The project

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s main entrance consists of a concrete sign and three flags that sits in front of a hill tucked between the road to campus and an orange grove. My studio was instructed to design a fictional research center that would be a joint venture between Cal Poly and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to be built on top of the hill. This research center would contain administrative and data storage spaces for NOAA, a cafeteria, classrooms, offices, a gallery, and research labs.

The main circulation of the building was meant to be on the second floor; this is where the most variety of program occurred. Occupants would enter into the lobby, and then ascend a communication stair to the second floor. From here, they could cross a bridge to reach a gallery and laboratory, or, more likely, continue forward to a hall containing classrooms and faculty offices. The end of the hall opens up to a double-height cafeteria that overlooks the orange grove.

section perspective

Site Plan