Engineering students to bring Green Stormwater Infrastructure to CPP
By Annika Salant, November 18, 2025
A group of engineering students is proposing Parking Lot N be used for more than a Tesla parking lot but rather a hub for both recreation and Green Stormwater Infrastructure.
The CPP Green Infrastructure Project is led by project manager and civil engineer student Madailein Daza and is comprised of 14 members. According to Daza, the project is proposing Cal Poly Pomona implement Green Stormwater Infrastructure, a sustainable system that filters and manages water runoff naturally through soil, rather than traditional, urban alternatives.
“When it rains, the water that would normally just flow on the concrete or sidewalks would instead flow over dirt and trees that would collect the water,” Daza said. “Through doing that, the water would be cleaned, and then it can be used directly by people.”
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, GSI steps away from traditional means of stormwater infrastructure and “is designed to mimic nature” by collecting and treating water where it lands. By doing this, GSI helps improve water quality and reduce flooding.
According to civil engineering student and project policy lead Robert Williams, utilizing Lot N can create “a functional green space and community-friendly site” for all CPP students and faculty to enjoy.
GSI is already being used on CPP’s campus. According to Daza, the Student Services Building is utilizing green stormwater infrastructure. The SSB became the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum Certified facility on campus, according to CPP News.
In addition to promoting sustainability and creating a community space, the CPP Green Infrastructure Project will help reduce university expenses, ultimately reducing overall student costs, according to Daza.
“For the students who live on campus, housing is a big issue right now, and the cost of housing,” Daza said. “So, by implementing the GSI, operational costs, like per square foot, go down from like $2 to 80 cents.”
Daza explained this is due to decreased maintenance and outsourcing associated with traditional gray stormwater infrastructure.
According to Daza, the students working on this project have already begun reaching out to Pomona legislators and city officials to assure their work is up to industry standards. As they prepare to present the proposal at the CPP Engineering Project Symposium and Showcase, they are aware of the possibility the CPP Green Infrastructure Project could be implemented on campus.
“When we graduate, if these ideas get implemented, whether it be the whole idea or at least parts of it, it’s like we’re leaving our mark on campus,” said civil engineering student and visual lead Janessa Gomez. “Even if we might not get to see it by the end of our time here, we want everybody else to be able to reap the benefits of it.”
According to Gomez, the CPP Green Infrastructure Project is no longer about a grade, but about the legacy they can leave for their soon-to-be alma mater. Their goal is for studentsto have access to a happier, more sustainable campus.
“We want the space to be built by students for the students, and it’s not something that a big corporation or conglomerate is creating without input of those who actually live here,” Daza said.
Feature image courtesy of the Cal Poly Pomona Interactive Map