The Steinberg Group Designs New $18 million Student Housing Complex at California State University Fullerton

For those who think college housing is a small cubicle with a bed, dresser and closet, think again. The latest in student housing designed by the Los Angeles office of The Steinberg Group, an architectural firm, is modeled after apartment style living, complete with private bathrooms, full kitchens and advanced Internet hook-ups.

For those who think college housing is a small cubicle with a bed, dresser and closet, think again. The latest in student housing designed by the Los Angeles office of The Steinberg Group, an architectural firm, is modeled after apartment style living, complete with private bathrooms, full kitchens and advanced Internet hook-ups.

A ribbon cutting for the five-building 440-bed complex, which pre-opened in time for the 2002-2003 school year with a waiting list of students, was held today.

"This new housing complex at California State University, Fullerton represented a significant challenge to the design team," says Dave Mitani, Principal-in-Charge of the project. The university was very clear that they needed the building ready for the incoming students this year. With this time frame, we kept the design simple, yet concentrated on incorporating social nodes and high tech group study spaces for both socialization and study."

The apartment style residence complex was designed in one year and constructed in 18 months in order to meet the universitys increased demand for undergraduate housing for the incoming class of 2002. The new complex, which provides a vital link to the campus existing residential complex, is designed with five, four-story buildings, strategically located around a center courtyard. A typical unit, which is approximately 975 SF, includes four single occupancy rooms, with two private bathrooms as well as shared kitchen and living areas, and balconies that face inward toward the common plaza area that is designed to serve as one of the two hubs of social activities.

Because the project was to be completed within 18 months, once the floor plate was designed, it was then replicated throughout the building to keep the cost of construction low.

Variation on the buildings facades was created by articulation of the circulation spaces, use of sun-shading devices on the south and west
elevations, and the interplay of color and materials.

Group study areas were centrally located, to provide alternative areas for quiet study and socialization. The study areas, public spaces and the rooms were then wired to the campus infrastructure with fiber optic and Category 5 cabling to allow 24-hour access to the Campus Intranet as well as the Internet.

The approximately 150,000 SF project includes the new housing, as well as administrative and maintenance space centrally located within the housing core to service the students. It also included the renovation of Cobb Hall, the existing student housing, and created a new Commons which houses the student store, laundry facilities, an exercise room, volleyball and basketball courts, restrooms and group study area. All units are disabled accessible and 100% adaptable.

To meet the 18-month deadline, The Steinberg Group, and its contractor, Newport Beach based SJ Amoroso Contractors, utilized a pre-fabricated system of wood framed floors that allowed for each unit to be built and stored off site. Once the foundation was poured, the pre-fabricated units were assembled on site at a rate of two living units per week. The use of this pre-fabricated system resulted in a schedule savings of approximately 2 months. Although the system was pre-fabricated, it did not affect the durability of the rooms or their finishes. Special building system features include energy efficient central water heating; premium acoustical insulation between units and dual glazed acoustic windows to mitigate adjacent freeway noise.

The Steinberg Group design team includes: Robert Steinberg, FAIA, Principal, David Mitani, AIA, Principal, Mun Leu, AIA, Project Manager, Alec Tan, AIA, Project Architect and Abby White, Job Captain.

Newport Beach based SJ Amoroso Contractors, served as the general contractor. Other consultants included Purkinss-Rose RSI Landscape Architects, DPB Electrical Engineering, United Mechanical Engineering and Englekirk Consulting Structural Engineers.

Founded in 1953, The Steinberg Group (TSG) has over 100 architects and interiors professionals in its Los Angeles and San Jose, California offices. The firm is renowned for its design in educational facilities and has completed housing and academic projects on more than 19 college and university campuses throughout California.

Current Projects in design by The Steinberg Groups Los Angeles office include:
Ø   San Diego State University, Sorority Row, San Diego, CA
Ø   Quadrangle Building, Riverside Community College, Riverside, CA
Ø   Los Angeles Unified School District, East Valley Middle School, Panorama City, CA
Ø   Los Angles Unified School District, Fremont Primary Center, Los Angeles, CA

An award winning design firm, The Steinberg Group has received recognition from numerous industry organizations including the American Institute of Architects, the National Council on Seniors Housing and the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment officials. For more information visit www.tsgarch.com.