Cal State Long Beach has certified an update to its campus master plan, paving the way for the construction of a new student housing complex.

The Parkside North Housing project, slated for the southwest corner of East Atherton Street and Earl Warren Drive, would replace a former sand volleyball court and a small office building.  Plans call for the construction of two - standing three and four stories in height - featuring 476 beds for students and resident assistants.

The residences halls would have L-shaped footprints, oriented around a central courtyard area, according to a project description.  Plans show that architecture firm Gensler and consulting firm Dudek are affiliated with the project.

Construction of the approximately $100 million project is anticipated to begin this summer and be completed by 2021, reports the Long Beach Post.

Cal State Long Beach has also announced plans to construct a satellite campus in Downtown Long Beach, which could include up housing for up to 1,000 students.

Faced with high housing costs throughout the region, several other colleges in Los Angeles County are also pursuing new dormitories to provide lower-cost living arrangements for students, including UCLA, USC, Cal State Dominguez Hills, and Cal State Los Angeles.