Cal Poly Pomona's second parking structure, featuring three levels, solar panels, Wi-Fi, secure bicycle storage, and more, has opened, adding over 1,800 parking spots to campus.

At a grand opening ceremony held Sept. 15, Police Chief Dario Robinson and University President Soraya M. Coley praised all the parties involved in getting the project completed on time and spoke about the structure's amenities and benefits.

The structure has automatic lighting, 24 stations for charging electric vehicles, 13 emergency phones and 77 cameras for security, rideshare parking, and four stops for shuttles.

The structure includes more than 1,800 parking spots, 24 stations for charging electric vehicles, 13 emergency phones and 77 security cameras.

"I think the biggest thing about this parking structure is that it's really, really nice," says Mike Biagi, director of Parking & Transportation Services. "It's the best parking on campus by far. It provides the quickest shuttle service to the center of campus by far, and I think it will provide the best parking experience for our students, bar none."

It can be accessed from eight entrances located on University Drive, Collins Street, Temple Avenue and in parking Lot B, which is accessible from Kellogg Drive and South Campus Drive.

Robinson outlined some facts and emphasized the scale of the project:

• It covers an area the size of 2.5 football fields
• 4 million pounds of steel reinforces the structure
• Its solar panels generate 8 percent of campus electricity
• 120,000 cubic yards of dirt was moved
• 50,000 cubic yards of concrete was poured

Construction of the $41-million structure began two years ago on the site of the former parking Lot K, near the northwest corner of Temple Avenue and South Campus Drive, and adjacent to iPoly High School.

University officials have taken pains to ensure that the construction and operation of the structure is as sustainable as possible, using locally sourced concrete, recycling asphalt that had paved Lot K, hiring local labor to shorten workers' commutes, and including features like lighting that dims when people are not present. Bicyclists can securely store their bikes in a special cage that is only accessible by swiping their Bronco ID.

The structure is the latest effort by the campus to ease the parking situation. Other efforts have included the creation of two overflow lots, which will be open again this year, and putting student commuters in non-traditional parking such as along service roads.

Cyclists who would like to use the bicycle storage cage will need to register their Bronco ID by calling Parking & Transportation Services at (909) 859-3061 and stopping by the office in Building 81.