Gensler to Lead Planning for Lanterman Site

Cal Poly Pomona has selected global architecture and design firm Gensler to lead a comprehensive land use planning study for the university’s 300-acre Lanterman Developmental Center site.

The firm will develop a Conceptual Land Use Plan and Utility Assessment. The study represents a major step forward in the university’s long-term effort to transform the site into a vibrant mixed-use district that supports its academic mission, expands housing opportunities, strengthens community partnerships and drives regional economic growth.

“We’re excited to partner with Gensler, a firm with deep experience in higher education and within the CSU system,” said Anthony Orlando, associate professor of finance, real estate and law, who serves as the faculty representative on the Lanterman Project Team. “Their work on mixed-use university developments across California and the CSU positions them well to help translate that shared vision into a thoughtful, dynamic plan that serves both the campus and the broader region.”

Gensler’s work is part of the coordinated pre-development efforts guiding the future of the site, alongside a market and financial feasibility analysis by Keyser Marston Associates (KMA), and pre-environmental impact review activities that include an updated Historical Resources Assessment Report (HRAR) and Hazardous Materials Survey Report. At the conclusion of these three efforts, Cal Poly Pomona is expected to issue a request for proposals for a master developer.

The planning process will include site analysis, workshops with students and the broader campus community, and development of multiple land use alternatives, leading to the identification of a preferred conceptual plan. Gensler’s work plan is expected to be completed in summer 2026. In parallel, the College of Business Administration launched an Innovation Design Challenge that invited students to form interdisciplinary teams to propose creative, feasible ideas for how the Lanterman site could support student life, housing, research and partnerships, culminating in a Shark Tank-style pitch event with the Gensler team on May 4.

“What makes this moment especially significant is the depth of community input that is shaping the vision — our students, faculty, staff, and neighbors are all helping articulate what this place can become,” Orlando said.

The development of the Lanterman project is being overseen by a Cal Poly Pomona team comprised of staff and academic and administrative representatives, ensuring that both technical expertise and academic perspectives are integrated throughout.  

The Lanterman project builds on more than a decade of planning since the site was transferred from the State of California to the CSU system in 2015, with Cal Poly Pomona designated as the lead campus. Recent progress has accelerated following a $750,000 investment from the CSU Chancellor’s Office to support pre-development work.

Early findings from KMA’s Phase 1 market assessment indicate strong regional demand for affordable residential housing, neighborhood-serving retail and industry-aligned uses, with the estimated demand of more than 2,800 residential units by 2030 and support from industry partnerships in sectors such as healthcare, logistics, engineering and technology.

For members of the Gensler team with Bronco roots, the project carries personal significance.

“As a recent Cal Poly Pomona graduate, it’s incredibly meaningful to return to campus through this project in a professional capacity,” said Kristen Sarmiento (’25, architecture), an urban designer at Gensler. “The architecture program taught me to prioritize the communities we design for, and being able to apply those lessons to the future of the campus is a full circle moment for me.”

“The Lanterman site represents a unique opportunity to create a transformative district that connects the university with the surrounding community,” said Nathan Kim (’99, architecture), Gensler project principal and co-managing director at the firm’s Newport Beach office. “Our team is honored to partner with Cal Poly Pomona to explore how this site can support the university’s long-term goals while creating new opportunities for collaboration, innovation and community impact.”