The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) has two new building projects scheduled to begin construction this month: the Plant Sciences Complex on the corner of Highland Drive and Mt. Bishop Road, and the Animal Health Center off of Via Carta next to the Beef Unit (Bldg 16).
“The goals of the projects are to provide hands-on teaching and instructional space to meet the growing demand for environmental, animal health and science professionals,” CAFES Director of Communications AnnMarie Cornejo wrote in an email to Mustang News.
The Plant Sciences Complex will cover six acres and will feature classrooms and labs, greenhouses, a produce packing and cooling facility, farm store and a site for automation and systems testing, according to Cornejo.
Though he won’t be able to see it during his time at Cal Poly, plant sciences junior Simon Lisieski said he thinks the Plant Sciences Center will be great from what he knows about it so far.
“I’m just excited that other people are going to be able to enjoy it,” Lisieski said.
The Plant Sciences Complex and the Animal Health Center are both expected to be finished fall 2025.
According to Cornejo, CAFES has one of the largest animal science programs in the country and 75% of students start with the goal of being a veterinarian. While Cal Poly already has a veterinary clinic and two mobile units, the Animal Health Center will be more focused on the care of larger animals, Cornejo said.
“The Charles and Claire Jacobsen Animal Health Center is set to become an interactive, experiential animal facility that embraces hands-on learning, supporting the next generation of leaders in veterinary medicine, animal healthcare and animal agriculture,” Cornejo wrote.
These projects, which both have a budget of approximately $30 million, are being funded by donors and industry partners such as JG Boswell, Taylor Farms, Bee Sweet Citrus and Charles and Claire Jacobsen, Cornejo said.
“The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences continues to invest in the future of food and agriculture to ensure its graduates are ready to make an immediate impact in industry,” Cornejo wrote.
The Animal Health Center will include wet labs, a surgery suite, a necropsy area, a covered outdoor area for animal examinations and a mobile ambulatory unit, according to Cornejo.
The construction of these projects is not expected to have any significant impact to university operations, though the parking lot outside of the Crop Science building (Bldg 17) will be closed, according to Cal Poly Marketing Communications Coordinator Kassidy Church.
More information about these projects and other current construction projects, can be found on the Facilities Management and Development page.