The University of California, Davis, has issued a request for proposals, or RFP, to a group of real estate developers interested in financing, designing, building, owning and managing the first phase of Aggie Square, a new innovation hub for the university’s Sacramento campus.

The developers were selected from a list of firms who responded to the university’s original request for qualifications in June. All have experience with complex, major development projects. The four master developers and partners are: BioRealty/Greystar; Hines; The University Financing Foundation Inc. (TUFF)/Collaborative Real Estate LLC/CA Ventures; and Wexford/GMH Capital Partners.

Aggie Square’s Phase 1 plan calls for approximately:

• 500,000 square feet of science, technology and engineering space;
• 250,000 square feet of classroom, office and co-working space;
• 200 housing units for undergraduate, graduate and professional students;
• 30,000 square feet of “community-serving” ground-floor space; and
• a market plaza and pavilion connecting Aggie Square with the community.

The university confirmed some of the programs it would bring to Aggie Square in Phase 1. The initial UC Davis anchor tenants include UC Davis Health and related academic programs, Continuing and Professional Education, the Sacramento Part-Time MBA Program of the Graduate School of Management, the Office of Public Scholarship and Engagement, and a range of life sciences, technology and engineering research programs. Additionally, space is allocated for new business incubators and accelerators.

The RFP also provides space for industry and community-based partnerships as part of the project. The university announced a collaboration with IBM in February and will share more partnership information as details are finalized.

Developers have until mid-November to submit their proposals. The university plans to announce a selected developer in mid-December.