 |
| DID YOU KNOW? |
The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) has set its sights on becoming the first community college system in the nation to generate all of its own electricity as it undertakes one of the largest public sector sustainable building efforts in the United States.
Some strategies include using renewable sources, retrofitting the campuses to make them more energy efficient, and developing green power.
Plans include installing photovoltaic panels,
geothermal energy technologies, and
wind turbines on each campus to address all its electricity needs.
. |
|
| EVENT NEWS |
January 21, 2009
Ribbon cutting ceremony for the Northeast Academic Hall & Student Services and Administration Building
Location:
Los Angeles Harbor College
1111 Figueroa Place Wilmington, CA 90744
Time: 10:30 a.m.
. |
February 11, 2009
BuildLACCD
Small and Emerging
Subcontractor Event
Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Registration: 5:30 p.m.
Location:
Millennium Biltmore Hotel
506 South Grand Avenue
Downtown Los Angeles
For more information, click here.
. |
|
|
|
|
Out with the Old and In with the New: District's Bond Construction Program Celebrates Yet Another Successful Year |
|
|
A note from Larry H. Eisenberg, executive director of Facilities Planning and Development for the Los Angeles Community College District
 As we begin a new year, we should all be extremely proud of the work we've accomplished. Looking back at the progress and strides our construction program has made over the past 12 months is … well, simply fantastic. In looking ahead to the new year, we have an opportunity to reflect on the challenges, successes and milestones we celebrated in 2008. Now in its eighth year, our bond construction program has again experienced an unprecedented surge of construction activity. And, thanks to the voters in November, we received an additional $3.5 billion to continue to renovate and upgrade all nine of our community colleges. In total, we have $5.7 billion to provide first-class facilities to serve 188,000 students across Los Angeles County. As a result, our students will be trained in modern, sustainable facilities where they will learn the latest technologies that will give them a competitive advantage at securing a career in the new green economy. Through our efforts - in construction and education - we will continue to improve and enrich the lives of students for generations to come.
As we stay in line with our energy independence goals, we remain steadfast to our commitment to the environment. The District's plans to further reduce our carbon footprint through alternative energy solutions - namely solar, wind, geothermal and storage technologies – is paramount to our overall strategy. As in previous years, we will continue to look for innovative ways to educate our communities on the benefits of sustainable living and construction. Join us as we revisit the many milestones our bond construction program experienced this past year.
|
|
|
|
A Year in Review: LACCD Continues to Transform its Nine Community Colleges into Sustainable, 21st Century Institutions of Higher Learning
|
|
|
In today's ever-changing economy, more and more Californians are going back to school to get job training and the skills needed to compete in today's global market. Thanks to more than $5.7 billion in voter-approved bond funding, all nine of the Los Angeles Community College District's (LACCD) colleges are experiencing unprecedented growth. Progress on the colleges' multi-billion dollar construction program continues to move forward, transforming aging facilities into state-of-the-art institutions of higher learning. Here are some of last year's highlights:
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE
 Celebrating Earth Day, students, faculty and community members from East Los Angeles College (ELAC) were on hand to join District and elected officials to "power up" the College's new solar project. The new $9 million solar project, which provides almost half of the college’s daytime power, is part of the District's Renewable Energy Plan and is a major component in the sustained effort to make all nine of its colleges carbon neutral and energy independent.
The clean, renewable energy produced by ELAC's solar farm generates 1.9 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, saving the College an estimated $270,000 annually. The project is the largest solar facility within the district and marks a major milestone in the LACCD's ambitious plan to declare its energy independence. When completed, the District's project will comprise one of the largest urban solar generation facilities in the United States.
The music, dance, art and theater students joined College and District officials to celebrate the groundbreaking of the college's new $65 million, Performing and Fine Arts Complex. When completed in 2010, the 16,000 sq. ft. 'green' building will include a two-story 77,078 sq. ft. Recital Hall and a two-story, 42,110 sq. ft. Theater building.
ELAC officials finished off the year with a ‘topping off’ ceremony for the College's new Parking Structure 3 project. The event marked the completion of the concrete pour for the new $25.1 million, six-level facility, which will provide more than 1,800 parking spaces to ELAC students.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the College’s 150-space parking lot at the South Gate campus was also held at the school. The 66,000 square foot lot – which is leased through the Metropolitan Water District and the Department of Water and Power – will handle overflow parking from students at ELAC’s South Gate Educational Center.
In addition to these projects, ELAC is experiencing a flurry of construction activity including its new $3.2 million Entry Plaza, $11.3 million G1-Baum Center and $18.6 million E1 - Student Services renovation project. For more information on any of these projects or the College's bond construction program, visit http://www.laccdbuildsgreen.org/elac.php.
