Exploring the Buildings of the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering

The UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science is a cornerstone of innovation and education at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Home to more than 6,500 undergraduate and graduate students and around 190 full-time faculty members, the school has a rich history and a vibrant present. This article delves into the key buildings that house the school's activities, providing insights into their functions, resources, and the communities they serve.

A Hub of Innovation: An Overview of UCLA Samueli

The UCLA Samueli School of Engineering has a distinguished academic departments, including Bioengineering, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, as well as the recently added Department of Computational Medicine, which is affiliated with both the David Geffen School of Medicine and Samueli. The school has been re-named in honor of alumnus Henry Samueli, following a $30 million gift that supported capital improvements as well as fellowships for graduate students and early career faculty.

The school is credited as the birthplace of the Internet, where the first message was sent to a computer at Stanford University on October 29, 1969, by Professor Leonard Kleinrock and his research team at UCLA.

Key Buildings and Their Functions

Teaching and research facilities at UCLA Samueli are primarily located in four main buildings: Boelter Hall, Engineering IV, Engineering V, and Engineering VI. Each building serves a unique purpose, contributing to the school's mission of education, research, and innovation.

Boelter Hall: The Heart of Engineering

Boelter Hall (Engineering II and III), named after Llewellyn M. K. Boelter, the first Dean of the school, serves as a central hub for the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering. It houses classrooms and laboratories for both undergraduate and graduate instruction. Additionally, Boelter Hall is home to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs, the SEASnet computer facility, specialized libraries, and offices for faculty and administration. The building also includes the Shop Services Center and the Student and Faculty Shop, making it a comprehensive resource for the engineering community.

Engineering IV and V: Specialized Research and Departments

Engineering IV and V are vital to the school's research infrastructure. Engineering V specifically houses the Department of Bioengineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. These buildings provide the necessary space and resources for cutting-edge research in these specialized fields.

Engineering VI: A New Era of Innovation

Engineering I was demolished in August 2011, to be replaced by Engineering VI, which houses the Western Institute of Nanotechnology on Green Engineering and Metrology (WIN-GEM) in 2014. The ground breaking ceremony for Engineering VI building was held October 26, 2012 with Congressman Henry A. Waxman and Henry Samueli. On March 19, 2015, Engineering VI phase I was dedicated and phase II broke ground with the help of James L.

Enhanced Security Measures

To ensure the safety and security of the UCLA Samueli community, access to Engineering IV, V, and VI is controlled through BruinCard authorization. Effective March 1, 2026, select doors to Engineering VI will be locked at all times, in addition to the security measures implemented last October for Buildings IV and V. These locked doors will be accessible only via an authorized BruinCard.

Accessing Engineering Buildings

For UCLA Samueli faculty, staff, and students, access to Engineering IV, V, and VI is granted by swiping or tapping your BruinCard using the card reader located at the building entrances.

Resolving BruinCard Issues

If your BruinCard is not authorized for access to Engineering IV and V buildings, contact the relevant department personnel and explain why you need access to these buildings. If your BruinCard is damaged, schedule an appointment at bruincard.ucla.edu. The fee is $25 for a lost or stolen card or $5 for a card exchange. Payment is by debit or credit card only; cash or Apple Pay will not be accepted. government-issued ID card. If you are affiliated with UCLA Samueli but your BruinCard is not properly coded, seek assistance from the appropriate administrative channels.

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Specific Door Access Changes in Engineering VI

Effective March 1, 2026, eight doors on the second through fifth floors that open to exterior stairwells on the east side of the building will be locked at all times. Entry from those doors will require an authorized BruinCard.

Alternative Access Points

If you typically park in Lot 9 and used to go through Engineering IV to access Math Sciences, consider the following alternatives:

Use one of the pedestrian access points from P9 located on both the East and West side of the building.
Refrain from using the vehicle entry point located across the Engineering IV building entrance.
Use the curb leading to Boelter Hall South West corner and use either the first floor entry or the second floor entry (across the CNSI dock).

Security Reminders

It is crucial to avoid propping doors open or allowing others to follow you into the building, especially near the end of the day and after hours. Always check behind you to ensure others have a BruinCard before letting them in.

