Big changes are coming to student parking next school year, especially for juniors. 

As part of the upcoming construction of the school’s new Hub for Human Impact, the South Middle School parking lot will be closed and repurposed as a staging area for construction equipment. This closure will result in the removal of 22 student parking spaces. While parking for faculty, staff, and visitors will remain unchanged, rising juniors will be affected the most. All 22 lost spaces will be pulled from the current junior parking in the Genesee Lot, significantly reducing the already limited number of on-campus spots available to juniors.

With fewer on-campus spaces available, juniors will continue to rely heavily on off-campus parking at UCSD. Since junior parking on campus is available only in the Genesee Lot on a first-come, first-served basis, early arrival is crucial for juniors hoping to secure a spot.

While juniors face tighter competition for fewer spaces, senior parking is expected to remain largely unchanged. In a statement from Kevin Worth, the Assistant Head of School and Chief Operations Officer, “Senior spaces will only fluctuate by the difference in number of Seniors from this year to next year.” Seniors who drive have consistently been supported with access to a parking space, and that approach is expected to continue. However, final layouts and parking allotment will not be confirmed until enrollment for the upcoming school year is complete.

Looking further ahead, the school’s 30-year master plan includes the possibility of underground parking, a potential long-term solution to ongoing space limitations on campus. Although there’s no set timeline yet, the plan suggests that more permanent changes could be on the way. While current adjustments may bring short-term challenges, they’re part of a broader effort to improve and expand the campus in the years ahead.