Cal Poly Starts Build on Cutting-Edge Dining Facility

By Aziza Jackson

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo is currently constructing a state-of-the-art dining facility called the Vista Grande Dining Complex.

Offering three stories of increased indoor and outdoor seating, six unique dining venues, lounge space and game tables, and a variety of exhibition-style food choices, the dining complex will be ready to serve the campus during the 2019-2020 academic year.

A Jamba Juice, convenience store and Campus Dining’s registered dietitian will be featured prominently on the first floor. All of these amenities will be housed in a modern building that boasts LEED Gold certification for sustainable, resource-efficient design. The six nutrition-focused restaurants will provide fresh, healthy, made-to-order food options for all diets, lifestyles and busy student schedules.

“The new Vista Grande Dining Complex is the most ambitious project we have undertaken in many years,” said Lorlie Leetham, associate vice president of Commercial Services at Cal Poly. “This state-of-the-art facility is a key component of the dining master plan that we launched in 2014 with the overarching goal of transforming the Cal Poly dining experience.”

In 2016 shovels broke ground on the dining complex as Cal Poly Corporation’s master plan for Campus Dining got underway. Cal Poly Corporation is the university’s non-profit arm; the organization provides commercial services, research support, administrative services and funding resources to advance Cal Poly.

The Vista Grande replacement project was conceived to address the needs of a growing residential campus and expand on-trend dining options. It was developed based on research and analysis of the latest culinary concepts and campus community input.

“Designed for diverse food options and expanded gathering spaces, the new Vista Grande will provide an enhanced sense of community and campus spirit,” said Leetham, who also serves as the executive director of the Cal Poly Corporation. “The Cal Poly Corporation is proud to be involved in a project that, at its core, is all about driving student success.”