Ion Caltech Today
Construction and Parking
Construction progress of the Frank J. Malina Laboratory as of August 2026.
Parking and Traffic
- Beginning Thursday, August 27, and continuing through the end of the day on Saturday, August 29, there will be a large film crew stationed on and around the South Athletic Field. For the duration of the project, access to the field and adjoining surface parking lot (Lot 6) will be restricted for use by the production company. Questions or concerns can be directed to OCER at [email protected].
- Portions of Holliston Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic to accommodate upgrades to Caltech's electrical infrastructure. The road closures will impact the access routes to the Holliston Parking Structure. The parking structure will remain open throughout the construction period. The work will occur from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and in phases as follows:
- Phase 1 (detour map): From Monday, August 17 through Friday, August 28, vehicles will not be able to access the Holliston Structure from Del Mar. During this time, the Holliston Structure will be accessible from the south via San Pasqual.
- Phase 2 (detour map): From Monday, August 31 through Friday, September 4, vehicles will not be able to access the Holliston Structure from San Pasqual. During this time, the Holliston Structure will be accessible from the north via Del Mar.
- If you have questions about this period of road closure, call (626) 395-4717 or email [email protected].
- From June until mid-September, Metro's Bus Rapid Transit construction at Hill Avenue and Green Street will cause southbound and northbound lane reductions on Hill Avenue (Colorado Boulevard–Cordova Street) and eastbound reductions on Green Street. Construction runs Monday–Friday, 7am–4pm, though lane closures remain in place 24/7. Please plan extra travel time or use alternate routes during this ~3-month station build. Read the full construction notice for details.
Construction Impacts
- Frank J. Malina Laboratory for High-Speed Flight Dynamics: Construction on the south side of the Guggenheim Laboratory is ongoing.
- Ginsburg Center: Building occupancy is scheduled for fall of 2026.
- South Gate Plaza: Construction in the area is in progress, and full pedestrian access will be restored by the end of summer.
Pedestrian Access
- See the notice in the Parking & Traffic section above for information about restricted access to South Athletic Field and Parking Lot 6 due to commercial filming from Thursday, August 27, to Saturday, August 29.
Community Member Milestones
- Welcome to Caltech:
Elena Cazares
Elena joined Caltech in July as a business operations associate for the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy, supporting the Caltech Optical Observatories team with procurements, onboarding, travel, expense reports, and more. She previously spent nearly a decade at JPL and will complete her MBA in project management from Mount Saint Mary's University this December.
- In memoriam:
Pam Koyzis
Pam, who dedicated 25 years of service to Caltech, passed away peacefully at her home on July 28, 2026, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 68 years old. The flag at Caltech Hall will be lowered from Wednesday, August 19, to Friday, August 21, to honor her.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Caitlyn Shen
Caitlyn recently joined Caltech as an undergraduate admissions counselor. She brings a communications background to higher education and enjoys helping tell the stories of Caltech's community while connecting with prospective students from around the world. Caitlyn previously spent nearly a decade in B2B tech, leading public relations, marketing, and social media initiatives for organizations including AT&T, Intel, Honeywell Aerospace, NeurIPS, and Silicon Labs.
- Celebrating a recognition:
Customer Service Excellence Cohort
26 Caltech staff members completed over 700 hours of in-person and live online training, earning certificates in customer service excellence and achieving a remarkable 100% completion rate. The Institute-tailored customer service excellence program was a pilot project by Caltech Facilities and Dale Carnegie Training.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Emily Henson
Emily recently joined Caltech’s Office of the President as director of presidential engagement, where she leads executive communications and speechwriting. She brings extensive experience in leadership communications and executive engagement, having served as deputy chief of staff to the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, and as chief communications strategist and speechwriter to the provost at Johns Hopkins University.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Julie Messersmith
On July 1, Julie started her role as vice president for institute initiatives at Caltech. In this capacity, she serves as a senior advisor to the President, provides executive leadership for the President's Office, and oversees the Strategy Implementation portfolio. Prior to Caltech, Julie spent more than a decade at Johns Hopkins University in senior roles spanning research, advancement, and university-wide strategy and administration.
Resources
Update your contact information and download the emergency communications app, Everbridge, to receive necessary information in the event of an emergency on campus.
Discover your strengths and clarify your career direction by taking the MBTI or CliftonStrengths assessments to support more confident and informed professional decisions.
Caltech community members are eligible for a free Metro Pass that gives you unlimited rides on buses, rail lines, and local transit options, including convenient connections to campus.
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