MEDIA RELEASE
CSUN Enters One of Its Busiest Construction Phases Ever
Work Begins on Student Housing, Science, Parking Structures
(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., March 5, 2007) — The workhorses of major construction—cranes, bulldozers and trucks—are beginning to appear on campus as Cal State Northridge enters one of its busiest building phases since the massive reconstruction projects of the 1990s.
Work has begun, or is being planned, for five projects—a student housing complex, science building, parking structure, faculty and staff housing, a new Center for the Performing Arts and a new student recreation center—that will add to the offerings available to the campus community and the public on the 356-acre campus.
Work began Dec. 17 on the $30 million student housing complex slated for the northeast side of campus, south of Lassen Street between Lindley and Zelzah Avenues.
Ken Rosenthal, manager of construction services for CSUN’s Facilities Planning, said workers have completed pad preparation for the new complex: a 58,000-square foot, four-story dormitory; a four-story, 29,000-square foot dorm; and a single-story, 6,000-square foot "common program" building with a recreation room, a classroom and other features.
The student rent-funded complex will provide living space for 396 students, two to a bedroom with shared living/meeting quarters. Tim Trevan, director of Student Housing and Conference Services, said the small-scale design will give students a greater sense of community. It is expected to be completed by spring of 2009.
The much-anticipated four-story Science 5 building (Chaparral Hall) is "right on schedule," said Colin Donahue, associate vice president for facilities development and operations. The nearly 90,000-square foot building is expected to "come on board" in spring 2009. The $51 million total cost of the project was funded by a 2004 state capital construction measure.
Work began in December for the planned 406,000-square foot, G3 Parking Structure off Zelzah Avenue between Prairie and Dearborn Streets.
"G3 will provide lots more parking on the campus’ west side," said Captain Fred Fernandez, head of Public Safety’s parking and transportation services unit. "It will spread out our ability to provide overall campus parking."
Fernandez said G3’s 1,776 stalls—including those on its accompanying surface lot—will represent an emphatically welcome net gain of about 1,000 parking spaces for the campus. Campus users should start parking in the $22 million structure in spring 2009.
The initial phase of the Devonshire Downs residential community for faculty and staff is due to break ground on the North Campus in fall 2008, with the welcome mat rolling out in fall 2009 for the first homeowners. Phase I will close out in 2010.
Nearly 160 two-story town homes on about 15 acres between Lindley and Zelzah Avenues north of Lassen Street will comprise the first phase. Upon completion, Devonshire Downs will have approximately 400 units.
Plans are being made for the groundbreaking later this spring for the planned new regional Center for the Performing Arts.
In the meantime, schematic designs are now under preparation for the more than 100,000-square foot Student Recreation Center, a dramatic three-story structure to be built east of the University Student Union.
Working and preliminary drawings are next, said project coordinator Bryanne Knight, followed by the start of construction in summer 2009. With a total project cost of $70 million authorized by a spring 2007 student referendum, the facility is slated to open in 2011.
An abundance of ideas are pouring into the schematic design phase, said Jason Wang, associate director of USU operations and services. "We have decided on a ‘green ethic’ as one of our major design criteria," said Wang.
Ideas include the "thoughtful, energy-efficient use of natural light" using east-facing windows and innovations such as the sloping of the high basketball court ceilings, to allow heat to circulate naturally and rainwater to roll off effectively.
Knight believes a planned entry level rock wall will prove irresistible to student users, and the liberal use of glass will permit passersby to look in on all kinds of activities, "promoting the idea of health and wellness for our students, both mentally and physically."
About 50 percent of the third-floor indoor jogging track—at an elevation of 15 feet above the three-court basketball gym—will be windowed, providing joggers with a splendid view of the outdoors and adjacent mountains.
Other student-requested features include an outdoor lap and leisure pool, a racquetball court, a multi-activity gym, rooms for group fitness classes, a sport club meeting space, a drop-in child care facility, a boxing studio, cardio exercise and weight spaces and more.
All five construction projects are being funded through bonds or specific capital outlays, not through the general fund.