July 8, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

California to Transform Former Mall into Cutting-Edge Research Hub – UCLA Research Park

Westside Pavilion Site to Become a Center of Global Research and Innovation 

By Dolores Quintana 

After the surprising news earlier this week that UCLA was purchasing the site that formerly was the home of The Westside Pavilion instead of the previous plan for Google to transform it into an office campus, speculation began as to why UCLA made the purchase. 

Today, all of those questions were answered when Governor Gavin Newsom held a press conference on the future of the site. The answer to the question of what the site will be used for has turned out to be very exciting, indeed. 

California is repurposing the site of a vacant former mall in Los Angeles into a world-renowned research and innovation hub, where scientists and engineers from UCLA will spearhead breakthroughs to address global challenges. Governor Gavin Newsom, in collaboration with University of California (UC) President Michael Drake, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, Google representatives, elected officials, and leaders from academia, business, and healthcare, announced the acquisition of the former Westside Pavilion shopping mall in Los Angeles. This site, now known as the UCLA Research Park, is poised to be a nexus for collaborative projects with global implications.

Governor Newsom expressed, “California is the epicenter of global innovation — from the creation of the internet to the dominance of artificial intelligence, humanity’s future happens here first. Leveraging the next waves of technology and science — quantum computing and the immense potential of immunology — the UCLA Research Park will cement California’s global economic, scientific, and technological dominance into the 22nd century and beyond.”

The 700,000-square-foot property is set to house two initial multidisciplinary research centers: the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy at UCLA and the Center for Quantum Science and Engineering.

UC President Michael Drake commended the collaboration, stating, “This purchase exemplifies the remarkable collaboration between the University of California, the State of California, and our partners in the private sector. Investments like this help ensure that the University can continue to thrive and serve people across California.”

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block expressed gratitude for the transformative investment, stating, “Governor Newsom and the California Legislature helped make this possible through a generous state investment, and we are deeply thankful for their support.”

The new UCLA Research Park, made possible in part by a prior state investment, will foster groundbreaking research in immunology and immunotherapy. Supported by a group of founding donors, the institute aims to bring together scholars, corporate partners, government agencies, and startups to explore new areas of inquiry and achieve breakthroughs with global impact.

Through strategic public-private partnerships with Google, Hudson Pacific Properties, and Macerich, the state is saving approximately $223 million on the research park and expediting its opening by several years. Google, which previously leased part of the property, played a key role in enabling and supporting UCLA’s acquisition.

Scott Foster, Google’s vice president of real estate and workplace services, commented, “We’re delighted that UCLA will be further developing this state-of-the-art facility to help accelerate transformative research and innovation.”

The California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy at UCLA, housed in the UCLA Research Park, will draw on the expertise of scholars and leading scientists to pursue tools, treatments, and vaccines for various health-related issues, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, and heart conditions.

Additionally, the research park will host the UCLA Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, contributing to the emerging field of quantum science and technology. Research in quantum computing, communication, and sensing has the potential to revolutionize information processing power, enhancing capabilities in medication discovery, artificial intelligence, climate change mitigation, and complex scenario modeling. Quantum computing could solve equations in minutes that would traditionally take existing computers tens of thousands of years to complete. The UCLA Research Park is poised to be a global leader in scientific and technological advancements, shaping the trajectory of research well into the future.

in News
Related Posts

Interview: The Dinah Creator Mariah Hanson on Legacy, Change, and the Future of Queer Celebration

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

After 34 Groundbreaking Years, Hanson Reflects on Joy, Power, and Her Final Dinah  We spoke with Mariah Hanson, the creator...

Shore Hotel: A Local Destination for Summer Fun

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Bring on all things summer. Walking or biking along Santa Monica Pier, you might find yourself taking a pause at...

One Last Bite: La Novia Bids Farewell with Final Pop-Up at Cardinale du Vin

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Inventive Latin-Asian Pop-up Serves Seasonal Small Plates for One-Night-Only La Novia, the pop-up kitchen known for its inventive Latin-Asian flavors,...

Governor Newsom Unveils Fast-Track Rebuilding Plan on Six-Month Anniversary of Palisades Fire

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

State Clears Over 5.5 Billion Pounds of Debris From Fires Ahead of Schedule Marking six months since the devastating Eaton...

Soprano Golda Zahra Returns to BroadStage For a One-Night-Only Musical Celebration

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Hailed as “the rising star of the opera world” by The Hollywood Times, internationally acclaimed soprano Golda Zahra makes her much-anticipated return to BroadStage in...

Transform Your Life: The Free Virtual ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT Debuts July 18-20, 2025

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT, a transformative three-day virtual event, is coming, July 18-20, 2025, offering participants worldwide a free opportunity...

Bel Air and Holmby Hills Estates Lead May’s List of America’s Top 10 Home Sales

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

LA Claims Two of the Top Three Luxury Home Sales Last Month expensive residential transaction in the U.S. for May,...

Developer Seeks to Replace Mid-Century Building With 65 New Units in Palms

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Apartment Complex Near E Line May Be Demolished for Larger Housing Project Mid-century apartments near Metro’s Palms Station are set...

Michael Madsen, Star of Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Dies at 67 in Malibu

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Actor Remembered for His Intense Performances and as a Poet  Actor Michael Madsen, known for his distinctive gravelly voice and...

Los Angeles City Council Cracks Down on ‘Disaster Tours’ in Pacific Palisades

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

City Council Bans Commercial Bus Tours in Burn Zone Amid Community Backlash Tour buses that have been operating in fire-ravaged...

Tow Truck Scammers Target Crash Victims Across L.A.: Authorities Warn of Fraud at Accident Scenes

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officials Urge Drivers to Stay Alert After Collisions as Rogue Operators Demand Inflated Fees  Motorists involved in vehicle accidents are...

Woman Dies After Melrose Store Altercation: LAPD Launches Homicide Investigation

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Critically Injured Young Woman Died July 2, After She was Badly Beaten at Work  The death of a woman critically...

CHP Officer Dies in Culver City Crash: Medical Emergency Suspected Behind Tragic Incident

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officer lost consciousness while transporting a suspect before crashing into a tree California Highway Patrol Officer Miguel Cano died early...

L.A. Beaches Brace for Holiday Rush: Over 1 Million Visitors Expected This Fourth of July

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

County Officials Urge Beachgoers to Pack Out Their Trash and  Monitor Water Quality More than one million visitors are expected...

(Video) A visit to New York Bagel & Deli in Santa Monica

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Authentic NY Style Bagels with Extra Creamy Cream Cheese and Multi-Cultural Desserts. Located at 2216 Wilshire Blvd. A visit to...