An inside look at living, studying and working at Cal Poly.

Inside Cal Poly

Curious about construction efforts happening across campus? So are we!



To help the Cal Poly community stay informed, we have assembled a comprehensive list detailing recent updates to the university’s ongoing capital projects.



Kennedy Library



The highly anticipated <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/facilities/planning-capital-projects/project-news/kennedy-library/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert E. Kennedy Library renovation</a> will feature an energy-efficient, sustainable design that accommodates programming needs. Current updates include paving the courtyard and working on the landscape, illuminated interior lighting, more interior finishes and an ADA ramp installation.



The library is still on schedule to open Fall 2025.



Wastewater Reclamation



The design and construction of an on-campus <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/facilities/planning-capital-projects/project-news/water-reclamation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wastewater Reclamation Facility</a> (WRF) to process a portion of the raw campus wastewater currently sent to the City of San Luis Obispo’s treatment plant has begun new construction activities, including:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Final field investigation for aligning the new ~6,000-foot force sewer main pipe from the lift station to the reclamation facility.</li>



<li>Minor work near the Swine Unit, setting up construction yard, offices and building temporary construction utilities.</li>



<li>Mass grading will begin early to mid-April on the recycled water reservoir near the swine unit.</li>
</ul>



Plant Sciences and Animal Health



Concrete slab-pouring on Highland Avenue and Mt. Bishop Road has begun, bringing the&nbsp;<a href="https://cafes.calpoly.edu/giving/plant-sciences-complex">Plant Sciences Complex</a>&nbsp;one step closer to reality. The 23,000-square-foot laboratory building and master site planning will immerse students in contemporary and climate-smart plant sciences research, emphasizing the farm-to-fork supply chain.



Structural steel for the <a href="https://cafes.calpoly.edu/giving/animal-health-center">Charles and Cla</a><a href="https://cafes.calpoly.edu/giving/animal-health-center" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">i</a><a href="https://cafes.calpoly.edu/giving/animal-health-center">re Jacobson Animal Health Center’s</a> 17,500-square-foot program is up. The space will include instructional and clinical space, featuring an instructional lab for 72 students, a research lab that will fit more than 16 students, a surgical suite and a large examination/procedure room. The Animal Health Center will provide veterinary care for the college’s many livestock animals in a contemporary facility and offer hands-on learning in animal care for CAFES students.



Vista Meadows



Construction of a new faculty and staff housing complex at the northeast corner of Slack Street and Grand Avenue has restarted grading operations. The project will bring 33 single-family homes to campus. Available to faculty and staff to purchase,&nbsp;<a href="https://calpolypartners.org/real-estate-development/faculty-staff-housing/vista-meadows/">Vista Meadows</a>&nbsp;will offer three distinct floorplans ranging from 1,600 to over 2,100 square feet, with fully equipped kitchens, open concept living areas, solar, and energy saving appliances.



Student Housing



The site work for future housing buildings A and B is taking shape — crews have excavated and graded the land, cleared vegetation and are building retaining walls. Utility tie-ins are also underway. FullStack Modular&nbsp;has mobilized its new Southern California factory for the project. They are currently fabricating modular “suite-style” dorm rooms for a stacked high-rise installation by the general contractor. Building A, adjacent to Fremont Hall, will be seven stories with 400+ new beds and an anticipated opening of fall 2026. The design of subsequent buildings is being reviewed and improved for additional efficiencies — one of the benefits of utilizing the same contractor for each phase of the project.<a href="https://inside.calpoly.edu/author/cal-poly-administration-and-finance/"></a><a href="https://inside.calpoly.edu/author/cal-poly-administration-and-finance/"></a>

The Latest with Cal Poly Capital Projects

<a href="https://inside.calpoly.edu/author/cal-poly-administration-and-finance/"></a><a href="https://inside.calpoly.edu/author/cal-poly-administration-and-finance/"></a>As part of <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Administration and Finance’s</a> continual work to improve programs, services and campus offerings, the division is constantly taking in feedback on its team’s performance. To that end, on March 21, A&amp;F closed its annual <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/survey/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Focus Forward customer satisfaction survey</a>.



In years past feedback from the survey have resulted in some major changes and updates to campus. Mustang Shuttle was a direct result from feedback asking for help with students who have classes, labs and work in the Dairy Science, Poultry Science and Meat Processing Center. Now the free campus shuttle runs seven days a week with night service until 12:30 a.m.



The team in Environmental Health and Safety took insights from the 2023 survey and increased the frequency and number of training opportunities for staff. Their popular Safety Jam series is the result.



Facilities Management and Development has made a concerted effort to increase communications about projects and services available to the campus community.



These are just a few changes as a result of the survey.



This year, to sweeten the pot, for each survey completed, respondents received an entry into a drawing for Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds and more than 40 other prizes, including Tailgating Pros Lightweight Cornhole Boards, Ninja Pod and Grounds Specialty Single-Serve Coffee Maker, The North Face Jester Backpack, a Cal Poly Tumbler or one of 36 Amazon or Grubhub gift cards!