LOS ANGELES MISSION COLLEGE
In January, students, faculty and administrators were abuzz with excitement as they celebrated the grand opening of Mission’s newly-completed Biology laboratory and prep room. Construction crews converted two existing classrooms into a modern, 2,378 sq. ft. science facility. The new facility will increase the College's current capacity by 50 percent, helping train the next generation of medical professionals.
 A few months later, College officials celebrated the opening of the new $1.9 million solar farm, located on top of its new Parking Structure, which opened in 2007. College and District officials joined members of the public to commemorate the official "flipping of the switch" by symbolically activating the 17,000 sq. ft. PV farm, which is made up of 1,128 solar panels. Officials estimate the new solar farm will produce an estimated 233,000 kilowatt hours of energy, saving the College approximately $80,000 per year.
Last fall, College officials celebrated three more events with the dedication of its newly-completed $9.1 million Center for Child Development Studies; a ground breaking for its new $36.9 million Family & Consumer Studies Building and Bookstore; and a welcome reception for its new president, Judith Valles.
In addition, the College's new $1 million Entrance Monument project, $2.3 million Instructional Student Services Building and $43 million new Health and Fitness Center are currently under construction. For more information on any of these projects or the College's bond construction program, visit http://www.laccdbuildsgreen.org/lamc.php.
WEST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE
 Last spring, a fter a two decade absence, West Los Angeles College (WLAC) officials kicked off the first baseball season on its newly-completed "Field of Dreams." Councilman Bernard Parks (District 8), former County Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke (District 2) and LACCD officials were on hand to help WLAC President Dr. Mark. W. Rocha and Head Coach Bob Grant throw the first ceremonial pitch. In addition to the baseball field, the College's Soccer Field (located adjacent to the new Baseball Field) was also renovated.
Months later, campus officials broke ground on the College's new $49 million green project, which will consist of a 46,000 sq. ft. General Classroom Building – housing the College's Child Development, Language Arts and Behavioral Science departments – and a 42,000 sq. ft. Student Services Building. Construction is scheduled to be completed fall 2009.
WLAC is also celebrating the commencement of construction for their new $38 million Math and Science Building and $25.7 million multi-story Parking Structure. An official dedication ceremony is being planned for spring 2009. For more information on any of these projects or the College's bond construction program, visit http://www.laccdbuildsgreen.org/lacc.php.
LOS ANGELES HARBOR COLLEGE
In April, members of Harbor College's facilities and operations department treated guests to a barbecue Open House to commemorate their newly-completed $11.6 million Facilities Management and Operations (FMO) building. The 32,000 sq. ft. green facility includes a main office, workshop building, central receiving warehouse and storage facility, exterior elements area and landscape nursery area. Beyond its capacity to serve vital operations for the campus, the FMO building is one of several new green facilities in the College’s master plan and is home to the campus' plant facilities.
Later in the year, the LACCD Board of Trustees (BOT) approved more than $24.3 million in construction contracts for two new buildings: the Child Development Center and a Physical Education (PE) Wellness Center. The CDC will serve approximately 90 children, and will use recycled, ultra-low and no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) content and renewable materials. The building's heating and cooling needs will be provided by a central plant, which will save the college money and energy by drawing power from the grid at night when demand is low and prices are reduced.
 Additionally, Harbor College is also in the midst of constructing several new buildings, including its new $27.4 million Northeast Academic Building, $26.4 million Technology Building and $19 million Student Services Building. Other projects include a $10.4 million Central Plant, a $7.4 million Child Development Center and a $16 million Health and Wellness Center. For more information on these projects or on the College's bond construction program, visit http://www.laccdbuildsgreen.org/lahc.php.
LOS ANGELES SOUTHWEST COLLEGE
District and College officials joined members of the community to unveil Los Angeles Southwest College's (LASC) new $12.5 million Entry Plaza and $12.9 million Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Building at a joint ribbon cutting ceremony. The Plaza - the College's new Gateway to Education - has given the 40-year-old campus an "extreme makeover" and dramatically transformed the school and community. The new M&O Building centralizes the College's vital campus maintenance departments and features 672 rooftop solar panels that generate 41,371 kilowatts of electricity, saving an estimated $7,736 annually.
 Later in the year, LASC unveiled its Athletic Stadium and Field House during its Homecoming game against West L.A. College. With a seating capacity of 4,000, the stadium is comprised of 95,950 square feet of field turf that meets regulation football and soccer field configurations; a competitive, eight-lane running track; a long jump track and sand pit; two concession stands; and a press box. The two-story 18,160-square-foot Field House includes men’s and women’s locker rooms, a weight room, coach offices, meeting rooms and shower facilities.
