View from campus park showing the Main Library, 1969.

On November 3, the Libraries will present, “Designing UCI: A Symposium and Exhibit Celebrating Forty Years of Innovation.” The symposium will be held from 4:00-6:00 pm, at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. A reception and exhibit opening will immediately follow at Langson Library.

Designing UCI is a key event in the campus's year-long anniversary celebration. The program will focus on three major topics: building a university-centered city in Irvine, with remarks by Ray Watson, former president of The Irvine Company; a design for academic excellence, to be discussed by Professor James McGaugh, founding director of the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory and former executive vice chancellor; and, campus architecture, featuring a presentation by Rebekah Gladson, UCI's current campus architect.

Speakers Ray Watson, Rebekah Gladson, James McGaugh and Michael Gottfredson.

Executive Vice Chancellor Michael Gottfredson will offer general reflections on the campus's progress over the past four decades, as well as some projections for the future. Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professor Spencer Olin will moderate, University Librarian Gerry Munoff will host, and Chancellor Michael Drake, M.D. will welcome the audience.

The event will also feature the opening of the Libraries' Fortieth Anniversary exhibit, “Under Construction Indefinitely: Forty Years of Designing UCI,” that will highlight the initial planning and design of the UC Irvine campus and its architectural evolution over four decades. The exhibit is curated by Professor Olin and archivists Rachel Sandoval and Annie Mar of the Libraries' Special Collections and Archives Department.

The event is free and open to the public. Reservations requested by October 25. For further information please contact partners@uci.edu or 949.824.5300.