#1
Students returning from summer vacation might find a few unexpected changes on campus this fall, the largest of them being related to the opening of the brand new Poly Canyon Village.
To accommodate the foot traffic of thousands of new residents, Via Carta, next to the Campus Market has been permanently closed to vehicle traffic, or as Mark Hunter, Cal Poly’s executive director of facility services, prefers to call it, “the opening of a new pedestrian mall and bikeway.”
“We still have the rest of the project to complete, but hopefully we’ve taken care of everything in advance of the move-in and we can move forward with the rest of the project,” executive director of university housing, Preston Allen said.
The change is also intended to alleviate intersection congestion to and from parking lots on the east side of campus.
The move-in date for the Village is on Sunday, Sept. 14 to avoid congestion on the preceding Saturday. The retail and food spaces will be open for students and visitors on Saturday, however.
Phase 2 of Poly Canyon Village will end in Fall 2009.
#2
In addition to the new neighbors, Peet’s Coffee & Tee, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Jamba Juice and Village Market all located in the Village Plaza will welcome returning students.
#3
The second floor of the Robert E. Kennedy Library has undergone extensive renovation to accommodate the new location of Julian’s Coffee. Starbucks will occupy Julian’s previous spot on the ground floor of the University Union.
#4
Bike lane construction on California Boulevard and pedestrian pathways on campus.
Pedestrian and bicycle safety to, from and on campus will get a boost, thanks to campus bike lanes which will connect to city-constructed paths along the railroad track by Highway 101.
There will also be a fence between the railroad tracks and pathways to enhance safety.
A traffic-controlled crosswalk to the north of the Spanos Stadium will include stoplights comparable to Grand Avenue.
#5
In the heart of campus, the slope of Poly View Drive headed towards Dexter lawn was repaved with bricks to improve aesthetics and reinforce the area’s pedestrian-only nature. Curbs were also eliminated to improve accessibility for the disabled.
In addition to the closure of Via Carta to vehicle traffic, the redesigned pedestrian mall features similar brick-paving, expanded seating at Campus Market and a space for public events.
“We’re pretty excited about that,” Hunter said. “That whole area in front of the Campus Market is now open for student-driven events, so we hope it’s well used.”
#6
What? Center for Construction Excellence
Where? Located on the former Air Conditioning building site
How Much? $25,441,053
Date Complete? Completed summer 2008
Student Impact? The building will house the university’s architecture and construction management programs with 58,000-square-feet, of offices, student labs and classrooms. The turquoise paneled building continues the university’s mandate of LEED-certified building projects, with an energy efficient lighting, skylights and large windows for enhanced lighting.
#7
What? Expansion of existing Rec Center Facilities
Where? ASI Recreation Center
How Much? $51,089,000
Date Complete? Summer 2011
Student Impact? The Rec Center Expansion passed with 75 percent approval in a student body vote last February. A fee increase of $65 per quarter will be assessed when the renovated facility is complete. The new center will be designed to be LEED silver level compatible due to student government initiatives.
“It’s a very exciting time for ASI and the students because this is a huge opportunity for growth and the students have been asking for a larger rec center for some time now,” ASI marketing coordinator Michelle Broom said.
“This next academic year, students will be slowly hearing and seeing more things coming out of the Rec Center. So as they start doing floor plans and thinking about putting in a leisure pool, we’ll have pictures and images so that students can see that firsthand,” she said.
#8
What? Synthetic fields replacement
Where? Sports complex
How Much? $3,200,000
Date Complete? Available for play in the second week of October
Student Impact? The previous grass fields in the complex did not drain well, forcing the fields to be closed after rainfall. Thus, mud puddles have been the bane of sports teams for the last six years. Grading and drainage work for new synthetic turf fields is being conducted currently and the turf will be laid down in September. When completed, the project will allow more playing time for students by lifting the maximum playtime caps required by natural grass.