Cal Poly Humboldt Opens ‘Largest Student Housing Project in University History’
This is a press release from Cal Poly Humboldt News & Information:
Cal Poly Humboldt_Hinarr Hu Moulik Fact SheetPhoto: Left to right: Alex Stillman, Natalie Arroyo, Kassidy Banducci, Mike Fisher, Damon Connolly, Chris Rogers, President Spagna (scissors), Mike McGuire, Eduardo Cruz, Chrissy Holliday, Cedrik von Briel, Donyet King
Cal Poly Humboldt has officially opened Hinarr Hu Moulik (pronounced hee-NOD huh MOO-leek), the largest student housing project in the University’s history. On Friday, the University marked this milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by campus leadership, community partners, and elected officials, including California Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire.
Hinarr Hu Moulik, meaning “our house/home” in the Wiyot language, embodies the University’s commitment to affordability, sustainability, and inclusive student success. The complex is made up of two buildings: the East, which was the first to open its doors, and the West, planned to open this winter. It is located just a half-mile north of campus and offers modern, apartment-style housing for nearly 1,000 students.
“Hinarr Hu Moulik reflects the heart of who we are as a university: welcoming, inclusive, and deeply connected to this land and community. We’re grateful for the many hands and hearts who made this possible—from state partners, the California State University, and local leaders to our students, faculty, and staff. This is what transformation/collaboration looks like, and we did it together,” says Interim President Michael Spagna.
“Hinarr Hu Moulik embodies the Humboldt experience—a place where students can build a community, form friendships, and shape their futures here at Cal Poly Humboldt,” says Chrissy Holliday, Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Success.
“Today was a big one! Housing is one of the greatest needs we have on the North Coast, and right here on campus,” Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire says. “Cal Poly Humboldt has incredible momentum and this major investment in student housing is a huge step toward realizing the full potential of California’s newest (and best) polytechnic university. Welcome home, Jacks!”
“Hinaar Hu Moulik is a great addition to the Cal Poly Humboldt residence hall lineup! With so much to do in the halls and the backyard, I can tell it will be a great place for students to relax and have a little fun in between the stresses of school life, and we will do our best as resident advisors to help foster that,” says Wildlife major Cedrik von Briel, who is part of the first cohort of resident advisors living in Hinarr Hu Moulik. “I’m excited for what this first year in the new building has in store for us, and all the great connections students will make.”
Funded through the state’s historic $458 million investment in Cal Poly Humboldt’s polytechnic transformation, Hinarr Hu Moulik is the first major facility completed under that initiative, and the first new student housing project since the opening of College Creek Apartments in 2010. The development increases the University’s total housing capacity by nearly 50%.
Student Experience and Amenities
Students moving into Hinarr Hu Moulik will benefit from a variety of on-site amenities, including:
- Study spaces and computer labs
- Community lounges and television rooms
- Exercise gym and conference rooms
- Café/market (101 Express)
- Covered, secure bike parking
- Vehicle parking and EV charging stations
- Outdoor green spaces for recreation
The complex will eventually connect directly to the Annie & Mary Trail, providing students with access to the Arcata Marsh, Humboldt Bay Trail, and campus via Sunset Avenue. In partnership with the City of Arcata and Caltrans, Cal Poly Humboldt is also working to enhance pedestrian safety on Sunset Avenue, with improvements scheduled to begin in 2026.
Commitment to Sustainability and Safety
Designed with environmental stewardship in mind, Hinarr Hu Moulik incorporates:
- Energy-efficient lighting, appliances, and HVAC systems
- Water-saving plumbing and high-efficiency irrigation
- Durable, non-combustable building materials
- On-site solar energy systems
- LEED Gold-equivalent design standards
The facility also prioritizes resident safety, with non-combustible construction materials, sprinkler systems, and advanced emergency and security infrastructure. A new emergency access road to Eye Street has been constructed in partnership with Arcata Fire District and the City of Arcata to improve emergency response times.
Construction of Hinarr Hu Moulik West is currently underway and is expected to be completed in time for Spring 2026 occupancy. This second phase will further expand housing availability for transfer and returning students, allowing more space in on-campus residence halls for incoming first-year students.
Hinarr Hu Moulik Student Housing Complex exterior photos
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Built using plans from old Soviet style housing.
A fitting place for those Communist agitators Cal Poly produces.
And did anyone ask the Wiyots if they wanted an earth desecrating student ghetto named for them?
Applying a name that most people will struggle to remember or pronounce to this architectural monstrosity seems like the worst kind of virtue signaling.
Right? Because the Wiyots and others are short on design ideas and artwork in their culture. Did anybody get their input beyond just a name? This is just boring socialist classicism. No rhyme, no reason, no “life” to it. Just big rectangles with white paint.
That about sums up modern “society”….
Well, I for one am impressed…
I lived in an 80 sq ft room in a 5 story Dorm at UCD, $110/mo, then got a slightly larger room the next year, maybe 90 sq ft…
Restroom/showers down the hall…
The best Dorm I ever saw was the one at Olin College of Engineering, which had 5 rooms and 3 baths… Olin is an amazing Space…
Then there was BU, which had an 8 story Rat-Infested dorm, that my kid refused to live in, and then she was in an old-old building, which had maybe 200 sq ft and it’s own little kitchen and bath…
Congratulations! How much to live in this wonderful Dormitory?
