2006-2007 News & Events Archive

Congratulations CAED Grads!

Cal Poly’s Commencement ceremonies are set for Saturday June 16 in Alex G. Spanos Stadium. Proceedings for the College of Architecture and Environmental Design and three other college’s will be that afternoon at 3 p.m. Following the event at approximately 5 p.m., the CAED will host their very own commencement activities in the Cal Poly Recreation Center. The college’s commencement address will be delivered by ArcE ’63 alumnus Mark Haselton, P.E.

Read more in the news release by searching for Commencement in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

Cal Poly Students Present B of A Low Income Housing Plan

The project envisions high-density affordable housing near the center of Santa Maria, within walking distance of shopping and other services, and right across the street from the city's planned transit center. The team designed the project as part of Bank of America's Low-Income Housing Challenge. The students presented their project to the city council on May 15.

Landscape Architecture Commemorates 35 Years

Founded in 1972 the department is ranked as one of the best in the nation. To commemorate the anniversary there will be an alumni celebration at the ASLA conference in San Francisco on October 5, 2007 and an on campus celebration May 30-31, 2008.

ArcE Student Earns 2nd In Essay Competition

Architectural engineering student Anne Dwyer earned 2nd place in the Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI) National Student Essay Competition. The two-day event consisted of multiple technical sessions presented by practitioners and faculty members, student competitions, social events, and site visits to construction sites in Kansas City.

Anne received a certificate and a $100 prize at the awards ceremony. The essay topic this year was, “If you could be any type of structure, what would it be?”  Anne’s selected structure was a house.

ArcE Students Donate Bridge to Community

Six architectural engineering students donated a bridge to the SLO County Golf Course at Dairy Creek as part of their senior project. The design is an undulating double curve 2-span steel bridge. It took 200 hours of engineering and 2000 hours of construction labor to design and build the bridge.

Professor Sheds Light on Architecture

Architecture Professor Sandy Stannard was recently interviewed by LD+A Magazine because of her expertise in fusing light with architecture. In the article she discusses the importance of lighting and how it can make a difference in the perception of a project. Page 1 (pdf, 12MB) Page 2 (pdf, 12MB)

Graduate to Shake Things Up in Europe

Architectural engineering grad Bill Janhunen has received a full fellowship to the European Union's Master's in Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology program. The program is an Erasmus Mundus Masters Course that aims to provide higher-level education in the field of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology.

CAED Review on Web

The new CAED Newsletter (PDF) includes department news, alumni updates and more. Get up to date on the progress of the new construction management building and find out about Cal Poly’s Solar House.

5th Year Architecture Show 'Small Servings'

The exhibit begins Friday, May 25, with an opening reception from 3 to 6 p.m. in Chumash Auditorium. It continues over Memorial Day weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The event culminates a year of thesis work by nearly 150 graduating architecture students and is one of the largest architecture and design exhibitions between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Read more in the news release found at the Kennedy Library archives by searching for 5th Year Architecture Show at Digital Commons in 2007 news articles.

CAED Alumni at RRM Team Up with Cal Poly Staff on Programming for Center for Science and Mathematics

RRM Design Group and a team of Cal Poly staff from the College of Science and Mathematics and the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences finished the programming phase on the Center for Science and Mathematics. The new building, and associated green space, will be located in the center of campus and is scheduled for completion in 2011.

Architecture Students Help Design Proposed Nipomo Community Center

Six student designs were chosen by the Nipomo Recreation Association as possible choices for the new center. Faculty member Margarida Yin assigned the Nipomo project to her third-year design studio students as part of her Community Based Design Program.

Read the news release by searching for Nipomo Community Center in the 2007 Kennedy Library archives at Digital Commons.

Architecture Alums Submit Winning Proposal

Dominic Leong, Brian Price and Jonathan Lott’s New York based firm PARA submitted one of six winning proposals in the Young Architects Forum Competition. The 26th annual design competition was hosted by the Architecture League of New York and is open to designers who have been out of school less than 10 years. Out of the 85 submissions, the 6 that were chosen exhibited original work that incorporated real-world technologies.