The winners of the drawing and the 2025 results will be released soon.

Annual Focus Forward Survey Wraps Up

The Kennedy Library Transformation is fully underway and Fall Quarter has brought in a lot of changes. Here’s a rundown of everything that’s new.



Lockers



The Cal Poly community can now request books and other library materials to be placed in the Library Pickup Lockers, providing access to library resources during the transformation. This includes physical items from Kennedy Library’s circulating collections and items eligible for request in <a href="https://csu-calpoly.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=01CALS_PSU:01CALS_PSU&amp;lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OneSearch</a> supplied through the Interlibrary Loan program.



Requested materials will be placed in lockers located in the Dexter Plaza next to the main entrance to Dexter (Bldg. 34) for pick up. Users have seven days to pick items up from the lockers.



Waitz App



While looking for a place to study this quarter, you can now track occupancy and study area hours with the Waitz App. The app allows users to check real-time occupancy of the C7 and H11 Study Structures alongside the Sierra Madre study spaces. It will soon expand other study locations throughout the quarter. Waitz is available for free from the <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/facilities/planning-capital-projects/project-news/kennedy-library/temporary-locations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple App Store and Google Play.</a>



Town Hall



The Kennedy Library Transformation team is inviting students, faculty, staff and supporters to a town hall on Tuesday, Oct. 24. This panel discussion with project leaders will provide an opportunity for attendees to ask questions learn more about the project, its progress and future plans.



During the Q&amp;A panelists will answer questions submitted prior to the event as well as those asked in person. Other topics will include the project scope and student resources available throughout construction. The town hall will be held in UU 220 (Bldg. 65) from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. You can submit questions <a href="https://bit.ly/KLTTownHallQs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here.</a>



Mustang Shuttle Stops



Mustang Shuttle services are still available during the transformation! Shuttle stops have been added to help serve students using the H11 and C7 Temporary Study Structures. The stops include the Erhart Agriculture (Bldg. 10) and O’Neill Green in front of the Business Building (Bldg. 3). To learn more about stops, click <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/parking/safetyprograms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here.</a>



Printing Locations If you need any printing done during the transformation, you can find Cal Poly Print and Copy inside the Crandall Gym (Bldg. 60). Additional print needs can be addressed through&nbsp;Mustang Prints&nbsp;self-service printing kiosks are available throughout campus.

Kennedy Library Milestones and What’s to Come

The recent ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Mustang Business Park marked a significant milestone as the campus moves closer to meeting Master Plan goals.
Mustang Business Park, the university’s first off-campus administrative facility, will move 150 professional staff from campus and open 50,000 square feet of student-serving space in the campus core.
This will enable the campus community to expand over the next decade in alignment with the Master Plan.
The ribbon cutting event, featuring Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong, Cal Poly Partners CEO Cody VanDorn, and A&#038;F Senior Vice President Allison Baird-James, celebrated the opening of a new, state-of-the-art facility.
With over 46,000 square feet spread across two stories, this new building offers free parking for staff and expands the campus&#8217;s capacity to support student needs and academic programs.
Mustang Business Park will house staff members from across the university including Emergency Management, Budget and Fiscal Planning, the Office of the Registrar, Cal Poly Partners and others.
This move will free up approximately 50,000 square feet in the campus core, creating more room for student-facing services. Furthermore, this facility represents a forward-thinking approach to workspace design, with flexible layouts that support both quiet, heads-down work and collaborative, creative efforts.
This expansion aligns with Cal Poly&#8217;s 2035 Master Plan, emphasizing long-term growth and improved support for students, faculty, and staff.

Mustang Business Park Opens

The Environmental, Health and Safety and Risk Management teams have merged into one super department all to better provide a holistic risk management approach to campus.
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) — the integration of the two departments — will help prioritize higher risks, streamline processes, drive proactivity and foster advantageous collaboration.
That means better identifying, analyzing and controlling hazards and risks that could impact Cal Poly&#8217;s business and its ability to achieve its goals and objectives.
The merger will also significantly improve its decision-making process.
By reducing duplication in risk assessment, improving coordination across functions, and providing reliable reporting and monitoring, ERM can make more informed and effective decisions, ensuring the safety and well-being of visitors, students, staff and faculty.
ERM is not just a strategic move but one that aligns perfectly with Cal Poly&#8217;s strategic goals, making campus part of a larger, unified mission.
To learn more about risk management, visit <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/risk-management/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">their web page</a>.

