CSULB
Cultivating focus, collaboration, connection and play for CSULB students
Understanding what drives the need for change
California State University, Long Beach faced a critical housing shortage that was limiting their ability to serve students effectively. As enrollment continued to grow, the university needed to create not just more beds, but a transformative residential experience that would redefine campus living. The Parkside North Housing project represented far more than additional dormitory space—it was an ambitious vision to create a 'home away from home' that would nurture student success while setting new benchmarks for environmental responsibility in higher education.
The university's leadership was determined to make this 125,000-square-foot, four-story facility a model for the entire California State University system. They committed to achieving Net-Zero Energy certification, Living Building Challenge Petal status, and LEED Platinum recognition—sustainability goals that would contribute directly to the CSU system's carbon neutrality targets by 2030. The challenge was designing interiors that would support 476 students across diverse spaces including dorm rooms, study pods, community kitchens, entertainment areas, and outdoor courtyards, all while meeting these unprecedented environmental standards.
How we brought the vision to life
Tangram approached this project as a comprehensive ecosystem design, recognizing that every piece of furniture would need to serve multiple purposes: durability for intensive student use, aesthetic appeal for the 'home away from home' experience, and environmental responsibility to support the building's sustainability mission. Our design team worked closely with university stakeholders to understand how students would actually live, study, and socialize in these spaces, ensuring that each area would function seamlessly from move-in day through years of heavy use.
Our furniture selection process balanced high-end materials with practical performance, specifying everything from lounge seating and study desks to beds, hammocks, and outdoor picnic tables. We sourced foosball and table tennis equipment for the gaming areas, implemented lighting solutions that supported both study and relaxation, and selected finishes that would maintain their appearance despite constant student traffic. Every piece was chosen to contribute to the building's LEED Platinum goals while creating inviting spaces that would help students thrive academically and socially.
4 solutions from 2 manufacturers
Move
Potrero415
Create inspiring settings — from open-plan casual to conference-room formal — with a wide variety of materials, shapes, and sizes. Potrero415 supports all the ways your people work: inside or outside a meeting room, sitting or standing, for long sessions or short bursts of creative energy. Designed for creative collaborators, Potrero415 is at the vanguard of a new standard of craft that looks better, feels better, and performs better.
Move
Potrero415
Create inspiring settings — from open-plan casual to conference-room formal — with a wide variety of materials, shapes, and sizes. Potrero415 supports all the ways your people work: inside or outside a meeting room, sitting or standing, for long sessions or short bursts of creative energy. Designed for creative collaborators, Potrero415 is at the vanguard of a new standard of craft that looks better, feels better, and performs better.
3 professionals brought this vision to life
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