Higher Education on the Mesa

Even though Santa Barbara City College has an insane location above the harbor, I imagine there are many locals who have never set foot on the campus. I only had once, years ago, when my husband and I walked from the Hotel Californian to Mesa Verde restaurant, skirting the campus and spending too much time on Cliff Drive.

The campus’s isolation is due to the elevation: it sits up on the bluff, like a fortress, and paths lead in from all directions.

The most notable path is the bridge over Loma Alta Drive that connects the east and west campuses.

Here are the views north and south from the midway point, if you’re curious.

For this walk, I decided to focus on East Campus, because it looked smaller on Google Maps. I don’t believe that’s the case at all, and I have no idea what I was thinking.

The East Campus views are amazing…

…which raises the question of how the school came to be built there. From its website:

Santa Barbara City College was established by the Santa Barbara High School District in 1909, making it one of the oldest community colleges in California. The college was discontinued shortly after World War I, and its work largely taken over by the Santa Barbara State Normal School, which became the Santa Barbara State College, and later, the University of California, Santa Barbara.

SBCC was reorganized by the high school district in the fall of 1946. Called Santa Barbara Junior College from its inception, the Santa Barbara Board of Education formally changed the name to Santa Barbara City College in July 1959.

Also in the summer of 1959, the institution moved from the Alhecama Campus in downtown Santa Barbara to its present and permanent location on the Santa Barbara Mesa, former site of the University of California at Santa Barbara. Situated on a 74-acre bluff, the campus overlooks the harbor and Pacific Ocean. Passage of a 1969 construction bond issue and a 1973 land acquisition bond issue ensured that the college would have a single, consolidated Mesa campus.

And should you want to go deeper, the Independent ran a long article on the history. The nut graf:

Most people have forgotten its earlier history as the hill where a grand “Castle,” owned and built by one of the county’s pioneers, Thomas B. Dibblee, stood. Where Montecito Street ends and Cliff Drive (Highway 225) begins is the entrance on the south side to that “Castle.” But before that, the site was also the location of four other historic venues: Indian burial grounds, a historic meeting point, a geological curiosity, and a Spanish redoubt.

The view to the north includes Patios del Sol Apartments (and its marvelous courtyard tree) and McKinley Elementary School (looking very Tuscan).

I’m getting ahead of myself. I parked at the waterfront because the signage at the entrance to SBCC’s sea-level lots wasn’t encouraging, but then I subsequently found kiosks to pay for parking there. No matter, walking was the point. And I entered the campus via La Playa Stadium, which is very rules-y.

The 84 steps to get to the top are worth the effort. If I ever have to attend another football game, and it’s here, I’ll be in the nosebleeds.

The press box also serves as conference rooms—what a distracting place to try and have a meeting!

I did this walk during the winter break, so the campus was empty. I suspect there are usually a fair number of bicyclists. The bike lane in the circle goes the long way around; I wonder how many ignore that and cut through instead.

I know what you’re thinking—it’s a hot dog on a stick!

Near the top of La Playa Stadium is the Lifescape Garden, which—well, read for yourself. I didn’t bother till I got home, or I totally would’ve searched for the “‘silly’ labels placed throughout the garden, that (1) are not real plants (2) have made up facts, and (3) are meant to make you laugh or chuckle.” That wet rock is a fountain of sorts, with water that trickles out.

Naturally (pun intended), the horticulture department is nearby. The tall plants appear to be lacinato kale, but with stems so thick and long they’re practically trees.

As at so many college campuses, the architecture comes in all styles. The midcentury vibe of Campus Center, and which you also find at UCSB, feels like a good fit for the location.

Check out the handrail posts!

Too bad someone plopped a 90s-style faux-industrial outbuilding fright in front of it.

The arches and windows at Student Services feel almost Islamic.

The Physical Science building looks like one of the dinosaurs on State Street.

And Earth & Biological Sciences could almost pass for a motel, but with an intense cornice. The building is stuck into a hillside, with a kind of moat in back.

Pardon my French, but the east side of the building is batshit crazy. It looks as if, at some point, someone affixed an annex that doesn’t relate to the original building—and then, on top of that, threw in a wacky staircase/lamppost combo.

