Building 172D - University Housing - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

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Preparation of the site involved little impact to natural habitats, the number of parking spaces was reduced, and there was also a focus on providing alternative means of transportation to discourage student vehicular use. Campus buses serve the site and the parking structure is equipped for the future provision of electrical vehicle charging stations and priority parking is given to low-emitting vehicles.
- Stormwater Design: Site features numerous bioswales that collect stormwater runoff and remove debris and pollution from the runoff before allowing it to recharge the groundwater or flow to Stenner Creek.
- Bicycle Storage and Changing Rooms: The site features a public bicycle repair station, ample bicycle storage racks and lockers for staff members to secure their bikes. In addition, there is a shower and changing room for staff members adjacent to the café.
- During construction, a stormwater protection plan and erosion sedimentation control plan was implemented to stormwater and dust generation control, which prevented negative impacts to the neighboring areas.

The restrooms and showers use low flow bathroom fixtures to reduce indoor water usage by more than 30%.
Plant palette utilizes low water use planting specific to the climate zone and drought-tolerant species. The irrigation system is zoned according to species watering needs, site condition and sun exposure.

Through proper waste handling and source separation, the project managed to divert over 94% of its construction waste from the landfill
Over 97% of the wood installed on the project is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified Wood. FSC Certified Wood products are harvested from sustainable forests that focus on conservation and the long-term ecosystem viability.
Through careful material selection, 10.22% and 29.11% of the project contained regional content and recycled content, respectively, resulting in a lower environmental impact on material sourcing practices.

All indoor paints, coatings, flooring systems, and wood products installed on the project are certified as low-emitting materials. Many building products contain harmful glues and chemicals that can off gas after installation and decrease indoor air quality. The low-emitting materials used on this project have been selected for their durability, function, and because they will not negatively impact indoor air quality.
During construction, the project team implemented construction indoor air quality management practices, including HVAC protection, source control, pathway interruption, scheduling, and housekeeping. These practices mitigated dust generation, moisture control, and VOC off gassing to protect absorptive materials and ensure optimized air quality once occupied.

The University instituted a Green Cleaning program to ensure University employees and building occupants are not exposed to harmful chemicals during the normal course of building maintenance and cleaning. The University’s custodial operations group trains their teams on the safe use of cleaning chemicals and benefits to implementing and maintaining a Green Cleaning program.

Cal Poly makes the commitment to only use Low Mercury Bulbs on the entire site. Low Mercury Bulbs help the environment by containing no toxic elements, are more efficient than traditional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights, have a longer lifespan than traditional lighting and have a better quality of light requiring less lighting. All of these benefits in the end reduce the energy consumption throughout the project.