biomedical Engineering students win Big Bang competition as a result of their Quarter at Aggie Square experience.
June: Aggie Square Chief Planning Director Bob Segar retires and Chief Industry Alliances Officer Mark Romney retires
May: Aggie Square Community Engagement Meeting shares subcontractor bidding and UC Davis employment opportunities
May: Aggie Square hosts 'topping-off' ceremony for its first two buildings — Life Sciences, Technology and Engineering East and Lifelong Learning
March: Local Glass vendor installs test glass at Aggie Square
February: Aggie Square Community Engagement Meeting shares information about housing development and assistance programs

2022

November: Aggie Square Community Engagement Meeting features discussion of construction, affordable housing and youth opportunities
September: Aggie Square personnel and partners receive awards of excellence from the Association of University Research Parks
August: Aggie Square Community Engagement Meeting includes discussion with representatives from the university's human resources; local employment, apprenticeship and training organizations; the project's contractor, Whiting-Turner, and more
July: NIH Grant creates national center on light-based, artificial intelligence-informed technologies at Aggie Square
June: Aggie Square hires a Community Engagement Manager
June: Sacramento Youth Commission hosts presentation on Aggie Square
February: Aggie Square groundbreaking ceremony

2021

2020

October: City of Sacramento adopts intent to establish the Aggie Square Enhance Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD)
September: The 1st Quarter at Aggie Square: Transformative Justice Studies
June: Independent economic impact report for Sacramento region is released.
January 16: Food Health and Youth Discussion held at Aggie Square Launch Space.
January 16: Aggie Square announces collaboration with the Alice Waters Institute for Edible Education at UC Davis.
January: Developer team Wexford and GMH selected for exclusive negotiations.

2019

December 3: Monthly Anchor Inter-Institutional Meetings begin.
Fall: UC Davis issues Request for Proposals for development phase one.
Summer: UC Davis issues Request for Qualifications for development phase one.
April 23: UC Davis presents initial physical plan for phase one development.
Spring: Quarterly Open Houses focused on Sacramento Campus projects begin.
February 21: UC Davis announces collaborations with IBM in Aggie Square Launch Space.
February: UC Davis holds series of town hall meetings on Davis and Sacramento campuses.

2018

September: Outreach to CEAC, neighborhood associations and civic groups begin with city's inclusive economic development planning.
August 8: UC Davis announces new rehabilitation hospital will be located in Aggie Square.
June 27: UC Davis received $2.8m in state funds for Aggie Square planning.
June 19: UC Davis and City of Sacramento announce electric bus service.
June 7: Bob Seger named as Planning Director.
June 5: Partnership Advisory Council and Community Engagement Committee Established.
April 12: UC Davis Health campus selected as site for Aggie Square.

2017

December 20 – Mayor and Chancellor announce joint working group to create a framework for a new technology and innovation campus called Aggie Square.