Crews Start Clearing Row Buildings

August 01, 2019 - 02:16 PM

Bulldozers demolished several row buildings
this week as the college prepares to build a new
three-story Student Center.

Since the spring, crews have been preparing the row buildings, (16B, 16C, 17, 18, 19A, 19B, 19C and 20) located east of Founders Hall, for the wrecking ball. Asbestos has been removed from the buildings, and all have been exterminated and fumigated. Decades-old underground utility lines, such as those for water and gas, also have been moved. The demolition work is expected to last through August.

Mt. SAC’s new student center is set to open in 2022, replacing the one opened in 1953 and designed to serve a much smaller college in a very different era.  The one-story space currently is home to the Student Life Office and Associated Students offices, but has limited group meeting space.

The new 100,000-square-foot building will welcome students into the types of inviting, inclusive, and comfortable places needed to encourage student engagement. The first floor will have a convenience store and an increased number of spaces for students to study either individually or in groups. The second floor of the center will feature a multi-cultural center, a student club kitchen and an updated room for Associated Students to hold its meetings. The building will also provide much-needed event space and conference rooms on all three floors. The facility will be available for the community to use as well. 

Construction of the Student Center is funded by Measure GO, approved by voters in November 2018. Final designs are currently under review by the Division of the State Architect, which provides design and construction oversight for community colleges and K-12 school districts. Construction is scheduled to begin next summer.