Obstruction and Construction at CSUMB

It is no secret that the beautiful, and relatively unfinished campus of California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) is a treasure trove of hot spots for the average thrill-seeking student. Between the back campus, and old abandoned army barracks, CSUMB has left itself vulnerable to flagrant exploration (otherwise known as trespassing) and other such illegal activities.

Most recently in December of 2010, gates were erected around the army barracks situated towards the north western side of campus, (an area once referred to as the “Dunes”) prompting inquiries of their demolishment and possible new planning.

According to Kathleen Ventimiglia, Director for Campus Planning and Development, there have been several incidents of trespassing in recent months and in compliance with the school’s environmental protections, health and safety codes, “the gates have been placed for safety and security reasons, and are not an indicator that [these buildings] will be demolished anytime soon.”

Unfortunately, the University Police Department could not be reached for further comment, but Mrs. Ventimiglia did reiterate that as of now, there are neither plans to demolish these buildings nor to open them up for use again. “Right now, the biggest issue would be to prevent trespassers.”

In other news however, future CSUMB business, tech and communications majors will have something to look forward to as construction of the School of Business and School of Information Technology & Communication Design (ITCD) has been slated tentatively for March 2013 to December 2014.

As reported by the CSUMB school website, the site for the future Academic Building II has already been located to the center of campus, on Divarty Street and west of the Tanimura & Antle Family Memorial Library. Commissioned by Cogent Energy, Inc. and headed by one Katie Timmerman, HMC Architects will be designing and contracting a new academic building as well as a supporting infrastructure. The project, costing an upwards of 30.5 million dollars, is expected to consume approximately 35,000 assignable square feet / 58,000 gross square feet. It will consist mostly of classroom and laboratory space, with space for “an auditorium, configured lecture, telecom and computer lab space, faculty offices, meeting and student need spaces such as break out rooms, tutoring areas and workrooms” as well.

The building will be the newest addition to CSUMB’s growing community and a beacon of the school’s pride in excellence, supporting the Campus Planning and Development mission of foster[ing] sensitivity to the environment, to the cultures within the community, to the role of technology in the global lifestyle, and to stimulate students, faculty and staff.”