Revolutionizing Student Housing: FullStack Modular’s Innovative Approach at Cal Poly
As universities across the country grapple with an escalating demand for student housing, California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) has embraced a pioneering solution—volumetric modular construction. In collaboration with FullStack Modular and Steinberg Hart Architects, the university is undertaking a transformative project that will deliver 4,200 new beds to its San Luis Obispo campus. Designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, the project seamlessly integrates high-quality prefabricated residential units with thoughtfully planned communal and outdoor spaces, ensuring a holistic and enriching student living experience. As the first large-scale modular housing initiative within the California State University (CSU) system, this project is not only a milestone for Cal Poly but also a precedent for how universities nationwide can reimagine student living.
Design and Renders by Steinberg Hart Architects
To understand the impact of this approach, we spoke with Roger Krulak, Founder and President of FullStack Modular, and Mike McCormick, AIA, VP of Facilities Management & Development at Cal Poly, about the project’s advantages, its implications for future university housing, and how modular innovation is shaping the future of student accommodations.
FullStack Modular is pioneering the use of volumetric modular construction for large-scale student housing. Can you tell us about your approach?
Roger Krulak: Our approach is centered on Design Manufacture Construct (DMC)—a seamless integration of architecture, engineering, and advanced manufacturing. Unlike traditional construction, where everything happens on-site, we fabricate entire residential units—including finishes, plumbing, and electrical systems—within a controlled factory environment before transporting and assembling them on location.
For Cal Poly, this method offers a highly efficient, repeatable solution while maintaining architectural quality and precision. Every student residence will be built at our Los Angeles factory and transported to campus, significantly reducing construction time, on-site waste, and environmental disruption. This is the future of large-scale student housing, and Cal Poly’s commitment to modular construction is setting a new standard for the industry.
Cal Poly’s decision to embrace modular construction marks a major shift in how student housing is built. What do you see as the biggest advantages of this approach compared to traditional construction methods?
Mike McCormick: The biggest advantage is speed and predictability. FullStack Modular’s factory-based process moves twice as fast as traditional construction, allowing us to deliver housing faster, with fewer delays. In today’s volatile market, where labor shortages and material costs are highly unpredictable, modular construction offers greater control over budgets and timelines.
Additionally, modular construction ensures a higher degree of quality and efficiency. Instead of coordinating multiple subcontractors in a complex, open-site environment, FullStack Modular’s team operates within a controlled facility, reducing the risk of human error and ensuring consistent craftsmanship. The value of industrialized production cannot be overstated—the more we replicate a system, the faster and more efficiently we can build, making this model highly scalable.
Another major benefit is minimized on-site disruption. Cal Poly is situated in a small, tightly-knit community, and traditional construction projects of this scale would cause significant traffic congestion, noise, and environmental impact. By shifting most of the construction off-site, we’re able to dramatically reduce disruption while expediting project completion.
Sustainability and affordability are key priorities in this project. How does FullStack Modular’s process help reduce environmental impact and control construction costs?
Roger Krulak: Sustainability is at the core of modular construction. Because we build in a precisely controlled factory setting, we significantly reduce material waste, lower carbon emissions, and optimize energy efficiency. Our all-steel, fully integrated system ensures that buildings are highly durable and energy-efficient, reducing the university’s long-term maintenance and operational costs.
Affordability is another key advantage. Student housing costs are rising faster than tuition, making affordability a critical factor for both students and universities. By adopting modular construction, we’re able to stabilize costs and eliminate many of the inefficiencies that drive up traditional construction expenses. Our streamlined process results in lower labor costs, reduced financing risk, and fewer costly delays—allowing universities to deliver high-quality student housing at a more accessible price point.
This project is also designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, further reinforcing its commitment to sustainable building practices and energy efficiency.
This project is a milestone for modular construction in the CSU system. How do you see this influencing future university housing projects across the country?
Mike McCormick: If you look at universities across the U.S., there is a massive demand for student housing. Many institutions are struggling with outdated dormitories, overcrowding, and skyrocketing construction costs. Cal Poly’s decision to adopt modular construction proves that there’s a better way to build—one that is faster, more cost-effective, and highly scalable.
This project sets a new precedent. We anticipate that other universities will take note and start integrating modular solutions into their campus master plans. The ability to deliver thousands of beds in a short timeframe—while maintaining high-quality design and sustainability—makes this a game-changer for the future of student housing.
One of the most exciting aspects is the potential for replication. Universities can customize and scale modular designs to fit their specific needs, whether for student housing, faculty residences, or mixed-use campus developments. The Cal Poly model can be adapted nationwide to tackle the growing student housing crisis.
Looking beyond this project, what innovations or advancements in modular construction do you anticipate playing a role in the future of student housing and urban development?
Roger Krulak: We’re at the forefront of a fundamental shift in how buildings are designed and delivered. Some of the key innovations shaping the future of modular construction include:
- Automation & Robotics – Advancements in AI-driven manufacturing and robotic assembly will continue to enhance precision, reduce labor costs, and increase production speed.
- Smart Buildings – Modular units will integrate smart technology for energy efficiency, security, and enhanced student living experiences.
- Design Flexibility – Traditional modular construction was often associated with uniformity, but today’s advancements allow for highly customized, architecturally compelling designs that rival conventional buildings.
- Urban Expansion – Beyond student housing, modular construction is proving to be an ideal solution for affordable housing, workforce housing, and urban infill projects, addressing the broader housing crisis.
Ultimately, this is just the beginning. The FullStack Modular and Cal Poly collaboration is paving the way for a new era in construction, where speed, efficiency, and sustainability converge to redefine how we build the spaces where people live, learn, and thrive.
A New Model for the Future
As manufacturing for the Cal Poly project begins in late winter 2025, with the first phase of buildings expected to be completed by Fall 2026, the project stands as a landmark moment for the evolution of student housing. Designed with long-term resilience and sustainability in mind, the initiative serves as a model for universities nationwide, proving that modular construction is not just a viable alternative—it is the future of large-scale housing development.
For more information, visit www.FullStackModular.com.