Everyone should be so lucky, in Arcata…
F*ck cal poly and their never-ending expansion
I don’t know why you dislike Cal Poly, but the University is growing and needs to expand to make room for more students to live on campus at a realistic price. This will also add more courses in different areas.
You know you chose the right name when you need to provide a pronunciation key. I wonder what the students will call it.
Carchar hir y gogledd gyda ffenestri bach, sŵn y draffordd, dim parcio ! (Welsh)
“Long Prison North With Tiny Windows Freeway Noise And No Parking”
Legend has it that Redwood and Sunset Hall were designed by the same person that designed San Quentin. The Architecture of this complex fits right in with the environment of Humboldt and Redwood region. “Apparition of Arcata” seems fitting.
A fire hazard!
Read first, then comment.
“Durable, non-combustable [sic] building materials”
No building is truly non-combustible. The students will have things in their rooms like computers, microwaves, portable lights, etc., all of which can and do start fires. I just pray it never happens.
cant wait to see the first antifa tags……………..
It is a tongue twister for sure.
Designing educational institutions for easy conversion into detention centers is nothing new. Look at almost any High School building…
Easy conversion- just ring the bell and it’s a detention center LOL
Especially on Saturdays.
And/or…
all those empty ‘big-box’ stores.
With one door in
the front.
One door in
the back.
They’re gonna do
something with all
that real estate.
Blah blah blah. Sure- just don’t get a room on an upper floor of this prison complex..because you will burn up!! 😜
Farce, you are very correct about burning up. Arcata does not have a ladder truck that will even start to reach the second floor. Correct me if I am wrong, but the closest ladder truck is in Eureka, and it will take some time to get there even going Code 3 with lights and sirens. Many lives can be lost in that time. They should have put some exterior metal staircases the students could take to reach the ground safely. The idea of that building being on fire just scares the hell out of me!
Long ropes or parachutes are provided for students living on upper floors.
Arcata fire has a supply of trampolines also available.
Well Kris, I guess ropes, parachutes and trampolines are better than hitting the ground at full speed.
“Thank god we’re all
safe. Here
in the
bowling alley.”
I heard that from a CR trades student when they visited while under construction a fews years ago. If this is true, looks like a new fire tuck may be required for the City. I sure hope these efforts are made before we are faced with grave regret.
They need that new ladder truck right now before something bad happens and students have no way out!
I guess from the person who gave me a red thumbs down has no plans on moving into the new dorms.
Me too scared! Thanks for explaining my comment- that was what I wanted to point out. I thought they’d figure out an evacuation plan before putting the kids in there!! This is ass-backwards and irresponsible and dangerous. This glowing self-congratulatory public relations release is disturbing…
What about the sprinkler systems?
Korina42, I can’t answer your question about sprinkler systems because I have not read any article that states there will be sprinkler systems in the halls and/or dorm rooms.
Does anyone know how much it costs a student to live there?
I looked it up- it’s actually pretty competitive! You need a meal plan but if you can swing the low end it’s cheaper than a lot of rental options around here. Shoot not having to pay utilities and having food is probably cheaper than not living in these dorms anyways.
Thanks for this…
Do they take Seniors (permanently)?
God I wish!
Oh, the hubris. Listen to your local fire department!
Meanwhile other Countries building buildings with living green walls and lots of natural light (good for health) etc.
Any interesting community spaces were not pictured in this article. It does look like a prison and hopefully someone will add the point brought up in other comment here that fire department hasn’t ladders to reach past second story.
Also which Native group, if any, approved the name?
And it fits in so well with that quaint little artistic town image that Arcata likes to project. What a Joke!
Yeah, I love that first picture. Hurray, we ruined Arcata even more!!!
Unfortunately CPH has no poops to give about Arcata’s image.
What does the CHP have to do with this article on the new dorms at Cal Poly?
Korina42, I made a mistake in my comment calling CPH the CHP. Sorry about that.
These comments are so negative. Are things that bad?
Concrete People started long ago… and it’s getting worse.
If you can’t say something nice…
the RHBB comment section is the place for you!
I think it looks good- especially when compared to the sight of students sleeping in their cars.
Can’t wait for the landscaping to mature.
I’d love to see more buildings like this in downtown Eureka and at Arcata’s Gateway Project.
If we built enough of them in Eureka, we could import bums from across the country to fill them!
Would it be too much to ask for at least some artistic expression here? Lots of other universities have.
Here’s some.
Here’s some more.
And this is some next-level stuff.
Give students something worthy of living in, not some whitewashed brick. Something they can be happy about, and something the university can brag about later as well. Same goes for Eureka. Don’t be boring.
No, folks just like to gripe. Although CPH really could have come up with a better color scheme.
I believe it is time for Cal Poly to discuss about spending some money with the Arcata City Council and Arcata Fire Department on how to best purchase and new or like new ladder truck that can reach the 7th floor of the new dorms. The people that live in Fortuna as a community all came together and raised enough funds to buy a nice ladder truck. Many people did not like the idea in the beginning but after watching what that truck can do have completely changed their minds. Most fires that are posted here show the ladder truck being used. It is a human life saver! I just hope Cal Poly and Arcata can raise enough money for their life saver. If it just saves one person’s life it is worth every penny.