BruinHub

Year: 2019–Present

Located in the John Wooden Center, the first BruinHub is a 24/7 space for UCLA students facing long commutes or housing insecurity, with facilities to nap, stay overnight, study, store belongings, and wait out traffic. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the high cost of housing, more students have been compelled to live farther away from campus, while a study by cityLAB found that 14% of long-distance commuters had experienced homelessness. The university sees the BruinHub as part of a broader strategy to address these concerns through on-campus facilities and resources. The BruinHub is the result of years of research and advocacy by the “BruinHub Coalition,” which includes cityLAB, UCLA Student Affairs, the UCLA Community Programs Office, the First Year Experience Office, UCLA Basic Needs, and the Bruin Commuter Students Association.

cityLAB gathered input from students experiencing extreme commutes and housing insecurity to understand their common routines and needs. The BruinHub features prefabricated jellybean-like “pods” finished with vibrant paint and upholstery, each containing a full-length cushion plus pillow for sleeping or studying, reading lamp, ambient lighting, power outlet, and privacy screen. Housed within the polka-dotted walls of a former squash court, the facility also provides WiFi, lounge areas, cafe-style workstations, a refrigerator and food prep area, personal storage, and nearby showers. The BruinHub was launched on September 23, 2021, and fully opened to students on September 27, 2021. A second BruinHub in UCLA’s Strathmore Building opened in 2023, tied to Basic Needs services, and future BruinHubs are planned on campus.