Long Beach City College Liberal Arts Campus Student housing

AC Martin’s student housing proposal for Long Beach City College reimagines the residential experience with a strategic, student-centered approach focused on wellness, equity, and long-term value. In partnership with an integrated Design-Build team, the project elevates baseline criteria through a flexible framework of performance-driven enhancements. Highlights include a welcoming campus arrival sequence, an expanded 12,000 SF courtyard, and vibrant ground-floor amenities—such as a grab-and-go market, tech commons, and multipurpose spaces—crafted to foster connection and enrich student life.

The residential program organizes students into 34-person pods, each featuring a shared kitchen, lounge, and gender-inclusive restrooms to promote community, safety, and belonging. A mass timber structural system advances sustainability goals while creating warm, biophilic interiors that reduce stress and enhance well-being. Further improvements include a pet-friendly amenity suite, reimagined social spaces, and infrastructure optimizations that increase bed count and efficiency—all without expanding the building footprint. The outcome is a scalable, future-ready housing environment that reflects a deep understanding of how students live, learn, and thrive.