California State Polytechnic University Sicomoro Hall and Secoya Hall

California State Polytechnic (Cal Poly) University–Pomona is acutely in tune with its prospective students and incoming freshmen, which is why they challenged HMC Architects to design new, modern-living student housing at the doorstep of the 61-year-old campus and transform Cal Poly Pomona into a cosmopolitan community.

California State Polytechnic 

Photo © Lawrence Anderson

Pushing against its commuter-campus reputation and serving to promote the school’s focus on student success and community, the two new eight-story residential towers and dining commons will serve as an exciting center for campus community building. The approximately 340,000-squarefoot project will offer nearly 1,000 first-year student residents smaller communities within larger towers, as well as a variety of communal spaces for different activities.

California State Polytechnic 

Photo © Lawrence Anderson

The collaborative design-build team consisting of HMC and Sundt Construction created a mid-rise design that interlaces shared social spaces, natural light and open-air connections throughout the entire eight floors of each of the two new buildings.

Located along the entry to campus and adjacent to the historic Stables on Kellogg Hill, the buildings form a prominent beacon to students and visitors.

California State Polytechnic 

Photo © Lawrence Anderson

Each floor has two 35-student households, creating a home away from home environment. Ground-floor amenities are connected to outdoor spaces, promoting socialization and wellness. Balconies on the fifth floor connect students living on upper floors to the outdoors. Living rooms and lounges use full-height glass to queue students into the social activities happening inside, while also capturing amazing views of the San Gabriel Mountains.

California State Polytechnic 

Photo © Lawrence Anderson

Student engagement is driven by diverse social space with living rooms, shared bathrooms and large communal stairway lounges. Gender and social equity influenced how community and bathroom spaces were designed — such as using fullheight bathroom partitions and equitable access to amenities. Bedrooms feature abundant natural light. Shared social spaces create an intimate environment where students can interact.

California State Polytechnic 

Photo © Lawrence Anderson

Students will enjoy meals in a new 650-seat dining commons located at the campus entrance and gateway to the housing community.

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2020 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Rice University to Build New Student Life Complex

    Rice University in Houston, Texas, recently announced that a groundbreaking ceremony for the upcoming Moody Center Complex for Student Life (MCCSL) will take place on May 8, 2025, according to a university news release. The 75,000-square-foot facility was designed by architecture firm Olson Kundig with Page serving as executive architect, and it has an estimated completion date of fall 2027.

  • Greenheck Debuts New Energy Recovery Ventilator

    Greenheck recently released a new energy recovery ventilator, the ERVi, designed for small indoor spaces like basements and mechanical rooms, according to a news release. The hardware can fit through a 30-inch door and be mounted on the ceiling for retrofit and decarbonization projects.

  • Texas School District Opens New Elementary School

    The Boerne Independent School District (Boerne ISD) near San Antonio, Texas, recently opened a new elementary school that serves almost 500 students, according to a news release. The district partnered with Pfluger Architects to build the 97,151-square-foot Viola Wilson Elementary School, which opened in August.

  • Massachusetts High School to Build New Athletics Facility

    Middlesex School, which serves boarding and day students in grades 9–12, recently moved forward with plans to build a new athletics facility for its campus in Concord, Mass., according to a news release. MassDevelopment recently issued a $43.7-million tax-exempt bond to fund the project.