Resources and Facilities

Libraries

The Science and Engineering Library (SEL) is an invaluable resource for students and faculty. The combined SEL collections contain more than half a million print volumes; subscriptions to nearly 5,400 print or digital journals, many with full archival access; a large collection of online technical reports; and tens of thousands of e-books.

The SEL/Boelter location, focuses on engineering, mathematics, statistics, astronomy, chemistry, physics, and atmospheric and oceanic sciences, and is the location of most librarian and staff offices. The SEL/Geology location focuses on earth and space sciences with materials in geochemistry, geology, hydrology, tectonics, water resources, geophysics, and space physics.

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The William C. The site also supplies information on course reserves, laptop lending, interlibrary loan, document delivery, news and events, and a staff directory.

Computing Facilities

UCLA Samueli maintains an advanced computing facility and local-area network to support its education, research, and administrative activities. A network of over 158 enterprise servers supply a wide array of critical services. More than 100 Unix/Linux servers, including 20 virtual machines, supply both administrative and instructional support to ensure smooth operation of approximately 700 Linux and Windows workstations. Thirty Windows servers make up the backbone for all instructional computing labs, and allow students to work remotely with resource-intensive and computationally intensive applications. A high-speed network that links the entire infrastructure ensures latency-free operation for users from UCLA and around the world. It consists of dual fiber uplinks to a Cisco core router, which feeds and routes 20 networks and over 100 switches. The servers are protected by two high-capacity UPS units along with several racked UPS for short-term power outages.

Software Availability

Faculty and staff have access to Microsoft Office software at no charge through the Microsoft Campus and School Agreement (CASA). Adobe software is available to all faculty, staff, and students through a campuswide Adobe agreement. The school’s manufacturing engineering program operates a group of workstations dedicated to CAD/CAM instruction; and the Computer Science Department operates a network of SUN, Windows, and Macintosh workstations. The school is connected to the Internet through high-speed networks.

Additional Resources and Support

UCLA Extension Department of Engineering and Digital Technology

The UCLA Extension Department of Engineering and Digital Technology offers one of the nation’s most comprehensive selections of engineering continuing education programs in engineering and computer science. The department provides cutting-edge courses in aerospace manufacturing engineering, blockchain, cybersecurity, data science, emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, mixed-signal integrated circuit design, structural analysis, for students and corporations nationwide.

Career Services

UCLA Samueli provides extensive career services, including individual in-person and remote career counseling, career assessments, workshops, industry-specific programming, employer information sessions, career fairs, and targeted networking opportunities. Annual engineering and technical fairs, held in fall and winter quarters, feature more than 100 top national and local employers. during the fourth through eighth weeks of fall quarter in 6288 Boelter Hall.

Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center

The Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center in Westwood Plaza is a full-service medical clinic available to all registered UCLA students. Most services are subsidized by registration fees, and a current BruinCard is required for service. Its clinical staff of physicians, nurse practitioners, and nurses is board certified. It offers primary care, specialty clinics, and physical therapy. The center has its own laboratory and radiology sections. It operates the Bruin Health Pharmacy and U See LA Optometry in nearby Ackerman Union. Students are required to purchase medical insurance either through the UCLA-sponsored UCSHIP or other plans that provide adequate coverage. Contact the Ashe Center for specific information on its primary care, women’s health, immunization, health clearance, optometry, travel medicine, and mind-body clinics, as well as dental care available to students at discounted rates.

Mental Health Services

Services for mental health range from routine counseling and psychotherapy to crisis counseling. Psychologists, clinical social workers, and psychiatrists assist with situational stresses and emotional problems from the most mild to severe. Service is confidential and available to regularly enrolled students. Students are seen individually by appointment or may choose from a number of groups offered each term.

Center for Accessible Education (CAE)

The Center for Accessible Education (CAE) offers academic support services to regularly enrolled students with documented permanent or temporary disabilities in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and UC and UCLA policies. There is no fee for any of these services. The Disabilities and Computing Program (DCP) supplies adaptive technology and information-access support and services to students, faculty, and staff with disabilities. Applications include voice input, Braille, large print, screen-reading software, and learning disability software. Consulting and training for individuals and departments are available.

Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars

The Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars assists students with questions about immigration, employment, government regulations, financial aid, academic and administrative procedures, cultural adjustment, and personal matters. The center seeks to improve student and community relationships; helps international students with language, housing, and personal concerns; and sponsors cultural, educational, and social programs.

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