Poly Canyon Student Structures To Be Featured on Discovery Channel

The student-built experimental structures in Cal Poly's Poly Canyon will be featured Tuesday (June 17) on the Discovery Channel's "It's Christopher Lowell" show.

The College of Architecture and Environmental Design expects a five-minute segment on the canyon in a show titled "Follow Your Dreams" airing initially at 2 p.m. (on channel 29 on Charter cable).

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the college's scenic Poly Canyon outdoor lab, spread over nine acres near the end of Poly Canyon Road on the north side of campus.

The segment was taped in the canyon in February.

The show's producer, Cal Poly alumna Carrie Olson, a 1986 journalism graduate now working in Los Angeles, said, "It was a joy to work with the students and faculty involved. And, as a Cal Poly broadcast journalism alum, it was especially fun for me to come back to campus and direct this segment. It celebrates Cal Poly's 'learn by doing' philosophy as illustrated through Poly Canyon and the interdisciplinary creativity of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design's very talented students."

An estimated 40 structures have been built in the canyon over the years; about 20 are still visible. The newest is the Tensile Structure, completed in October 2002 as three students' senior project.

Each spring during the university's Open House, the canyon hosts the Design Village competition. Community college, high school and other students design and build structures and spend the weekend living in their projects.

More information and photos of Poly Canyon are available on the World Wide Web at www.caed.calpoly.edu/polycanyon.

Contact: Ray Ladd(805) 756-7432, rladd@calpoly.edu