Ion Caltech Today
Construction and Parking
Construction progress of South Gate Plaza as of April 2026.
Pedestrian Access
- Setup for Caltech's annual Commencement exercises will begin on Beckman Mall on Thursday, June 4. Large trucks and equipment will be operating in the area as crews unload materials and install the shade structure. Please use caution when traveling through or near Beckman Mall. Event staff will be on site to help direct pedestrian traffic and provide escorts if needed. Whenever possible, please avoid the area and use alternate pathways during setup activities.
Parking and Traffic
- From Monday, June 1, to Sunday, June 7, East California Boulevard between South Hill Avenue and Arden Road will undergo crosswalk and bike lane re-striping during evening hours (4:30 PM – 7:00 AM). During this time, the left turn from California Boulevard onto South Campus Drive will not be available. Drivers heading to the childcare and athletic area should travel eastbound on California Boulevard and turn right to enter.
- 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.
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 in mid-June.
Community Member Milestones
- 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.
- Celebrating a recognition:
CCID Celebration of Excellence Honorees
On May 21, the CCID's annual Celebration of Excellence honored 18 campus community members whose work and efforts promote inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility at Caltech.
- Welcome (back) to Caltech:
Amir Sadjadpour
Amir joined the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy in April as senior systems engineering lead for LIGO, bringing over two decades of experience in complex, multibillion-dollar research programs. A Caltech alumnus (MS '03, PhD '06), he has held engineering leadership roles at TMT International Observatory and has deep expertise in systems engineering, structural mechanics, and program risk management.
- Welcome (back) to Caltech:
David Catherall
David joined Caltech as a research engineer in the Division of Engineering and Applied Science in April. He will manage the development of Caltech's thermal laser evaporation/epitaxy system, perform novel materials research, and support other laboratory operations. Prior to joining as staff, he completed his PhD at Caltech in materials science.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Lianqi Wang
In April, Lianqi joined Caltech as an adaptive optics (AO) engineer, leading the design and delivery of advanced AO systems, from performance modeling and error budgeting to implementation across multidisciplinary teams. Prior to joining Caltech, Lianqi served as lead adaptive optics system engineer at the Thirty Meter Telescope International Observatory.
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.
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