Cal Poly Architecture Department

One of CAED’s most anticipated traditions returned last week, Design Village! This year’s theme, RESILIENCE, challenged students to design and build structures capable of withstanding the erratic weather of California’s Central Coast. Set in the Experimental Structures Laboratory in Poly Canyon, the site once again became a temporary community of student-built shelters. Founded in 1975, this annual competition has a long-standing history as a signature Learn by Doing experience, where students carry projects from concept to construction, transport them by hand, and inhabit them for 48 hours. Projects were evaluated on Innovation, Craft, Aesthetics, and Function, recognizing each team’s creativity, technical skills, and ability to support life on-site throughout the weekend. Congratulations to all the teams for bringing this year’s theme to life! Photos 1, 4, 7 and 8 by Bryan Shields #calpoly #calpolyarchitecture #architecture #learnbydoing #designvillage

We were delighted to have welcomed many prospective Architecture students and families during Open House weekend! Attendees participated in tours of the college, heard an address from our Department Head, Mark Cabrina, and viewed student work exhibits amongst other events. We can’t wait to welcome our class of ‘31 next fall! #calpoly #calpolyslo #calpolyarchitecture #architecture

Learn by doing, naturally! Cal Poly Architecture partnered with the California Straw Building Association Conference on their 30th anniversary to co-host the 2026 West Coast Natural Building Materials Conference. Students connected with industry professionals, explored natural building techniques, and participated in hands-on demonstrations focused on bio-based materials and sustainable construction. #calpoly #sustainabledesign #calpolyarchitecture #architecture

Today is the final day of Poly Gives! Thank you to those who have already donated to Cal Poly Architecture! We are grateful for the contributions to support our student-focused programs and events. Help us stay at the top of the leaderboard for having the most donors. Every gift, big or small, makes a meaningful impact. Donate through the link in our bio! #polygives #calpoly #calpolyarchitecture

Day 2 of Poly Gives! For the third year running, Architecture alum, David Gilmore (76’), is graciously matching $20,000 in donations to the Architecture Department! Funding helps support students get engaging, hands-on experience in architectural design. Donate to Cal Poly Architecture through our link in bio. #polygives #calpoly #calpolyarchitecture

Poly Gives starts today! For the next 3 days, Cal Poly is hosting a celebration of giving to support Cal Poly students and programs. Donating to Cal Poly Architecture helps fund our studios, labs, and special events. Help support architecture students and donate now at the link in bio! #polygives #calpoly #calpolyarchitecture

Every year, the Architecture Department hosts LaunchPad, an event to showcase and review outstanding student work selected by their peers from the third year Double-Quarter Studios. The LaunchPad review panel consists of external industry professionals to give students a comprehensive review of their process. #calpoly #calpolyslo #calpolyarchitecture #architecturestudent #architecturestudio

Over the past couple weeks, the Cal Poly Architecture studios have been buzzing with energy as final reviews took center stage. Students across all years spent countless hours refining drawings, models, and ideas in preparation for critiques with faculty and guest reviewers, and the first years practiced their watercolor skills with faculty member JoAnn Moore. #calpoly #calpolyslo #calpolyarchitecture #architecturestudent #architecturestudio

Congratulations to fifth year architecture students Bennett Herbolsheimer and Kathy Ye on their inclusion in the 2026 Metropolis Future 100 cohort! The nominations were submitted by Professor and Associate Dean of Student Success Carmen Trudell, whom Bennett worked with as both a student and ISA over the past four years, and Assistant Professor Jaehun Woo, Kathy’s professor and CSU SPaRA research mentor. Launched in 2021, this award recognizes the top 100 graduating undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of architecture and interior design from the US and Canada. Read about the entire 2026 class of 100 in the full issue here: metropolismag.com/programs/future100-architecture-undergraduate-winners/ Select portfolio images in order of appearance: Bennett Herbolsheimer: 1-6 Kathy Ye: 7-12 #calpoly #calpolyslo #calpolyarchitecture #metropolismag #metropolis

Join the California Straw Building Association and the Architecture Department as we co-host the 2026 West Coast Natural Building Conference and celebrate CASBA’s 30th anniversary! This year’s theme, Tradition and Innovation, will cover topics such as building codes, technical research, practical tips/techniques, bio-regional resilience, and more. Friday, April 10 Panel Discussions and Keynote by Summer Islam | Berg Gallery and Rotunda Saturday, April 11 Rancho El Chorro Conference Center Sunday, April 12 Hands-On Workshops | Building 05 Stair Court Events on Friday and Sunday are free for Cal Poly students, faculty, and staff; registration is required for all on Saturday. Register here: /event-6495713 #calpoly #calpolyslo #calpolyarchitecture #architecture

Exemplifying the teacher-scholar ethos at Cal Poly, Assistant Professor Jaehun Woo has recently published his essay examining architecture as a tool to prosecute political arguments, “Small Californian City Halls: Scaffolding Democracy in a Small-Town City Hall” in the Fall 2025 Journal of Architectural Education (JAE). Included in the essay is the work of thirty-eight students’ design research that had been developed within the framework of Double-Quarter Studio—signature to our third year architecture program. Read the essay here: /issue-article/small-californian-city-halls-scaffolding-democracy-in-a-small-town-city-hall/ Projects in order of appearance: Kathy Ye Aaron Alexander, Zavala Pedroza, Benoit Lepottier, Zaina Nasr Abby Casady Hope Gallemore, Kate Thompson Hudson Price, Samuel Sundstrom Adrian Botouroglou, Joseph Dovidio Ariel Hurwitz Taylor Bannink, Benoit Lepottier Ethan O’Reilly, Dillan Watson #calpoly #calpolyslo #calpolyarchitecture #architecture #JAE

Co-taught by Architecture faculty Angela Bracco and Clare Olsen, this exhibition grew out of ARCH 462: Topics in Practice, where students explored biogenic, plant-based materials that are renewable, carbon-storing, and locally sourced, examining how material choices impact human and planetary health. On view are 100-Mile Building Assemblies by Alyssa Lin and Ishan Singh, focused on invasive species in San Luis Obispo; Aya Shadan and Efren Cabrera, addressing fire resistance in Altadena; Mona Burger and Melani Faber, exploring renewability in Seattle; Almond House that turned California’s leading agricultural waste into building blocks by Taylor Bannink and Gabe Hurcomb; and a straw bale wall clad with urban wood waste by Carolin Kujawa, Noah Fann, and Chase Hanson. Together, these explorations reimagine architecture rooted in place— placing biogenic, bioregional materials at the forefront of a healthier, more responsible built environment. Read more: openpublishing.library.umass.edu/btes/article/id/3494/ #calpoly #calpolyslo #calpolyarchitecture #bioregional #biogenicmaterials