AIA Alumni Reception May 3 in San Antonio.

The reception will be at the San Antonio Marriott Center in salon B from 6:30–8:30 p.m.

Spring Job Fair Wednesday May 2+3 in Chumash Auditorium

The fair will have employers seeking applicants from all colleges for career, summer, and co-op jobs. The morning open forum, from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., allows students to make contact with potential employers. No advance sign-up is required. Interviews will be done in the afternoon.

City and Regional Planning Professor Michael E. McDougall Remembered

Michael E. McDougall, of San Luis Obispo, passed away April 8, 2007, in San Francisco. In 1973, he accepted a position as a founding faculty member of the City and Regional Planning Department at Cal Poly where he taught planning, design and architecture for 20 years until his retirement. Memorial tributes will be held Sunday, May 13th in San Francisco and Saturday, May 19th at Cal Poly in the Business Rotunda (03-213) at 2p.m. 

Karten Update

Construction management graduate Joe Karten continues his travels and studies courtesy of the Victor L. Regnier Traveling Fellowship. He was awarded the Fellowship and $20,000 for his proposal to research sustainable buildings in foreign countries and create a web-based database of case studies of the buildings he visits. He is currently in Spain after visiting much of Europe and Mexico. See his progress reports at the Fellowship web site.

CAED Open House 2007 Highlights

Visitors are invited to enjoy this year’s Open House celebration of “Explore Cal Poly: Begin Your Adventure.” Several events will be hosted by the college on Friday, April 20, for new Fall 2007 students, and on Saturday, April 21, for the general public. The fun includes public tours of the winning Solar House, the Design Village Competition, student exhibits, alumni receptions and "Intimate Transactions."

Read more in the news release by searching Open House in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

Spring Hearst Lecture Series “PAN PACIFICA” Continues

The spring series continues during Open House with UCLA Assistant Professor of Design David Erdman. He will discuss his experience as a founder and principal of Servo, a Los Angeles-based research and design collaborative. His firm was honored with the American Institute of Graphic Arts Design Award in 2004. Other speakers include Hernan Diaz Alonso, Neil Watson, Sarah Graham, Kevin Daly and Stanley Saitowitz.

CM Students Earn First Place at National Competition

Cal Poly construction management students won first place in Orlando, Florida in the Mechanical Contractors Association of America's annual competition. Teams submitted proposals to retrofit the Dallas Power and Light Building into condominiums and retail stores. Pictured L-R Michael Cullinane, MCAA President, Derrick Fellows, Randy Ayures, Frank Ormonde, Team Captain Mya Krikorian, Ross Fenton, Jack Wilhelmi, MCAA President Elect.

Read more in the news release found in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

Architecture Professor and Cal Poly Students
Invited to Italy

Professor Jonathan Reich has been invited to co-organize, lecture and be a design critic at the fourth annual "Coast2Coast" conference and design workshop at the Università di Camerino, Facoltà di Architettura di Ascoli Piceno, Italy April 29 – May 5. The weeklong conference and design workshop brings architecture and landscape architecture students from both Cal Poly and Cal Poly Pomona together. They'll work with Italian students and Italian professor Cristiano Toraldo di Francia on urban coastal development issues.

Construction Sciences Forum Set for April 10-11

The 10th Annual Construction Sciences Forum will focus on “Building Information Modeling” and its integration in the construction industry. Events include a keynote address by Dennis Hall an architect with Martinez and Cutri Architects in San Diego, a product show and a barbeque. All events except the barbeque are free and open to the public.

Read more by searching for the Construction Science Forum news release in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

New Architectural Engineering Department Head Announced

Allen Estes has been named head of the Architectural Engineering Department. Estes joins the Cal Poly faculty after serving as director of the Civil Engineering program at the United States Military Academy. Estes graduated from West Point in 1978 and received his master’s degrees in structural engineering and construction management from Stanford University and his doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Colorado. He recently retired from the military.

