Hundreds of CSULB students are beginning their school year living in hotels while their dormitories’ construction finalizes. Mekahlo Medina reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026.
Hundreds of California State University, Long Beach students are starting the new semester in hotels since their new dormitory wasn't ready for move-in.
About 420 students are impacted by the sudden change in lodging, with some saying they weren’t notified until the day they were supposed to move in. Work on the La Playa Hall dormitory is being finalized with one final building system and inspection still needing completion before students can move in.
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WATCH HEREDespite the visible construction, school officials say the rooms are ready.
“We really thought that all the pieces were going to come together right up through the very early morning hours of Sunday,” said Jeff Cook, Chief Communications Officer for CSULB.
Students were advised to prepare for up to a week before they can move in, but there's still no firm date on when that will be.
“I don't think that there was any lack of planning,” Cook said. “I think that there was a good-faith anticipation of how things and how inspections at the last moment would come together”
Some students expressed frustration over the unexpected start to their semester.
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“They could have given us a little bit more, like a warning, I'd say, because we got the email like the day of we moved in,” said Aiden Salazar, who was supposed to move into La Playa Hall.
Students affected by the construction are staying at nearby hotels in the meantime, with shuttles available to take them from campus to their lodging. Others were offered open beds elsewhere on campus.
Other students said they’re making the most out of their temporary accommodation.
“It might be one day, it might be two days, it might be a week,” said San Heng, who was placed in a hotel. “But yeah, but the great thing is like they covered everything.”
The university said once students are cleared to move in, professional movers will help get their belongings from the hotels into their new rooms.