Introducing Enterprise Risk Management

Cal Poly Partners Plaza opened its gates to the campus community earlier this month, celebrating the new 14,200-square-foot, tiered pavilion in the north end zone of Spanos Stadium.
With three separate and distinct terraces, the plaza is home to an amazing field view that creates a continuous connection to the action on the field. It’s an end zone experience like no other with two unique culinary and beverage venues and one stand-alone drink concession.
“We wanted to create something that would enhance the fan experience, complement the John Maddon Football Center and continue to push the Mustang athletics programs forward with better facilities,” said Cal Poly Partners CEO Cody VanDorn. “The opportunity was there to offer fans an immersive college athletics experience that is uniquely Cal Poly, and we took it.”
The plaza is available for athletic events and concerts and will offer its food venues Monday through Thursday during the academic year, providing a convenient space for Cal Poly community members to gather and eat on the west side of campus.
The plaza also offers exclusive, private hospitality spaces, customizable catering and beverage service, and a turnkey VIP experience for company picnics and employee or corporate events.
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For more information, visit the <a href="https://plaza.calpolypartners.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cal Poly Partners Plaza webpage</a>
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Cal Poly Partners Plaza Opens

Over 150 staff members have moved out to the Mustang Business Park, a new off-campus, student-serving facility.
The move out to the Mustang Business Park offers staff a new, state-of-the-art workspace, spread across two stories and also opens up much needed room in the Cal Poly campus core that will be transitioned into student serving spaces.
The Mustang Business Park will also offer staff several upgrades and benefits, including free parking in more than 250 spaces, technology upgrades for video conferencing and scheduling, more flexibility with hoteling space and the ability to come and go, a full kitchen, easy access to San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, and extensive meeting and collaboration spaces.
And with the move of staff out to Mustang Business Park, that will eventually free up more than 200 university parking spaces.
In alignment with the <a href="https://masterplan.calpoly.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2035 Master Plan</a>, the Mustang Business Park is a step closer to upgrading and expanding Cal Poly facilities to better educate students and support faculty and staff.
Learn more about the <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/facilities/planning-capital-projects/project-news/space-optimization/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mustang Business Park Project</a>.

Mustang Business Park: All Things New, Plus Free Parking

This summer, Cal Poly will embark on a 10-year program to expand and improve campus housing to enhance the residential student experience and promote student success.



The Future Housing Program will add 3,000-4,000 beds to campus housing and incorporate major renovations to University Housing’s six red brick residence halls in multiple construction phases to ease demand, accommodate growth and address aging facilities.



The CSU Housing Proposal Review Committee approved the Future Housing Program back in 2023. The full program concept will be submitted to the CSU for the Board of Trustees to consider at its July meeting.



Construction on new housing is scheduled to begin in fall 2024, with the first phase opening in fall 2026 and subsequent phases opening every year thereafter, with the final phase of construction being completed in 2030.



Significant parking lot and road closures are set to happen on Monday, June 17.



Lots R1, K1 and K2, located behind the North Mountain and Red Brick residence halls, will be permanently closed. Klamath Road — the backbone of the Future Housing Program infrastructure — Deer Road and Mountain Lane will also be closed, with limited access to authorized vehicles and essential services.



The <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/parking/commutingtocampus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Parking and Commuter Services webpage</a> reflects current information on all sustainable transportation options. The <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/parking/lot_closures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Parking Lot Closures webpage</a> includes closure information and alternate parking lots for summer and the next academic year.



To learn more about the university’s housing project goals, visit the <a href="https://housing.calpoly.edu/future-housing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Future of Cal Poly Housing webpage</a>.

Future Housing Program to Launch in Summer

Need a lift across campus? The popular Mustang Shuttle will be returning for the 2023-24 academic year beginning Monday, Sept. 18.



Mustang Shuttle is a program founded in partnership with ASI, University Housing, Cal Poly Corporation, Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS), and is powered by SLO Safe Ride. Created in response to students asking for a safe, convenient way to travel on campus, Mustang Shuttle has made Cal Poly more accessible to all students and employees and has successfully administered over 50,000 rides for the past two years.



“It’s been great to see the popularity and early adoption of Mustang Shuttle this past year, and we are very excited to be able to offer more,” Transportation and Parking Services Director Marlene Cramer said. “But we couldn’t have done this alone, a huge thanks goes to our university partners ASI, University Union Advisory Board, University Housing, and Cal Poly Corporation for helping make this happen.”



This free on-campus shuttle runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. with additional evening hours from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. seven days a week. The daytime loop runs every 30 to 45 minutes and offers pick-up and drop-off at six stops, including the poultry, dairy, and wine and viticulture units, the PAC and Poly Canyon Village. New stops for fall 2023 include O&#8217;Neil Green on California Boulevard and the Sports Complex, both on the evening routes only. During the Kennedy Library Transformation, Mustang Shuttle library stops will be relocated to the H-11 parking lot.



Catching a ride is easy with the Mustang Shuttle app that allows users to track the location of the shuttles and see accurate arrival times. The Mustang Shuttle app is available for free in the Apple App Store and in the Google Play store.



Learn more about Mustang Shuttle and see the full schedule online here.



<a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/parking/safetyprograms" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://afd.calpoly.edu/parking/safetyprograms</a>

Tag: News