On March 28, California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for La Playa Residence Hall, a 108,000-square-foot student housing project designed by global architecture and design firm Perkins&Will. The project is a part of the State of California’s Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program, which aims to increase below-rate rental options for students living on campus. 

“La Playa Residence Hall will add 424 residents to CSULB’s Hillside Housing village, improving access to affordable on-campus housing at The Beach,” says Yan Krymsky, principal and design director at Perkins&Will’s Los Angeles studio. “We expanded on the village feel of the surrounding Hillside Housing community by dividing the project into three structures connected by bridges. This gives the project a more approachable scale and preserves open space on campus.” 

The $115 million project will consist of three five-story buildings each surrounded by outdoor amenities, ranging from patios and dining areas to a welcome plaza and central lawn for student residents to enjoy.  

Once complete, La Playa Residence Hall will hold 424 beds distributed across a mix of single- and double-occupancy student rooms, with lounges, study areas, and maintenance facilities located on every floor. Inside each building, there will also be a kitchen on the ground floor, three apartments for staff or faculty, a 2,000-square-foot multipurpose room, and music practice rooms. Additionally, the residence hall will feature two dedicated offices that will expand the University’s Counseling and Psychological Services program to provide support for students in need. 

“Communities, scale, and identity. Each of these drivers strategically shaped the highly bespoke design concept for La Playa Residence Hall,” says David Damon, principal and global higher education practice leader at Perkins&Will. “This makes the project truly unique compared to traditionally shaped residence halls. By increasing bed capacity and transforming the student experience, an intentionally informed framework, the University will absolutely differentiate itself when it comes to recruitment and retention.” 

La Playa Residence Hall is due to be completed in the summer of 2026 and open to students starting Fall Semester.