The Alex G. Spanos and Mustang Memorial projects transformed the southwest quadrant
of the Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo campus. Fraught with challenges from the beginning,
this project bridges a major entrance to the campus, is built up to a railroad right-of-
way on one side, and a service road on the other, and was designed and constructed
under 24 months. Adding 4,000 seats, skyboxes, press boxes, restrooms, and improved
field conditions for football and soccer; it is considered a gem by the campus and
surrounding community. The Mustang Memorial plaza honoring the victims of a 1960
plane crash was completed concurrently with the stadium expansion. The final design
of this moving tribute incorporated the ideas of two winners of a design competition
selected by family members and survivors of the crash. The memorial has 18 columns
representing each of the Cal Poly crash victims, built to their individual height
with a plaque honoring them, they are shrouded in copper and meant to age uniquely
with the passing of time.
