Groundbreaking for Technology and Health Building

August 10, 2023 - 02:18 PM

In the not-so-distant future, Mt. SAC will celebrate the opening of the largest instructional building on any community college campus in the state.

On Wednesday, ground was broken for that new Technology and Health facility, which – once completed in Fall 2026 – will have a 253,866-square-foot footprint on the site of the old pool, just south of the Business and Computer Technology Complex.

“The new building will be the home to multiple diverse programs and students,” Technology and Health Acting Dean Sarah Plesetz said. “It will bring 10 different departments and 26 programs into one place.”

Those departments and programs include:

• Air Conditioning & Welding Technologies
• Aeronautics
• Aircraft Maintenance
• Architecture
• Division Offices
• Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology
• Industrial Design Engineering
• Manufacturing Technology
• Mental Health
• Nursing
• Public Safety Programs
• Respiratory Therapy
• Radiologic Technology
• Tech Ed Resource Center (TERC) and Work Experience

“At Mt. SAC, we have a commitmentto ensure that we do everything we can to help, teach, guide, and support our students,” President/CEO Dr. Martha Garcia said, “and this facility is another example of demonstrating that commitment.”

The state-of-the-art facility will replace the existing Technology Center 28A and 28B, which was designed in the late 1960s and opened in 1971. The new building will provide the space, flexibility, and technology that the old one just can’t.

“Our new Technology and Health Building will provide not only the instructional, laboratory and support spaces needed for student success, but will also act as a bridge between health care education and health care reality,” said Kelly Coreas, Professor and Respiratory Therapy Program Director.

In addition to specialized laboratories and general classrooms, the new four-level structure will have a teaching hospital, a full-size airplane hanging from the ceiling, a virtual reality lab, an industrial design and manufacturing shop, mental health and academic support spaces, and a convenience store.

“The Technology and Health Building will bring together cutting-edge programs that are essential in our communities and our workforce,”  said Dr. Manuel Baca, vice president of the Board of Trustees.

While students, staff, and faculty will have to wait until the Spring of 2027 to use all this new building has to offer, the enthusiasm for the project is palpable on campus.

“On behalf of the technology side of our division, I’d like to express our excitement for what is about to be built,” said Joe Denny, Professor and Department Co-Chair of the Electronics Program. “Thank you to everyone involved. Let’s get this done!”

This project is funded by the Measure GO construction bond as well as a state bond approved by voters. For more information about Mt. SAC projects, please visit the Campus Construction website.