Poly Canyon Wins LEED Gold

Carried out by the Bridging project delivery method, Cal Poly’s new Poly Canyon Village at San Luis Obispo is completed, furnished and occupied. In keeping with the school colors of green and gold, the Project was recently awarded a LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Poly Canyon Village marked the largest student housing project in the United States upon its completion.

Located in San Luis Obispo on the Central Coast of California between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the project sits at the base of picturesque Poly Canyon. This project is believed to include the largest student housing complex undertaken by an American university to date in a single construction project.

The project consists of four and five story apartment buildings comprising 2,676 beds for students in a variety of suite and apartment plans.

As seen from the air, it’s clear to see why Poly Canyon Village is regarded as the largest student housing complex undertaken by an American university to date in a single construction program.

More than Just Housing

The village center has food vendors and retail shops and provides students outdoor recreation areas including a swimming pool as well as study rooms, a knowledge center, and a Post Office. On opposite sides of the village are two 950-car parking decks.

Infrastructure Projects

The $299 million campus expansion construction program also includes extensive roadway and utilities installations as well as new facilities for the College of Agriculture, built on another site several miles away, replacing those facilities that were previously located on the Poly Canyon Village site.

Brookwood provided full Program Management services for the project from the pre-design planning phase through construction. By employing the Bridging project delivery method the project experienced very cost effective original construction bids within the original budget. The project has had only 5 contractor initiated Change Orders, totaling less than 0.002% of the construction contract price.

As the largest LEED™ certified project in the California University System, Poly Canyon Village is redefining what can be achieved by a university when employing full Program Management services from pre-design through construction.

Project Team

Design began in August 2004 with McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, Inc., Architects as the Owner’s Design Consultant (“Bridging Architect”). The Bridging type design-build construction contract was awarded to Clark Design/Build of California as a result of competitive proposals. Niles Bolton Associates served as the Contractor’s Architect and Engineers.

Poly Canyon Village Wins LEED Gold

The certification of LEED Gold provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets high green building and performance measures. Some of the specific items for which Poly Canyon Village will earn certification points include a new storm water system and a 30% water use reduction.

The facilities have operable windows and natural ventilation and will recycle 75% of its construction waste. 10% of the total value of the materials in the project will be recycled with 20% of the materials having been manufactured regionally. The structures will use low emitting sealants, paint, carpet and composite wood products. 90% of the regularly occupied spaces will provide daylight and most of the 3,500 windows in the project will have views of the surrounding area. Care was taken in the project’s planning to reduce the number of buildings in the project as well as their footprints, while at the same time retaining the initial requirements of the program.