Ion Caltech Today
Construction and Parking
Construction progress of the sidewalk next to the Ginsburg Center as of early June 2026.
Construction Impacts
- Frank J. Malina Laboratory for High-Speed Flight Dynamics: Construction on the south side of the Guggenheim Laboratory is ongoing. From Monday, June 8, to Tuesday, June 30, a fenced area will be in place around a crane for structural steel erection. Pedestrian pathways will remain open but may be temporarily rerouted.
- Ginsburg Center: Construction of the main building is ongoing and progressing as scheduled.
- South Gate Plaza: Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of June.
Parking and Traffic
- Visitor parking at Caltech is moving to HonkMobile (HONK) over the coming weeks. New payment signs will be installed in campus lots and structures, replacing existing pay stations. For more information, visit Caltech's Mobile Payments for Visitor Parking webpage.
Pedestrian Access
- There are no new pedestrian access updates at this time.
Community Member Milestones
- Welcome to Caltech:
Nicole Ortega
At the end of May, Nicole joined Caltech’s Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences as grant manager assistant. Prior to Caltech, she was an operations manager in the trucking industry. She loves the arts and enjoys taking photos of landscapes and candids that tell a story.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Heidi Gonzaga
On June 3, Heidi joined Caltech’s Office of Communications and External Relations as a communications specialist. She will support a range of strategic communications and marketing initiatives, including event marketing, website management, analytics, SEO, social media, and video. Prior to Caltech, Heidi worked at USC Gould School of Law, USC’s Student Health Center, Shield Healthcare, and Glendale Memorial Hospital.
- Celebrating a new role:
Marcos Carretino
Marcos recently joined Caltech’s Faculty Housing program as a maintenance technician, where he will repair and maintain houses and apartments to ensure faculty can settle into their new homes comfortably. He brings with him nearly four decades of experience on the Caltech campus and at JPL, where he first started his career in 1987.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Jed Schwendiman
In May, Jed joined Caltech’s Advancement and Alumni Relations as a senior director of development for the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (CCE). In this role, he will work with donors to raise funds in support of CCE faculty, students, and research programs. Prior to Caltech, he worked at Redlands, UC Riverside, SMU, Stanford, and Whitman College in development roles.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Jim Comeau
Jim joined Caltech Facilities in May as a mechanic aide. He will support the plumbing shop with preventative maintenance and urgent service calls across campus bathrooms and labs. Prior to Caltech, Jim worked at the Lighthart Corporation and at the photo department at Disney.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Denise Mendoza
Denise joined Caltech in April as the labor relations coordinator in HR. She manages inquiries, routes requests to appropriate departments, maintains timely communication, and ensures compliance with established procedures and timelines. She serves as a point of contact for employees, union representatives, and campus partners by providing information and coordinating support.
Resources
Advance your career with financial support through the Tuition Reimbursement Plan, which helps eligible employees pay for courses, certifications, and job-related training programs.
Share the impact of Caltech’s discovery and innovation using social media graphics, PPT slides, FAQs, and videos of Provost Tirrell discussing federal funding for research.
The Caltech Library offers access to the Libby app, which lets users borrow eBooks and audiobooks for free. To access Libby, download and open the app, choose "I have a library card," and find the California Institute of Technology.
Media Mentions
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