Calif. School Debuts New $66.5M Academic Building

California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), located in Carson, Calif., recently completed construction on its new, $66.5-million Innovation and Instruction Building. The 107,600-square-foot space was designed to support active learning and encourage collaboration among students and faculty, according to a news release. The building stands four stories and features amenities like a 250-seat auditorium, a 120-seat active learning classroom, two case-study rooms with 60 seats each, meeting rooms and computer labs, faculty and administrative office space, and a café.

The university partnered with builder C.W. Driver Companies and architecture firm HGA Architects & Engineers. C.W. Driver completed a Science and Innovation Building for CSUDH in 2019.

California State University Dominguez Hills Innovation Instruction Building
Photo credit: Chase Magdaleno, Drone Works Media

“We have enjoyed our partnership with CSUDH, lending our years of experience constructing projects for California universities to complete another cutting-edge facility designed to support the evolving needs of higher education,” said project executive Tom Jones with C.W. Driver Companies. “With several active learning classrooms and external collaboration areas, interaction and continuous learning are encouraged among students and educators.”

The facility opened for classes in time for the spring 2022 semester. In addition to the services listed above, it also plays home to the College of Business Administration and Public Policy. The building’s second floor includes a simulated trading room featuring lighted ticker tape information.

“The outstanding design and dynamic quality of the Innovation and Instruction Building are ushering in a new era of campus facilities that matches the caliber of the academics taking place,” said Roshni Thomas, director of facilities planning, design and construction at CSUDH. “The C.W. Driver team was an excellent partner in bringing our vision to life, helping us to navigate this challenging period for construction.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

  • classroom with crystal ball on top of a desk

    Call for Opinions: Spaces4Learning 2026 Predictions for Educational Facilities

    As 2025 winds to a close, the Spaces4Learning staff is asking its readers—school administrators, architects, engineers, facilities managers, builders, superintendents, designers, vendors, and more—to send us their predictions for educational facilities in 2026.

  • NWEA Report Recommends K–12 Natural Disaster Recovery Strategies

    The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a K–12 assessment and research organization, recently announced the release of a new playbook for schools and communities recovering from extreme weather events, according to a news release.

  • LAN, Inc. Opens Office in College Station, Texas

    Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) recently announced the opening of a new office in College Station, Texas, to support its regional client base, according to a news release. The organization provides engineering, design, and program management services for water, wastewater, transportation, stormwater, and education clients in the Brazos Valley.