By Emily K. Cohen
With the opening of the new parking structure just in time for fall quarter, students can enjoy the benefits of 1,816 parking spaces, additional security and sustainable energy practices.
The three-level structure, set to open on Sept. 22, is located on University Drive.
The opening of the new structure hopes to compensate for the loss of 969 spaces from parking Lot C, which is currently under construction for the new Student Services building.
According to Michael Biagi, director of Parking and Transportation Services, the rise in student enrollment signified a need for an additional parking structure.
To ensure the safety of CPP students, staff and faculty, 77 security cameras monitor the structure. In addition, it features a secure room with 96 bicycle spaces where a card is needed to enter.
CPP’s new parking structure also promotes sustainability.
The structure was built using steel that was locally sourced and made every effort possible to keep environmental damage to a minimum. The rooftop of the structure uses solar panels that not only give power to the structure itself, but to other parts of the campus as well.
In addition, there are 24 electric car charging spaces with no time limit and no extra charge.
The lighting within the structure is LED motion sensitive, which uses less power.
WiFi is also accessible within the structure for students, staff and faculty.
On the tennis court walls facing the structure are three “Learn by Doing” murals which were painted by students who each won $2,000 in a contest.
The murals incorporate images of the school’s past and present: the university’s eight colleges and CPP’s motto, “Learn by Doing,” spelled out in American Sign Language, which pays tribute to disabled students on campus.
The funds for the structure were generated from student, staff and faculty parking fees.
“It was important that we built something that would be used with the funds,” said project manager Bruyn Bevans, who kept the structure on schedule and on budget.
One of the goals of Parking and Transportation Services is to encourage students to use rideshare and produce fewer gas emissions. The new structure contains 11 rideshare spaces and more will be added as needed.
Whether or not CPP will see more structures in the future depends on a few factors, including student involvement in rideshare, the increasing number of students enrolling at CPP and schedule distribution.
“We are trying to avoid building more,” said Biagi. “We want to keep the campus agricultural.”
Eviana Vergara / The Poly Post
The new parking structure on University Drive
Courtesy of Sungah Choi
Parking permit prices
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