Calpoly San Luis Obispo's Engineering Building

engineering BUILDING IV

CALIFORNIA S TAT E P O LY T E C H N I C UNIVERSITY SAN LUIS OBISPO

[ san luis obispo, ca ]

PROJECT

Engineering Building IV Cal Poly San Luis Obispo LOCATION

San Luis Obispo, CA

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s engineering building is designed to look to the future. The goal was to not only create an environment that encourages exploration within the distinct disciplines, but also to be a catalyst for creation between disciplines. The building’s design, both formally and functionally, responds to that vision. The massing, material selection, and site development reflect a level of excellence and sophistication not previously seen in facilities on campus. Engineering IV completes the Engineering precinct and is a visible symbol of the extraordinary work being done at the college.

The new 104,000 sf building is located on the northwest edge of the main campus.

It houses the departments of mechanical, aerospace, civil, materials, industrial, and biomedical engineering, as well as Deans’ offices. The program includes laboratories, lecture halls, design rooms, support spaces, and faculty offices.

The massing of Engineering IV is a response to site constraints, opportunities—including optimal solar orientation and views—and programmatic needs. The site is located at the terminus of a significant pedestrian axis connecting Engineering 13, the new ATL building and the proposed Bonderson building. The entry to Engineering IV was located to respond to this axis and draw people towards the building, which is formed to complete a landscaped plaza bordered by the ATL and Bonderson engineering buildings. This plaza was envisioned as the heart and soul of the interdisciplinary engineering precinct.

Engineering IV is designed as two intersecting volumes, each informed by a different site condition. The western volume contains program spaces that require high bay space.

The eastern volume is angled away from the first to create a welcoming entry court and to acknowledge the curving of Highland Avenue, which borders the site to the north. A series of large glass double doors on the first floor encourages engineering activities to spill into the courtyard and plaza. This plaza is a dynamic space where students move their projects outdoors for testing and display, creating a synergistic relationship with the neighboring engineering buildings.

Materials for the Engineering IV building were selected to reflect the forward-looking message the engineering disciplines want to convey. The exterior is a vibrant combination of cement fiber boards, ribbed metal panels, and high-performance insulated glass. An aluminum curtainwall system is located at the entry to create an inviting front porch.

Aluminum light shelves and sunscreens are used on the south face of the building to both shade that elevation and enhance the natural light in the classrooms.

The interior spaces are equipped with technology capable of adapting to a yet undetermined future demand. The finishes include stained concrete floors, wood paneling at the elevator cores in the entry lobby, sliding bulletin boards with a variety of colorful cork, custom light sconces, and exposed ceilings. The result is an energetic, welcoming and somewhat unconventional space; one that encourages thinking and working across disciplines.

Site Plan

Floor Plans and Roof Plan

College of Engineering (CENG) Mechanical Engineering (ME) Civil Engineering (CEEN) Materials Engineering (MATE) Offices

Civil Engineering (CEEN) Industrial Engineering (IME) Materials Engineering (MATE) Lecture Offices

Building Model

california polytechnic state university san luis obispo

ENGINEERING BUILDING IV Client Size Completion Location Key Points

California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo 104,000 GSF 2007 San Luis Obispo, CA • Designed for the future; • Responds to site, optimal solar orientation, and programmatic needs; • Encourages collaboration between disciplines; • Plaza is a dynamic space where students can move projects and experiments out of the building; • Exterior is a vibrant combination of cement, metal panels, and high-performance glass; and • Interior is designed to facilitate the exchange of ideas.

Awards

AIA / California Central Coast Chapter Award of Honor, 2009 AIA / Pasadena Foothill Chapter Design Excellence Merit Award, 2007 AIA / San Fernando Valley Chapter Design Excellence Citation Award, 2006