But I sort of loved it. Why shouldn’t college campuses be kooky, architecturally speaking? It’s not like resale value is a concern. The Administration building below is far more tasteful, but also less interesting.

Even it has several personalities: the two photos below are also of the building.

More successful is the Humanities Building (“constructed in 1975 and modernized in 2014”). The doors were locked so I took a photo through the glass.

This one is another Physical Science building, but it’s almost entirely graceless. (We’ll come back to the staircase in a bit.) Why would anyone put massive awnings on north-facing windows?

Was that architect responsible for this, too? Don’t miss the raised door to the left.

The Physical Education complex swings old and new. It’s positioned to get terrific views, but then you actually look down at a depressing rooftop. That’s what we call a missed opportunity.

There are also a lot of prefab buildings scattered around the campus, undoubtedly related to budget issues in a world where there’s never enough money for education.

On a more positive note, the campus has some lovely indoor-outdoor moments.

Check out this fantastic concrete table. The second one below, meanwhile, looks like it’s ready for “The Last Supper.”

Cool chair but I think I’ll stand.

Here’s something they didn’t have when I went to school, along with something we did have—but do kids young people today really read newspapers?

Or know how to tell analog time? I guess they can always ask their parents.

And there was art. The red sculpture would look better if it wasn’t crowded by picnic tables.

The Campus Center building is covered in vibrant murals.

As is the bike shop, which you might recognize from a recent Where in Santa Barbara…? I love how the image continues around the building.

I assume that the installation called PathMaze—or maybe PathWaze, because the logo can be read either way—is for some sort of contemplation.

This may sound strange, but stairs were a highlight of the walk. Look at this charismatic one near the stadium, with a matching curved wall on the other side of the road.

And the Humanities Building has an extremely sexy ramp.

And who doesn’t like a Y-shaped staircase?

I even think this one works, in its funny way.

Which means this similar one should, too. But something is off: it’s too steep, with steps too shallow, or something. Descending it feels dicey.

With all these stairs, you need a way to get people out. I had never seen a device like this before.

That’s it for architecture! Let’s move on to signage. Plaques abounded.

The memorial to Armando Segura made me wonder for a minute what mine would say: “Fan of Jennifer Lawrence”?

There are a lot of signs reminding students and other visitors how to behave. You really, really don’t want to try skateboarding while wearing inline skates.

Finding a community of your own is crucial…

…but the Covid signage was more worrisome. Has no one at the school noticed that we’re not doing this anymore?

And every college campus has to have flyers. The rocket club (!) could’ve done so much more with that arrow.

Are there students using phones that don’t receive emails and texts?!

Please don’t live in the van if at all possible.

The mother lode!

Most were the kind of stuff you’d expect, but a couple—like the one for a novel called Stones for You—stood out. From its Amazon page:

Sebastian is a cynical, cowardly, teenager who has yet to truly understand love until he begins talking to a girl named Gloria. Gloria is a bit quirky and strange but means well. The two go through a number of challenges together, many more traumatic than the first one and more difficult than most people experience in a lifetime. Sebastian finds himself defending himself verbally and physically. The depth of love he feels for Gloria is tested repeatedly through hardship but Sebastian remains strong, always standing with his blooming courage, through it all.

And I don’t know how to feel—beyond excited, of course—that the only apt role for me is “cult leader.”

Some of the buildings have educational displays—occasionally rather basic ones. But I liked the one about Thanksgiving chemistry.

And I loved the way this teacher is selling his/her class: “Why Philosophy? […] In asking this question and then thinking about it, we are already doing a bit of philosophy. So, if you are predisposed to think philosophy is useless, then don’t ask questions like this.” (And then there’s the “mostly charts” caveat….)

This instructor isn’t bothering with words or graphics to lure people in.

As on every walk, I learned things. From the California Department of Education: “Alta Vista Alternative High School was founded in 2009-2010 to meet the unique needs of students pursuing an education through an independent studies approach. Formerly housed within La Cuesta Continuation High School, the school district added this school beginning with the fall 2009 semester. The addition of home school students and families, along with parenting minors, students transitioning out the juvenile justice system, students expelled from our district, Middle College students and traditional independent studies students, created a rationale for a standalone school to meet the unique needs of our students.” What, you may be asking, is a middle college? According to WIkipedia, it’s “a collaboration between a high school district and a community college for high school students who desire a more independent learning environment. Students take a combination of core high school courses and college courses to receive their diploma and graduate.”