Read more by searching for the Architectural Engineering news release in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

CM Team Wins First Place Award at ASC Competition

For the second consecutive year a Cal Poly construction management team has won first place in a national category at the Associated Schools of Construction Student Competition. The team earned the award in the Marine Construction category, a considerable feat because Cal Poly does not offer any marine construction curriculum. The team members in the top row left to right include Adam Windham, Sedona, AZ; Derek Phebus, Truckee; Andrew Murray, Santa Rosa; and CM Department Head Al Hauck. In the bottom row left to right are Jeff Ward, Moraga; Ryan DelaRiva, Castro Valley; and Devin Mills, Carmichael.

Read more by searching for the ASC Competition news release in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

CAED Spring Calendar Update

The CAED’s new Master Calendar (.doc) has all the latest events for the upcoming quarters including Open House and Design Village in April; plus alumni reunion events and student job fairs

Signing Ceremony March 12 Commemorates KTGY Gift

The ceremony in the Berg Gallery (05-105) is open to the public. KTGY has increased its support after many years of providing mentorship, computers and other learning materials to Cal Poly. They also have created a satellite learn-by-doing working-studio where students attend class in the firm's Irvine office, giving them a chance to engage in a real world design challenges. KTGY web site.

Read more by searching for the Signing Ceremony news release in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

Landscape Architecture and Architecture Programs "Best in the Nation"

In a poll of western practitioners, Cal Poly’s undergraduate landscape architecture and architecture programs were chosen as "Best in Nation" for 2007. Both programs also ranked well in various subcategories. More than 450 firms and organizations employing more than 102,000 architects and design professionals participated in the 2007 Design Intelligence survey.

Read more by searching for the DesignIntelligence news release in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

Architecture Professor Receives Prestigious Service Award

Allan Cooper has received the 2006 Octavius Morgan Distinguished Service Award from the California Architects Board. The award is presented to volunteers for their contribution to the profession and the people of California. Cooper was honored in early February at a ceremony in San Francisco for his years of service to the board and its committees.

Read more by searching for Allan Cooper among news releases in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

CAED Participates in CSU-wide Strategic Planning

The CAED is currently holding meetings with students, faculty, and staff to participate in a CSU-wide Strategic Planning Process. This process, called “Access to Excellence”, will guide the CSU's future direction and also help start a planned Cal Poly and CAED update of their own strategic plans. The Access to Excellence process utilizes six “Domains” for guiding discussion and review. Campus conversations will culminate in a University wide gathering on Tuesday, February 27, from 9-12 noon at Chumash Auditorium. Friends and alumni are welcome to participate or send comments directly to the CAED. For more information look at the Summary Notes(.pdf) from the CAED meetings.

International Webcast on Global Climate Change Feb. 20

The Global Climate Change Teach-In Webcast will be held Tuesday, Feb. 20, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PST in Chumash Auditorium. Students, faculty and practicing professionals in the architecture, planning and design communities around the world will learn how they can reduce greenhouse emissions through design during the international, interactive event. The event is free but seating is limited to 800.

Read more by searching for the Global Climate Change news release in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

Skytherm House Undergoing Renovation

The Skytherm House developed and built by passive solar pioneer, chemist and inventor Mr. Harold Hay, is currently undergoing renovation by students under the direction of Prof. Mike Montoya from the Construction Management Department. Additional information about the Skytherm House and Mr. Hay may be found at the Evelyn and Harold Hay Fund web site.

Design Competition Feb. 2-3 Benefits CAED Students

The Architecture Department is partnering with Vellum Build, a San Luis Obispo design and build firm, to host the third annual Vellum/Architecture Department Furniture Design Competition Feb. 2 and 3. The event will include a design competition, gallery exhibit and silent auction that will benefit students of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design. Photo courtesy of alumnus Eric Holm.

Read more by searching for the Vellum Design news release in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

CRP Department Receives National Recognition

Cal Poly's Master's in City and Regional Planning program was ranked 25th in the nation overall, and 8th in the West in the Planetizen 2007 Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs. The new graduate school reference guide published by Planetizen is the leading on-line network for the urban planning community.

