New Poly Canyon Observation Deck Dedicated
Above: Tony Pellegrini, Sitora Vaxidova and Harrison Woods (left to right) on June 14, 2019, at the donor plaque for the Poly Canyon Observation Deck. In background are the mountain spring and student-built Water Tanks (1969 and 1998).
Above: Pellegrini, Vaxidova and Woods presenting on the steps of the Observation Deck during the dedication (left to right).
View from the Poly Canyon Observation Deck after the dedication. Large-scale, student-built structures in the background from center to the right are: Poly Pavilion AKA the Spider Structure; behind it, the Haybale Structure (white); Shell House (shaped like a handkerchief), and on the far right, the Fratessa Tower.
SAN LUIS OBISPO - A new structure was recently dedicated in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design’s Poly Canyon Experimental Practices Laboratory, which is located in the hills above the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo.
The new Poly Canyon Observation Deck was designed in 2017 by Cal Poly architectural engineering students Sitora Vaxidova, Emir Kuljancic and construction management (CM) student Jordan Morofsky. The deck was completed as a senior project in the spring of 2019 by Vaxidova and two CM students, Tony Pellegrini and Harrison Woods.
The Poly Canyon Observation Deck was constructed out of redwood lumber and took two months to build. The team of students dedicated it June 14, the day before their graduation, in celebration with the dean, department heads, project sponsors and their families and friends.
The students expressed their appreciation to the many supporters and sponsors who provided them the expertise and materials to complete the project.
“We want to thank you for your tremendous support on this project, it is extremely appreciated,” said Pellegrini on behalf of the team. “We are very excited to share this observation deck with you and the rest of campus. This project is of a strong interdisciplinary nature, as we have worked closely with fellow students from a variety of majors including construction management, architectural engineering, bioresource and agricultural engineering, business, and graphic communication.”
He continued, “This project has taught us valuable lessons in teamwork and has allowed us to experience the project from diverse points of view. It has greatly prepared us for the construction industry that is moving in a collaborative and interdisciplinary direction. We hope our project will encourage future students to not only revitalize the canyon but to also take on large-scale interdisciplinary projects of their own.”
The expansive deck allows visitors to the canyon to enjoy a restful break high above most of the existing experimental structures, to take in the view of the rolling hills and oaks that lead further up to Cuesta Grade.
Poly Canyon is home to more than 20 student-built structures that range from the nearby Water Tanks (1969 and 1998) that sit atop a spring that forms the headwaters of Brizzollara Creek, and the Bridge House (1968); to the Geodesic Dome (1964), Cantilever Deck (1990), and Tensile Structure (2003) that are further down the hill near the canyon’s gateway Entry Arch (1976).
The college’s Founding Dean George Hasslein is credited with negotiating with then Cal Poly President Robert Kennedy, the namesake of the campus’ Kennedy Library, for access to the undeveloped Cal Poly property in order for students to be able to build experimental structures. The agreement was for approximately 9 acres of property that is a part of the Peterson ranch dedication to campus. Poly Canyon is also the location of the college's Design Village Competition each spring.
Students, alumni and faculty are working to revitalize Poly Canyon as members of the Canyon Days Committee, which started in 2014. The volunteer group helps repair structures and maintain landscaping in the canyon once or twice a year. If you’d like to volunteer or provide support, please contact the college at 805-756-1311 for more information.
