Cal Poly transition continues with groundbreaking of $100 million engineering and technology building
By Savana Robinson
Eight golden shovels dug into a long pile of dirt as dozens watched. Moments later, a countdown, then dirt flew. This commemorated the groundbreaking of the new Engineering and Technology Building at Cal Poly Humboldt as part of the University’s transition to a polytechnic.
Cal Poly Humboldt Interim President Michael Spagna gave some remarks before the groundbreaking. In his speech, Spagna threw out numbers such as the $100 million behind the project, which came from California’s $458 million investment in the polytechnic transformation.
“This building is going to be symbolic,” Spagna said. “Not just in the transformation of Humboldt State University to Cal Poly Humboldt, but it will serve as a beacon for generations to come, for this region and beyond.”
University Provost Jenn Capps spoke about the workspaces that the building will feature. There will be 15 teaching labs, a machine shop, a wood shop, and a collaboration space. Capps explained some of the work that went into bringing the project to its current point.
“It was like 150 to 200 presentations I did in a year,” Capps said. “We were incredibly intentional as I reflect back on those moments, and I’m super proud that as I reflect today, our community is at our best when we communicate, collaborate, strategize, listen, invite people in, and we delivered on a promise which is reflected right here today.”
With sustainability in mind, the building will be the first built with mass timber for the university. According to the American Wood Council, mass timber is wood products made of multiple layers nailed or glued together, and is more renewable than steel and concrete. Associate Vice President for Facilities Management, Mike Fisher, noted that the use of this material for the building will reflect the beliefs of the campus community.
“It’s an innovative way to build using natural products,” Fisher said. “Embedded carbon and what we do with steel and concrete is a bit intensive, and this is a step forward to demonstrate who we are as a sustainable campus, what we value as a student body, and as a collection of people that work here.”
Fisher concluded by inviting President Spagna, Provost Capps, Dean Riggs, Chair of Engineering Eileen Cashman, Chair of Computing Science Dale Oliver, Swinerton Vice President Jeff Good, and Supervisor of AC Martin Danielle Martin to fling dirt with golden shovels as a ceremonial tradition.
“I’m honored to be part of this university and to work with everybody here,” Fisher said. “And keep our university moving forward.”