Read more by searching for Planetizen in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

CRP Student Wins National Planning Award

For the third time since 2000, a Cal Poly city and regional planning student has won the American Planning Association's prestigious National Planning Leadership Award for a Student Planner. Michael Marcus (shown right) received this year's APA leadership award. It is presented each year to a student whose contributions help create communities of lasting value.

Read more by searching for Michael Marcus in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

Architecture Students to Propose Tech Center Designs

Fourth-year architecture students were asked this quarter to create concept designs for a state-of-the-art discovery center, which includes a planetarium/observatory with hands-on exhibits, classrooms, a conference center, IMAX theater, organic research farm, and an organic food restaurant featuring food from the farm. The students selected the Dalidio Ranch as a site for the discovery center.

Cheng Park Dedication Dec. 15

The dedication of the park is the culmination of years of collaboration between College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Chinese Garden SLO, the city of San Luis Obispo, local businesses and countless volunteers. The public is invited to enjoy the festivities.

Read more by searching Cheng Park in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

Henri de Hahn to Lead Architecture Department

An enthusiastic Henri de Hahn joins the CAED as the new head of the Architecture Department. Henri has taught in a variety of academic settings in the US and abroad and brings with him fresh attitudes about innovation, balanced instruction, and the visibility of the program.

Read more about Henri's unique perspective and his vision for the program by downloading the News Release (.doc).

Students Offer Their Visions for Downtown Atascadero

Fourteen third-year landscape architecture students advised by landscape architecture professor Omar Faruque presented projects that re-envisioned Atascadero's downtown. Ideas included a more pedestrian-friendly downtown, increased community interaction with Atascadero Creek and emphasis on the city's agricultural and architectural roots.

Read more in the Newspaper Article (.pdf).

CRP Department to Help State Reduce the Effect of Wildfires, Earthquakes and Floods

The City and Regional Planning Department will help the Governor's Office of Emergency Services revise the California State Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Read more by searching for the news release in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

Construction Management Senior Profiled in the LA Times

Ben Londo won his second consecutive Men's All-Around title in July at the 2006 College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo. Londo and the second-ranked Cal Poly rodeo team were profiled on the front page of the Los Angeles Times Tuesday, Nov. 21. The story was picked up by other major newspapers as well. Londo could be only the second collegiate cowboy to become a three-time champion.

CRP Templeton Development Plan Wins Award

A comprehensive long-term development plan for the town of Templeton put together by city and regional planning students received the Award of Excellence from the California Chapter American Planning Association.

Read more by searching for the Templeton news release in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

Landscape Architecture Student Awarded $1,000 Scholarship

Fifth-year landscape architecture student Dalton LaVoie, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Sigma Lambda Alpha, the national honors society for landscape architecture. The national scholarship is given annually to one undergraduate member of Sigma Lambda Alpha.

Read more by searching for LaVoie in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

CRP Students Help Design
Ventura Avenue Area

Fourth-year city and regional planning students are spending five months studying the Ventura Avenue area, getting community input and developing a vision for the future. Students led a planning workshop attended by about 100 Ventura residents. The information received at the workshop will be incorporated into a preliminary plan that will be presented early next year.

CRP Department Hosts Design Symposium

The symposium was developed to encourage debate on the quality of design of public spaces. Guest speakers included: Larry Herzog, Leo O'Brian, Daniel Levi, Denise de Alcantara. The lectures dealt with alternative uses for public spaces all over the world.

Read more by searching for the Design Symposium news release in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

Architecture Professor Ken Kohlen Remembered

Professor Emeritus Ken Kohlen, 63, died Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006. He had unlimited energy to help others and share his wealth of knowledge about buildings and construction. He will be dearly missed.

Read the full obituary (.doc) and more about the memorial to be held on Nov. 12, 2006.

Landscape Architecture Students Design a
Santa Barbara County Park in Memory of Late
Rep. Walter Capps

The students were given 10 days to design a park to honor Walter Capps, his values and the counseling he did for Vietnam veterans. The S.B. Board of Supervisors funded the bluff-top property on Del Playa.

Brent Dickens CAED's "Honored Alumnus" for 2006

Architecture alumnus Brent Dickens and six others were recognized as "Honored Alumni." The award is the highest honor bestowed upon university alumni by the Cal Poly Alumni Association.

