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Caltech
Computing + Mathematical Sciences Division of Engineering and Applied Science

Location

California Institute of Technology
Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences
1200 E. California Blvd., MC 305-16
Pasadena, CA 91125-2100

Our facilities (the Annenberg Center and the Steele house) are located near the corner of Del Mar Boulevard and Holliston Avenue in Pasadena, CA.

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Pasadena is located at the north end of the 110 highway in Los Angeles County. The closest airport is Bob Hope (Burbank) airport, but LAX and Ontario airports are also quite convenient.

Annenberg Center

On October 30, 2009, the Annenberg Center for Information Science and Technology officially opened its doors. The building houses many of the members of the department. Windows proliferate inside as well as outside: the ubiquity of glass allows sunlight to shine in from a spacious, two-story central atrium, flooding every office with the light that's often rare in other structures—no grad students toiling in dungeon-like basements here. Fresh air also flows into the building through operable windows in nearly every office. Natural light and air make Annenberg a comfortable place for contemplation and collaborations—one of the guiding principles behind the center's architecture. The rich wood paneling found throughout the building is not only eye-catching, but is made with sustainable bamboo material.

Office doors are slightly recessed, leading to jagged hallways that avoid the institutional, sterile feel of seemingly infinite corridors. Along the hallways and in corners, chairs and small tables beside whiteboards stocked with markers encourage impromptu discussions and fresh ideas. Tables and chairs scattered on the terrace on the north side of the building invite people to sit and linger, and there's even an outdoor blackboard at the building's southwest corner for scientific debates.

The building was designed by Frederick Fisher and Partners. Aesthetically, the building echoes the architectural rhythms of the campus. The outdoor stairways reflect the styles of Spanish architecture (as an added bonus, they save more money by not needing walls and a roof around them), as do the repeating window patterns. The green exterior mimics the hues of olive leaves on the trees that dot the campus. But the building is green inside and out: the Annenberg center received gold certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

Steele House

Our department also occupies the Steele house, situated right next to the Annenberg Center along the Moore Walk. After being the headquarters of undergraduate admissions for years this cozy house, once famous for its huge built-in pipe organ, now provides a convivial place for the CMS researchers to work in.

Transportation

Directions By Car

  • From Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
    Travel East on Century Blvd. to the San Diego Freeway (405). Go north on the 405 to the Santa Monica Freeway (10). Proceed east on the 10 to the Harbor/Pasadena Freeway (110). Go north on the 110 until it ends at Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena. Continue north on Arroyo Parkway to Del Mar Blvd. Turn right (east) on Del Mar and proceed to Caltech, approximately 1 mile. Turn right on Holliston (right before Hill). LAX is also served by public transportation and various shuttles. Optionally, you may wish to take the airport shuttle to the Pasadena Hilton, the Doubletree, or the Pasadena Holiday Inn. Then, take a taxi for the short ride from the hotel to the campus.
  • From Bob Hope (Burbank) Airport (closest airport)
    Follow the signs leaving the airport to the Golden State Freeway (5). Proceed south on the 5 to the Ventura Freeway (134). Go east on the 134 until it merges with the Foothill Freeway (210). Continue east on the 210 to the Lake Avenue exit. Travel south (right) on Lake Avenue until you reach Del Mar Blvd. On Del Mar turn left; then turn right on Holliston (right before Hill Ave).
  • From Ontario Airport
    Follow the signs leaving the airport to the San Bernardino Freeway (10). Go west (towards Los Angeles) on the 10 to the Foothill Freeway (210). Proceed north on the 210 (at one point, the freeway will start traveling west; stay on it) to Lake Avenue exit in Pasadena. Travel south (left) on Lake Avenue until you reach Del Mar Blvd. On Del Mar turn left; then turn right on Holliston (right before Hill Ave).
  • From Downtown and Central Los Angeles
    Proceed north on the Harbor/Pasadena Freeway (110) until it ends at Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena. Continue north on Arroyo Parkway to Del Mar Blvd. Turn right (east) on Del Mar and proceed to Caltech, approximately 1 mile. Turn right on Holliston (right before Hill).

By Shuttle

From LAX, Bob Hope (Burbank) airport, or Ontario airport, shuttle door-to-door service is available from a multitude of companies. Caltech has special rates with SuperShuttle (mention the code L3F94 and present a Caltech ID for a 10% discount), but other companies are quite similar. To get a shuttle, exit the baggage claim area and look for the ORANGE overhead "SHARED RIDE VANS" sign. Tell the driver you are going to Caltech; if you are asked for an address or intersection, Holliston Ave. and Del Mar Blvd. is near the southeast corner of campus (see the campus map for other streets). FYI, the campus SuperShuttle stops (for when you order your ride back to the airport) are:

  • S1, located at the south end of the Parking structure (building 66) on 370 S. Holliston Avenue.
  • S2, located just north of Moore Laboratory at the end of Chester Avenue.
  • S3, located in the parking lot near the south-east corner of 450 South Catalina.
  • S4, located in the traffic turnaround off of California Boulevard and south of Arms Laboratory.

By Bus and Metro

Flyaway bus connects (~$10 one-way) the airport to Union Station (the main train station of LA) so you can catch the Metro rail A Line (formerly Gold Line) to Pasadena (~$1.75 one-way). The Los Angeles County Public Metro Transit System Map includes all buses and trains in the county. The Lake St. station is a 25-30 minute walk from campus.

Pasadena Transit

The Pasadena Transit is a convenient way to visit Pasadena from Caltech. For more info about activities in Pasadena, visit: cityofpasadena.net

Parking

Once you arrive, proceed to the Holliston parking lot. For details on parking rules and visitor passes, please visit the Caltech Visitor Parking page.

Hotels

Here are nearby business hotels that have Caltech preferred rates. View Hotels in Pasadena, CA, close to Caltech in a larger map.

For Newcomers and Visitors