The California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology,
Cal-(IT)², represents a research partnership for the University of California, the State of California, and the California-based business industry. The mission of Cal-(IT)² is to provide faculty, students, visiting scholars and business industry partners with a technologically advanced environment to conduct research in communications and information technologies, and their social implications in a "Living Laboratory" environment.

Spaces within Cal-(IT)² are open and undivided, which fosters interaction between the departments utilizing the space, and flexibility for future programming needs. Meléndrez created outdoor spaces that integrate the facility into the existing campus setting and connect it with the adjacent computer science and engineering buildings. Following the architectural model of Cal-(IT)², the outdoor rooms are open and undivided to provide opportunities for casual interaction among students, as well as offer study, meeting and event spaces. Warm landscape and hardscape materials provide students, faculty and business partners with an environment of intimate spaces rich in color and texture 

The completed facility provides a common working space for research teams from engineering, computer science, and physical, biological and social sciences, an unusual occurence in academia but central to the mission of Cal-(IT)².  The "Living Laboratories" give business industry partners the opportunity to test new products and systems in a real-world setting. Additionally, the facility provides indoor and outdoor amenities for campus and community events.

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