The District also unveiled a new four megawatt (MW) solar project at LASC, which was designed and constructed by Chevron Energy Solutions. The new project solidifies the District's commitment to greening urban areas and serves as a living model for under-served students, allowing them to study renewable technologies as it relates to design, construction, chemistry and physics.
The first phase of the College's green-energy program will save $280,000 per year and meet all of the college's electric needs by generating more than five million kilowatt-hours of electricity. The campus will gain four megawatts of solar power, which is expected to offset production of 3,800 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually - equivalent to removing 1,050 cars from the road. Both phases of the project are expected to be completed by the end of 2009.
The College has already completed several projects, including a new $12.5 million Parking Structure, $32 million Student Activities Center and a $6.6 million Technology Education Center. The school also finished a $3.3 million Security Building and a new $22.3 million Central Plant. For more information on these projects or on the College's bond construction program, visit http://www.laccdbuildsgreen.org/lasc.php.
LOS ANGELES VALLEY COLLEGE
 Valley College had plenty to celebrate last year. During the summer, dozens of children gathered to cheer College and District officials as they broke ground on the new $11.2 million Child and Family Complex. The 26,000 sq. ft., three-structure complex is the first and only in the District that will house three child development-related divisions under one roof: the complex’s new Child Development Center, Family Resource Center and Child Development Department. The new Family Resource Center will focus on training early childhood workers and provide family support services for students, staff, faculty and community families with young children.
The LACCD's BOT approved a $4.4 million contract for new facilities that will provide students with critical access to math, science and engineering and humanities classes. The Planetarium Building Renovation and Humanities Building projects will include modernizing classrooms, offices, the addition of an exterior elevator for handicap access and replacing the planetarium's 45-year-old dome. Valley College's planetarium is the only facility in the San Fernando Valley with both a rooftop planetarium and observatory in the same location.
The College also received a $3.1 million renovation contract to improve roadways, walkways, grounds, and parking lots for the Fulton Entry and Monarch Square. This included access improvements to the Fulton Street entry, new lighting, paving, hardscape, signs and site furnishings, among other improvements.
Valley College continues to expand with several renovation and modernization projects throughout the campus. Projects include upgrades to the College's North Gym & Pool and the Math Science, Engineering, and Theater Arts buildings, which includes a new TV Studio. For more information on any of these projects or the College's bond construction program, visit http://www.laccdbuildsgreen.org/lavc.php.
LOS ANGELES TRADE-TECHNICAL COLLEGE
 Construction on L.A. Trade-Tech's South Campus project continued, including the official "topping off" for the College's new $78 million South Campus project. Guests watched as construction workers hoisted the last steel beam, which contained the signatures of those who participated in the planning and construction of the project. The facilities will include two new five-story facilities: a 66,228 sq. ft. Technology building and a 56,302 sq. ft. Student Services Building. The project is scheduled to be completed second quarter of 2010.
A few months later, the BOT awarded a $2.6 million construction contract for the College's new Fashion and Fine Arts Building – Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Upgrade project. New construction will include upgrades to the climate control system, helping to improve and maintain safe indoor conditions for faculty, staff and students. In addition, the campus’ existing HVAC system will be upgraded; structural improvements will accommodate additional rooftop HVAC equipment; and building enhancements will include the repair of ceilings, finishes, new windows and plumbing work.
Construction is also underway for the College's new $8.7 million Child Development Center and the renovation and modernization of Building A. For more information on any of these projects or the College's bond construction program, visit http://www.laccdbuildsgreen.org/lattc.php.
PIERCE COLLEGE
 The Brahmas construction program reached another high last year with a "topping off" ceremony for the new $18 million Student Services building. The new 49,775 sq. ft. green building will house the College's Career/Transfer Center, Admission and Records, Counseling and Financial Aid, among other student services. The new project is scheduled to be completed by summer 2010.
Last fall, 100 children were on hand to sing “Build Me a School” as officials from Pierce and the LACCD broke ground on the College’s new $6.8 million Child Development Center. The 19,205 sq. ft. green facility will serve as an educational program for young children and a fieldwork site for Child Development students. It will also offer student-parents – who need affordable childcare in order to stay in school – access to an education by providing them with reliable, safe and convenient child care. The project, designed to blend with Pierce College’s distinct mission-style architecture, is slated for completion in December 2009.
