Through FWD Living, a collaboration between Westgroup Designs and Lowney Architecture, the team partnered with Cerritos College to plan and implement the College’s first on-campus affordable student housing development. Funded through the State of California SB-169 Round 2 Affordable Student Housing grant program, the project addresses student housing insecurity while strengthening campus life and student success.
The 130,000-square-foot development will provide 406 beds of affordable student housing in a mix of studio, two-bedroom, and four-bedroom units, along with approximately 11,000 SF of administrative and community spaces supporting student services and residential programming. The project is funded through $68 million in State grant funding and $12 million in local funds and is targeting LEED certification.
Working closely with college leadership, campus stakeholders, and the project team, the design integrates residential living with wraparound support services tailored to Cerritos College’s student population.
To maintain alignment with funding constraints and improve delivery efficiency, the project utilizes Type-V volumetric modular construction, reducing construction duration by approximately six months and lowering costs by an estimated 10–15 percent compared to traditional site-built construction. This approach also minimizes construction impacts to the active campus and surrounding community. Architecturally, the building establishes a community-facing western gateway to the campus, integrating contemporary design with surrounding campus architecture while providing dedicated outdoor spaces for student residents. The project will create a safe, supportive residential environment