By: Victoria Mejicanos, Nov 12, 2024
Several buildings on campus have a seismic rating that either indicates severe or serious risk to life, according to the California State University Seismic Requirements report.
If a large-scale earthquake would hit Cal Poly Pomona, it is highly likely students, faculty and staff in the CLA Building, the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences (Building 5) and the Kellogg West Conference Center could suffer life-threatening injuries, according to the 2024 report, which examines what is needed across the CSU system for buildings to be safe. The report also provides descriptions of each seismic rating.
A total of eight other buildings, including the University Library, the College of Environmental Design (Building 7), the Administration building (Building 1), the College of Science (Building 8) and the Campus Center (Building 97), where the marketplace is located, are included in the CSU Five-Year Plan and will be rebuilt and upgraded to meet the California Building Code requirements, especially the seismic safety requirements
To upgrade and renovate these buildings, CPP will invest almost $643 million during between 2025 and 2029, according to the numbers provided by the 5-year report. There are other improvements and additions that will be made to campus that will come at an additional cost.
According to the 5-year plan, the funding for each of these renovations will come from systemwide revenue bonds. Systemwide Revenue Bonds provide funding for construction project at CSU campuses and pool from multiple revenue sources across all 23 campuses to help fund projects such as health facilities, parking, and student unions. The only seismic project that is not funded by this source is Kellogg West, which will be funded by Cal Poly Pomona Foundation Inc.
Earthquakes are a unique Californian experience. Residents grow up in fear of the big one, and many have lived through major ones that have changed the way infrastructure is viewed in the state. According to the report, Cal Poly Pomona is on San Jose Fault. The probable magnitude of an earthquake that could occur on this fault is 6.0-6.5. The last earthquake was in 1990, and the magnitude was 5.4. The probable magnitude of an earthquake that could occur on this fault is 6.0-6.5. The last earthquake was in 1990, and the magnitude was 5.4.
What remains of the CLA Building, built in 1993, has a seismic rating of 6.0, according to the CSU Five-Year Plan that details which buildings need repair and why. A 6.0 rating indicates severe risk to life and possible 40%-100% property damage. There are also mechanical issues and “building envelope deficiencies, requiring substantial renovation and remediation.”
The Kellogg West Conference Center, built in 1973, has the same seismic rating and threat of damage, but according to the report, the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation Inc. will provide funding for this endeavor. The other buildings with seismic issues will be repaired to use state funds.
According to Matthew Whinery, senior associate vice president, Facilities, Planning & Management the campus has not received funding for projects listed in the 5 year plan. “The form that was referred is a priority list based on receiving funding,” wrote Whinery in an email to The Poly Post. “We are not receiving funding for capital projects this year or next, based on the last state information. We hope the update in January provides information for future potential allocations.”
Despite the lack of funding, the campus is still on track to demolish Cedritos, Palmitos and Los Olivos in spring 2025 according to Whinery.
Building 5 has a seismic rating of 5.0, which indicates a serious risk to life, and the damage would be between 20%-50%.
According to the California State University Seismic Requirements report, the designation of severe or serious “is a subjective measure of the threat of a life-threatening injury or death that is expected to occur in an average building in each Rating Level following the indicated technical requirements.”.
Part of the plan also includes demolishing of empty student housing buildings Palmitas Hall (Building 57), Cedritos Hall (Building 58) and Los Olivos Commons (Building 70) since these structures also do not meet the seismic safety requirements.
Several of the buildings will not only be seismically rebuilt, but they will have system and code upgrades to improve the quality and safety of them.
For example, in the Administration building, changes will include renewal of electrical, HVAC, plumbing, fire/life safety, interior and exterior systems, and code upgrades. Additionally, it will get rid of hazardous material, replace existing roof and window systems, upgrade to energy-efficient lighting and install a new accessible elevator.
Despite these clear seismic concerns, civil engineering professor Giuseppe Lomiento said CPP will likely be fine in the event of the big one because the campus is not located on the San Andreas Fault.
“The big earthquake, the big one, will not be in this area,” Lomiento said. “So, if the big earthquake would happen on the San Andreas Fault, the problems we’re going to have are communication. We’re going to lose power, but we’re not going to see a collapse on these buildings because it’s going to be far away and we’re not going to have much shaking.”
Theatre student Ivy Brooke said she doesn’t have any concerns about the safety of buildings but agreed upgrades could be made to infrastructure to modernize the classrooms.
“As it is, especially the mobile classrooms, I go in and I just feel like I’m back in high school, which honestly really sucks,” Brooke said.
Geology professor Nick Van Buer explained how students can prepare for an actual earthquake.
“Plan to make an earthquake kit,” Van Buer said. “It’s good to have one both where you live and if you come here in a car. A little bit of water, some energy bars and something that won’t go bad quickly. Also, a flashlight, first aid kit and a radio that could work in case the cell towers all go down and you can’t get news from scrolling on your phone.”
Van Buer admitted that, despite the rarity, it can be nerve-racking if a person knows about the seismic safety of a building. He’s even nervous in his office in Building 8, which he just moved to from Building 4. Building 8 was built in 1976 and is set to undergo seismic retrofitting as well as repairs so that it is up to code.
“I got a better view from this building, but it’s a calculated risk here,” Van Buer said. “I’m taking the view for a slightly higher risk of serious building damage.”
Feature image courtesy of Bren Belmonte
This story was updated with more information on Nov. 14.
Isaac Cox and Nicholas Lira, staff writers at The Poly Post, contributed to this article.
