Cal Poly Pomona's distinctive Student Services Building took top honors in the education category at the Los Angeles Business Council's 2019 Architectural Awards ceremony on June 21.

"This year's award winners exemplify how architecture can elicit joy, enhance social interaction, promote meaningful experiences and provide essential housing," said Mary Leslie, president of LABC.

Designed by CO Architects, the three-story, 138,000-square-foot structure features a visually striking, undulating aluminum roof and serves as the new gateway to the campus. The roof's design was inspired by the nearby San Gabriel Mountains and foothills.

Built to LEED platinum standards, the architects used extensive daylight and solar heat gain analysis modeling to optimize the roof geometry and minimize lighting and cooling energy loads. Its 28- to 30-foot roof overhangs shade the exterior low-emissions glass, reduce thermal loads and glare, and maximize good quality light.

The structure is organized in two buildings bisected by a central breezeway and consolidates student service functions into easily accessible service centers on the ground level. Private offices, workstations and meeting rooms are dispersed throughout the upper floors in collaborative workspaces offering ample daylight and views.

The architecture awards were announced at a gathering of more than 650 architects, designers, building owners, developers and city officials at the Beverly Hilton. Winners were selected by a jury panel of industry experts co-chaired by Leo Marmol of Marmol Radziner, Jan Karl of Morley Builders, and Saundra Price of W.E. O'Neil and Joe Detuno of Detuno Consulting. The keynote address was delivered by OMA partner Shohei Shigematsu, who is the designer of the new Audrey Irmas Pavilion and The Plaza at Santa Monica.

This year's grand prize winner was the LAFC Banc of California Stadium in Exposition Park, built entirely around the fan experience, with team executives soliciting ideas directly from soccer fans as part of the design process.