SUA's lovely Guest Residence overlooks Aliso Wood Canyon's Wilderness Park.
The Athenaeum at SUA, Aliso Viejo takes its name from the Temple of Athena where Socrates taught. It was designed to be a center of dialogue and learning. The Athenaeum garden overlooks Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park.
Horizon Residence Hall was named by SUA students for the junction of earth and sky as it sits at the edge of the residential community and affords an unobstructed view of Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park and Top of the World, Laguna Beach. Horizon is located west of Aurora Residence Hall and east of Minuteman Residence Hall.
SUA's Small Conference Center is used for a variety of receptions and small conferences.
Minuteman Residence Hall (to the far left) was named in memory of Minuteman Hall at SUA's first graduate school campus in Calabasas. It is located west of Somnus Residence Hall and overlooks the 4,000-acre Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park.
Aurora Residence Hall was named by SUA students. This hall is named after the Roman goddess of dawn because of the stunning city views to the east.
Sunrise Residence Hall was named by the Class of 2005 because it faces east toward the rising sun from one of the highest points on SUA’s campus. Sunrise Hall has double rooms which have their own bath, a recreation room, laundry facilities, an exercise room and a Multi-faith Room which students of any faith may reserve.
Abeona Residence Hall was named by SUA students after the Guardian and Protector of children leaving home. Abeona is located west of Sunrise Residential Hall and east of Somnus Residence Hall in the center of the Residence Hall area overlooking the one-acre Student Bowl.
Somnus Residence Hall was named by SUA students. It was named after the Roman god of sleep and dreams. Somnus Hall is located west of Abeona Residence Hall and east of Sunset and Minuteman Residence Halls in the center of the Residence Hall area overlooking the one-acre Student Bowl.
Sunset Residence Hall was named by the Class of 2005 because it faces west toward the setting sun. It is west of Somnus Hall and overlooks the 4,000-acre Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park.
Umoja (ooh-MOE-jah) Residence Hall was named by SUA students. The word is of African origin and embodies the spirit of togetherness or unity, which is a characteristic of SUA’s residential community. Umoja Hall is located west of Minuteman Residence Hall and overlooks Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park.
Wangari Maathai Hall, SUA's newest classroom building next to the Soka Performing Arts Center, opened in Fall 2011. It has 11 classrooms, 29 faculty offices, a 150-seat black box theatre, four dressing rooms, a rehearsal/dance studio and musician warm-up spaces. The hall was named for Lareate Wangari Maathai of Kenya. She was the first woman in Central and/or Eastern Africa to hold a PhD, first woman head of a university department in Kenya, and the first African woman to win the Nobel Prize in Peace. This building dedication celebrates her epic struggle for the empowerment of women and peaceful democratic change through the protection and sustainability of the environment as exemplified by the Green Belt Movement which she founded.
The Student Center has been designed to be the comfortable "living room" and "dining room" of the campus, encouraging students, faculty, and staff to interact outside of the classroom.
The Performing Arts Center will open in May 2011 as part of SUA’s 10th Anniversary celebration. The center has 1000 seats and is being built to LEED certification standards for energy and water efficiency. Note the green roof! The construction team includes Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, LLP; McCarthy Building Companies, Inc; Auerbach Pollock Friedlander (Theatre Consultant) and Yasuhisa Toyota of Nagata Acoustics.
SUA's beautiful (124,000 sq.ft.) library was named for SUA's founder, Daisaku Ikeda and his wife, Kaneko Ikeda.
It is open to the community for study and research during regular library hours while classes are in session. Children must be accompanied by adults.
The North Wing of the library hosts all library services.
The South Wing currently houses:
Aliso Canyon is adjacent to SUA's campus. Soka University is surrounded by Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park on 80% of its property line. Get up early to meet some of SUA's very quiet neighbors in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park.
Founders Hall, with its distinctive copper dome, welcomes both students and community members to campus. It is located at the front of campus overlooking Peace Lake. This is the first stop for anyone needing information about the campus or university programs.
The SUA Recreation complex includes:
As you enter SUA, you'll be greeted by Soka University's logo and members of our security team in the gate house. They will be happy to provide you with a campus map. Our security team is also trained in first aid, and will come quickly if you press the button on any of the blue emergency columns in our parking lots.
Free 1 1/2 hour guided walking tours of the campus are available at 10am and 2pm Monday through Saturday. Reservations are requested. Park in Lot A - parking is free. Tours depart from the reception desk on the first floor of Founders Hall, which is the large domed building overlooking Peace Lake on your left as you enter campus. You are also welcome to enjoy lunch or dinner at the Soka Bistro located in the center of campus in the Student Center. Breakfast: $8.25 for all you can eat - served 7:30-9:00am. Lunch: $10.25 for all you can eat - served 11:30-1:15pm. Dinner: $11.25 for all you can eat - served 5:30 - 7:00pm.