Hundreds of Cal State Long Beach students displaced after new residence hall not ready for move-in

SOCIETY Hundreds of Cal State Long Beach students displaced after new residence hall not ready for move-in Officials informed residents that the building was not yet ready for occupancy.

Hundreds of students and some staff at California State University, Long Beach, are staying in temporary accommodations after a newly constructed residence hall was not ready for move-in as scheduled. Hundreds of students and some staff at California State University, Long Beach, are staying in temporary accommodations after a newly constructed residence hall was not ready for move-in as scheduled.

Families arrived Sunday morning expecting to move students into La Playa, a new residence hall on campus. However, university officials informed residents that the building was not yet ready for occupancy.

"There's inspections involved at the last minute, there's lots of things ... they all coalesce in the final moments of the building project," said CSULB Chief Communications and Brand Officer Jeff Cook. "We, in good faith, felt that everything was on track, and then it wasn't on track."

About 420 residents, including first-year students, transfer students and some staff members, have been affected by the delay and are currently staying in alternative housing, according to school officials.

The university has arranged for La Playa residents to stay in nearby hotels and is providing shuttle service to campus as well as meal services. Officials also have added $200 to affected residents' Beach Bucks accounts.

"This is a new building ... it's being built, things happen," said first-year student Callie Miller. "Honestly, as long as we get to move in eventually. I feel like communication could've been better, but they did try really hard to try to make accommodations, and I know it put them out of a lot of money, too."

Construction on the residence hall began in 2024. The building is expected to house about 420 residents.

School officials said they understand some families had expectations of what move-in day would look like and while they cannot give that back, they’re offering programs to help transition students.

University leaders said they have been in contact with families and are working to provide as much information as possible while accommodations remain in place.

School officials also are inviting families back to campus for Family Day at the beginning of October.

The university has not provided a definite date for when La Playa will open and be ready for residents to move in.

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