Read more by searching for Dickens' news release in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

Linda Kristenson CAED's New Assistant Dean for Advancement

Kristenson spent seven years as the director of corporate and foundation relations in Cal Poly's University Advancement Division, and four years as the director of development for the College of Engineering. She replaces Tanya Kiani, who has moved to the College of Agriculture.

Read more by searching for Kristenson's news release in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

Architectural Engineering Students Win International Contest for Blind Prediction

Michael Billings, Soyoon Lee and Evan Peterman (shown L-R) won $2,500 in the undergraduate division of the Seven Story Reinforced Concrete Building Slice Blind Prediction Contest. The international award was presented at the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

Read more by searching for Billings, Lee and Peterman in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

Architecture Students Take Top Honors in Design Competition

Jason Conner took first place for his design of a museum and center in the international 2006 Leading Edge Student Design Competition. The team of Scott Rothi, Chris York and Bryce Sigourney, tied for second place.

Read more by searching for Conner in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

Volunteers Needed for the Planting of Park Oct. 7

The Architectural Engineering Department is assisting with the planting of a Chinese-themed city park in San Luis Obispo. Alice Loh, one of the leaders of the effort and a landscape architecture faculty emerita, is shown reviewing progress at the corner of Marsh and Santa Rosa streets.

Learn how you can volunteer or make a donation by reading the news release in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

Founding Faculty Member R.L. Graves Jr. Remembered Sept. 16

R.L. Graves Jr., a man who influenced generations of students, passed away peacefully July 11, 2006 at age 83. One of the CAED's founding instructors, R.L.'s drive inspired many during his almost 40 years at Cal Poly. He served as a member of the Scarab Architectural Fraternity and as a city council member, he helped transform downtown San Luis Obispo into a more pedestrian-friendly area. Read about the memorial celebration Sept. 16, 2006 and the endowment established in his name in the Information Piece (.pdf).

CAED Teams Up with Habitat for Humanity

Faculty and students of the CAED collaborated with Habitat for Humanity to construct a beautiful home in Cambria dedicated July 30th. Faculty member Hal Johnston (left) guided two CM students whose senior projects involved on-site construction. Elbert Speidel (second from right) taught a class that completed the construction drawings. ARCE students worked with ARCE alum John Kudla to perform the structural calculations.

Read more in the Tribune Article (.doc).

Architecture Alumna is Awarded Rome Prize

Adriana Cuellar embarks on an 11-month residence at the American Academy in Rome, America's leading overseas center for advanced research in the arts and humanities. Since graduating in 2000, she has won many awards and worked with notable architects Robert Vinoly and Teddy Cruz.

Read more by searching for Cuellar in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

CRP Department Focus Journal Earns Award

The City and Regional Planning Department will receive an Outstanding Journalism Award for their journal "Focus," from the California Chapter of the American Planning Association. Published annually for Open House since 2004, the journal prepares students to build livable and healthy communities and educates the public.

Read more by searching for the Focus Journal news release in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

View Groundbreaking Photo Gallery & “Live” Web Cam of New CAED Building

The Groundbreaking Celebration for our new CAED Building was a great success May 6. The new building will be near the old Powerhouse, Crandall Gym and Engineering West (shown L-R in photo). Once linked to the webcam, simply click on the camera icon in the lower right corner to gain control, and use the three scroll bars to zoom, tilt, and pan the site.

Cal Poly Team Wins Urban Planning Honorable Mention

A team of graduate students recently received “Honorable Mention” in the Urban Land Institute/Gerald D. Hines competition. The team produced a master plan for a multi-purpose project around the Saint Louis University campus.

Read more by searching for the Urban Planning news release in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.

National Landscape Architecture Scholarship
Awarded to LA Student

Sahoko Yui was awarded the American Society of Landscape Architecture Council of Fellows’ scholarship for promising students of landscape architecture. Yui was one of only two students in United States to receive the award this year.

Read more by searching for Yui in Kennedy Library's 2007 archives at Digital Commons.