And this was baffling, because it pointed to a parking lot. Lo and behold, “The mission of the [state of California’s] Clean Truck Check Referee program, operated by CARBTest.org (also referred to as CARBTest Referee), is to provide independent evaluations of non-gasoline, heavy-duty vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) over 14,000 lbs.”

Tire covers were totally new to me. “Tire covers provide a range of advantages, including protection against sun damage, harsh weather, and road debris. They also prevent premature aging and cracking of the tire rubber, ensuring that your spare is in optimal condition when needed.”

Last mystery: How could a school of all places, allow the dreaded “thru”? If there’s not room for “through,” then you can always use “via.”

Before I knew it, I was back at the stadium. Can someone explain the point of the low shed? It’s to store equipment, obviously, but why not a full-size one? So players can leap on top if they can’t stop in time? UPDATE: “Thought it had to do with covering up a sand pit, but looked it up,” tweeted @SB_Updater. “Thinking it’s a ‘pit garage’ to cover the pole vault or high jump landing area.”

P.S. On the way to my car, I spotted a sweet moment—a dad teaching his kid how to ride a bike.  At a time when the world is heading down a dangerous path, it’s nice to see that some things never change.

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Walk With Me…

Downtown Santa Barbara
• Downtown and a Little to the Left
• The Gritty Glamour of the Funk Zone
• The Upper Upper East Is Busting Out All Over
• The Presidio: In the Footsteps of Old Santa Barbara
• Brinkerhoff, Bradley, and Beyond
• Mixing Business and Pleasure in East Beach
• It’s Only Milpas Street (But I Like It)
• The Haley Corridor Is Keeping It Real
• The Small Pleasures of Bungalow Haven
• Is There a Better Neighborhood for a Stroll Than West Beach?
• E. Canon Perdido, One of Downtown’s Best Strolling Streets

Eastside
• Where the Eastside Meets the Lower Riviera

Oak Park / Samarkand
• The Side Streets and Alleyways of Upper Oak Park
• The Small-Town Charms of Samarkand

The Riviera
• The Ferrelo-Garcia Loop
• Scaling the Heights of Las Alturas
• High on the Lower Riviera

Eucalyptus Hill
• On the Golden Slope of Eucalyptus Hill
• Climbing the Back of Eucalyptus Hill

San Roque
• Amid the Saints of South San Roque
• Voyage to the Heart of the San Roque Spider Web

TV Hill / The Mesa
• The Metamorphosis of East Mesa
↓↓↓ The Highs and Lows of Harbor Hills
• Walking in Circles in Alta Mesa
• West Mesa Is Still Funky After All These Years
• A Close-Up Look at TV Hill

Hidden Valley / Yankee Farm / Campanil
• Campanil is a Neighborhood in Flux
• An Aimless Wander Through Hidden Valley
• The Unvarnished Appeal of Yankee Farm

Hope Ranch / Hope Ranch Annex / Etc.
• A Country Stroll on El Sueno Road

Montecito
• A Relatively Modest Montecito Enclave
• Strolling Under a Canopy of Oaks
• Out and Back on Ortega Ridge
• The Heart of Montecito Is in Coast Village
• Quintessential Montecito at Butterfly Beach
• Once Upon a Time in the Hedgerow
• Where Montecito Gets Down to Business
• In the Heart of the Golden Quadrangle
• Up, Down, and All Around Montecito’s Pepper Hill
• Montecito’s Prestigious Picacho Lane
• School House Road and Camphor Place

Summerland / Carpinteria
• A Stroll in the Summerland Countryside
• Admiring the Backsides of Beachfront Houses on Padaro Lane
• Whitney Avenue in Summerland

Goleta / Isla Vista
• In the Shadow of Magnolia Center
• A Tough Nut to Crack in Goleta
• Where the Streets Have Full Names
• The Past Is Still Present in Old Town Goleta
• Social Distancing Made Easy at UCSB

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