A portion of Parking Lot E will be closed until the construction of the Rose Float project is complete, which is expected to open in 2020, according to the Cal Poly Pomona website.
The closure began with blue fences blocking off about 60 parking spaces at 6 a.m. on Sept. 6.
“We’re installing utility infrastructure that will serve the new Rose Float (Lab and Design Complex) building,” said Daniel Johnson, interim associate vice president of Facilities and Planning Management.
As most of that construction is meant to happen underground, blocking the parking area is necessary. The parking spaces are planned to be blocked off for the entire duration of construction, and will be reopened for student use upon completion. In the meantime, the majority of Parking Lot E will remain open for student parking.
Although available parking space is an issue on campus, Johnson states the interruption of parking or traffic is not anticipated.
The University Campus Police was contacted to comment, but did not respond.
The area fenced off is located directly parallel to the Agricultural Engineering building (45), but is not expected to interfere with classes, according to Facilities Planning and Management.
No interruptions to classes located in the Agricultural Engineering building have been reported, although construction on the site is still in its preliminary stages.
Johnson urges students and faculty to visit CPP’s website and campus communications to learn more information as well as receive current updates about the construction project.
The closure of Parking Lot E gives way to the construction of the long-awaited Rose Float Lab and Design Complex, a project that was planned to begin in 2018, according to the CPP website. The reason for the new complex is to have an official space to construct and store all equipment and materials related to the Rose Floats.
The complex is meant to preserve and honor the tradition of CPP Rose Floats. According to the CPP website, the Rose Float Lab and Design Complex aims to improve visibility for the program. It will be located near the Interstate 10 freeway and Kellogg Drive.
According to the CPP website, the 5,700-square-foot lab will have an electronics and hydraulic shop inside, as well as a 7,500-square-foot courtyard serving as an outdoor work space. The building will have two restrooms and a picnic area open to all students.
Construction is expected to last through 2019 and the grand opening of the Rose Float Lab and Design Complex is planned to happen in 2021. The parking lot will be reopened at that time.
