SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cal Poly’s newest student housing complex, Poly Canyon Village, has been honored with the Innovator Award by Student Housing Business magazine.

The honor was given to Poly Canyon Village architectural designer Niles Bolton Associates for the category of Best New Development: On-Campus. The award was presented April 13 at the Interface Student Housing Conference held in Austin, Texas.

Poly Canyon Village boasts 615 apartments with 2,661 beds, as well as 1,926 parking spaces and 11, 255 square feet of retail space. Cal Poly is home to the largest student housing program in the California State University System, with more than 6,200 residents.

Poly Canyon Village is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Cannon provided civil engineering services for the project, including the preparation of grading, drainage, improvement, and on-and off-site utility plans. Cannon also assisted with surveying, environmental permitting, and LEED certification for the complex.

About the U.S. Green Building Council:
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. Buildings in the U.S. are responsible for 39 percent of CO2 emissions, 40 percent of energy consumption, 13 percent of water consumption and 15 percent of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85 percent of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.

About LEED Certification:
The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. More than 40,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising nearly 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 117 countries. In addition, nearly 10,000 homes have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, with nearly 38,000 more homes registered. By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

Article reprinted from Cal Poly News, April 14, 2011.