Aggie Square: Community Impact Powered by People and Technology
Quick Summary
- Aggie Square, UC Davis' new $1.1 billion hub for education and discovery in Sacramento, officially opened in May 2025.
- Information and Educational Technology (IET) provided crucial technical expertise by designing and implementing the project's network connectivity and smart classroom infrastructure.
- IET supported the local community's tech talent pipeline by launching the IT Service Desk Pilot, offering training, paid experience, and career pathways for community members.
A new era of innovation and collaboration is underway on the UC Davis campus in Sacramento, thanks in part to the technical expertise of Information and Educational Technology (IET). Aggie Square officially opened in May 2025, giving the community a chance to explore the hub of innovation and discovery. The grand opening was 8 years in the making.
“Aggie Square reflects UC Davis’s strategic intent not to just build infrastructure, but to foster meaningful connection—between the university and community, innovation and entrepreneurship, and vision and execution,” said Sonja Colbert, Chief Operating Officer of IET and former Aggie Square Chief of Staff.
Technology at the Core
“IET has been involved since the very beginning,” said Florencio Inzunza, Executive Director of IET Enterprise Infrastructure Services. “We set up the networking for the Aggie Square launch office back in 2017 and have been part a big part of the design process for the whole project.”
IET advised, designed, and implemented the majority of the network connectivity, including internet access, for the first phase of Aggie Square. The first three state-of-the-art buildings are designed to spark innovations in life sciences, technology, engineering, and more.
Smart Spaces for Seamless Learning
The transformative development currently offers laboratories, workstations, collaborative spaces, flexible-use areas, and modern classrooms which should make UC Davis faculty feel right at home.
“The Aggie Square classrooms feature the same internet and AV setup as the Davis campus,” explained Tara Valtierra-Kelly, Project Manager IET Enterprise Infrastructure Services. “That way when faculty members teach at Aggie Square, they won’t have to learn a new system. They can connect and start teaching right away.”
Streamlined Access & Connectivity, Enhanced Experience
IET also played a big role in streamlining access to Aggie Square facilities. When faculty, staff, and public partners enter the buildings or various spaces inside, they will be able to use their existing badges or mobile app ID instead of having to use a special Aggie Square ID card. This seemingly simple positive user experience feature actually took years to configure.
“We worked with UC Davis Health and developer Wexford Science & Technology LLC to design the system,” said Valtierra-Kelly. “It was a big undertaking that required a lot of collaboration and creative thinking, but it was worth it. This is hugely beneficial from the user experience standpoint.”
IET played a major role in connecting Aggie Square – setting the development up with innovation, collaboration, and connectivity in mind. IET staff designed and installed the networks for many of the Aggie Square conference rooms and office spaces, providing reliable internet and top-notch AV systems.
Cultivating a Local Tech Talent Pipeline
Beyond building networks, IET is also assisted with building pathways. As part of the broader mission to empower the Sacramento community, UC Davis Human Resources and Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) launched the IT Service Desk Pilot in 2023. The program was designed to provide a pathway into the IT field through a combination of training and hands-on experience.
Participants completed a 12-week online course based on the Google IT Support Professional Certificate, followed by a five-month paid position with the IT Express Service Desk at UC Davis. The cohort also received career coaching and professional development support.
“We wanted to create a meaningful entry point into the IT world,” said Project Manager Katie Hetrick. “This pilot not only gave participants marketable skills—it also gave them confidence and connections.”
Community organizations such as La Familia Counseling Center and the Greater Sacramento Urban League were instrumental partners in the pilot, helping identify and support local talent. The pilot aligned with UC Davis’s Aggie Square Community Benefits Partnership agreement and the Anchor Institution Mission, reflecting a commitment to workforce development.
Several pilot graduates have already been hired into UC Davis roles, and the program has become a model for how the university can strengthen its ties to the Sacramento community—one skill, and one opportunity, at a time.
Stay Connected
IET will continue to collaborate with UC Davis Health and other partners on future phases of Aggie Square. To learn more about the groundbreaking development, visit aggiesquare.ucdavis.edu. You can also stay updated on the latest news by signing up for the Aggie Square newsletter at aggiesquare.ucdavis.edu/connect/newsletter.