Pierce College has several other construction projects currently underway, including the College's new $46 million Center for the Sciences, a $18 million Physical Education Facilities, $1.5 million Animal Facilities, and a $2.4 million Parking Lot 1. For more information on any of these projects or the College's bond construction program, visit http://www.laccdbuildsgreen.org/pierce.php.
LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
 In January, a performance audit of the Bond Construction Program was conducted by a third-party auditor. The report, which is in compliance with bond requirements, reflected positively on the procedural changes and actions the District, along with the Program's Management team, has performed. The District also got high marks for using interest earned from Bond Funds, income from property disposition, and state and federal funds to supplement Bond funding. To read the report in its entirety visit www.LACCDBuildsGreen.org.
Later that month, members of the District's BOT approved the installation of waterless urinals at all nine colleges. The waterless urinals will save the District approximately 40,000 gallons of water per year, per urinal, and reduce costs and water consumption for each campus.
In April, the LACCD embarked on an extensive Design-Build effort as part of its construction program. A regular delivery method for eligible projects with a minimum budget of $2.5 million, Design-Build entails contracting with only one team for the entire building process. This method allows the District to minimize project risks; saves time by combining the bidding and design process; and saves money by allowing the selection team to choose entities through a best value qualification standard based on track record and price. The system also reduces delivery schedules by overlapping the design phase and construction phase, resulting in faster completion dates and lower operational costs.
 Days later, District officials and guests gathered at Pierce College's S. Mark Taper Foundation Life Science Botanic Garden to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the LACCD's benchmark sustainability policy. The policy mandated all buildings funded with at least 50 percent bond dollars be developed to fit Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) standards, a national rating system developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). As a result, the District became the largest public sector sustainable building effort in the U.S. and currently has more than 40 buildings completed, under construction or in the pipeline.
LACCD also partnered with the Asian-American architects and Engineers Association (AAa/e), the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) last year to host a conference aimed at diversifying the contractor/bidding pool for the District’s construction program. The conference attracted hundreds of local business people who were able to meet with key members of the BuildLACCD and college-specific construction teams and learned about the various contracting opportunities available.
In August, LACCD was the recipient of the 2008 Energy Efficiency Partnership Program Best Practices in New Construction and Sustainable Operations competition at the 7th Annual UC/CSU/CCC Sustainability Conference in San Luis Obispo.
 In November , L.A. voters went out in record numbers to vote for change. One of the items on the ballot was bond Measure J, or the “Local Community College Classroom Repair, Public Safety, Nursing, and Job Training Measure.” The measure, which received 69.67 percent of the vote, will allow the LACCD to continue its renovation of all nine campuses. This will entail approximately 159 new construction projects that will create new job opportunities for local contractors and boost educational opportunities for future community college students. Under Measure J, each new building constructed is expected to meet the highest LEED™ standards set by the USGBC.
That same month, LACCD and Metro joined forces to host a Student Transportation Summit at L.A. Trade-Technical College. The summit brought together community college and university students to voice their transportation needs for L.A. County, as well as specific steps to address the environmental impacts of traffic, gridlock and quality of life issues. The collaboration was part of the District’s strategy to offer students easy and affordable transportation to its campuses and help reduce carbon emissions by encouraging mass transit. Students were also able to learn about internships in the public, private, and civic sectors.
In early December, the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) selected LACCD Chancellor Marshall Drummond to serve on its Steering Committee, which acts as the Chief Governing Body. Presidents signing the Commitment are pledging to eliminate their campuses’ greenhouse gas emissions over time, which includes completing an emissions inventory; setting a target date and interim milestones for becoming climate neutral; taking immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions via short-term actions; integrating sustainability into the curriculum and making it part of the educational experience and making the action plan, inventory and progress reports publicly available.
Ending the year on a high note, the LACCD received its 14th green leadership award, as it was recognized by CoreNet Global, a leading corporate real estate association. The District received the prestigious 2008 REmmy Corporate Citizen award, scoring big for its Renewable Energy Program, which encompasses the District's commitment to eco-friendly design and social responsibility to educate the community about green practices and sustainable maintenance. For more information about the District's bond construction program, visit www.LACCDBuildsGreen.org.
|
|
|
| Photo of the Month: Beauty and brains... |
|
|
Los Angeles Valley College's new environmentally-friendly building, the Allied Health and Science Center, is as beautiful as it is functional. The $49-million Center is a 100,000 square foot, three-story facility that will house computer and teaching labs and serve the Health Science, Biological Science, Chemistry/Physics and Earth Science/Anthropology departments. For more information on this or any of Valley College's bond construction program projects visit www.LACCDBuildsGreen.org/lavc.php.
|
|
|
