The Cal Poly Pomona Dining Commons is located at a highly visible entry point to campus, and serves as a beacon for an overall new housing complex by HMC Architects.
This prominent site was a former horse pasture, and the history of the agrarian campus was considered in the design of the building - a dramatic, modern roof opens up to views of the historic Kellogg Hill.
Inside the dining commons, warm materials, residential lighting and big communal tables are meant to resonate with the warmth of home for students.
The dining food service is laid out in stations versus a linear service, to create smaller “neighborhoods” and elicit an intimate feeling.
Flexibility for after-hours service is also considered - a portion of the Dining Commons can be closed off for private events or to create security for after-hours usage.