UCI to Open Tech House

It’s a far cry from Animal House. But starting in fall 1999, UCI’s Department of Information and Computer Science will open the doors to Tech House, an on-campus residence devoted to the pursuit of all things digital.

As many as 32 computer science undergraduates will move into the building in the southeast side of the campus. Along with the basic bedroom and kitchen facilities, the house is expected to have a computer lab, a selection of hardware devices, an extensive software library and high-speed access to the Internet.

“We’re meeting with students right now to get some ideas of what kind of equipment they’d like to have in the house,” said Jennifer Stameson, director of development for the department. “We expect it to be a really popular housing option for our students.”

The house, open only to computer science undergraduates, will join UCI’s collection of 15 academic-themed residences. (Other hot huts: House of Biological Sciences and the Home of Global Peace and Conflict Studies.)

School officials said it would cost the same to live in the house as to stay in an on-campus dorm room. Staff will start taking sign-ups from would-be residents next spring.

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P.J. Huffstutter covers high technology for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-7830 and at p.j.huffstutter@latimes.com.