First Phase of Demolition of Palmitas and Cedritos Residence Hall Complex to Begin in mid-February

February 06, 2025 | gary fong

The architectural landscape of Cal Poly Pomona is about to undergo another change of scenery as a project to demolish an outdated residence hall complex is slated to start in mid-February.

The Palmitas and Cedritos residence halls, the La Cienega Center and Los Olivos Commons were all built in the 1960s and are scheduled for demolition. The residence halls, which were constructed atop a previously unknown earthquake fault at the time, were permanently closed in 2020.

Earlier demolition plans for the residence hall complex were put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainties of the economic recovery. As the California State University system emerged from the pandemic, nearly $9 million was approved two years ago by the Chancellor’s Office for the demolition project.

Not only are the residence halls situated atop a fault line, but the structures were constructed using concrete, which makes the buildings unsuitable for retrofitting or upgrading, said Bruyn Bevans, the senior project manager in Facilities Planning & Management who is overseeing the demolition and renovation of the site.

“These buildings can’t be re-purposed and new structures can’t be built on the same site because of the fault line. Once the new dorm towers opened, the plan was to close and demolish this complex,” Bevans said. “We’re going to take down the buildings with the least amount of impact on the campus as possible.”

The first phase of the project is scheduled to start on Feb. 17 and will tackle the removal of hazardous asbestos insulation and lead in the building’s structure and fittings. The buildings will be sealed off during the removal process.

The perimeter of the residence hall complex will be fenced off during the three phases of the demolition. Pathways that connect Palmitas and Cedritos to the red-brick dorm complex will be closed. Access to the sidewalks along University Drive and to the adjacent pond will not be affected during the project. The length of fencing around the perimeter is equivalent to nearly three-quarters of a mile.

The second phase of the demolition is tentatively scheduled to begin in late April and will involve the removal of fixtures, the plumbing system and electrical wiring components. The work is expected to be completed in two months.

The third and final phase, which is the physical demolition of the complex using jackhammers and other heavy equipment, will start shortly after Commencement in mid-May.

The demolition is not expected to cause excessive noise that would interfere with classroom instruction or work in offices located near the work site, said Bevans. The razing of the complex should not disrupt summer classes and is expected to be completed in the fall, he added.

During the demolition planning process, FP&M conducted detailed research into whether the residence hall complex contained any historical significance to the campus and found that the buildings lacked such stature.

The campus landscape has been reshaped over the last several years by the demolition of the once iconic CLA Tower and the construction of the Student Services Building, Sicomoro and Secoya residence halls, and the Centerpointe dining commons.