At a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 3, CSUDH heralded four multimillion-dollar capital projects that will transform the campus and serve students, faculty, and staff for decades to come.
They are: the new Affordable Student Housing and Dining Commons, the new Health, Wellness & Recreation Center, the new Orthotics & Prosthetics Center, and an augmented power grid to facilitate campus growth.
Together, these facilities total $228 million. They represent a major milestone for the university, which only three years ago celebrated the opening of three new buildings totaling more than $200 million.
“Today signifies another step in our journey of transformation for CSUDH—not just for our physical campus, but for our students, faculty, and staff,” said CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham. “This construction of state-of-the-art facilities represents both a culture change on behalf of the campus, and a promise of excellence, service, and care to our community.
“Our campus has limitless potential, and these investments will pay dividends long into the future. As a university founded to provide access and opportunity, we are thrilled to welcome these incredible additions. They will serve as a testament to our progress and aspirations, create meaningful jobs to keep students on campus, and align the excellence our students are capable of with the amenities and resources that facilitate achieving those outcomes.”
Thanks to the advocacy of State Sen. Steven Bradford and the California Legislative Black Caucus, in 2021 California allocated $60 million toward this critical campus infrastructure, including: $20 million toward the electricity grid, $20 million toward the new residence and dining hall, and $20 million toward the Health, Wellness & Recreation Center.
“I’m thrilled to have played a part in helping my alma mater reach this milestone moment,” said Senator Bradford. “CSUDH has always been a university focused on helping students excel and achieve their career and educational goals while promoting equity and economic mobility.
“These new projects will expand and enhance the services offered at CSUDH and showcase the work and mission of this incredible campus community. I extend my deepest appreciation to President Parham for his sage leadership and vision.”
Building Details
The Affordable Student Housing and Dining Commons will consist of a four-story residence hall (63,140 square feet) and the university’s first resident-centered dining facility (17,532 square feet). Opening in Fall 2026, the residence hall will accommodate 288 students, providing affordable housing to designated low-income students in order to reduce their cost of attendance and support their academic success. The $97 million project is funded by one-time state funding, systemwide revenue bonds, and a gift from Toro Auxiliary Partners in partnership with Aramark.
The three-story, 82,035 square foot Health, Wellness & Recreation Center is slated to open in August 2026. It will feature a gymnasium with activity courts and an elevated running track, training and fitness rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, a dance studio, and offices. It will also include a satellite psychological services and mental health center, satellite student health center, healthy eating and nutritional counseling center, and stress-reduction and relaxation room. Funding for the $85 million project comes from the state of California, philanthropic contributions, and student fees.
Thanks to the generosity of Gil and Shirley Smith, longtime supporters of CSUDH, a landmark Toro bull statue will be the main feature in the “Gil Smith Plaza” in front of the building. Gil Smith was the first Black mayor of Carson, and chaired the committee that worked to establish CSUDH in Carson in 1968.
The new Orthotics and Prosthetics Center, which has not yet broken ground, will provide a cutting-edge space to educate the next generation of specialists. It will also bring CSUDH’s Orthotics and Prosthetics program back to the Carson campus, as it currently operates in Los Alamitos, Orange County. At 6,561 square feet, the $11 million center’s planned opening is November 2025.
Lastly, the SCE Switchyard and new heat pumps at the university’s central plant will enable increased power on campus. With this $35 million upgrade, CSUDH will reduce greenhouse gas emissions substantially through energy conservation, electrification of heating, and renewable energy. The heat pumps are operational now, with the switchyard opening December 2025. Funding came from state appropriation, deferred maintenance funds, and systemwide revenue bonds.
These four major capital projects are all designed to meet or exceed energy and environmental performance targets, as CSUDH embraces sustainability as a core value in line with its commitment to social, environmental, and educational justice.
