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“ Curiosity. Inquiry. Expression. These are the building blocks of education.”
— Angela Li
FRAMING THE FUTURE Student Services Center Third Floor Blueprint
nearing Spring 2015 open By TAMMY SEWARD and BRENDAN CROSS tseward@lmcexperience.com and bcross@lmcexperience.com
The construction of the new Student Services Center set to open by Spring 2015 will create an easy and convenient way for students to reach the programs the campus has to offer, all under one roof. The new center would house the majority of services offered to students on campus, other than Student Life, which is retaining its current location. Financial Aid, Admissions and Records, Assessment Center, Outreach, Welcome Center, DSPS, CalWorks and Tutoring are among the departments to be housed in the new center. The college deans, president and vice president will also be located in the center on the fourth floor. The three groups working on the project are tBP Architecture, SJ Amoroso of Amoroso Construction and Critical Solutions Inc. The architect on the project is tBP Architecture who “took the project from the programming
phase to design and through construction,” said LMC Vice President Kevin Horan. “SJ Amoroso is the contractor that won the bid to construct the building. Critical Solutions is the firm we use for project management and construction services.” Horan also spoke highly about the positive effect the facilities will have. “The new facilities will tremendously improve the way we serve students in student services at LMC. Additionally, the new center point of the campus will create a more welcoming facility from the central ‘quad’ of campus into the College Complex,” said Horan. The biggest thing the center will offer is convenient access to numerous campus programs. “One of the biggest impacts students should experience once the center is open is the benefit of having most services available under one roof, rather than having to look for our services in multiple areas on campus,” said Senior Dean of Students
Gail Newman. “Since Student Services staff has been housed in fairly confined spaces throughout the years the new center will benefit them as well with more offices and space in general, leading to more efficient and effective day-to-day operations.” This project was funded by a construction bond for the district passed in 2006 by Contra Costa County voters. It encompasses more than 38,000 sq. ft. (14,418 for the upper level, 16,222 for the lower level and 7,470 for the new addition) and eliminated short cuts throughout the College Complex during construction, but allowances have been made for the detours and classes were not adversely affected. Construction is slated for completion in December of 2014, but the center will not be fully furnished and ready to open until Spring 2015. For more information on the construction go to losmedanos.edu/construction. From there a webcam of the construction is available to view as well as a time lapse of the demolition and construction.
CUT AND DRY
FACTS n Start date — December 2012
n Projected end date — Spring 2015 n $16.5 million budget n Total square footage — 38,110 n Funded by a 2006 bond as voted on and approved by Contra Costa County voters n Most student services programs will be located under one roof (aside from Student Life) n Configuration will offer “One-Stop Center” approach n Spacious program areas to accommodate students and staff
Fourth Floor Blueprint
n Computer kiosks for students to use on third floor lobby intended to be available for student transactions such as registration and ordering transcripts n Fourth floor will offer Student Success/ Resource Center for career and employment services and transfer information n Students will be able to sit and relax comfortably between classes or while waiting for appointments at the fourth floor Student Lounge Above, sparks fly as Oscar Calvillo saws off a metal piece Feb. 12 inside the fourth floor construction zone that will be used for the proposed workroom in the Student Services building at the front of the College Complex. Right, the third floor of the construction zone presents a work-in-progress view of the Student Resource Area. Bottom, panorama of the college roof where air conditioning units were being transported. In the photo illustration at the center of the page a helicopter lowers an air conditioning unit Feb. 16 onto the roof to handle air for the new Student Services Center.
n All deans (instructional and student service), the president and vice president offices will be located on the fourth floor
Graphics based on original blueprints provided by tBP Architecture.
Photos, Photo Illustration & Graphics by Irvin Trigueros Page Design by Brendan Cross and Irvin Trigueros