Altered landscapes result inevitably from human settlement and successive transformations. In Pomona, the scenery shifts from that of the dry, Rancho San Jose, to the romantic, verdant ranch of WK Kellogg as well as to the superscale freeway interchange, producing a panorama of cultural depth and visual intensity.
The Classroom, Laboratory, and Administration (CLA) Buildings, completed in 1992, create a symbolic gateway for the Cal Poly campus, a threshold between the desert to the east and the city of Los Angeles to the west.
A sense of boundary exists that distinguishes functional pieces. There is a layering of doorways, patios, outdoor courtyards, rooftop gardens, bridges, balconies and paseos, which accommodate pedestrian paths that once existed on site.
Extremely energy efficient, the egalitarian tower presents multiple opportunities for social and business interaction by virtue of its mixed functional occupancy: students, faculty, and staff.
Serving as a symbol of transformation for the campus, the CLA Building is anchored by pervading historical atmospheres and the spirit of the Pomona Valley. Coming into view from the LAX flight path, the building appears as an abstract geologic form in the unfolding landscape of basin, foothills and mountains. Each vertex of its triangular organization points toward these salient landscape features.